As enjoyable as it is to geek out over the latest mountain bike gadgetry, the athletes at the top level of our sport are deserving of attention as well. These are the men and women who are truly at the cutting edge, pushing themselves and their equipment incredibly hard day in and day out. The level of competition is higher than ever, and the amount of dedication and training that's now required to compete as an elite downhill or enduro racer is astounding. The same goes for the feats of daring and skill performed by the top slopestyle and freeride athletes, where every contest sees the bar raised higher and higher.
The categories for this year's Pinkbike Athlete Awards are: Male Gravity Racer of the Year, Female Gravity Racer of the Year, and Slopestyle / Freeride Athlete of the Year. “Enduro” was this year's buzzword, especially with the introduction of the Enduro World Series, and as such enduro racing has been included under the gravity umbrella. All of the athletes on the World Cup, EWS, and FMB circuit are incredibly talented, but we've nominated the best of the best, those riders who delivered truly outstanding performances over the course of the 2013 season. Results weren't the only criteria for choosing the nominees, but they certainly played a large role in helping our panel sort out who rose to the top. The winners will be announced later this month, but until then, who do you think is going to take home the PB Awards trophy in each category? Male Gravity Racer of the YearJerome Clementz
Jerome Clementz was dominating enduro races before the rest of the world caught on, and when they finally did, he firmly maintained his position as one of the sport's most capable riders. Clementz won four of the seven stops in the inaugural Enduro World Series, and in doing so became the first men's Enduro World Champion. His consistency is unparallelled in enduro racing – it's rare to see his name anywhere below the top two spots in the results, let alone out of the top ten. At the end of the day though, Clementz's passion for mountain biking shines through; he's a true mountain biker to the core, and his affinity for having fun on two wheels is readily apparent.
Jared Graves
If there was a category for all-round mountain biker of the year, Jared Graves would surely be the favorite. Famed for his rigorous training and ridiculous level of fitness, Graves started his season off by winning the Sea Otter dual slalom, and then went on to prove his worth as a contender in the Enduro World Series with four second place finishes and a win at EWS #5 in Whistler, BC. And then there's the Pietermaritzburg World Championships, where the Australian rider managed to rocket his way to a third place finish, his first DH World Championships podium. The clincher? Graves was on different versions of the same bike, Yeti's SB66, for all of his podium finishes, proving the bike's capabilities in everything from dual slalom to downhill. Never one to rest on his laurels, with a season of enduro racing under his belt, you can be sure Graves is going to come out swinging next season, looking to take the title away from Clementz.
Steve Smith
The 2013 race season saw Steve Smith's steady rise to the upper ranks of downhill racing culminate with him taking the overall World Cup title aboard his Devinci Wilson. The mustachioed Canadian stood on the podium at the first three World Cups of the season, but he came into top form with impeccable timing, sweeping the final three races of the year to emerge victorious after a heated battle with Gee Atherton. Racking up three World Cup DH victories in a row places Smith among downhill's elite, joining the likes of Nicolas Vouilloz, Steve Peat, and Aaron Gwin in the record books. Plus, in addition to his World Cup victories, Smith took wins in his home country, taking the Canadian National Championships, the Crankworx Canadian Open, and the Crankworx Air DH. At only 24 years of age, Smith has amassed an incredible list of results, and we expect even more of the same in the coming years from the good-natured shredder.
Female Gravity Racer of the YearRachel Atherton
This season saw Rachel Atherton pilot her GT Fury to victory at four World Cup races, bringing her total number of World Cup wins to nineteen and making her the most awarded British rider in mountain biking. By the end of the season Rachel had added British National Champion, World Champion, and World Cup Overall winner to her already impressive race resume. This incredible showing proved the Rachel is solidly on top of her game, truly the fastest female downhiller in the world. It's not that she doesn't have competition, as there are a number of competitors nipping at her heals, but Rachel has the ability to lay down blisteringly fast runs when it counts, no matter the conditions.
Emmeline Ragot
Emmeline Ragot had a strong showing this season, and not just in downhill racing. The French rider showed up at two stops of the Enduro World Series and podiumed at both races, demonstrating her high level of fitness and bike handling. It's not easy to race both downhill and enduro successfully – the training regimens for the two disciplines are quite different, and doing well in both is comparable to simultaneously being a sprinter and a middle distance runner, which is no easy task. Ragot, the 2011 Downhill World Champion came in second to Rachel Atherton at this year's World Champs, but managed to take win the final World Cup of the season in Leogang. Non-World Cup victories for Ragot included the Cranworx Garbanzo DH, the Crankworx Canadian Open, along with the European Continental Championships.
