Week n Whistler

One year ago(August 2012), I attended my first Whistler Crankworx. I set a goal then that I would return in 2013 once I was old enough to compete in it and race the Fox Air DH. This August 10-17th, I returned to Whistler and learned that Crankworx is so much more than just the competitions. It’s getting to become part of something unique, special and fun. I’m back now and already thinking about next year.

If I had to write a post about everything that happened it would take forever. So, instead I’ll share my week at Whistler Crankworx with you via photos and videos captured along the way. If you would like to learn more about Crankworx just go to http://www.crankworx.com/.

Saturday August 10th

My family and I made the drive from Seattle up to Whistler. We decided to bring our Airstream Trailer and camp at Riverside Resort.

Sunday August 11th

Pro rider Katie Holden and Liv Giant worked with Whistler Mountain to close off ALine for the morning for an all girls training session. This was great as ALine is where I would be racing on Wednesday. This let me walk the gnarly parts course and talk to a instructors (that were all on different parts of the trail you could work on) about my lines and seeing if there was a different line for my race day.

Last year one of the events I got to participate in was the Womens Freeride Movement Airdome Ladies session. This event is super fun. It is held at the Airdome(like an indoor skateboard park – only for bikes) on Blackcomb Mountain.

Monday August 12th & Tuesday August 13th

Getting ready to race. I registered to race and picked up my race plate. At Crankworx they close the course to racers only for training runs. They let my coach Kat come with me radioing down – “There are some girls coming down with there mom.” They were right – Kat is are Trail Mom. It was great to have her with Kaytlin and I during practice and on race day.

On Tuesday night, Kaytlin and I went to the GoPro Dirt Diaries at the Whistler Olympic Pavillion. This event pairs up pro mtn bike riders with videographers and lets them tell a story about biking and whistler. This year Pro Rider Katie Holden was paired up with one of my friends from Duthie Hill – Jasper Wesselman. Jasper was the videographer who put together one of the sugar showdown videos. While their video didn’t win it was great!

Wednesday August 14th – Fox Air DH

“It’s go time…. Fast and Loose.” –Sam Hill

Today was race day. The weather was perfect at the start of the race and my warm up runs went great. I was confident and ready. Kaytlin and I put on our game faces and got on the lift to get to the top of the course.

My run was so much fun. Here at the bottom off the page is a video of me coming into the GLC rock drop and the finish.

I finished 3rd in Juniors(13-18yrs) and was happy to represent my country(USA), team(Sweetlines), and (Deity Components). Wednesday night, I received my hardware on the Whistler Olympic Plaza Stage. Kaytlin was there to celebrate with me. 🙂

Thursday August 15

Now that my competition was done it was time for fun. Today Sombrio held a great all girls event called #pumpedupchicks. Sombrio built a pump track in front of their rig in the Whistler parking lot. We got together and raced to see who could make it around fastest. One of the participants was a little suspicious. “Roberta” turned out to be Lord Robert Westerly UCI World Cup announcer. After the Sombrio pump track, we went to the Pump Track Challenge to watch Jill Kintner get her 4 win. It was so nerve wracking to watch but, she comes off with the win!! Thanks to Kaytlin’s mom for making the awesome sign.

Saturday August 17

The last day!!! Goodbye Whistler I will see you soon….

This week I loved spending time at Whistler with my family and friends. It was fun seeing all the high ranking mountain bikers from all over the world. Learning from them and even meeting them. This week was Adventure for me in some many ways that is so hard to explain. I cant wait for next Crankworx its going to be so much fun!!!:)