The Canadian Open Enduro is an emerging event concept that puts some of the world’s best downhill, freeride and cross country riders through the paces with a gruelling top to bottom race in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

Britain’s Fionn Griffiths took first place in the Pro Women’s category but it was a battle hard won. Bike choice was critical but Griffiths opted for her Norco Team DH bike and despite putting a larger cassette on, the hills still proved challenging.

“I haven’t done a race like this and it required a lot of endurance,” says Griffiths. “It was not fun while I was doing it, I was yelling at myself all the way down like a crazy person. There was one bit when we came around a tight corner and there was a huge hill I wasn’t expecting. My legs just died, I had to get off and walk for 45 seconds. Three people passed me but I was able to pick them off on the downhill sections and get to the bottom first.”

Brian Lopes proved his supremacy in the men’s race with yet another win on the Kokanee Crankworx stage – he was the only rider to finish in less than 20 minutes and took first in the Pro Men category against Whistler locals Matt Ryan in second and Chris Johnston in third overcoming an early charge by Whistler’s Richie Schley.

“I spent a pretty sleepless night trying to figure out how to stay on Brian’s wheel,” says Matt Ryan, who played a role in the design of the course route, “Brian showcased some amazing riding out there.”

The Canadian Open Enduro was a new event for Kokanee Crankworx and was designed to be the ultimate all-mountain challenge where gravity alternatively helped and hindered the racer. The top racers proved there has to be a complete package of skills and fitness to rule the Enduro. In developing the course, significant input from some of the world’s best cross country, freeride, downhill and Enduro riders was taken.

It was a single run, mass start affair based on individual categories and as expected, downhillers mixed it up with cross country riders. The course began at the top of the Garbanzo Zone starting with a short lap around the Chic Pea Lodge and then a high speed peddling section into a single track descent. The course dropped a total of 3,800ft with 400ft of climbing to contend with.