August 9/09 11:16 am - Crankworx Opens with Dual Slalom - REVISED

Posted by Editor on 08/9/09
 

The 2009 Kokanee Crankworx Festival in Whistler, BC, opened Saturday night with the Dual Slalom.  Jill Kintner and Kyle Strait won the women's and men's Pro categories at the front of strong invitational fields.

Slopestyle heavyweight Kyle Strait, back on the race scene this year, upset Brian Lopes to win the 2009 Kokanee Crankworx Dual Slalom. The gates dropped to fast-paced action and big crashes, proving once again the Dual Slalom is a crowd pleaser.

With Strait having only a slight lead going into the final lap, it was anyone’s race. When the dust settled and it was all over, Strait had the upset, continuing his comeback and proving he is both a top racer and freestyler.

“I just rode as fast and as smooth as I could.  You can’t think too much about the race, you need to just ride,” says Strait.  “It’s awesome to get a good result like this.”

Now in its third season at Kokanee Crankworx, the Dual Slalom and its head-to-head format with riders pumping through rhythm sections and ripping through tight berms, makes for non-stop action from start to finish.

In the Pro Men category, Kyle Strait took first place, Brian Lopes took second place, Johannes Fischbach took third and Neko Mullaly took fourth.

In the Pro Women category, Jill Kintner finished first, Fionn Griffiths finished second, Canada's Micayla Gatto finished third and Melissa Buhl finished fourth.

The Dual Slalom kicked off opening day at Kokanee Crankworx 2009. Day two of the eight day Crankworx Festival includes the Monster Energy Garbanzo Downhill and the Ken Quon Cross-Country Event as well as a massive village wide demo and expo for all to enjoy.

Note:  Crankworx sent revised results for the Pro women, with Micayala Gatto now third, ahead of Melissa Buhl.