Whistler has always been Jackson Goldstone’s playground. On Friday, it became his proving ground.
The Specialized Canadian Open DH Elite finals delivered the biggest downhill moment of Crankworx Whistler 2026, with Goldstone producing a flawless run down the legendary 1199 track to secure his first victory of the season and his first-ever Elite win on the course he knows better than anyone.
For local fans packed along the Whistler Mountain Bike Park track, it felt less like a race and more like a release of years of expectation.
A run that silenced the mountain
The men’s final unfolded like a thriller with the lead changing hands repeatedly.
Henry Sherry briefly set the benchmark before Squamish local Jakob Jewett continued his strong history in the event by moving into first. Asa Vermette then raised the pace again, only for Australian veteran Troy Brosnan to take control after carrying momentum from his earlier OG CDN OPN DH victory.
That left one rider at the top of the mountain.
Goldstone dropped in last and immediately looked committed. Every section of the 1199 track was attacked with precision, and when he crossed the line in 3:11.005, the timing screen told the story.
He had beaten Brosnan by 3.913 seconds.
In downhill racing, that margin is enormous.
The result also pushed Jewett off the podium, while Luke Meier-Smith claimed third just 0.655 seconds behind Brosnan.
Men’s Top 5
| Rider | Time |
|---|---|
| Jackson Goldstone | 3:11.005 |
| Troy Brosnan | +3.913 |
| Luke Meier-Smith | +4.568 |
| Asa Vermette | +5.345 |
| Jakob Jewett | +5.854 |
Ostgaard makes a statement
If the men’s race was close, the women’s race was anything but.
Aletha Ostgaard delivered the most dominant performance of the day, stopping the clock at 3:49.840 and finishing 4.315 seconds ahead of fellow American Matilda Melton. New Zealand’s Eliana Hulsebosch completed the podium another half-second back.
On a track where small mistakes usually separate riders by tenths, Ostgaard found multiple seconds.
It was a statement victory.
Women’s Top 5
| Rider | Time |
|---|---|
| Aletha Ostgaard | 3:49.840 |
| Matilda Melton | +4.315 |
| Eliana Hulsebosch | +4.834 |
| Tayte Proulx-Royds | +11.260 |
| Taylor Ostgaard | +14.930 |
The run that almost changed everything
The biggest emotional swing came from Gracey Hemstreet.
After earning the final start position through a strong seeding performance, Hemstreet looked capable of challenging for the win. But just before the final stretch, she went off course and into a tree.
She eventually crossed the line in 11th place, more than 30 seconds behind Ostgaard.
The crash served as a brutal reminder of downhill racing’s unforgiving nature. One lapse, one line choice, one moment of hesitation—and a potential victory disappears instantly.
Why this matters
For Goldstone, the win is bigger than a medal.
Whistler is the mountain where he learned to ride, where local riders measure themselves against the world’s best, and where expectations can become heavier than the bike itself.
Winning there means proving that familiarity can become an advantage instead of a burden.
For Ostgaard, the victory establishes her as one of the standout performers of the week, while Hemstreet’s crash ensures the women’s race will be remembered as much for its heartbreak as its winning margin.
