The vast majority of the course is like this – fast, flowy and wide

Here it is – day 5 of 5.0 and the second DH race of this year’s competition. Taking place on the legendary berms, doubles and whoops of A-Line, it’s a face paced, flat out blast of a course that doesn’t let up until the finish line, but one that’s easy for both beginners and pros to ride safely – slow guys like me land each jump on the top of the long tables, the faster racers are hitting the transitions each time for a smoother ride.

In the same way the course blends into one homogeneous brown jump in my mind, it’s actually difficult to write too much about a race that passed off with incident or trouble, so I’ll keep this one short and sweet – Brian Lopes took the title for the third time running, showing all the young guns there’s still fight in the ol’ dog, and Whistler local Rebecca McQueen powered her way to the front of a field lacking sure favourite Rachel Atherton.

Next up is the all new “Best Trick” competition, which for all intents and purposes looks like a “Slopestyle Lite”…

Lots of pedalling, the whole way

Air DH results

Pro Men

1 Brian Lopes 04:22.10
2 Greg Minnaar 04:23.42
3 Chris Kovarik 04:27.60
4 Marc Beaumont 04:28.77

Pro Women

1 Rebecca McQueen 04:51.05
2 Micayla Gatto 04:51.82
3 Stephanie Nychka 04:53.59
4 Fionn Griffiths 04:55.70

Old-school DH style fast shale section

The infamous GLC drop, 50 yards from the end of the course

10/10 for style, but that doesn’t count for anything in this event

All pics: Dan Barham