In a summer season of blockbusters, the Mont Sainte Anne Franchise keeps on getting better. Maybe it’s because we normally come here after a slew of European bike parks but the brown carpet just seems to get rougher each year.

Photos: Seb Schieck

There’s a slightly re-worked set this year with a top section yawing left a bit earlier than normal through a cafe. It’s a novel little twist that leads into a new rock garden before firing back into the straightaways. Other than that, the rocks have sharpened their fangs, the sun has left a layer of blown out dust and the new sections look ready to batter bikes and bodies. Brown dirt and white rock, It’s going to be classic Mont Sainte Anne.

You don’t get to be on the World Cup circuit for so long without providing a great spectacle and we’ve no doubt we’re in for more this weekend, especially with a wet weather plot twist posted in the gondola hut.

For now though, let’s make hay while the sun shines and take our 25th walk down the Quebecois monster with an all-star cast.