Tracy Moseley
Tracy Moseley may have retired from downhill racing, but that doesn't mean she's not riding as hard and fast as ever. As part of the first wave of former World Cup downhill racers who have made the transition to enduro racing, Tracy left her mark on the Enduro World Series' first season, winning five out of the seven events on the tour on her way to winning the overall title. She also abided by her own set of ethics, refusing to shuttle to gain extra practice, and making her way to the top of the stages under her own power. And if her results in the EWS weren't enough, a third place at the British National Championships cross-country race was a convincing demonstration of just how strong and well rounded of an athlete T-Mo really is. Tracy has also continued to offer clinics and coaching for women throughout the season, passing on the skills that she has developed during her time as a professional athlete.
Slopestyle / Freeride Athlete of the YearSam Pilgrim
Sam Pilgrim was a force to be reckoned with on the FMB World Tour this season. With his big bag of technical tricks and high flying style, the gap-toothed Brit was hard to miss aboard his flourescent yellow NS Bikes hardtail. Pilgrim won a number of contests, including the FISE Slopestyle, Swatch Rocket Air, and 26TRIX, and placed second at Crankworx Les Deux Alpes and at the Bearclaw Invitational. Most importantly, he managed to escape the season ending injuries that claimed several of his fellow competitors, and his results earned him the title of FMB World Tour Champion. While he still hasn't quite managed to translate his bike skills into the freeride arena of Red Bull Rampage, as a pure slopestyle athlete Pilgrim is surely one of the best riders around.
Brandon Semenuk
Brandon Semenuk's name is synonymous with 'slopestyle.' His inimitable, effortless yet calculated style is tough to beat, as competitors found out at Crankworx Les Deux Alpes, Crankworx Whistler, and at the Bearclaw Invitational. He also brought home a silver from the first ever X-Games slopestyle contest, and although the Red Bull Rampage didn't go exactly as planned, the burly line that Semenuk had picked out was a reminder that he can shred on a big bike as well. But competition wasn't the main focus of the 2013 season for the Canadian rider – Semenuk spent much of his time filming for episodes of 'Life Behind Bars' and 'Rad Company,' an upcoming film project with Red Bull and Freeride Entertainment that's sure to further prove why he's earned the nomination for Slopestyle / Freeride Athlete of the Year.
Cameron Zink
In front of his pregnant girlfriend and legions of nervous fans, Cam Zink went for the biggest backflip in mountain bike history and stomped it. It's the sheer amount of confidence it takes just to consider attempting a feat of this magnitude that earns Zink his nomination. There are only a handful of riders in the world who would even straight air the Oakley Icon Sender, but to backflip it? Cam Zink took the sport of mountain biking to another level, one that is incomprehensible to some, but inspirational for others, the young guns who will soon follow in his tire tracks and go to even greater heights in the future.
The winner of each category will be announced later this month.
2nd (tie) Steve/Jerome
I can't choose between the women, though Rachel definitely had a spectacular year. I do like Emmeline's story. The Lapierre video account of their experience this year was pretty interesting. T-Mo was a little on the down low, but I do respect her achievements and her attitude regarding the emphasis on fun and what MTB is all about. Between T-Mo and Rachel and I'd give it to Rachel, based on how dominant she was.
I like all the media exposure Sam Pilgrim has had this year. He may not quite an athlete, but he sure pumps up the stoke for a style of riding in a down to Earth manner that seems inviting to aspiring riders. Zink sure has the death defying iron will that promotes a can-do attitude, but risking lives going even bigger is not quite the direction I'd like to see the sport go. Semenuk shows that strategic training and practice can get consistent results, making events judged based on style something that you need to take an athletic approach to, to prepare for. The choice would be a matter of what ideals I believe this sport should have, and I like the direction Sam and Semenuk has taken things, but the only standout features I like about Sam is his attitude, and how far he has taken things without being too serious. I'll give it to Semenuk. He's so good that his "conservative" runs are still that much better than the competition; I'd love to see how that training leads to even more superhuman things in the future, not necessarily in competitions. If Chris Akrigg was in this category, hmm...
vs.
Rider B: Red Bull Joyride 1st, Crankworx L2A 1st, X-Games 2nd, Bearclaw 1st, Red Bull Rampage 20th
If you vote for rider A, you're basically reducing the entire year to one jump. A sick jump, but just one jump instead of winning a FMB diamond, coming in second in another, and going undefeated in FMB gold events entered.
Stripper, prefers double black diamond gnar, More than a dozen podium finish DH races.
She likes showing off her bod. That,s her business. Literally. Get to know her and you will find out she is an intelligent girl with major attitude.
She speaks her mind. Most peeps cant handle that.
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I just think it would make it more interresting if, there where some focus on all of the young guns!
Just my 5 cents!
Cheers
Does that make him better than Zink? Not totally. I like Brandon more as I like his riding style, but Zink is an absolute God amongst bikers. I'd be absolutely stoked for either of them to take it.
