Whistler Bike Park Phat Wednesday Race Series - Race Two

The Kokanee Phat Wednesday Race series is definitely well attended by an elite field, however the series is designed as a grass roots race league. The purpose other than being a fun weekly social event for the local Whistler mountain bikers, is to introduce people to racing in a fun environment. A key element of that is progression so each week the race course gets gradually more challenging, more technical, more roots and drops.



Race 2 for the season was held on a combination of intermediate to advanced technical trails. Starting off on Angry Pirate, riders where challenged with some tight and rooty sections with some a few slippery sections thanks to the recent rain. Next up was the short and sweet World Cup Singletrack before finishing on Ho Chi Min to a flat out pedal to the finish line. The tight and pedaly course had many racers opting to bring out the “little” bikes for the evening and a few even made the podium. Sure, little bikes shouldn’t be winning DH races, but trail progression for this grass roots races is part of the beer league spirit.


In the open male category Chris Kovarik continued his dominance from week one taking the top spot and fast time of the day at 3:30.51. Both Remy Metailler and Denis Courchesne were able to move up one place this week taking second and third respectively.

Remy Metailler, took second place for the evening, check out the GoPro footage of his race run here.

The social side of Phat Wednesday races, catching up with your mates

In the open female category, chains were back on this week and Claire Buchar was able to claim back victory from Leonie Picton. Buchar’s impressive time of 3:50.60 would have placed her in the top 20 in open male. Georgia Astle rounded out the podium in third place in her first race for the series.


Shane Gayton, continued his winning streak on the trail bike taking first place in Masters Male with a convincing lead of over 12 seconds. Mathieu Hebert and Paul Stevens had a close battle for 2nd and 3rd with Mathieu just squeezing into second place with a time of 3:48.2 and Stevens ever so close in third, 3:48.51.

Whistler Bike Park - Phat Wednesday - Race 2

Over 260 racers turned out for Race 2 of the Phat Wednesday Series


The prize table. Racers have a chance to win a bunch of random prizes from our sponsors - SRAM iXS and many more.

For more information on the Phat Wednesday series please visit Whistler Mountain Bike Park

Photo Credit: Laurence Crossman-Emms

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MENTIONS: @WhistlerMountainBikePark, @Laurence-CE, @remymetailler

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