The 2019 Crankworx season could not have gotten off to a more spectacular start. Huge tricks, tight racing, underdog upsets, hard slams and incredible runs – the Mons Royale Dual Speed & Style and the Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza at Crankworx Rotorua had it all. Here are some of the highlights of the action-packed style events:
Speed & Style is as spectacular and unpredictable as it can get
Slopestyle, downhill, freeride? It’s hard to determine which background gives riders the greatest advantage in this unique discipline. What is clear however, is that the Rotorua crowd thoroughly enjoyed the stacked line-up of riders racing each other head-to-head while throwing huge tricks. After an intense battle throughout the rounds, the final saw retired Slopestyle legend and defending Rotorua champion Martin Söderström (SWE) face off against the relatively unknown local BMX convert Billy Meaclem (NZL). In a true fairy-tale ending, the local hero and underdog ousted the defending champion in a way no Hollywood screenwriter could have dreamt up better.
Missed the incredible action of the Mons Royale Dual Speed & Style at Crankworx Rotorua? Fear not! You can re-watch the entire live-broadcast and all the highlights on-demand and anytime on Red Bull TV!
Brett Rheeder puts on a slopestyle masterclass
Defending Rotorua Slopestyle Champion and current Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Champion Brett Rheeder (CAN) was on a mission. After three consecutive 2nd places in 2018, Rheeder came out swinging in his quest to end Crankworx Triple Crown Winner Nicholi Rogatkin’s winning streak. Dropping into his first run second-to-last and right before Rogatkin, the Canadian slopestyle veteran dropped the hammer right out of the gate with an incredibly clean Opposite Cork 720 followed by an equally clean Regular Cork 720. Following up on his strong start, Rheeder continued with a 360 Double Tailwhip, an Opposite Double Tailwhip, a 360 Double Barspin, an Opposite 360 Opposite Barspin, a Flatdrop Backflip Tailwhip, a Frontflip One-Footed Can and finally a Cork 720 Barspin. If that all sounds incredibly complicated, difficult and confusing, that’s because it was. Rheeder’s run was so packed and technical that not even two slipped pedals on the final jump could keep him from taking the lead and eventually the win with a score of 93.75.
Missed the the first stop of the Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship? Fear not! You can re-watch the entire live-broadcast and all the highlights of the Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza on-demand and anytime on Red Bull TV!
Is there anything Tomas Lemoine can’t do on a bike?
Frenchman Tomas Lemoine once again showcased the full variety of his skills. Although he focuses virtually all of his training outside of competition on Slopestyle, Lemoine isn’t content with only riding one discipline at Crankworx. Squeezing Dual Speed & Style and Pumptrack in between Slopestyle practice in Rotorua, the 22-year-old once again proved the depth of his talent with a fourth place in Dual Speed & Style and a victory in the Pumptrack race. His busy schedule – no other Slopestyle rider competed outside of Slopestyle in Rotorua – didn’t stop him when it mattered most though. Putting down an incredibly clean and varied run finished off by a stylish Frontflip Inverted Tabletop, Lemoine took second place, his first Crankworx Slopestyle podium in Rotorua and the lead in the King of Crankworx standings.
Injuries give new faces a chance
Every new season brings new opportunities. This rings especially true for the Slopestyle alternates. While none of the riders wish any of their fellow competitors any harm, the alternates have a unique and difficult role. If all goes well, they won’t get to compete. If things go wrong, they however need to be ready to step up to the plate and capitalise on their chance to compete on the highest level. Due to Simon Pagès (FRA) not making the trip to New Zealand because of an injury and Matt Jones (GBR) and Emil Johansson (SWE) sustaining injuries in training, three new faces got the opportunity to showcase their skills in the first SWC event of the season. And showcase they did!
Alternates Tom Isted (GBR) and Lukas Huppert (SUI) rode their first ever Crankworx Slopestyle event and made full use of their opportunity, showing strong runs and finishing 10th and 8th respectively. First alternate Alex Alanko (SWE), however used his opportunity to the absolute fullest by securing an incredible 3rd place podium finish in what was only his second Crankworx start.
On the other hand Diego Caverzasi (ITA) and Thomas Genon (BEL) got extremely unlucky during finals. While the Italian couldn’t put down the run he wanted due to being too sore from a crash in training, the Belgian suffered from a dislocated shoulder sustained mid-air on his first jump, which led to a scary looking crash in which he fortunately didn’t pick up any further severe injuries.
Re-watch the entire live-broadcast and all the highlights of the Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza and the Mons Royal Dual Speed & Style on-demand and anytime on redbull.tv/crankworx.
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