Brian Lopes Wins Canadian Open Enduro Presented by Kona Bicycles

Brian Lopes Wins Canadian Open Enduro Presented by Kona Bicycles
Anne Caroline Chausson Defends Her Title As Champion

Whistler, BC July 24, 2011 – Brian Lopes (USA) opened and closed the action at Kokanee Crankworx with gold medal performances. He won the Fat Tire Crit on July 15 and then took first in the newly designed Canadian Open Enduro, presented by Kona. Flyin’ Brian combined his downhill and cross-country skills to complete five stages in 25:42.74; beating Nicolas Vouilloz (FRA) who came in second at 25:54.18; and snagging the title from defending champion Remy Absalon (FRA) who completed in 26:09.78.

Anne Caroline Chausson (FRA) successfully defended her title in the Canadian Open Enduro, winning the five-stage, rally-style epic with a time of 28:55.00. Whistler’s Katrina Strand (CAN) completed with the second fastest time at 32:25.92 and Fanny Paquette (CAN) finished in 32:29.21 for third place.

The course was designed by Whistler local Richie Schley and featured varied terrain that now more closely resembles European Enduro races and favours the all-around rider. The ultimate all-mountain challenge took place in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and on some of Whistler’s best valley trails.

“Enduro is a growing genre of off-road racing that pits cardio and strength against nerve and skill. The race design is new to North America and uses a rally-style format involving five timed ‘competition stages’ linked by ‘transfer stages’ that are not factored into the overall time,” says course mastermind Richie Schley.

Today’s Canadian Open Enduro, presented by Kona closes the eighth iteration of Kokanee Crankworx. With record crowds and massive uptake on the live webcasts of each event powered by partner Freecaster.tv, Kokanee Crankworx was experienced by more people than ever before. Kokanee Crankworx 2012 will take place August 10-19, 2012.

Find full event results here: http://www.crankworx.com/index.php/results/kokanee-crankworx/2011-results/47-2011-results

Video highlights from this year’s event can be found on pinkbike.com and replays of each event in its entirety can be viewed on demand at freecaster.tv. Keep up to date on all things Kokanee Crankworx through crankworx.com, Facebook.com/crankworx and make to follow @crankworx on Twitter.

About Kokanee Crankworx
The eighth annual Kokanee Crankworx is presented by Whistler Blackcomb and the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Kokanee Crankworx is the biggest annual event held in Whistler and is also the largest freeride mountain bike festival in the world. Each year the best amateur and professional freeride, downhill and slopestyle mountain bike athletes gather for a ten-day, non-stop barrage of competition and celebration. Whistler has the world’s most diverse offering of mountain biking terrain, including 150 miles of single-track trails, 5,000 vertical feet of lift-accessed downhill runs in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, jump parks and 20+ miles of paved Valley Trail.

Source: Michelle Leroux

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