Helene Fruthwirth on Crankworx Whistler

Photo by Dan Frew

I tell you now the real story about ‘crankworx’ in Whistler and the Kiwi boys...not the usual basic reports which you can find on the ordinary bike pages.
I came to whistler disappointed and just wanted to fly home. My recent performances at both previous world cup races had let me down. One was in Mont Sainte Anne and the other in Bromont Canada.

In Mont Sainte Anne I had a technical defect and in Bromont I crashed so hard that I couldn't ride on. I was so upset about everything and I couldn't believe why I am actually racing when just the podium makes you happy…..and sometimes to reach this is so hard. I said to myself forget it and keep your head up doesn't matter what comes next it could be worse.

I know it sounds kind of weird for people who are looking at my life as a racer. "Girl you are living your dream, how can you be sad?" That's what I hear when I'm disappointed about my results. But believe me racing has a darker side and when you don't race you can’t understand that.

ANYWAY I came to Whistler to enjoy the other spirit of riding your bike and I couldn't believe how great it was! It's the best place on world to ride your bike and have fun all the time. Crankworx, one of the biggest bike event in the world, was running at the same time I was there.

You must image a big hill with chairlifts - hundreds of bike trails. Okay maybe not hundreds but of course 1000 lines. You can choose hundreds of people with whom you can share your passion. Riding your bike. The two weeks in whistler were my official holidays this year and I rode everyday and pretty much non stop. I met so manyawesome people. Everyone special on their way. Chris Beverland a Kiwi boy with whom I rode most of my time inspired me to learn doing whips and have style in the air. Harriet Harper and her boyfriend, who gave me a ride to whistler in their massivecamper truck. Dan Frew, who went up with us to take great pictures. Katrina Strand, a great downhill chick from Whistler, who spreads out good vibes. Sheryl McLeod a Kiwi Lady who rocks her bike for years. All the Manitou/Sun Ringle crew who helped me out. Davis English and Jeff Bryson , two locals I rode with. Tom Hey, an England dirt jumper whom I met on my last evening.

Alta Lake Beach

Thanks to the Kiwi boys I stayed with Nigel, Rueben, Ryder, Kieran and Cam and of course Dan McMullan who helped me out again. I crashed at his place. But this time I could help him too with this blog, which you are reading at the moment. These boys hmm how can I say...gave me the feeling of home. I mean not the house- the house was nearly all the time a big mess and I slept in the Kitchen/living room on a big mattress on the floor. And I also don't mean that most of them came home in the middle of the night, completely waisted and jumping around on my mattress. I mean more that they listened to me when I needed someone to talk to, cooked for me, bought me a big cake for my birthday- Sang the happy birthday song and I was welcomed from the first second i knocked on their door.

Of course I wouldn't be a racer if I wouldn't have taken part in few Crankworx competitions. But I tried to take them not so seriously likea world cup and it worked for me I had a lot of fun. In one event I ended up on the podium. I did my longest downhill race ever. Called Garbonzo. It tookme exactly 19 minutes from the top to the bottom in race speed. I ended up 5th in this event. I wanted to do the Crankworx women event too but I got ill on my birthday and I didn't feel for competing. On Friday I raced the Giant Slalom which was hard work on my big bike, considering that I was the only one with a downhill bike instead of a light 4x bike. I managed 3rd.

holding my chec! 3rd place in Crankworx Giant Slalom

On Sunday I race the Canadian Open race. I liked the track very much...hmm I nearly like every track so but anyway I crashed in my race run and ended up on the 11th place, which was exactly the last. Combined with the fact that I had to leave the bikeparadise I was little bit sad. I will try to come back next year again and stay longer.

Now I am sitting in the airplane number AC033 to Sydney to race there my next world cup. I hope it will work out better for me than at the otherones.

see you your LENE