Jack Menzies is the 2026 Canadian Downhill Champion

After three back-to-back downhill races across Western Canada, there was barely time to catch a breath before the biggest race of the season: the Canadian Downhill National Championships in Sun Peaks.

For Jack Menzies, the demanding race block had already shown his pace. But Nationals are different. One run. One jersey. One chance to become Canada's fastest.

And he delivered.

Coming into the weekend, everything clicked from the very first practice runs.

The bike felt dialled, confidence was high, and with support fine-tuning the setup throughout the weekend, Jack quickly found a rhythm on one of the longest and roughest tracks on the calendar.

"The weekend started off super sick. I was feeling really good on track and had a lot of help getting the bike setup dialled. Everything was coming together and I was getting more tuned into the track every run."

That confidence translated into speed, with Jack taking the fastest time in seeding. Sharing the top two spots with one of his oldest teammates and closest friends made the result even more meaningful.

"We've been racing together for a long time, so it was really cool to go one-two in seeding. We were dropping second last and last in finals, so it was another friendly battle. That's what Canadian downhill is all about—having fun and racing with your best mates."

Race day brought its usual uncertainty. The forecast threatened storms throughout the afternoon, while the track continued to evolve with every rider.

Despite the changing conditions, Jack stayed focused on the task ahead.

"I was feeling super good on track in the morning, but I didn't want to get ahead of myself. The bike was feeling insanely good, I was hitting my lines and avoiding the holes. I had a really good feeling coming into finals, but you never know on that track with the changing weather."

When it mattered most, everything came together.

Every braking point. Every line choice. Every section linked into one of the best runs of his career.

"I just kept my nose to the grindstone and got to work. It was one of the best runs I've ever had. I hit all my lines, my braking points were dialled and the bike felt incredible. Everything just came together."

Crossing the finish line, Jack had done enough to secure his first Canadian Downhill National Championship.

A moment years in the making.

"That's my first downhill national title, and I'm absolutely over the moon. It almost brought a tear to my eye when I crossed the finish line. Everyone in the finish corral—my buddies, the people I've raced with for years—were just as excited as I was. It was a pretty special feeling."

Winning a National Championship is always special. Doing it after four demanding race weekends in a row makes it even sweeter.

Having the fastest downhill rider in Canada racing a RAAW is a huge milestone for us—not just because of the result, but because of the work that went into getting there. Countless hours of testing, racing and refining have all led to moments like this.

Congratulations, Jack. We couldn't be prouder to see the maple leaf jersey aboard a RAAW, and we can't wait to see where the rest of the season takes you.

Photos: A.J. Barlas