Crankworx – Sliced & Diced

So what have we learnt from the year’s biggest mountain bike festival? We give Crankworx the Sliced & Diced treatment…

1. Brosnan is back

After rupturing his spleen at an iXS Cup earlier in the year, Troy Brosnan arrived at Whistler with a lot of question marks hanging over his head. It was the first ‘proper’ injury of his young career and his ability to bounce back mentally as much as physically would be critical. He came second in the Ultimate Pump Track Challenge and won the dual slalom… Job done then.

Pic: Official Crankworx

2. Smith is the king

Three out of three says it all – that’s a lot of wall space given up to novelty-sized cheques. Stevie Smith still mightn’t have won a World Cup but his form at Crankworx would suggest that it can’t be far away. The calibre of riders he saw off and the margins involved only added to the magnitude of what he accomplished. We’ve said it once so we’ll say it again, Stevie for the Worlds?!

3. Semenuk can be beaten

Poor Brandon… Shiny new gold Red Bull crash-hat in hand and the weight of the Whistler home crowd on his shoulders and he just couldn’t produce at the Red Bull Joyride. The weather-induced reshuffling and high winds won’t have helped but still, he can be beaten. Either that or he’s now pissed off and will be harder to beat than ever…

Pic: Official Crankworx

4. Bernard Kerr can whip

Of course, we never doubted this fact but as soon as the Whip-Off World Champs videos landed we couldn’t help Kenco streaming from our nostrils as Bernard seemed to take off from half way up the lip. If only he could’ve got both feet back on… That was huge.

Pic: Official Crankworx

5. Thomas Genon might just be the future

We’ve heard from more than one reputable source that the young Belgian will be a fully painted-up Red Bull athlete within the next week or so. His run amid the wind and egos of Joyride (aboard a hardtail) showed creativeness and balls beyond his years.

Pic: Official Crankworx