Race Recap: Phat Wednesday June 5 - Whistler Bike Park
Race Report - Phat Wednesday #2 presented by Kokanee
June 5th 2019
Funshine Rolly Drops – Smoke and Mirrors – Blueseum – Wednesday Night Delight – Ho Chi Min
The Whistler Mountain Bike Park truly has it all. After this very race report waxed lyrical about the virtues of summer last week, episode 2 of Phat Wednesday presented by Kokanee couldn’t have been further from the balmy season opener.
Heavy periods of rain and cold temps made conditions challenging for the 200+ who were game enough to take on the tight turns and slick patches down Funshine Rolly Drops – Smoke and Mirrors – Blueseum – Wednesday Night Delight – Ho Chi Min.
The weather was not the nights only disruptive feature, Bike Park Volunteers doubled down their duties as course marshals and wildlife watch as the race went on bear hold multiple times at multiple locations.
An interesting weaving trail at the best of times, rock rolls and wood were tricky to navigate, particularly amidst the heavy heckling up top on Funshine’s famed double rock roll.
The chirping had little effect on Ryan Griffith who stormed to his second successive Male Grom win. The 2018 champ showing ominous form as he sat atop an all-star Grom podium which also featured Anthony Shelly and Dane Jewitt.
Mason Gautrey also backed up last week’s impressive time, by laying down a 3:00.603 to take home the Junior Male category and crack the overall top ten whilst Heidi Schenk claimed top spot in the Junior Female field.
Mathieu Hebert was knocked off top spot in the Veteran Men, pipped by Adin Daneker with Stefan Koch rounding out the top three.
Michelle Chang was another who continued her strong early season showing, winning the Master Female division over Lisa Mason and Meredith Eades. Whilst on the Master Male side, Adam Mantle took the biggest envelope for the first time in 2019, pipping Adam Dagg and Andrew Linley in a tight field.
Is anybody really going to stop Christina Chapetta? The champ easily brushed aside challenges from Katherine Sharp and Cailin Carrier in the Female Open competition.
Fastest time of the day went to Chris ‘Karver’ Kovarik with a 2:50.569 which saw him crowned male open champ. In a hotly contested category, Karver snuck home by less than two 10ths of a second ahead of Chris Kenward, with Whistler Bike Park team rider Trevor Burke taking home third.
#worldcupwednesday returns for round three on June 12th. You’d be crazy to miss it.
Junior Female (17 and under)
1 32 Heidi Schenk 4:01.496
2 152 Spencer Pascal 4:11.535
3 86 Sofia Guy 4:16.393
Junior Male 14-17
1 49 Mason Gautrey 3:00.603
2 100 Nicolas Mikkelsen 3:13.576
3 35 Ethan Donohoe 3:14.001
Master Female 30+
1 52 Michelle Chang 3:25.286
2 178 Lisa Mason 3:27.850
3 262 Meredith Eades 3:30.168
Master Male 30+
1 153 Adam Dagg 3:00.892
2 134 Andrew Linley 3:01.872
3 131 Sterling Christenson 3:02.954
Male Grom (13 and under) Podium
1 175 Ryan Griffith 3:07.553
2 122 Anthony Shelly 3:12.923
3 35 Ethan Donohoe 3:14.001
Veteran Male 40+ Podium
1 26 Adin Daneker 3:04.393
2 171 Mathieu Hebert 3:05.721
3 9 Stefan Koch 3:14.258
Female Open Podium
1 204 Christina Chapetta 3:14.859
2 5 Katherine Sharp 3:17.425
3 248 Cailin Carrier 3:21.146
Male Open Podium
1 250 Chris Kovarik 2:50.569
2 96 Chris Kenward 2:50.723
3 179 Trevor Burke 2:51.578
Stay tuned for details on next week’s Phat Wednesday trail as there is something special in store. Course announced on Tuesday afternoon via Whistler Blackcomb Events Facebook page.
Phat Kidz 2019 will also kick off next week on Friday June 14.
Full race results and season standings available at www.spokesman.online
Words by Steve Crowley. Photos by Clint Trahan.
Author Info:
Member since May 9, 2011
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
The chance to race one of my old school heros on open class, then have a beer afterwords. Try to do that as an NHL or NFL fan. Gronk isn't having beers with the chumps in the upper levels.