Thursday, August 14, 2008

The Jim Beam Air Downhill took over the Whistler Mountain Bike Park today with over 300 competitors racing in the one-run format on the famed A-Line course. Brian Lopes of Laguna Beach, CA was the fastest competitor for the third straight year finishing with a time of 4:22.10 - 1.32 seconds faster than the rest of the field.

The Jim Beam Air Downhill runs the length of A-Line over the GLC Drops into the village.

With nearly 100 jumps on-course, A-Line is the most celebrated and well-known downhill trail in mountain biking.

“A-Line is a really great trail to ride, but when it comes to racing on it, you need to be on point,” says Brian Lopes, Jim Beam Air Downhill winner. “It’s a technical race and with the level of riders here, every mistake counts.”

Lopes claimed first with a time of 4:22.10; Greg Minnaar of Murrieta, CA took second place with a time of 4:23.42; Chris Kovarik of Whistler, BC took third place with a time of 4:27.60; and Marc Beaumont of Craven Arms, UK took fourth place with a time of 4:28.77.

In the Pro Women category, Rebecca McQueen of Whistler, BC took the top spot with a time of 4:51.05; Micayla Gatto of West Vancouver, BC took second with a time of 4:51.82; Stephanie Nychka of Beaver Lodge, AB took third with a time of 4:53.59, and Fionn Griffiths of Shrewsbury, UK took fourth with a time of 4:55.70.

“I love A-Line,” says Rebecca McQueen, winner of the Pro Women category. “It’s a fun course and I just charged it. I think the rain we had the other day helped the course a lot.”

The Jim Beam Air Downhill was the highlight of Day Five at Kokanee Crankworx 2008. Day Six includes the VW Best Trick Showdown from 5:30-7:30pm including a Live Webcast on Crankworx.com as well as more live music on the TELUS MainStage featuring Small Sins from 4:45 – 5:30pm and Supernatural from 5:30 -7:30pm. Tomorrow is also the Nike 6.0 Nike ID. Go online at the Nike store in the village to make your own custom Nikes.

For more event results and live webcasts of the Monster Energy Slopestyle, VW Trick Showdown and the “Giant Slalom” check out www.Crankworx.com.

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Published by mtb.colonies.com: 12:25 PM

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Each rider passed through the judged sections and was awarded points based on five main criteria; style, fluidity, tricks, amplitude and creativity/originality. "We are very happy with this year's Gala, the event ran very smooth and the women shredded it," says Lisa Lefroy, professional mountain biker and Womenzworx co-founder. "It's such a great platform for an all-women's event and the women love riding together, I'm just so stoked."

In the Pro category - Lorraine Blancher of Revelstoke BC took first place with a score of 30.0; Stephanie Mychka of Beverly, OR took second with a score of 29.8; tied for third place was Clair Buchar of Whistler, BC and Casey Brown of Revelstoke, BC with a score of 27.5 and Kathy Pruitt of Santa Cruz, CA took fourth place with a score of 27.3

"It's awesome to have an event for women based on the all-around riding of the athletes, not just one aspect of it," says Womenzworx winner Lorraine Blancher. "I'm not sure what to say except, I loved everything about the event and all the girls rode really well."

In the Amateur category - Eleanor Maxfield of Bristol, UK took first place with a score of 22.0; Kjersten Lone of Victoria, BC took second with a score of 20.8; Dawn Cashen of Calgary, AB took third place with a score of 19.8; Nancy Beaudette of Pemberton, BC took fourth place with a score of 19.5 and Kasi Stroshin of Whistler, BC took fifth with a score of 19.0.

Womenzworx, presented by Sombrio, was the highlight of Day Four at Kokanee Crankworx 2008. Day Five includes the Jim Beam Air DH as well as more live music on the TELUS Mainstage featuring Mother Mother from

5:30-6:45 and Plants and Animals from 7:00-8:00pm. NIKE 6.0 will also be at the NIKE store in the Village showcasing NIKE ID Thursday, August 14. 

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Published by mtb.colonies.com: 5:01 PM

Friday, August 01, 2008

WHISTLER, BC, July 31, 2008 – The music lineup for Kokanee Crankworx is confirmed and includes some of the hottest up-and-coming indie artists in Canada. The festival is known for its high action mountain biking events, but there has always been a great music presence and this year will prove even better. 

“The Kokanee Crankworx experience is pretty awe inspiring. It takes a serious band to compete with the high-energy environment that is created in competition,” says Tyl Von Toorn, Kokanee Crankworx Director of Music Programming. “We are proud to say we have been able to bring more than 20 artists to fit that bill.”

There will be two main shows a day throughout the festival, as well as the Kokanee Aftershock parties taking place at local bars and restaurants throughout the village. With the TELUS MainStage located at the base of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, in the middle of Skiers Plaza, spectators will have the best of both worlds; live action and live music.

The artist line up for this year’s TELUS Concert Series includes: Whistler regular K’NAAN, the Woodhands, Shout Out Out Out Out, Redeye Empire, Blue King Brown, Vince Vaccaro, Flash Lightnin, Five Alarm Funk, Mr. Something Something, Mother Mother, Plants and Animals, Small Sins, Josh Martinez, Hot Little Rockets, Dana D & the South Rakkas Crew, DJ Science and the always entertaining freestyle skills of Supernatural.

“There’s nothing like Kokanee Crankworx,” says Jeremy Roche GM of Kokanee Crankworx. “It’s a celebration of everything that’s great about Whistler, from the gravity-defying trails to the passionate people who live and play here.”

Over the past years, Kokanee Crankworx has continued its evolution to becoming one of the world’s signature mountain lifestyle festivals. Mixing mountain bike action, village expos, demos and the stellar lineup of music talent will further cement Kokanee Crankworx as the summer festival to attend.

For more information on Kokanee Crankworx and the entertainment line up, band bio’s and streaming MP3’s, visit www.crankworx.com

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Published by mtb.colonies.com: 2:02 PM