Slovenia’s Tadej Strah Locked in for Deep Summer

Pinkbike Wildcard Winner for Crankworx Whistler Deep Summer Photo Challenge Confirmed

Crankworx is excited to welcome Slovenia-based photographer Tadej Strah as the official Pinkbike Wildcard Winner for the 2026 Deep Summer Photo Challenge. 

The Public Votes earned our sixth and final photographer a place on the Deep Summer stage, battling it out for the $5,000 grand prize and the title of 2026 Deep Summer Champion. In one of the closest Wildcard competitions Pinkbike and Crankworx has ever seen – Tadej secured the public vote in the final few hours! 

Tadej impressed the Pinkbike community with his clean, technically strong shots, and a clear passion for mountain bike culture.  

Joining a powerhouse lineup that includes Josh Woodward, Leon Butler, Marissa Krawczak, Mathew Wanbon and Nikola Klarova, Tadej now has just three days, from July 24-26, to shoot and edit his submission. The final slideshows will premiere in front of a live audience on Tuesday, July 28 at Whistler Olympic Plaza. The full line-up of contestants can be found here. 

Crankworx continues to place a spotlight on community-driven storytelling, urging each participant to explore themes of connection, inclusivity, and representation in mountain biking. Judges will score entries on Theme, Storytelling, Community Integration, Technical Composition, Originality & Creativity, and Audience Engagement. 

Alongside an action packed three-day shoot, this year competitors are also invited to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. A visit designed to ground their storytelling in a deeper understanding of the Indigenous histories and lands they’ll be creating on. 

Our final six are officially locked in, and the stage is set for an incredibly close competition. With six outstanding photographers bringing their own unique vision and style, the battle for the 2026 Deep Summer title is anyone’s to win. 

Learn more about Crankworx Deep Summer Photo Challenge at: crankworx.com/event/deep-summer  

Crankworx Whistler gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Resort Municipality of Whistler in the production of Dirt Diaries and Deep Summer. 

Get ready for Crankworx Whistler! With a bit more than two weeks to go, this is your sign to secure your exclusive VIP access, register to race, or finally book your long weekend in Whistler.