Day 1 Photo Epic: On Top Of The World - EWS Whistler 2019

Aug 11, 2019
by Dave Trumpore  



Photo Epic presented by ODI
photo

The results are in from the first stage of the weekend in Whistler and as always there was plenty of drama to be had high on the mountain. With a descent of over five thousand feet and totaling 20 minutes or more, plenty can go wrong. Just one stage to start the weekend in Whistler, but those statistics are more in line with a full day of racing at any other venue. Add ever changing weather to the mix and you have a recipe for a proper nail biter

The women's race was able to dodge the incoming storms, and while a bit windy and chilly high on Whistler peak, it was mostly a dry and sunny affair. Not surprising at all would be Isabeau Courdurier taking the lead, but by how much (or little) was the real story. We have come to expect large time gaps in the women's race and on a stage as long as Top of the World, it was a pleasant surprise to see the top four within 25 seconds of each other once the dust had settled. Sunday's five stages are no walk in the park either, and with small margins separating the top ladies, the race is very much up for grabs. You can be sure Noga Korem, Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau, and Katy Winton will be feeling confident as they take the fight to Isabeau.

For the men, it would be a Yeti Cycles one-two punch by Richie Rude and Shawn Neer at the front of the field. Former Whistler local Josh Carlson took third. Richie has a history of crushing the long Top of the World stage and he has used his strengths there to come from behind and win on two occasions in Whistler. He was the odds on favorite to kick things off today, but to do so by a dominating 33 seconds was mind boggling. With rain moving in on the riders during their runs, there were a few surprise faces at the front of the order - and a lot of big-name contenders much further down. Most notably, series leader Florian Nicolai and current number two, Eddie Masters. Both failed to land inside the top ten.

Sunday will be a new day and there's still a lot of racing to do in Whistler. History tells us that it's never over until it's over on these iconic trails. On more than a few occasions, disaster has struck riders down at the very last minute. The fight is on, so be sure to check back tomorrow for all the action from the final five stages here in Whistler.

Whistler peak would be the start of this years Whistler EWS rathe than the closer that he have been accustomed to seeing year after year
Whistler peak would be the start of this year's Whistler EWS rather than the closer that we have been accustomed to seeing year after year

The riders approaching the top of the highest peak at Whistler resort. Slight thunderstorms delayed the lift for about 20 minutes however.
The riders approaching the top of the highest peak at Whistler resort. Slight thunderstorms delayed the lift for about 20 minutes, however.

A rider on the storm
A rider on the storm.

Top of the...Top of the World.
Top of the...Top of the World.

The riders watching the competition dropping in.
The riders watching the competition dropping in.

Dylan Wolski would be the first Pro man on track just as the weather began to get cranky
Dylan Wolsky would be the first Pro man on track just as the weather began to get cranky'

Whistler s famous high alpine trial Top of the World kicked things off
Whistler's famous high alpine trial, Top of the World kicked things off.

Felix Burke fresh off a BC Bike Race victory and now looking good on the enduro bike.
Felix Burke fresh off a Trans BC victory, and now looking good on the enduro bike.

The recent rainfall has kept the rocks relatively sticky allowing riders to keep it pinned in these granite corners.
The recent rainfall has kept the rocks relatively sticky, allowing riders to keep it pinned in these granite corners.

Rae Morrison navigating the dusty rocks high on Whistler Peak
Rae Morrison navigating the dusty rocks high on Whistler Peak.

Sam Hill coming in hot and sliding into 5th after the day.
Fifth for Sam Hill, more than 40 seconds down.

Remi Gauvin embraced the pain of a 20 minute run to come 8th
Remi Gauvin embraced the pain of a 20-minute run to come 8th.

There was nothing polite about the way Richie Rude crushed all the competition today by well over 30 seconds. He will start the second day of racing with a truly massive lead.
There was nothing polite about the way Richie Rude crushed all the competition today by well over 30 seconds. He will start the second day of racing with a truly massive lead.

Miranda Miller rounds out the top five and could very much still make the podium
Miranda Miller rounds out the top five and could very much still make the podium.

Julie Duvert drops into the moonscape that it Top of the World
Julie Duvert drops into the moonscape that is Top of the World.

A beautiful night on the top of Whistler
A beautiful night on the top of Whistler'

Isabeau Courdurier came out on top but not by the usual large margin we are used to seeing
Isabeau Courdurier came out on top but not by the usual large margin we are used to seeing.

4th and in the mix for Katy Winton
4th and in the mix for Katy Winton.

DO NOT USE
Not the start to the weekend Adrien Dailly was looking to have.

antoine Vidal leads out the U21 men after day 1
Antoine Vidal leads out the U21 men after day one.

The top of the world trail is as classic high alpine adventure.
The top of the world trail is a classic high alpine adventure.

Peter keeping his eyes on the prize.
Peter keeping his eyes on the prize.

The Giant Factory Racing team has two racers sitting in the top 10 not bad after the first stage.
The Giant Factory Racing team has two racers sitting in the top 10, not bad after the first stage.

Rain and fog made visibility an issue for the last 30 riders on track
Rain and fog made visibility an issue for the last 30 riders on track.

Alex McAndrew on the first minute of a 20 plus minute stage
Alex McAndrew on the first minute of a 20-plus minute stage.

Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau would come 3rd just a few seconds of the pace of Noga Korem
Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau would come 3rd just a few seconds of the pace of Noga Korem.

