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KOKANEE CRANKWORX WILL HAVE THE LADIES PULLING TRICKS AND GETTING DIRTY AT 3RD ANNUAL WOMENZWORX COMPETITION PRESENTED BY SOMBRIO GIRL
Open Format Competition for Women Showcases Technical Descents, Jumps and Tricks
WHISTLER, BC July 16, 2009 – Kokanee Crankworx is calling all the ladies with the 3rd Annual WomenzWorx competition, presented by Sombrio Girl, August 10 to 11, 2009. An open competition designed by women, for women, WomenzWorx is set to showcase professional and amateur female riders in a fun and social event focused on technical descents, jumps and tricks.
An advisory board made up of world-class riders Kathy Pruitt, Katrina Strand and Lisa Lefroy, as well as Andrea Kraft of Sombrio, helped to develop WomenzWorx and ensure it was an inclusive event that would grow the sport of slopestyle and downhill mountain biking for women.
“We want to showcase the caliber of women’s skills and progression at the world’s premier mountain bike event. Having this opportunity to engage amateur and professional riders will without a doubt elevate the profile of women in bike,” says Andrea Kraft, from Sombrio. “Currently there are only a handful of women specific mountain bike events, even on a global scale. WomenzWorx provides the showcase, $4,000 in cash and significant of prizing from our sponsors”.
WomenzWorx consists of two open competitions and the showcase event, the Gala. The Gala is an invitational event held in the Boneyard, Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s legendary slopestyle course. Sixty riders in total can register for WomenzWorx in the professional and amateur categories; and one to five athletes from that field will be invited to compete with North America’s top female riders in the Gala for a prize purse of $1000 cash.
The Gala’s pre-qualified professional riders are Lorraine Blancher, Stephanie Nychka, Casey Brown, and Claire Buchar of Canada, and Kathy Pruitt of the United States. Based on performance in training on August 10, up to five more riders will be invited to compete with the pro riders in the Gala. All Gala participants will have a hand in determining the queen of the hill since the Gala is peer-judged.
“Gala participants will judge their peers. The hope here is to create a sense of community and camaraderie which seems to be essential in the long term success of women participating in mountain biking,” says Kraft. “WomenzWorx is a fusion of slopestyle and downhill disciplines in a fun and supportive setting which we anticipate will encourage more ladies to participate our sport that we are all so passionate about.”
The registration event pages for Kokanee Crankworx can be accessed through www.crankworx.com or through www.karelo.com. Amateur registration fees are $55 plus GST and professional registration fees are $65 plus GST. Register online prior to August 6 and save a $10 on-site surcharge.
Space permitting, onsite registration will be available starting August 7. The Athlete Centre will be open from 12-5pm August 7 and then from 9am-3pm for the balance of Kokanee Crankworx. On-site registration will be available space permitting, as some events have caps on registration. No day-of registration will be offered, only check-in for pre-registered competitors. Advance registration is strongly recommended.
Keep up to date on all things Kokanee Crankworx through www.crankworx.com and make sure to add @Crankworx via Twitter for all the latest news.
WomenzWorx Event Schedule
Monday:
9:00am-noon Registration
1:00pm Rider’s Meeting (Location TBA)
2:00-5:00pm Open Training
5:00-7:00pm The Gala, Slopestyle Training & Invitational Selections (Boneyard)
Tuesday:
10:00am-noon Training (mandatory pass through each zone)
Noon-2:00pm Technical Descent (In Deep)
2:30-4:30pm Jumps & Tricks (Dirt Merchant)
6:00-7:00pm The Gala – Slopestyle Invitational
7:15-7:30pm WomenzWorx Awards Ceremony
MEDIA NOTE: Whistler Blackcomb is pleased to provide high resolution photographs available for editorial use, downloadable at the following link. Please credit the appropriate photographer and Whistler Blackcomb. http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/photo/index.htm
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