The final edition of Crankworx Innsbruck is underway, and Canada's women wasted little time in making their presence felt.
Georgia Astle sidewinded her way to triumph at the Thule Official European Whip-Off Championships, upgrading last year's bronze medal to gold. It is the inaugural time she's ever won this particular event.
Kirsten Van Horne didn't make it easy, and settled for silver after an excellent performance in her own right. Bronze went to Lucy Van Eesteren, who joined her Canadian compatriots on the podium.
Among men, it was Edgar Briole on top and Gaspard Mahieu Pin in third for France, sandwiching American runner-up Eddie Reynolds.
"Sun came out and made for primo European Whip-Off conditions at Crankworx," Astle quipped on social media after the contest. "First time on the top step for me, buzzing!"
Innsbruck, Austria boasts one of the globe's most scenic venues, and riders eagerly tackled the largest jump in Crankworx Whip-Off history. Trail crews laboured until the last minute to groom the course due to recent heavy rainfalls.
"[It was] the perfect jump for Whip-Off," Briole told reporters. "It was a little bit slow in the beginning but after that, it was just so sick."