The storms slowly began to roll in
The storms slowly began to roll in.

It was looking a bit more like winter than summer just as the top men took to the track
It was looking a bit more like winter than summer just as the top men took to the track.

Eddie Masters was a rider we expected to see in the mix on the long and rough opening stage but a last minute rain storm may have dampened his performance a bit.
Eddie Masters was a rider we expected to see in the mix on the long and rough opening stage, but a last minute rain storm may have dampened his performance.

Keegan Wright putting the power down as the rain began to fall
Keegan Wright putting the power down as the rain began to fall.

Noga Korem kept Isabeau honest on the long opening stage and is very much in touch to battle for the lead on Sunday s 5 stages
Noga Korem kept Isabeau honest on the long opening stage and is very much in touch to battle for the lead on Sunday's five stages.

Codey Kelly just above the tree line on the longest EWS stage of the year
Codey Kelly just above the tree line on the longest EWS stage of the year.

Into familiar territory for most as they enter the Fitzsimmons zone
Into familiar territory (for most) as they enter the Fitzsimmons zone.

Dodge dive dip duck and dodge
Dodge, dive, dip, duck, and dodge.

The crowd has found it s heckelers rock.
The crowd has found its Heckler's Rock.

Elliot Heap looking fast coming in to the final quarter of stage 1
Elliot Heap looking fast coming into the final quarter of stage one.

Leonie Picton focused through the ribbon of single track that is Too Tight
Leonie Picton focused through the ribbon of single track that is "Too Tight."

A top to bottom of Whistler mountain is not without it s sprints
A top to bottom of Whistler mountain is not without its sprints.

Hugo Pigeon dominates the Afternoon Delight tech section
Hugo Pigeon dominates the "Afternoon Delight" tech section.

The last bit of tech is some of the most daunting on the course with wheel swallowing holes and a steep grade. Zakarias Blom Johansen makes light work of it though
The last bit of tech is some of the most daunting on the course, with wheel swallowing holes and a steep grade. Zakarias Blom Johansen makes light work of it.

Going into tomorrow the weight falls on Ritchie Rude as he takes the first stage with a 32.54 second lead.
Going into tomorrow the weight falls on Ritchie Rude as he takes the first stage with a 32.54-second lead.

No big views today unfortunately
No big views today, unfortunately. Hopefully, we'll have more sun than rain tomorrow, but at the moment, that seems unlikely.


Regions in Article
Whistler Mountain Bike Park

Author Info:
davetrumpore avatar

Member since Feb 26, 2008
269 articles

26 Comments
  • 22 0
 Great work Dave, Trevor and Chris! Amazing images. Enjoyed this during my pre-ride breakfast this morning. Our local mountain doesn't have quite the vertical, but we still have great trails and big rocks, and after seeing this I'm psyched to get out there right now!
  • 4 1
 Doin the same right now, breakfast and photos!
  • 26 2
 Those jeans.....
  • 6 1
 ..apple bottom jeans. Boots with the fur ...
  • 3 0
 weird, i thought the denim destroyer was in lenzerheide this weekend for WC DH
  • 1 0
 Yeah, he must workout.
  • 5 1
 Wow! Just wow. These are all singularly beautiful images. An overwhelming feast that I will have to come back to. Thanks very much everyone accountable for these.
  • 3 1
 It's great that they made a longer race this year but it's disappointing to have the main stage where the race is won at the beginning. What could happen to Rude with a 30s margin ?
  • 5 3
 Someone could sip his water bottle and probably catch up.
  • 7 6
 Way too many rocks and far too many clouds in this photo gallery @davetrumpore. I think I speak for the majority when I say MTB photographers are overdoing the geological and meteorological side these days. The focus needs to be on close-up rider pain-faces with more high contrast and vignette in post production.
  • 3 1
 Hahaha thanks Nathan. I saw some golden photo critiques in the comments under the WC stories as well. Pretty sure if we didn't take the pics random people feel the need to tell us they hate, and that we are sub par photographers for taking, there would be no pics here at all haha.
  • 2 1
 @davetrumpore: true story. You are the best photog on the circuit, keep up the content gold!
  • 3 0
 @davetrumpore Felix Burke won BCBR not Trans BC. Awesome Pictures as usual.
  • 2 4
 yup - Scott Countryman won Trans BC One is a gnarly blind enduro event the other is a duff XC ride that attracts the majority of average MTB youtubers...
  • 1 0
 20 min.-trails are sooo cool! Absolutely love it. Had three of them this saturday and two shorter ones. I can still feel them... :-)
  • 2 0
 Amazing photography!! Damn those folks are good.
  • 2 0
 Fabulous pictures, thank you
  • 2 0
 Amazing pictures! Big mountains, moody clouds and plenty of vert.
  • 2 0
 beautiful part of the world
  • 1 0
 Great pics today. Impressed and envious
  • 1 0
 Raining today. They have to use the same tires for both days right?
  • 5 0
 They do not. Only frames, swingarms, forks, and wheels are not allowed to be changed without penalty
  • 3 0
 Seen someone walking down with a snapped trek frame hahah. Big penalty I’m guessing
  • 2 0
 @mtbmaniatv: probably minimal compared to the time they got from walking haha
  • 1 1
 Adam in 80th...decent start boy. Get after it.
  • 1 1
 Nice shots! Rude looking quick!







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