From slopestyle heaven to lockdown: with third place at Crankworx Rotorua, Erik Fedko’s season could hardly have started any better. However, reality in the form of the corona virus quickly caught up with the likeable North Rhine-Westphalian. Erik started the lockdown period in New Zealand followed by curfew in Germany during which further events were postponed to autumn or cancelled. Thus, patience was required and Erik spent his time at his home spot and with photo and video shoots. We looked back with Erik on a crazy first half of the season.
The bike season is slowly picking up speed; unfortunately not for everyone. Erik Fedko (GER) has to remain patient with AUDI Nines and Dirt Masters scheduled for the Slopestlye star in September. However, the 22-year-old has already had his first season highlight. Just before the Corona Pandemic started in Europe, the first stop of the Crankworx World Tour took place in New Zealand in early March. The bike festival for the world’s best riders includes various disciplines such as Dual Slalom, Downhill, Pump Track, Speed & Style and Slopestyle and lasts for several days. In 2020, after the two events in Rotorua (NZL) and Innsbruck (AUT), the new Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Champion will be crowned. In the supreme discipline, Germany’s best slopestyler showed a top-class performance in Rotorua and finished third – only beaten by wunderkind Emil Johansson (SWE) and superstar Nicolai Rogatkin (USA).
Erik Fedko was right in the middle of the crème de la crème of slopestyle athletes. However, the outstanding performance of the North Rhine-Westphalian did not come as a surprise; in 2018 Erik made the final breakthrough in the slopestyle scene. With his super smooth style and technically demanding tricks he jumped on the podium at two events of the Crankworx World Tour two years ago. For 2020, many experts had him on the favorite list prior to the first event. Showing steady nerves, Erik put out a great performance.
Expectations are actually always high for me. My goal is to give everything to finish on the podium at the end of the day. I was really happy that I had already secured third place with my first run. That’s why I decided that I wouldn’t risk anything in my second run. I was just too stoked to be on the podium again.
– Erik Fedko
While the pandemic was raging in Germany and Europe, Erik and Emil celebrated their triumphs in the adventurous Queenstown on the South Island.
We had a great time there – lots of laps in the Skyline Bikepark and absolute dream sessions on the famous Gorge Road Trails!
– Erik Fedko
Crankworx Rotorua 2020 / photos: Graeme Murray
The search for normality soon came to an abrupt end in idyllic New Zealand.
Shortly before we were ready to go home again, our flights were cancelled by the airline. At the same time, the corona virus began to spread in New Zealand, whereupon the government closed public places and imposed a curfew for the entire country. After numerous re-bookings and flight cancellations we managed to get a flight to Germany.
– Erik Fedko
At the end of March, there were also strict curfews at home. However, the athletes were not as badly affected by the restrictions.
Meeting friends or shredding bike parks wasn’t possible unfortunately because everything was closed. Fortunately, I have my own jump at home and could therefore continue to train. I also rode my road bike a lot to pass the time and I also have the one or other fitness equipment in the garage so I can keep fit.
– Erik Fedko
“Since then I feel much safer doing “Banger Moves””
Especially his home spot, which was only completed last year, paid off during this time.
I can practice all of my tricks that I don’t have as dialed or new tricks there under optimal conditions. The size of the jump is comparable to the kickers of the Crankworx World Tour, but the landing is prepared with tons of bark mulch, so that you fall softly in case of a crash. This minimizes the risk of injury, which is absolutely necessary when working on new tricks. Since I got the spot, I feel much safer with the so-called “banger moves”, because I simply get more time to train. Before, I had to drive 300 kilometers to practice my tricks, now less than five minutes.
– Erik Fedko
Erik decides at short notice which tricks he will show at the contests.
Most of the time I really think about what tricks I can do at certain obstacles in the evening before the competition.
– Erik Fedko
Photos: Sebastian Sternemann
Erik Fedko lands World’s First
In Rotorua, he caused a sensation with a trick that no one had jumped before in competition.
I did a 360 Barspin to Tailwhip at a stepdown jump (consisting of three 360-degree rotations: first there is a 360-degree on the bike including a 360-degree turn of the handlebars, followed by a 360-degree turn of the bike below the body). This is a trick I really wanted to do. In training, I started very slowly and only did 360 barspins (360-degree rotation on the bike including 360-degree rotation of the handlebars) on the stepdown, so I could get a feeling for what it’s like to add a tailwhip (360-degree turn of the bike below the body). On the last day of training I felt confident enough to do the trick and stuck it straight away. Of course, I was even happier that at the end the trick worked in my run as well.
– Erik Fedko
It will still take some time before he can perform the next banger moves in competition. Erik has not yet written off the season. The Fröndenberger has come to terms with the current situation and makes the best of it.
I am preparing for everything. The AUDI Nines is still scheduled for early September and I can’t wait to be there. On the other hand, I enjoy having a very relaxed summer and try to spend as much time on my bike as possible. But I’m pretty down on how the season goes. Unfortunately, the Dirtmasters Festival and Crankworx Innsbruck had to be postponed to autumn. It’s a shame that the Red Bull Joyride and the Red Bull District Ride have been cancelled. The District Ride is my absolute favorite event. Fingers crossed that it can take place next year!
– Erik Fedko
Photos: Sebastian Sternemann
“I generally only do tricks that I think are cool”
In 2020, the Crankworx World Tour is reduced to two events. The second event as part of the Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championships 2020 has been postponed to October 3rd due to the Corona pandemic and will take place in Innsbruck. The most prestigious third Crankworx event, the Red Bull Joyride in Whistler (CAN), had to be cancelled due to the Corona virus. This does not affect Erik’s motivation.
I never specifically prepare for contests. I actually always do my thing. I don’t put any tricks into my head that I want to show at an event such as the Red Bull Joyride in Whistler, but generally only do the tricks that I find cool myself. Recently I tried one trick all the time because I really want to have it safely in my trick list. My goal is to get all my tricks so safe that I can do them every time I jump.
– Erik Fedko
So Erik spends his time with fun riding sessions, photo and video shoots to keep fit and to achieve his goal of a podium finish in Innsbruck.