Photo Epic: Dual Slalom - Crankworx Whistler 2019

Aug 15, 2019
by Trevor Lyden  
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Another year at Crankworx and a brand new course for the riders. For 2019 the 100% Dual Slalom moved to the base of Blackcomb and featured a completely new course purpose-built to test the riders skills and bike control. The track was a favorite among the riders and many were saying it was the best dual slalom course they've raced. The course started with a couple of fresh rutted flat turns where keeping your feet on the pedals would mean a win or a loss. A small step down led into two tight berms followed by a straightaway rhythm section. Once past the straight riders had to navigate another fast berm which led directly into a step-down hump. In typical fashion, the final section was high-speed flat turns leading into the finish corral.

Racing was tight all day with plenty of drama to keep the crowd on their feet. After many tight races and hard battles the women's podium saw Jill Kinter in first, Clare Hamilton second and Vaea Verbeeck in third. The men's podium saw Mitch Ropelato on the top spot followed by Austin Warren in second and Tomas Slavik third.

A hard pull out the gate during practice.
A hard pull out the gate during practice.

Bas and Elliot Jackson review the first half of the course before racing begins
Bas and Elliot Jackson review the first half of the course before racing begins

Mitch doing some wind sprints before the race.
Mitch doing some wind sprints before the race.

Dual Slalom is some of the fastest racing crankworx has to offer
Dual Slalom is some of the fastest racing crankworx has to offer

Clare Hamilton fought hard all night and finished second.
Clare Hamilton fought hard all night and finished second.

Keegan Wright coming out strong.
Keegan Wright coming out strong.

Youn Deniaud laying into the sidewalls
Youn Deniaud laying into the sidewalls

Matthew Sterling defending his Innsbruck gold medal. Despite great racing he finished just outside the podium.
Matthew Sterling defending his Innsbruck gold medal. Despite great racing, he finished just outside the podium.

Vaea Verbeeck is a force to be reckoned with.
Vaea Verbeeck is a force to be reckoned with.

Adrien Loron on course.
Adrien Loron on course.

The dry weather made the course a bit dusty.
The dry weather made the course a bit dusty.

Constant watering kept the track in good shape.
Constant watering kept the track in good shape.

Bas and Cody Kelley battling it out.
Bas and Cody Kelley battling it out.

Bas Van Steenbergen could not quite put it together today but not for lack of trying.
Bas Van Steenbergen could not quite put it together today but not for lack of trying.

Rope-a-dope versus Billy the Kid.
Rope-a-dope versus Billy the Kid.

Austin Bubba Warren proving that he is a real threat taking out Fabien Cousinie
Austin (Bubba) Warren proving that he is a real threat, taking out Fabien Cousinie

Bubba Warren dominated the night and got second place.
Bubba Warren dominated the night and got second place.

Kialani Hines was a crowd favorite for going all the way however she was eliminated by Vaea.
Kialani Hines was a crowd favorite for going all the way, however, she was eliminated by Vaea.

Keegan took a nasty crash in his heat against Bubba. Thankfully he walked away unscathed.
Keegan took a nasty crash in his heat against Bubba. Thankfully he walked away unscathed.

Keegan Wright lost it coming in to the final slalom section. Thankfully no serious injuries and he was on his feet right away.
Keegan Wright lost it coming into the final slalom section. Thankfully no serious injuries and he was on his feet right away.

Elliot Heap keeping it low over the last jump.
Elliot Heap keeping it low over the last jump.

A new course has been cut in to Blackcomb mountain.
A new course has been cut into Blackcomb mountain.

Clare Hamilton pumping.
Clare Hamilton pumping.

Slavik takes Sterling to land in 3rd place in the small final.
Slavik takes Sterling to land in 3rd place in the small final.

After a close finish Slavik had a little accedent. No one was hurt thankfully.
After a close finish Slavik had a little accedent. No one was hurt thankfully.

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Ropelato beating out Warren but not by much.
Ropelato beating out Warren but not by much.

Jill Kintner looking in fine form despite being sick all week.
Jill Kintner looking in fine form despite being sick all week.

Queen Jill takes takes the gold
Queen Jill takes the gold!

Bro-mantic.
Bro-mantic.

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Mitch
Mitch

Vaea
Vaea

Jill
Jill

Dual Slalom podium.
Dual Slalom podium.

Sunset Champagne showers.
Sunset Champagne showers.


Regions in Article
Whistler Mountain Bike Park

Author Info:
trevorlyden avatar

Member since May 5, 2014
58 articles

12 Comments
  • 5 0
 So I watched the live feed last night & thanks for putting it on. Slalom unfolding live is always a great show.

Am I the only one who thought it wasn't a very difficult course in the aspect of "slalom" racing? It was a curvy track, but didn't look like too many folks had issues making transitions from turn to turn. The flat turns up top were a good challenge but the rest looked like a drag race. Amazed that Slavik didn't blow everyone's doors off with the gate starts.

Edit: Oh...and MERICA!!! BUBBA!!! MITCH!!! JILL!!! CLARE!!!
  • 7 0
 I'll admit it wasn't as extreme as some courses of late, but as a dude that raced slalom in the PREVIOUS century, the course brought some good old-school vibes in places. Of course, back in the Jurassic, we just railed some flat turns with elastomer forks, all got beat by Brian Lopes, and then drank a lot of beer.
  • 1 0
 @bizutch: That was WWE style racing! Smile Muddy jumps with no backside, and then someone hits you in the face with a folding chair!
  • 5 1
 Did we just witness a real slalom course? Like one a real mtb should be used on?
  • 2 0
 ropo bringin the heat on the solo
  • 1 0
 do you know if its just a regular 5010? with a 'regular 5010 length' fork?
  • 1 0
 @tobiusmaximum: and 5010 is leet for SOLO
Do you know that? It's because the 5010 is the successor of the good old SOLO ;D

The fun fact here is that Mitch is running Specialized tires. Butcher in the front but don't know what's he rolling in the back.

Does anybody know more about the setup of Mitchs SC5010?
  • 1 0
 @scrump: speci is still his tire sponsor
  • 1 0
 i grew up enjoying dual slalom and then 4x kinda took over. this kinda thing will always have a special place in my heart.
  • 1 0
 no mention of what Straits mechanical was? come awn PB
  • 3 0
 Broken chain. They mentioned it in the live commentary.







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