Presenting some of the longest, steepest and gnarliest trails in the 2017 series, Whistler's round 7 of the Enduro World Series saw many riders changing their bike set ups from burlier tyres to longer travel forks. So what were the Aussies riding?
You can read our race recap and all the Aussie’s results, here.
The full highlights video is well worth watching too, which can be found here.
Sam Hill – Prototype Carbon Nukeproof Mega
Representing lucky number 13 with an amazing EWS season so far, including 2nd in Whistler which extended his overall lead. No major changes to his bike from Aus, riding the same setup year round. Oh yeah, flat pedals!
SRAM XO1 Eagle 1×12 drivetrain with some extra zip ties for cable security. Not only a prototype frame, but even prototype Mavic tyres!
Jared Graves – Specialized Enduro
Graves chose to make the switch from the Stumpy to the Enduro and 29 hoops to deal with the extra gnar Whistler has to offer. Graves is also running CushCore tyre inserts.
Magura MT7 brakes with 203mm rotors. Some more creative zip tie cable guiding. Specialized Butcher tyres front and rear.Not being locked into a drivetrain sponsor means Graves can run what he wants. He opted for a full bitsa: SRAM XO crankset with Stages power meter, MRP chain guide, Shimano XTR mechanical derailleur, on a 10-42 11 speed SRAM cassette. Sadly, in stage one Graves dropped his chain, which later ripped his derailleur off, ending his race.
Josh Carlson – Giant Reign
Josh is pretty much local calling the Sea to Sky corridor home for many years; Josh is no stranger to what the day has in stall. After racing various Reign prototypes earlier in the season, he’s now on the new production carbon Reign. Neat frame bag for spares.
Chris Panozzo – Santa Cruz High Tower LT
The High Tower LT is a brand new bike for Chris, testing his big wheel skills. He’s also beefed up the fork to 160mm and 203mm rotors front and rear.
Spares at the ready. We’re devastated for Chris that a mechanical took him out of the race in stage one.
James Hall – Pivot Switchblade
The EWS dark horse, Cannonball opted for the relatively short travel Switchblade from Pivot, with 29er wheel set up. This bike has seen him through every EWS round bar Millau, and saw him finish in 36th in Whistler.
See James warming up on the Whistler trails and talking about his season so far, here.
Cannonball had his suspension serviced at Dunbar Cycles in Vancouver before coming to Whistler. They also bumped his fork up 10mm to 160mm. Same 2.5″ front tyre as Panozzo.
Josh Button – Kona Process 153
Competing in nearly every race here at Crankworx, the EWS is just day one for J Butt. Maxxis Minions with DD protection, DHF front and DHR II rear.
A Vivid Air shock has Button’s Process ready for anything Whistler throws at him. Spares taped on for easy access. Definitely no room to fit a bottle in this compact frame.
Jeremy Hamilton – Rocky Mountain Slayer
Whistler has been Jeremy’s base camp in between EWS Aspens and Crankworx. He’s been doing his homework of the trails from peak to valley. Running a CushCore in the rear as it improves the chatter of the wheel from rock deflection and provides the ability to run lower pressures.
Shane Gayton – Santa Cruz Bronson
Whistler local Shane knows most of the trails in the valley and isn’t afraid of a big day pedalling.
More and more coil shocks about this year
Jordan Prochyra – Giant Reign
From racing World Cups in Europe to Mont Sainte Anne, then racing EWS the next weekend, Jordan will be conditioned and ready for the long stages in Whistler.
Jackson Davis – Nukeproof Mega
Coming in hot to Whistler to back up his Mega Avalanche epic with his first EWS.
180mm XT stoppers. Jackson is part of the VANZACS crew. Check out their videos on YouTube.
David Maud – Specialized Enduro
Whistler Local well aware of the task ahead. His 27.5 Enduro is top notch with SRAM XX1 Eagle, and of course his spares are stashed in the SWAT compartment in the downtube.
Murray Stephens – Specialized Enduro
Horns up, ready to rock and roll. Murray’s 29er Enduro has a SAR coil and Absolute Black oval ring and chain guide.
Conor McFarlane – Intense Tracer
Our brother across the ditch having a warm up pedal before a big week competing throughout the rest of Crankworx.
Leonie Picton – Live Hail
No stranger to the World Enduro, Leonie is happy to be racing such a huge event right in her backyard. After some bad luck with flat tires in the past, Leonie has taken no chances with DH tires front and rear.
Fubars and saddle from Whistler based brand, Chromag.
Shelly Flood – Kona Process 134
A slightly shorter travel bike than fellow team mates on Processes but maybe she and Cannonball know something we don’t know.
Relatively short rear travel, but full size rotors to get some control back.
Tegan Molloy – Kona Process 153
Still getting her confidence back after a shoulder injury, Tegan says she’s strong and ready for racing.
Under 21 Men
Samuel Rubery – Giant Reign
U21 making it across to the northern hemisphere, escaping winter to see what a Whistler Crankzilla was all about. Sam finished in 22nd, just 5 minutes off the winning pace.
Blake Pearce – Giant Reign
Whistler Crankworx isn’t a bad destination for your first trip out of Australia. Blake finished two places, or 21 seconds, behind Sam.
Amateur Men
Josh Lyons – Specialized Enduro
Living just down the road in Squamish, Josh has had plenty of time over the years to become conditioned to any trail the EWS have to offer.
Shaun Fry – Yeti SB6
Shaun took a break from managing Arbutus Routes, a local MTB tour company, to race his home town trails.
