Jill Kintner

4X Qualifier

They did best of two runs, thank goodness. I had a front flat in my first run on the first straight, second run was better:) We had about 6 or 7 girls, 11 pro men, think 50 something people total, small turnout. Cedric had a pedal blowout all the way through the pro line, but saved it with crazy maneuvering, he went up for run #2 and qualified second behind Lopes, Marossi and Neethling are in there too somewhere, the cut was top 8 men. Airline lost Prokop's bags, so he had to sit out and cheer for lopes:), Just kidding, he wasn't cheering, he was quietly having a snack:).

4x Finals
So damn wet. Luckily it wasn't gooey wet, we had thin fast mud :). No point in even changing clothes for the finals, not a good day for my white kit, it's done. Track was saturated and visibility was tough. Keeping those goggles defogged and dry was the hardest part.

Lopes was the only one out there on a hardtail,,, as the number one qualifier, thought it would have been pretty easy for him to make finals, but a rear flat tire in the semi kept him out of it. Marossi and Neethling advanced. In the other round Cedric and JS advanced. Final cedric had the snap with Marossi in 2nd and neethling closing in. In the second to last turn Neethling pulled the move, but unclipped in the next turn and got passed back, gutted. His first 4x final at least, and $1,500 for 3rd place, not too shabby. There weren't a whole lot of passes going down, but the course was still fun to ride. First straight was particularly good, got to have horsepower and timing through the bumps, it separated people a little bit. Anyway, Cedric took home $3,000 for his win. Crankworx is well worth the time out in the rain for 4x:)

I won the Girls Quali, semi, and final. Lane choice was best in the middle of the track, I was in 3 all day. Final run I had a good pull from the start, just kept it smooth and safe. Fee 2nd, Joanna Peterson 3rd, Lynne from Scotland took 4th, and Leanna 5th.

Pro Men Final
1. Cedric Gracia (FRA) Commencal Oakley
2. Michal Marosi (CZE) Gravity Group
3. Andrew Neethling (RSA) Mongoose
4. JS Therrien (CAN) Dincus

Pro Women Final:
1. Jill Kintner (USA) GT
2. Fionn Griffiths (GBR) Norco
3. Joanna Peterson
4. Lynne Aitchison

Really awesome to see promoters get a race organized like this one. Big title sponsors like; Kokanee , VW, telus, dose.ca, rip.tv, etc, concerts, live coverage on the jumbotron tv, commentators, sweet prize purses, shuttles. Lot of media people here too , all the main North american ones, even MBUK:). Regardless of the weather, and the delays, this place rules, always a good time here!! Thanks to Bryn for standing out there in the Rain for me , Steve (GT Team manager) for being a legend , GT for my little bike of glory, monk for the tune up, Matt for keeping the Oakleys tip top, Red Bull for energy, Sram for smooth trigger shifts, and gibsonpictures.com for some photos.
www.crankworx.com .

Tomorrow is the Garbondo DH race, but it is supposed to rain even more. I wouldn't be super motivated for that, but some people love mud riding hehe.

Slalom track is unrideable, it is going to take a bit of sun to make that thing hold together. Looks long, but mini, like a pumptrack, all tight little berms.

US national champs were going on back in Vermont this weekend. Slalom race was today, Melissa Buhl and Chris Herendon won. Didn't see tara's name on the resuts, thought she would have been there at least. Ec wasn't in the top 4, not sure what happened there, Big house should have owned it, but he was runner up. Seen a few top US riders riding here at Whistler instead, Keene, ET, Lopes, myself, Leanna. Not really that important of an event anymore, hope it gets better for next year, would like to race it again, felt bad for missing it, but not that bad... Much happier being here, couple hrs drive in the morning and I'm home. COngrats to the winners.

Men's Slalom Final
1. Chris Herndon
2. Rich Houseman
3. George Stephenson
4. Joe Haley

Women's Slalom Final
1. Melissa Buhl
2. Kathy Pruitt
3. Lisa Myklak
4. Caroline Jarolimek