Graves. To take 2nd in the first ever enduro world series, a format he has never or hardly raced before is just insane. Also to take 3rd in the DH world championships. No disrespect to Smith who had one heck of a season as well but I think Graves edged him out. Also yes Jerome is a very talented rider who dominated everything enduro this year but this is his expertise so even though he killed it, I think Graves had to come a long ways (longer than Jerome) to accomplish what he did.
Moseley. Moseley was and still is a very talented rider which is why she was such a dominant force in the DH World Cups, however she retired from DH and went in hiding for a while (so it seemed) and then came to enduro world series in dominant fashion. Rachel is at another level no one can really match right now in the DH scene, maybe cuz she trains with her brothers who constantly push her, but I dont know if her accomplishments this year were as drastic as Moseley's. For Emeline Ragot, I do not know much about her so forgive me if my assumptions are incorrect but she has been racing DH for a while. I do think she had some personal bests, in fact did she win her first world cup this year? I forget so you know what i dont know, maybe Ragot deserves this one.
Cam Zink did a backflip on his 2nd try on the hugest drop in mtn bike history. Nothing else could compare. Sam Pilgrim won the FMB world tour in a stacked field but this didnt necessarily push the freeride world as much as Zink. Semenuk he is another phenom entirely and although his accomplishments are insane he has focused more on filming this year which has distracted him from being pushed like he is in competition.
This is my opinion, let that be clear.
Sam for the win anyday.
Semenuk, again, great/amazing/brilliant/.... rider but maybe we need a separate awards for MOVIES as opposed to competing athletes?? but seriously, seeing as making edits and movies is as big as racing and riding we need an awards for them alone (unless there already is then colour me stupid ... !!)
i would give it to both Rach and Tracy as they have both proved themselves a thousand times over this year - i think Tracy gets overlooked a bit and deserves some solid pats on the back
Definitely Tracy. I think she is easily the most overlooked rider out there! Dominated at DH and now dominating at Enduro, shame she doesn't get the credit she deserves IMO
Not to take anything away from Rachel though as she has done incredibly this year!!
I think he has really helped raise the profile of mountain biking / bikers - from the Olypmics (although more than 12 months ago) through to the Imaginate which i stumbled across on Dave the other night.
I know plenty of people who have no interest in mountain biking but who have heard of MacAskill and I think that can be nothing but a good thing.
Also....his latest videos have completely blown my mind!
Other than that... Clementz, Moseley and Zink
He got third at rampage because of one trick. It was the gnarliest thing I've ever seen but it was still one trick. He literally did nothing else the entire run. His third place slot was shaky. I think Tyler deserved it. I give him credit for having the biggest balls in the sport. That flip was insane. And deserves something for the best trick of all time let alone the year.
But beyond that he really didn't do anything else.
Semenuk competed in very few events and placed top 3 in at least 2 that I can think of off the top of my head. What about Rheeder or Soderstrom?
I'd give it to Pilgrim this year and then probably Rheeder.
If it was a big trick event... well you'd probably win ever event ever and every event from here on out with that trick. It's going to be very very hard to EVER do anything gnarlier than that. But if anyone will it's you. LOL! But it was a top to bottom run. You made a pretty steep and tech run in from the top but so did everyone else. You hit the sender which was retarded. I seriously don't know how you even considered making that flip. After that you just road out the speed, bailed out on the next wood hit and just road out the rest of the run. Had you hit that and thrown even a can can or a superman or something I think you sit in the top 2 with no one being able to question it. Bailing out of that hit for me is what sealed it. I'm sure you had your reasons. Maybe not enough speed or whatever. I don't know. And I know from the outside in we can't see how big a lot of that stuff is. It looks like you're riding down hill and doing rollers but what isn't seen is that it's a 10 inch ledge and that roller is actually an 8 foot drop and 20 foot air out.
It's my personal view man.
Strait is the man. I've been a fan since he was probably 16. So no disrespect on him either. I personally think every one that stepped foot on that mountain needs a pat on the back and a round of beers purchased. Builders and riders alike. You all have huge balls and are amazing. I felt like overall this was probably the most gnarly event there's ever been up there. Mix of speed, tech, flow, tech, gnarly tricks. Amazing. Especially considering the wind.
But I stand by it man... I don't think you should win this one. No disrespect. Hell I have the youtube clips in constant motion on my TV. I can't tell you how many people I've shown that clip to... 90% of them don't ride.
No matter. I read fast and type fast so it's easy for me to get carried away.
Here's the clif notes.
1. No offense intended. I'm actually a big fan of Zink's and think that trick was legendary.
2. I'm not surprised he responded and I'm glad he did.
3. I still think the podium at rampage was off.
4. I think Pilgrim should win since it's narrowed to "slopestyle"