Spoke Magazine

Crankworx day 5: Silent fingers and flat landings

Posted by Seb Kemp on Friday July 22 2011

More original Crankworx coverage photos from Spoke Magazine! Today James Allen shoots up A-Line of high powered excitement. Brian Lopes has won the Air DH race at Crankworx five times previously but flying saffa Andrew Neethling put an end to his winning streak yesterday.

The Jeep Air Downhill is a very popular race and yesterday over 344 competitors ripped down the most famous DH course in the world, A-Line. The Air DH course runs the entire length of A-Line, finishing at the base of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park with the legendary GLC Drop. Andrew Neethling (RSA), claimed first with a time of 4:13.34; Brian Lopes (USA) took second place with a time of 4:14.28; Mick Hannah (AUS), took third place with a time of 4:17.22.
In the Pro Women category, Anne Caroline Chausson (FRA), claimed first with a time of 4:33.16; Jill Kintner (USA) took second place with a time of 4:40.98; Sarah Leishman (CAN) took third place with a time of 4:42.48. Yes read that again because it wasn’t a misprint; Man-Caroline (pictured above tweaking it up not nodding down) won the race by over seven seconds!

This was perhaps the spookiest thing I have ever witnessed. When last man down Gee Atherton rode past, the crowd decided to give him the silent finger. Absolute silence and 40 people putting the middle finger in your periphery must have weirded him out. As most narcissists will know, silence is perhaps the biggest psychological weapon.

Fairclough and Brosnan decided to pull a mini train for their runs in matching kits.

Neethling on the hunt for beer tokens.

Lopes gets a hard time. When he came across the line and his time wasn't quicker than Neethling's the crowd cheered. He might not be the most popular guy but he is one hell of a racer.

Image Gallery (7 Photos)

  2. This was perhaps the spookiest things I have ever witnessed. When last man down, Gee Atherton came down the crowd decided to give him the silent finger. Absolute silence and 40 people putting the middle finger in your periphery must of weirded him out. As most narcissist will know silence is perhaps the biggest weapon psychological weapon.
  4. Lopes gets a hard time. When he came across the line and his time wasn't quicker than Neethling's the crowd cheered. He might not be the most popular guy but he is one hell of a racer.
  6. Neethling on the hunt for beer tokens.

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