Steve Smith Memorial DH closes out 2019 Canadian downhill season at Mt. Washington

Mount Washington once again hosted the final downhill race on the Canadian season calendar over the weekend, when the Steve Smith Memorial DH returned to the Vancouver Island ski resort.

Many of the countries best showed up to race the final event in the BC Cup / Dunbar Summer Series 10th season, as well as to celebrate and carry on the legacy of the legendary Canadian racer.

After braving the lines at BC Ferries, or driving from other areas of Vancouver Island, racers were greeted by wet and wildly unpredictable weather on the mountain. The forecast was for between 40 and 60 mm of rain to fall over the weekend. Mother Nature delivered on that promise, drenching Saturday practice and much of Sunday.

Over two days, there was also sun, fog and even brief spats of hail to add to the challenge of Mount Washington’s classic “Monster Mile” downhill track.

Challenging conditions produced worthy champions across categories at the series final, and podiums were filled with riders who already had World Cup and Canada Cup medals under their belts this season.

2019 Steve Smith Memorial DH: Elite Men and Women

Kirk McDowall (Unior Devinci Factory Racing) edged out Mark Wallace (Canyon Factory Racing) to win the elite men’s race. The result caps off a string of excellent results for McDowall, including a top-15 at World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne. Island local and Smith’s protogé, Mark Wallace was second.

Henry Fitzgerald (Norco Factory Racing) finished third. Duncan’s Colin Grant (Cowichan Cycles) 4th while C4/Norco Racing’s Adam Woodhouse rounding out the podium in fifth.

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In the elite women’s race, Whistler’s Sophie Tyas wins the Steve Smith Memorial DH. Julia Long followed in second.

2019 Steve Smith Memorial DH: Junior Men and Women

The BC Cup / Dunbar Summer Series has become a proving ground for Canada’s juniors. Many of whom have turned skills learned close to home into success on the world stage. There was a strong contingent of both junior men and women racing at Mount Washington over the weekend.

Elliot Jamieson (Norco Factory Racing) set the fastest junior men’s time to win the 2019 Steve Smith Memorial DH. He was trailed by Lenzerheide Jr. World Cup winner Seth Sherlock of Squamish, B.C. in second.

Lucas Cruz (SRAM-TLD Racing), who was third overall in the jr. World Cup standings, was third at Mount Washington on Sunday. Cruz’s younger brother, Tegan, won the U15 men’s race earlier in the day. Jack Pelland (C4 Norco Racing) was fourth with Cochrane, Alta’s Dylan Fysh fifth.

Emmy Lan (Gravity MTB) made the most of her chance to race near home on Vancouver Island. The Comox, B.C. rider was first in the junior women’s race, ahead of fellow Islander Aleda Toronitz. Whistler’s Amy Ertel followed in third. Gracey Hemstreet finished fourth while Lily Boucher in fifth.

Full results: 2019 Steve Smith Memorial DH – BC Cup #6 / Dunbar Summer Series, Mount Washington, B.C.