Dirt Columist Seb Kemp was going to send some daily reports and photos from Crankworx but I think he immeresed himself in the relaxing side of things and just hung out.
This was going to be the final word on Cranky 09 but I know I missed out the Canadian downhill, and Ron and Jobbert from DirtTV have a few videos in the pipe so there may well be more later.

Here’s Seb Kemps summary of the Drunkworx experience, all words no pictures:

So Drunkworx is over. the bike park ain’t quite as busy, and there’s not any energy drink companies peddling their drug cans to babies. however, what are left with is the most monumental collective hangover, and rubbish to pick up off the trails.

Every year I try experiencing Crankworx slightly differently. You see there’s so much going on that anyone can experience it in different ways.

You can hide away and be all moody and scathing of its western capitalist values, rampant over crowding and make comments to everyone you meet about how “Crankworx is whats wrong with the sport. It doesn’t represent what I’m about or what my mountain biking means to me”. This is fun and arguably very much true but then just reading Noam Chomsky doesn’t make things better does it?

Another way to experience Crankworx is to immerse yourself in all the racing and events. Theres about a million different events everyday and if you try doing them all you will be knackered by the end of it. I’ve done this before and had a bloody good fun but some days I forgot what bike I should be riding and where. Its also rather expensive.

You can experience it as a rider and spectator. Theres plenty racing and events to watch, you can check out many of next years new bikes and products, take a bike out for demo, or watch demos. This is fun also and is a relaxing way of immersing yourself in mountain biking without actually participating in the biking side of things. If you plan to ride the Bike Park alot during Crankworx then prepare to be standing around alot. the queues for the Bike Park are HUGE during Crankworx, the trails take a pounding when that many punters come dragging their brakes down them, and alot of trails get closed off for the millions of events been held. my advice, take it easy and don’t be planning to get many laps in during Crankworx week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fir6neas6I8

Random video number 1.

The way I experienced this Crankworx was to hide the bikes away and just get fully immersed into the bottomless pint glass of Drunkworx. You see there’s a million parties going on all week, there’s a million old friends in town, and a million more friends to make. Most ‘locals’ know that Crankworx is useless for riding, so they may as well take advantage of the fact that there’s so much fun to be had off the bike. The general feeling is that Crankworx is a bloody huge circus gong show so just embrace the fact that there’s no riding to miss and just live the week in a perpetual state of hangover.

My vote for best party was the Dincus Party at the GLC on Monday night. It’s was like the first Phat Wednesday apres of the year but with more people. Everyone was super excited, super drunk and super stoked. It was like a love in. Thanks to Dincus (Chad Hendren) and the staff of the GLC for a wicked night.

The best overall night out was wednesday night. That was the night of the Saint Deep Summer photo challenge. I loved it not just because the team I helped won (look out for an article on Mattias Fredriksson winning show) but because the hall it was held in was standing room only by the time the shows started. For me this demonstrated a huge turning point in mountain biking. Rather than products or riders taking the glory and being the focus of lust, for a change it showed a huge respect by mountain bikers for the craft of photography and allowing the photographers behind the camera to take centre stage. This competition is a big deal, and i’m sure that in subsequent years the mighty photographers of out sport will be battling for simply an invite to this competition. This year many of the photographers could be regarded as freeride photographers so next year I think it would be interesting to have race photographers in there, like Sven Martin and of course Victor Lucas. but more about that at a later date…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn29DvMITu4

Random video number 2

Oh yeah, and the after party was fun even if we made the mistake of going to the sausage fest that was the Bright like Night party at Garfs for a bit. Talking of which the party that had most hot chicks was a tie between the Oakley party at GLC on tuesday night or the Monster Party at Longhorn on Friday.

But anyway, Drunkworx 09 was immensely fun even if ultimately tiring, expensive and damaging to the body. There was a really good feeling throughout all of Crankworx. Everyone seemed very upbeat, respectful of each other, and excited to be part of something exciting. I’m sure there are many people travelling home today with chronically debilitating hangovers but with many ideas and inspiration to take mountain biking forwards…at least as far as the next party.

Big thanks for the hard working service staff of Whistler, the largely voluntary crew take make Crankworx happen and to everyone that came with open arms and a smile.

Seb Kemp

Crankworx final word from Seb Kemp