Race Recap: Phat Wednesday May 29 - Whistler Bike Park

Phat Wednesday Race Report: B-Line – May 29th


True to form, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park turned it on as only it can, delivering the perfect spring evening to welcome in the 2019 season of Phat Wednesdays presented by Kokanee.

The summer staple downhill series returned with a hotly contested race, a huge turn out and some impressive early season times.

The threat of some mooted rain and lightning didn’t deter 240 of the Sea to Sky’s fastest who geared up for the traditional curtain raiser down B-Line.

With some excellent early season conditions on the ever popular trail, markers were laid down by some familiar Phat Wednesday faces.

The 40 junior riders who came out showed the adults how it’s done. Fresh off his category win last season, Ryan Griffiths took the victory in a hotly contested Male Grom category with a 3:30.870 which saw the 13 year old crack the top 15 overall. There were also impressive results for both Lily Boucher and Mason Gautrey who collected maximum points in the Junior Female and Junior Male Categories respectively.
Mathieu Hebert picked up where he left off last season by storming home in the veteran men’s division. The big man bettering Andrew Gunn and Craig Wilson to stand atop the podium for the first time in 2019.

Christina Chapetta reigned supreme once again in the open female category, opening up an early points lead over Victoria Armstrong and Bailey Goldstone who fared well in her first race against the big girls.
In the masters' divisions, a chainless Laurie Citynski edged out last year’s series champ Michelle Chang whilst Kevin Clarke took the win in a Trevor Burkeless men's category.

Taking the plunge back into the Open men’s domain, Burke finished 5th in a mighty strong field. Taking the win overall was Ryan Mentakis who claimed the fastest time of the day with a 3:22.431 to pip the chainless Chris Kovarik, with Gareth Jones rounding out the podium.

Phat Wednesday presented by Kokanee returns next week on June 5th. World Cup Wednesday is back.



Male Grom (13 and Under)
1 14 Ryan Griffith 3:30.870
2 171 Dane Jewett 3:33.972
3 99 Floyd Guy 3:34.785

Conditions were perfect and the competition fierce across all categories.

Junior Female 13-17

1 170 Lily Boucher 3:56.377
2 100 Sofia Guy 4:00.868
3 30 Heidi Schenk 4:11.865


Junior Male 13-17
1 182 Mason Gautrey 3:23.495
2 177 Marcus Goguen 3:26.172
3 172 Coen Skrypnek 3:27.008


Veteran Male 40+
1 6 Mathieu Hebert 3:35.539
2 258 Andrew Gunn 3:37.275
3 81 Craig Wilson 3:38.305


From race kits to party shirts.


As always, the season opener features an optional chainless class for those looking to up the ante.


B-line was at its fast and flowy best.


Carrying speed through the open proves crucial on nights like these.


Master Female 30+
1 193 Laurie Citynski 3:48.345
2 255 Michelle Chang 3:49.658
3 238 Kate Gayton 3:49.843


Master Male 30-39
1 103 Kevin Clarke 3:28.176
2 7 Steve Storey 3:30.628
3 265 Maximus Danger 3:31.235


Female Open
1 156 Christina Chapetta 3:37.515
2 67 Victoria Armstrong 3:41.513
3 196 Bailey Goldstone 3:43.454


A huge thanks to all of the bike park volunteers, bike park patrol and trail crew for their early season efforts.

Male Open
1 73 Ryan Mentakis 3:22.431
2 154 Chris Kovarik 3:24.294
3 71 Gareth Jones 3:26.478


The Kokanee was flowing late into the evening at the GLC.



Next week’s course details announced on Tuesday afternoon. Follow Whistler Blackcomb Events on facebook for more details.
Words by Steve Crowley. Photos by Clint Trahan.

Full results and series standing available at spokesman.online

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MENTIONS: @WhistlerMountainBikePark

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