Luke Wayman and his Deemax DH team take 4th place at the Downhill World Cup in Whistler

DH World Cup in Whistler: around 90 minutes in the lead

At the Downhill World Cup in Whistler, Luke Wayman held the ‘hot seat’ – the seat reserved for the provisional fastest time – for around 90 minutes. This eighth round out of nine was the first to be held at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia, on a 1.94 km course.

The day before, the New Zealander had finished 26th in the first qualifying run, before clocking the second-fastest time in the second, which secured him a place in the final. Starting ninth, he took the lead and held on to it. Lachlan Stevens-McNab briefly set a faster time, before being disqualified for going off the course.

Luke Wayman finished nearly 8 seconds ahead of Jordan Williams, who was leading the overall standings at the start. It wasn’t until the final riders that he was overtaken: Amaury Pierron, who took the lead by 0.852 seconds, then Max Alran and finally Asa Vermette, the last to set off. Luke Wayman’s fourth place in Whistler was decided by a margin of 0.203 seconds ahead of Jakob Jewett.

Deemax DH downhill wheels: a 30 mm rim for Whistler

Luke Wayman’s Deemax DH wheels feature a Maxtal aluminium rim with an internal width of 30 mm and a height of 22 mm, which is welded (SUP) and has an asymmetrical profile. In practical terms, this wide base supports low-pressure downhill tyres, and the welded rim is designed to absorb impacts and dampen vibrations. This is a real necessity on the Whistler track, which combines roots, muddy sections and scree.

Each wheel has 28 bent spokes made of steel and comes with 2 spare spokes. On the bike, this means a wheel that can withstand repeated impacts and can be repaired by a mechanic without having to wait for a spare part between runs.

The Instant Drive 360 features 24-tooth ratchets engaged every 15°, with self-adjusting QRM Auto bearings. In practice, the drivetrain responds instantly when accelerating out of corners, and the hub maintains play-free rotation over time.

In Whistler, Luke Wayman was able to rely on the limited edition yellow Deemax DH, designed to withstand the most demanding, rough tracks at the very highest level.

Luke Wayman and Continental Atherton Racing in 2026

Luke Wayman is a 19-year-old downhill rider from Christchurch, competing in his second elite season in 2026 with the Continental Atherton Racing team. Having finished second in the overall Junior World Cup standings in 2024, he achieved his best elite result in 2025, finishing 10th at Loudenvielle.

His 2026 season began with three eliminations in the qualifiers, at Mona YongPyong, Loudenvielle and Leogang. He then finished 26th at Lenzerheide, 14th at La Thuile, 24th at Pal Arinsal and 17th at Les Gets. After Whistler, he sits 24th in the overall standings, with 359 points.

The whole team is riding on Mavic in 2026. In Whistler, Charlie Hatton finished 16th in the elite final. In the junior category, Malik Boatwright finished 16th and remains 2nd in the overall standings, following a season that began with his first World Cup podium at Mona YongPyong. The team had set their sights on a first elite podium finish for Luke Wayman in 2026: his 4th place in Whistler brings him closer to that goal.

The Deemax range: which wheels for downhill?

Mavic’s Mavic’s enduro and downhill MTB wheels are available in three Deemax models with aluminium rims, all rated ASTM Category 5, for a maximum weight of 150 kg including the bike. The Deemax DH sits at the heart of the range: in 29-inch size, its yellow series weighs 2,100 g per pair, priced at €699.

The Deemax Enduro SL 29 wheels are the lightest and most expensive model in the range: 1,970 g per pair, priced at €799. The Deemax Park 29 wheels feature 32 bent spokes, weighing 2,545 g per pair and costing €459.

When choosing, start by considering your riding style. For timed descents or on very rough trails, the Deemax DH prioritises durability. In enduro, where you also need to pedal and accelerate, the lightness of the Enduro SL counts for more. For back-to-back bike park runs on a tighter budget, the Park is the place to start.

FAQ – Deemax DH wheels and Luke Wayman 4th at Whistler

The Deemax DH YLW 29 wheels are compatible with a 29-inch downhill mountain bike with 29-inch wheels on both front and rear, fitted with 6-bolt disc brakes. At the front, the 20 x 110 mm axle can be converted to 15 x 110 mm using the adaptors supplied. At the rear, the set is available with either a 12 x 148 mm or 12 x 157 mm axle, depending on your frame’s axle spacing, and features a SRAM XD freehub body: please check that your cassette is compatible. The rim accommodates tyres between 47 and 76 mm wide, with a maximum pressure of 3.6 bar for 47 mm tyres and 2.45 bar for 76 mm tyres. Fitted as UST Tubeless Ready, it comes with its UST rim tape and valve.

The limited edition yellow Deemax DH celebrates 25 years of the Deemax DH, Mavic’s downhill wheel. This edition pays tribute to Nicolas Vouilloz, Anne-Caroline Chausson, Greg Minnaar and Sam Hill, leading figures in the world of downhill cycling. It is available as a 29-inch pair or as a mixed-size set, with a 29-inch front wheel and a 27.5-inch rear wheel. It is eligible for the extended warranty on Mavic aluminium wheels: the 2-year warranty is extended to 3 years if you register your wheels within 2 months of purchase.

The 2026 Whistler Downhill World Cup was won by the American Asa Vermette in the men’s event and by the Austrian Valentina Höll in the women’s event. Asa Vermette completed the run in 3:23.930, 4.365 seconds ahead of France’s Max Alran. This victory puts him at the top of the overall standings, 96 points ahead of Jordan Williams ahead of the final, where 250 points remain up for grabs. In the women’s event, Valentina Höll won in 4:13.405, 0.334 seconds ahead of Canada’s Gracey Hemstreet, with France’s Lisa Bouladou finishing third.

Luke Wayman and Continental Atherton Racing’s next race is the Downhill World Cup final, scheduled for Sunday 4 October 2026 at Whiteface Mountain, New York, as part of the Lake Placid Olympic Sites weekend. This ninth round brings the 2026 downhill season to a close. For Luke Wayman, it is an opportunity to build on his performance in Whistler: in his team profile published before the season, he said he wanted to continue to improve, break into the top 10 and stay there. In the junior category, Malik Boatwright will be fighting for his position in the overall standings, where he currently has 255 points, behind Jonty Williamson, the leader with 369 points.

Maintaining the Deemax DH wheel hubs requires very little effort, as their QRM bearings are self-adjusting, sealed cartridges. Their double seals protect the raceways from water and mud splashes on a downhill track, and their C3 internal clearance self-adjusts: there is no preload to readjust after a day at the bike park. The rear wheel comes with a multi-purpose adjustment tool, which covers routine maintenance on the Instant Drive 360 freehub body. As for the spokes, which are made of bent, flat and tapered steel, they can be replaced one by one, meaning there’s no need to reassemble the entire wheel after an impact.

The difference between the Deemax DH and the Deemax Enduro SL lies mainly in the construction of the rim, spokes and hub, with both models sharing the same internal width and the same Instant Drive 360 freewheel system. The Enduro SL combines a Fore rim, fitted without a rim strip, with an Infinity hub: a broken spoke can be replaced quickly whilst riding, without removing the tyre. Its spokes are straight, extra-flat and anti-rotation, whereas the Deemax DH retains bent steel spokes. In practice, the Deemax DH is designed for pure downhill riding, where durability takes precedence over weight. The Enduro SL is aimed at riders who pedal back up the mountain and are looking for a lighter wheel for long days of enduro riding.