Americas Kyle Strait, one of the worlds best freeride mountain bikers, has stormed to victory in the Dual Slalom competition at the 2009 Kokanee Crankworx in Canada, defeating short course legend Brian Lopes in the final. Neko Mullaly took third place ahead of 4X racer Johannes Fischbach.

In the womens race, privateer and multiple 4X World Champ Jill Kintner took the win ahead of Britains Fionn Griffiths, who has been having a storming season this year, placing herself in the running for the 4X World Cup overall title.

On what has been described as a dream course, the relatively long, two laned track provided some of the fastest, most action-packed racing seen this year, as World Cup and freeride mountain bikers came together to test their mettle head-to-head through tight berms, big jumps and intense rhythm sections.

Strait, winner of freeridings infamous Red Bull Rampage in 2004 and more used to launching monumental road gaps than racing short course downhill, surprised many with his convincing win over countryman Brian Lopes who has dominated the 4X and Dual Slalom scenes in recent years. Following his win he said, I just rode as fast and as smooth as I could. You cant think too much about the race, you need to just ride. Its awesome to get a good result like this.