Competitions
Olympic medalist beats out current WC BMX champ for Pumptrack challenge.
Jill Kintner (USA) has taken her fourth consecutive win at Crankworx Whistler in the Ultimate Pumptrack Challenge, presented by RockShox. It was a night of upsets, airs, crashes and some of the best riders in the world duking it out for glory during Crankworx Whistler''s 10th Anniversary.  Expectations were high for Mitch Ropelato (USA) to earn his own four-peat, but these hopes were dashed when Martin Soderstrom prevailed in a semi-final battle that kept fans on their toes throughout Whistler Olympic Plaza. The men''s event was won by the flawless Adrien Loron (FRA).
"This is just such a fun event," says Jill Kintner. The Olympic Medallist in BMX had her work cut out for her tonight, however, as some of the finest dual slalom, fourcross and BMX champions showed up to challenge her three-year winning streak. "I had a little gate issue in the final but I had a smile on my face the whole time. It''s pretty special to win the four-peat [and as a result] I was pretty nervous. I''ll be real nervous next year." Kintner took her win in the final round against Australian BMX and fourcross technician Caroline Buchanan, while British fourcross National Champion Katy Curd rounded out the podium in third place.
Adrien Loron of France is no stranger to the podium at Crankworx after winning the Les 2 Alpes Pumptrack Challenge, presented by Rockshox, at Crankworx Les 2 Alpes in earlier in July. After Ropelato had a bobble that put him out of the final, Martin Soderstrom ran into his own bad luck when he hit a soft patch of dirt in the second last corner of the final run. He couldn''t catch Loron after that point.
"It''s like a dream for me," says Loron. "I came to Whistler just to have fun and to ride my bike; to win here is just so cool. For sure, Whistler is the best place to ride a bike."
The course for the Ultimate Pumptrack Challenge, presented by Rockshox, was a thing of marvel and precision again in 2013. The same crew of Adam Billinghurst, Andrew Gunn and Kenny Smith was tasked with building an elite-level pumptrack in Whistler Olympic Plaza in only nine days from start to finish. Despite the tight timeline the crew still managed to design and perfect a track that was bigger, more technical and more impressive than ever. The Ultimate Pumptrack Challenge, presented by Rockshox, is becoming known as a Crankworx Whistler crowd favourite both because of the art of the track is raced on, and also because of the fast-paced, high-action racing that can be seen right from Whistler''s Village Stroll.