DEEP SUMMER
THROUGH THE LENS
Thomas Falconer takes us behind the scenes at Crankworx Whistler’s iconic photo challenge
Words and images
Thomas Falconer
The Crankworx Whistler Deep Summer Photo Challenge first stirred up my creative soul in 2009. I remember 17-year-old me thinking competing at Whistler would be the dream of dreams. When Crankworx came to Rotorua, it gave me a whole new opportunity to chase that dream in my own backyard.
For the readers who haven’t heard of the Deep Summer Photo Challenge, I’ll keep it short. Five photographers get invited to shoot over three days during either Crankworx Rotorua or Whistler. They then present a three- to five-minute slide show of images that tell a story. Judges look for epic, magazine-worthy images, an engaging storyline from start to finish and general technical ability. Shoot, edit and present, all in three days: it’s a mental marathon.
I’ve been fortunate to know the legendary photographer Graeme Murray since I was knee-high to a kneepad. He taught me a valuable lesson: dream big and set ambitious goals, because in 10 years you’ll have knocked off a bunch of milestones and you’ll be banging on the door of that dream.
In 2019, after 11 years of filming weddings and photographing cycling for fun, I got offered the opportunity to give CWX Rotorua Deep Summer Photo Challenge a nudge. I knew I was going to be up against some serious Kiwi talent, such as Hunter Paull and Henry Jaine.
“The concept for my story was a relatable one: escaping the daily grind to ride and party.”
The concept for my story was a relatable one: escaping the daily grind to ride and party. I pulled together a team of mates, locals and out-of-towners: Connor Hamilton, Elliot Smith, Mikey Haderer and Steffi Marth.
You’d best believe it was the biggest amount of admin I’d ever done for a single shot. When you get a party barge, a local DJ, a bunch of fun-loving individuals and Mikey Haderer doing a flat-drop backflip in his iconic budgie smugglers, you’re guaranteed a good time.
It turned out to be a winner, too, taking out the Stoke category, and the overall Crankworx Rotorua Deep Summer Photo Challenge. Not only that, but by winning Rotorua, I received an automatic entry to the Whistler Deep Summer Photo Challenge!
Unfortunately, Covid-19 brought the world to a grinding halt, putting my chance of competing in Whistler on hold. However, this gave me time to plan my storyline as I was going into uncharted riding territory.
2023 finally came, and the time had arrived to give this high school dream everything I had. I knew I needed to assemble my A-team again. This time, king budgie smuggler and Lord of Whistler Mikey Haderer was joined by Propain factory rider Dylan Crane and the ever-soulful Cody Johnson, along with Celia Ferguson, Jordy Scott and the circus monkey Kurtis Downs. These six legends have spent more time in Whistler than I’ve listened to the Backstreet Boys on road trips. I knew I was going to have the time of my life, shooting rad images and creating some epic memories with this team.
I arrived in Whistler a week before Deep Summer kicked off; just enough time to familiarise myself with the place and ride a bunch of trails I’d always wanted to ride.
I originally wanted my story to be about my first time in Whistler, but it had been done a few times before. So, I thought, why not base it on my team’s Whistler memories? I decided to make it a conversation between four mates, Mikey, Cody and Kurtis, recalling good times and maybe a few foggy ones too.
Dylan had this relatable memory of doing the Enduro World Series in Whistler, dubbed “Crankzilla” for its 3000ft of climbing in scorching heat. He remembers falling asleep on the only uplift and seeing people in tears of pain at the top of the final stage. But with all this fitness–testing came the epic trails Whistler regulars know and love.
Next up was Cody. He considers himself a bit of a Crankworx local, making the yearly pilgrimage to Whistler, but always makes time to shred the rock slabs and lush trails of Squamish along the way. We drove down on Saturday morning with the crew and shot some trails, then went for a midday lake swim while we waited for the sun to bathe the iconic In–And–Out Burger slab in golden light. It was definitely worth the view.
Mikey Haderer is the king circus wrangler. He’s attended Crankworx Whistler since its inception, seen the rise of all the greats and rubbed shoulders with the legends I grew up admiring. CWX Whistler is an experience and a gathering place of what he likes to call “like-minded Muppets”.
“Crankworx is not only about the riding and events, but also the nightlife that’s known as ‘the underground’.”
Crankworx is not only about the riding and events, but also the nightlife that’s known as “the underground”. It’s a whole other side of Whistler that we decided to highlight, as a lot of the other Deep Summer competitors spent time in the alpine, which I wasn’t familiar with. I am familiar with tequila and good times, however.
I was introduced to Kurtis Downs through Dylan Crane, as I needed a trick pony and that’s exactly what Kurtis does best. We went for a session down Dirt Merchant so he could find jumps to go big on. His memory was his first and only time at Whistler. He comes from a freestyle BMX and motocross background but hasn’t ridden mountain bikes much. However, he was very familiar with freeride and tricks, as he’s part of the Nitro Circus crew. It only takes one day of fun riding to feel connected to the world of mountain biking, he said. I couldn’t agree more.
“It only takes one day of fun riding to feel connected to the world of mountain biking, he said. I couldn’t agree more.”
Recreating these four memories put me right inside them, riding tech trails at pace, seeing the Squamish slabs up close and personal, watching Kurtis style up Dirt Merchant and polishing off some beers. All in the name of unlocking core memories.
Unfortunately, I didn’t walk away with the coveted King of Deep Summer, but I created lifelong friends and ticked off teenaged Stumpy’s dream.
My advice to anyone wanting to do the Deep Summer Photo Challenge is to take a riding trip to the city where it’s held before you attempt it. That was my biggest mistake in attempting CWX Whistler Deep Summer. There was definitely much more I could’ve done if I’d had more time and energy to spend riding and scouting the valley trails and the bike park. At Whistler, the locals took the top spots… funny how that goes.
Listen to your riders; they know what they’re capable of. This was shown to me on the first hour of shooting my Rotorua Deep Summer submission. Connor and Elliot showed me what was possible on a bike, which then opened my creative imagination.
I want to give a special thanks to Jon at SR Suntour for putting me up for the week of CWX, along with the continued support throughout my Deep Summer submission. Jim Montrose at Fanatyk Co bike shop for letting me crash on your couch during my scout days and keeping my bike running mint. Ariki Tibble, Director of Crankworx Rotorua, for taking a chance on me to compete in this event. Baxter Maiwald, you helped shape my storyline and made it more authentic. I’m still gutted you weren’t able to be a part of it, but there are always Dirt Diaries… sign me up!