CRANKWORX SUMMER SERIES CANADA – SILVERSTAR: PUMP TRACK RECAP PLUS RIDERS SETTING THE BAR HIGH FOR AIR DH & SLOPESTYLE QUALIFIERS

That’s a wrap on the second day of Crankworx Summer Series Canada here at SilverStar Bike Park. The schedule was full on with the Pump Track training and race for all categories mixed in with some Air DH and Slopestyle training. The general consensus from the athletes has been all about finding the perfect balance of knowing when to ride smooth and knowing when to give it the gas.

The day started off with practice for the Title Slopestyle qualifiers Saturday, July 30th and finals this Sunday, July 31st. The Slopestyle athletes will be putting these past few days of practice to the test to see if the tricks they’ve been able to throw down will be enough for the judges during qualifiers.

“Practice has been getting more and more intense,” Nicholi Rogatkin commented. “Amazing to see so many young riders killing it and all the international riders getting fully comfortable on course! So many crazy tricks happening, all kinds of double backflips, big rotations, and combination tricks. Tomorrow’s qualifier is going to be a serious battle!”

Photographer: Clint Trahan

The intensity made its way from the Slopestyle course to the Pump Track with the athletes providing the crowd with extremely tight battles out on those rollers. Canadian, Bas Van Steenbergen and Australian, Harriet “Haz” Burbidge-Smith definitely went full gas on the pump track taking home gold in the open male and female categories of Crankworx Summer Series Canada – SilverStar.

If you’ve been keeping up with the results, this is Haz’s second gold of Summer Series Canada, and her first pump track win.
Photographer: Clint Trahan

“That was my first pump track win so I’m stoked on that, the Red Bull rider said of her winning run. “I like this course. Last year, the dirt was soft and I made a few mistakes in the soft sections and I was a little bit more fatigued I guess. I came in today a little bit chiller, had a nice nap before, and yeah I felt confident. I felt the confidence from yesterday too.”

The two golds in two days hot streak was seen from a few of the Summer Series athletes today. Drew Solmes, CWNEXT U15 rider took home his second gold of the Crankworx Summer Series – SilverStar, as well as Natasha Miller, CWNEXT U19, Canadian rider won her second gold of the Summer Series on the Pump Track.

Air DH Practice | Photographer: Clint Trahan

Many of the Pump Track gold medalists will be fighting to keep the hot streak going with the Air DH race tomorrow.

“Air DH will be a big sprint,” Vernon-local and ilabb rider, Bas Van Steenbergen said. “I did two practice laps today, and I felt good. I need to remind myself to breathe a little bit more. That track is easy to get all tensed up and pump too hard so it should be a good one! I obviously live close by so I’ve ridden the track before, but they did rebuild it this year so I haven’t ridden all of it too much. I’m excited!”

Here’s what some of the other top finalists from day two had to say about their upcoming Air DH race.

“Air downhill is definitely going to gas me the most. It’s hard work.” – – Harriet Burbidge-Smith

“The track is pretty loose at the moment so it will be good to not be super aggressive and keep it calm and smooth.” – Jackson Frew

“Did a few laps of Air DH practice, but still tired from Dual Slalom yesterday. I need to go to bed earlier I think.” – Drew Solmes

“The practice laps today for Air DH were so much fun. I love the course. I love the jumps and boosting them!” – Natasha Miller

Day three is teeing up to be a real nail-biter to see who will be on a heater tomorrow, and take the hot seat for Air DH. For those of you reading this, it’s currently a scorcher here at SilverStar, so heat-related witticisms only feels appropriate.

CWNEXT U15 Pump Track | Photographer: Clint Trahan

CWNEXT U15 rider, Leo Fogel won the hearts of the crowd with arguably the loudest cheers during his laps as he battled it out on the track today. Leo has earned a respectable 4th place at the Crankworx Summer Series Canada – SilverStar Pump Track race.

“Feeling really good today,” Leo said. “I’m excited because the guys I’m racing are older than me, and I’m happy I made it to the semis.”

Here are the results from today’s Pump Track podiums as well as the top two finalists getting entry into Crankworx Whistler.

Crankworx Summer Series Canada – Pump Track Results:

CWNEXT U15 Category:

  1. Zoe Witwicki (CAN)  // Drew Solmes (CAN)
  2. Tayte Proulx-Royds (CAN) // Noah Milner (CAN)
  3. Pearl Fogel (CAN) // Shepard Wood (CAN)

CWNEXT U17 Category:

  1. Hayden Damon (USA)
  2. Keith Bazinet (CAN)
  3. Lewis Allbon (AUS)

CWNEXT U19 Category:

  1. Natasha Miller (CAN) // Andrew Pickard (CAN)
  2. Lauren Damon (USA) // Justin Siever (CAN)

Open Category:

  1. Harriet Burbidge-Smith (AUS) // Bas Van Steenbergen (CAN)
  2. Caroline Buchanan (AUS) // Keegan Wright (NZL)
  3. Shealen Reno (USA) // Eddie Reynolds (USA)

Full results: crankworx.com/results/

We’ve got a double header tomorrow with Air DH followed by Qualifiers for Title Slopestyle at SilverStar Bike Park.

Photographer: Clint Trahan

Those moving on past the qualifiers will be in the finals this Sunday, July 31st. If you’re not able to watch in person, catch the Title Slopestyle at SilverStar Bike Park live on broadcast this Sunday afternoon at crankworx.com, pinkbike.com and EDGEsport TV.