Whistler World Cup – One Last Dance

Two riders, two generations, and two very different goals.

For 37-year-old Jack Reading, the first-ever Whistler World Cup was a chance to return to the place where his World Cup journey began back in 2009. One final race, 17 years later.

For 18-year-old Marius, it was another opportunity to prove himself against the fastest downhill racers in the world.

Different expectations, the same track, and a proper Whistler welcome: rain, mud, and some seriously challenging conditions on the infamous 1199 track.

After a strong pre-season and a busy summer of racing, the Gravity School Racing duo took some time to reset at the end of July. Four weeks of recovery and training were followed by one final race before heading across the Atlantic: the iXS European Downhill Cup and Continental Series round in Verbier, Switzerland.

With the event also doubling as the Swiss Championships, it was a particularly important weekend for Marius. Racing just two hours from home, he was keen to fight for the national title.

Both riders delivered solid results. Marius finished 7th overall and took 2nd in the Swiss Championships, while Jack crossed the line in 10th. A good confidence boost before heading to Canada.

The two arrived in Whistler on Monday, leaving a few days to recover from the journey and get some laps in at the bike park. For Marius, it was his first time riding in Whistler, making those early days particularly valuable.

After an unusually dry summer, the weather had other plans for race week.

Rain rolled in just in time for practice, turning the already demanding 1199 track into a muddy, slippery challenge. With its massive features, soft loam, and technical rock gardens, the track was already intimidating enough. Add constant rain, limited visibility, and fog hanging between the trees, and things got properly interesting.

Naturally, Jack and Marius loved it.

Both riders completed five runs on the opening day, working on their lines and getting comfortable with the conditions. Jack was among the few riders to put together a complete run during timed training, with many struggling to link up all the technical sections in the slippery conditions.

The following morning brought another 90-minute practice session. The two worked together, comparing GoPro footage, discussing lines, and looking for places to gain time.

Jack initially had the upper hand, having ridden the track in previous years. But as practice progressed, Marius started finding his rhythm and was beginning to edge ahead.

A promising sign heading into qualifying.

The first qualifying round was a reality check for Jack.

Despite putting together what felt like a smooth run, he crossed the line in 77th place, eight seconds away from his target of 60th.

For someone who had spent years racing at World Cup level, it was a reminder of just how much commitment it takes to compete with the fastest riders in the world. A clean run simply wasn't enough. At this level, finding those extra seconds means taking risks, pushing harder, and being willing to ride right on the limit.

Something Jack was no longer particularly interested in doing.

Marius, meanwhile, put together a strong run, finishing six seconds ahead of Jack in 70th place.

With the rain holding off and the track gradually drying, the riders also had some decisions to make regarding their setups. Both had been running Schwalbe Dirty Dan mud tyres, but after assessing the conditions and seeing what others were using, they switched to Tacky Chans front and rear for the second qualifying round.

One more chance to put everything together.

Jack headed into Q2 knowing that making the top 40 was now extremely unlikely. Rather than chasing a result, he decided to enjoy what would be his final World Cup run.

Although the run felt better, he finished three seconds slower than in Q1.

But the result wasn't what mattered most anymore.

One of Jack's favourite memories from the weekend was sitting in the finish area after his run, watching the remaining riders come down and taking in the atmosphere one last time.

After years of World Cup racing, it was a fitting way to close that chapter.

The weekend also gave Jack an opportunity to put his coaching knowledge into practice. With a sports psychology diploma nearing completion, he used the event to test different mental strategies and reflect on the demands of racing at the highest level.

For Marius, the story was a little different.

He attacked his second qualifying run, going four seconds faster through the upper part of the track before making a mistake further down. Despite losing time, he matched his previous run and finished 45th in Q2.

A strong performance and another valuable step forward for the young rider.

The first-ever Whistler World Cup was a memorable one for Gravity School Racing.

For Jack, it marked the end of a long World Cup racing career, bringing things full circle at the venue where it all began back in 2009.

For Marius, it was another opportunity to gain experience, push his limits, and continue building towards the future.

And with that, the 2026 race season comes to an end.

It's been a successful year for the team, with Jack taking the overall Portugal Cup series win and both riders finishing inside the top 10 of the European Continental Cup series.

Now it's time to reset, get back to training, and start building towards 2027.

One chapter closed. Plenty more to come.