The biggest Slopestyle Mountain Bike course in the world is taking shape. 25 days from now, 14 of the world’s best will line up at the storied Red Bull Joyride start gate to show the world what they’ve got. 30,000+ pairs of eyes in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park will follow their every move, every pedal stroke and every trick, with hundreds of thousands more around the world watching the action from home on Red Bull TV.
Today, the list of invited riders who’ll be taking on the final Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship (SWC) contest of the season was released.
Riders invited to compete in Red Bull Joyride are made up of the top six pre-qualified athletes from the 2018 SWC standings and the next top eight in the FMB World Ranking as of four weeks prior to the event.
Pre-qualified
- Brett Rheeder (CAN)
- Diego Caverzasi (ITA)
- Erik Fedko (GER)
- Nicholi Rogatkin (USA)
- Thomas Genon (BEL)
- Tomas Lemoine (FRA)
Next top eight in the FMB World Ranking
- Emil Johansson (SWE)
- Dawid Godziek (POL)
- Max Fredriksson (SWE)
- Torquato Testa (ITA)
- Alex Alanko (SWE)
- Paul Couderc (FRA)
- Jakub Vencl (CZE)
- Lucas Huppert (SUI)
Alternates
- Lukas Knopf (GER)
- Anthony Messere (CAN)
If the results from Crankworx Innsbruck are any indication, it’s anyone’s game. Making his Slopestyle debut (coming from the world of BMX Freestyle), Godziek entered the arena with a vengeance. His first run proved he has what it takes, and his second solidified it, earning him the third spot on the podium. Johansson, just returning to competition and working his way up the ranks, pulled off two never-before-seen tricks and bumped Rheeder out of first place in his second run. But Rheeder answered back. Dropping in last, he earned the highest score of the day. The win was his second of the season, adding to his overall points total for the Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship, and bringing the Triple Crown of Slopestyle within reach.
It’s a position he’s been in before. The Canadian is no stranger to the pressure of competition – with seven Crankworx wins under his belt, as well as a win at Red Bull Rampage, his skills and experience speak for themselves.
But those who know, know. Red Bull Joyride is different.
“It’s the toughest course in the world,” says Paddy Kaye, owner of Joyride Bike Parks, whose been involved building trails in the bike park since Day One, and working to create the Crankworx Whistler Slopestyle course for the past nine years. The veteran builder says it’s a combination of factors that make it so: the size of the crowd. The enormity of the jumps. The event’s history and status within the sport.
Photos: Clint Trahan clinttrahan.com
Kaye and his crew of 14 have been preparing for Red Bull Joyride for the past three months – planning, moving dirt, and building the eight meticulously-crafted features that snake their way through the Boneyard at the base of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
About Crankworx World Tour
About Crankworx World Tour
Crankworx is the ultimate experience in mountain biking. Born in Whistler, B.C. in 2004, Crankworx has evolved into a multi-stop international festival series. The Crankworx World Tour brings together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in elite-level competitions in a variety of disciplines. Crankworx World Tour festivals also host races for amateurs, Kidsworx contests for young riders, participatory events, and celebrations of mountain bike culture, all while showcasing amazing destinations.
Official website: crankworx.com
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