What is it with all the “z’s” and “x’s” going on theez dayz? xcuse me, pleaz.

Buchar wins as you’ll read below, and Manon Carpenter comes 7th.

CLAIRE BUCHAR WINS FIRST PLACE IN THIRD ANNUAL WOMENZWORX
Nychka and Buchar split the $1,000 prize after riding the “Boneyard on Steroids” at The Gala

WHISTLER, BC, August 11, 2009 – It was survival of the fittest today as ladies endured a full day of riding in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park at the third annual WomenzWorx event presented by Sombrio Girl; proving once again, that girls can hold their own in the Bike Park. The event included two open competitions and one invitational called The Gala, which took place in the legendary Boneyard Slopestyle course.

“The event went really well. The girls have progressed immensely from last year. We were impressed and we had a lot of fun as well, which is always important.” says Katrina Strand, professional mountain biker and Womenzworx co-founder. “We were really happy to incorporate the The Gala slopestyle event into the programming because it gave us chance to showcase the skills that the girls have. We were there in the Boneyard riding the same features as the boys, which is great exposure for these ladies.”

In the true nature of what WomenzWorx is all about, an exhausted Claire Buchar and limping Stephanie Nychka shared the $1,000 grand prize for The Gala Slopestyle event.

The Gala saw the two ladies charge the challenging slopestyle course as they foreran the course for their male counterparts, who will compete in the Monster Energy Slopestyle on Saturday, August 15. Five pre-qualified spots quickly whittled down to two as several injuries forced competitors out of the event. In the end Buchar and Nychka trooped on.

The challenging Gala course included a large jump, several step downs and two technical wall rides. The riders were heading into the course untested as yesterday’s rain inhibited their training session.

“I tried to make it smooth, hit my lines and have fun,” said Buchar, who described the course as “the Boneyard on steroids”.

Buchar, a racer at heart, made it look like butter, while an athletic Nychka, battling a broken ankle from earlier competitions, completed the Gala course and one-upped her competition by hitting the fire-engine red SRAM Drop – which was not part of the official Gala course.

This puts her in a small category of male and female riders who have hit the drop so far. Nychka went down at the end of her last run, but shook it off with a smile.

“Girls are breaking ground here,” said pro-rider and commentator Darcy Turenne, who was unable to compete in the Gala due to a previous injury. “I think this slopestyle is really going to show the world that women can throw down too.”

A total of $6,000 cash was awarded at WomenzWorx. Earlier in the day some 24 female athletes competed in two competitions: a technical descent on In Deep and a jumps and tricks competition on Dirt Merchant.

Four of the top six winners of WomenzWorx were Canadians. In the pro women’s category, Whistler local Claire Buchar (CAN) won first with a score of 31.40, Lorraine Blancher (CAN) took second with 28.10, and Kathy Pruitt (USA) captured third place with 27.93.

Meanwhile, in the amateur category Jamie Hill (CAN) one first with a score of 21.10, Lisa Mason (CAN) won second with 14.70 and Rachelle Frazer (AUS) won third place with 14.44.

An advisory board made up of world-class riders Kathy Pruitt, Katrina Strand and Lisa Lefroy, as well as Andrea Kraft of Sombrio, helped to develop WomenzWorx and ensure it was an inclusive event that would grow the sport of slopestyle and downhill mountain biking for women.

Full results here.

Tomorrow, get ready for the Air Downhill during the day and then the Saint Deep Summer Photography Challenge in the evening. The photography challenge features best shots from six pro photographers (Mattias Fredriksson, Yorick Carroux, Harookz, Dan Barham, John Gibson and Bryan Ralph) who spent three days last week shooting in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The slideshow takes place in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Tickets are $15 and available at Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations.

CLAIRE BUCHAR WINS FIRST PLACE IN THIRD ANNUAL WOMENZWORX