Event: 2008 Crankworx Giant Slalom

Greg Minnaar - Giant Slalom Pro Men Winner

Friday’s Crankworx main event was the Giant Slalom. Pro’s and amateur’s alike pushed themselves to the limit down the longer than usual dual slalom track. Greg Minnaar beat out Brian Lopes to take the top spot for the Pro Men with Anneke Beerten winning for the Pro Women. Check inside for a full report with pictures and ladder results.

Greg Minnaar - #1 Pro Men (click to enlarge)

Jared Rando (click to enlarge)

Cole Bangert (click to enlarge)

Chris Kovarik (click to enlarge)

Chris Herndon (click to enlarge)

Brian Lopes - #2 Pro Men (click to enlarge)

Andrew Neethling (click to enlarge)

Cedric Gracia (click to enlarge)

Gee Atherton - #3 Pro Men (click to enlarge)

Cody Warren (click to enlarge)

Brendan Fairclough (click to enlarge)

Guido Tschugg - #4 Pro Men (click to enlarge)

Full Ladder Results

Race Report by Crankworx/Whistler PR:

MINNAAR FINISHES #1 IN GIANT SLALOM AT Kokanee Crankworx 2008

Beerten Takes Spot in the Pro Women Category

WHISTLER, BC August 15, 2008 – The GIANT Slalom took center stage today, Day Seven of Kokanee Crankworx 2008. With a list of world-class riders charging for the finish line two-at-a-time, spectators onsite and watching via webcast on Crankworx.com and Go211.com witnessed big crashes and big finishes in the high speed, head-to-head race event.

The GIANT Slalom weaved its way through the Boneyard Slopestyle course in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park with two riders going head-to-head over jumps and through berms into the finish corral in the village. Each rider had two runs with combined times counting for the qualifying rounds and seeding.

Reigning champ Brian Lopes crashed hard in the final race leaving him in second place overall. First place winner Greg Minnaar stopped on course to check on Lopes before riding down to claim first place in what could quite possibly go down as the most exciting final in Kokanee Crankworx history.

With Greg Minnaar of Pietermaritzburg, SA and Brian Lopes of Laguna Beach, USA finishing first and second respectively; Gee Atherton of Llangynog, UK took third and Guido Tschugg of Amerang, GER took fourth In the Pro Men category.

“The race was close in the first round,” says Greg Minnaar. “It’s a tiring race and we were both giving it our all, its good to win.”

The Pro Women category was won by Anneke Beerten of Marienvelde, NED; Sheryl McLeod of Dunedin, NZ took second; Helene Fruhwirth of Giesshuebl, AUS took third place; and Lorraine Blancher of Revelstoke, BC took fourth.

“It was a good race and a good course,” says Beerten. “I’ve been training all winter on the BMX track and it really paid off this year.”

The GIANT Slalom was the highlight of Day Seven at Kokanee Crankworx 2008. Day Eight includes the highly anticipated Monster Energy Slopestyle including a Live Webcast on Crankworx.com and Go211.com from 6:00 – 7:00pm as well as more live music on the TELUS MainStage featuring Hot Little Rocket from 3:15 – 4:00pm and Dana D &South Rakkas Crew 6:00– 7:30pm.

For more event results and live webcasts of the Monster Energy Slopestyle, VW Trick Showdown and the “Giant Slalom” check out www.Crankworx.com and www.G0211.com

[2008 Crankworx Giant Slalom Gallery] [2008 Crankworx Coverage]