Whistler waited a long time for its World Cup debut and, when the moment arrived, delivered in spectacular fashion. Massive crowds lined the course all weekend. The racing was phenomenal. The atmosphere was electric.
It may have taken a long time to happen, but it was absolutely worth the wait. If you didn’t make it to the first year, start planning now to be there in 2027!
Whistler, and fans from all over B.C., the U.S., western Canada and beyond, showed up in force for Finals day. Multiple riders commented that there were more fans on course all weekend, from practice through qualifying and even the earlier races, than at any other race this season. Whistler waited a long time for this one!
Anywhere that you could see the course, there was a crowd of people. As space filled up early on in the day, fans were getting creative to get a clearer view.
Leatt and Nukeproof Axess racing won the rogue branding for the weekend. After the on-hill DJset, thse giant inflatable balls crowdsurfed their way down the mountain and into the finish corrall (where they were very quickly removed by security)
The atmosphere in the finish corrall was electric and packed, even with a shuttle or steep hike, up from Creekside Village.
Wildlife was everywhere in Whistler!
Line Frener (Norco adidas Race Division) started the days finals off with a huge whip which, unfortunately, ended in a huge crash. But from the first junior women to the last elite men, riders were sending it hard all day.
Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Unbroken) put down a heater of a run to unseat Luke Wayman with just a handful of riders left to drop in. That time was, crushingly, called back shortly later by officials. Lachie was DSQ’d for going outside the course markers. #bringbackthetape is already trending, with even DH legend Sam Hill chirting WBD for the new course markings.
From Frener crashing as the second rider down to Henry Kiefer unclipping then crashing almost across the finsih line, the massive finish line drop created more drama than many expected on Sunday. But, after over three minutes of relentless, rooty, rocky racing on 1199, riders were just barely holding on by the finish line.
Canada flags were everywhere on course. When Gracey Hestreet dropped in, the crowds roar elevated from very loud to absolutely deafening. A huge podium for the Canadian just 0.2 behind world champion Vali Höll.
From the podium, Hemstreet went straight to a never-ending lind of youn fans, including many girls, asking for autographs and selfies. I have the feeling there will be a huge wave of fast Canadian junior women in 2-5 years!
Asa Vermette was the last rider on the mountiain, nailing a perfect weekend. P1 in Q1, P1 in finals. With that, the U.S. rider leapfrogs Jordan Williams to take first overall in the World Cup standings going into the final weekend in Lake Placid, N.Y. Iles and Goldstone didn’t get their storybook ending, but Vermette looks on track to claim his.
Seriously, what a crowd!
When the clouds that soaked Friday’s training session eventually lifted mid-Saturday, Winter hinted with fresh snow on Whistler’s peaks that the changing of seasons is just around the corner.
One more downhill World Cup. One more cross country World Cup. One last chance for racers to get what they want out of 2026 before we start looking forward to next season.