Brett Rheeder with a huge flipwhip up top on his first and winning run.



RHEEDER
TAKES THE WIN AND
WE SAY GOODBYE TO

ZINK



Words and layout by Danielle Baker | Photography by Mathew Delorme, Paris Gore, Sterling Lorence, Colin Meagher, and Dave Trumpore.

The 2016 Red Bull Joyride was full of firsts and lasts; Brett Rheeder took his first ever win here today and Cam Zink announced his retirement from slopestyle. The course proved to be unlucky for most with only a handful actually completing a full run during the first round. In that time an injured Zink - who is also a two-time winner here - started the show with a cruisy run and a heartfelt goodbye. Rheeder stomped his run earning a top score of 93 points that would prove to be unbeatable. First time Joyride participant, 17-year-old Emil Johansson earned 4th place after only two months of competing in FMB events and legend Ryan Nyquist threw down an impressive run with an abundance of BMX influence. The amount of bad luck on the course today meant that we missed out on full runs from Rogatkin and Semenuk, among others. Sam Pilgrim and Torquato Testa were also out with injuries, yet there was no lack of talent and passion on display.


The weather rolled in and spat for a brief minute but never went full tilt.
Chris from Retallack drove a huge army truck out to Crankworx taking nearly 20 hours just to shuttle the riders up today.
the morning commute to work
Messere
Brandon Semenuk on his way for run 1
Hometown hero Semenuk is a fan favorite
Rheeder had one mission today. Be number one.
Matt Jones pre run tune up
Matt Jones givin a tweaked wheel a bit of a going over before getting on with the early morning practice session prior to the main event--the Joyride.
Chatting it up around the water cooler in the office.
Semenuk eyeing up what it would take to half cab off this drop
the nemesis to a slopestyle the wind greeted us this morning
Yes it was windy and dusty.
Brett Rheeder deep in visualization of what would become his 2016 Joyride winning run 1.
Rheeder prepping to drop in. His focus and energy was on point this morning giving him what he needed to take the win.
Mind that first drop.... Max Fredriksson 360 off the first feature in practice.
Brandon warming up the morning with a double tailwhip. One of the few times it felt like we really saw him ride today. A snafu and second run did not sit well with the multi time Crankworx champ.
Even in practice Brett Rheeder made it clear he was the one to watch today.
Rheeder 360 bar spin warm up. Not a bad way to start the day.
Rheeder in practice the kid is on another level.
local groms
Current and future rippers Lachlan Wilson Seth Proulx Royds and Dane Jewett study and cheer on their heroes
Big crowds out in the field this morning. It was different drinking coffee at 9am instead of beers at 4pm like year past.
Standing room only today in Whistler.
Impressive crowd numbers here in Whistler as usual
Crowd pleasers Kyle Young Andrew Olive and friends.

Practice kicked off early with a 10:30am start. The crowds showed up with coffee and Caesars over the usual beers, and while they may have been a little more subdued, they still showed up in droves to cheer for their favourites.

mcgazzaforever

#mcgazzaforever

Diego Caverzasi in run one 360 drop.
Diego Caverzasi sliding into base. Lots of carnage out there today.
Italian Diego Caverzasi hit the deck hard on his first run.

Italian Diego Caverzasi is fairly new to the slopestyle public eye. After dialling in all his tricks during practice, it was hard to see him crash out in both his runs today.

Cam Zink on his last and final run of his career.

An injured Cam Zink flowed the course today and took a moment to announce his retirement. Our hearts and gratitude go out to Cam, a two time winner of this competition, for everything he has brought to the sport.


Brandon Semenuk had a rough day but looked good doing a fast plant 360 X-up right out of the gate.
Brandon Semenuk progressing it as always with a rad half cab of the top drop
Brandon Semenuk didn t have luck on his side today never making it past the fourth jump. Had all gone to plan we would have seen a massive run no doubt.
Brandon Semenuk s day could only be described as a disaster. Crashing off the approach to the big drop right out of the start on his first run and slipping a pedal on landing near the top of his second run. Perhaps it was the pressure of trying to win his 4th straight Red Bull Joyride or perhaps it was just one of those days where nothing seems to click.

Brandon Semenuk's day could only be described as a disaster. Crashing off of the approach to the big drop right out of the start on his first run and slipping a pedal on a landing near the top of his second run. Perhaps it was the pressure of trying to win his 4th straight Red Bull Joyride, or perhaps it was just one of those days where nothing seems to click. Despite his bad luck, he continued to progress the sport with a rad half cab on the top drop during his second run.

Calm and collected but you can read a bit of disbelief in his eyes as Semenuk falls short on his second run.

Calm and collected but you can read a bit of disbelief in Rheeder's eyes as Semenuk falls short on his second run.

Matt Jones with a huge flip high above the heads of the spectators.

Matt Jones with a huge flip high above the heads of the spectators.

Szymon Godziek
Szymon Godziek had some big tricks up his sleeve but was unable to piece it all together for a complete run eventually finishing in 12th.
Szymon Godzeik pushed hard today but this course got the better of him.
Szymon Godziek stretching out the middle of the track with the super man seat grab.
Godziek with the double tail whip mid track.

Szymon Godziek had some big tricks up his sleeve but was unable to piece it all together for a complete run, eventually finishing in 12th.

Nicholi Rogatkin was another of the heavy hitters who struggled to put together complete runs when it mattered most. Crashing on the same jump twice in a row right at the top of the course.
Nicholi Rogatkin going huge off the first booter on a cork 720 before blowing both tires. Maybe a 360 and he would have one flat
When you go as hard as Nicholi Rogatkin you come up short some times. Today was one of those times.
Nicoli Rogatkin on run 1 after his crash
Nicoli Rogatkin on run 1 after his crash
Nicholi Rogation on his second attempt at the twister
Nicholi Rogation double tire explosion after casing his second attempt at the twister
Nicholi Rogatkin frustration with not making it clean through either run and casing the twister
Nicholi Rogatkin frustration with not making it clean through either run
Nicholi Rogatkin frustration with not making it clean through either run

When you go as hard as Nicholi Rogatkin, you come up short sometimes - today was one of those times. He crashed on the same jump on both runs, blowing both of his tires the second time.

Tomas Zejda
Tomas Zejda fully extending a tail whip over the big hip jump.
Thomas Zejda walking away from a blown tire.

Thomas Zejda blew a tire in his first run, but scored a 72.6 for 10th place on his second.

Ryan Nyquist bringing some seriously different tricks to the course. 360 1 handed X-UP.
Ryan Nyquist on his way to a solid 9th place
Ryan Nyquist had a hell of a run throwing X Up rocket airs and showing huge BMX style
Retired BMX legend Ryan Nyquist has finally got the opportunity to thrown down at Red Bull Joyride piecing together a very impressive run to take 9th. Thirty seven years young and still one of the greatest freeriders in the world.

Nicknamed the Rookie Legend, Ryan Nyquist brought huge BMX style to this mountain bike competition throwing down an impressive run to take 9th place. Thirty-seven years young and still one of the greats on a bike.

Mehdi Gani 720 with moody skies behind.
Mehdi Gani
Frenchman Mehdi Gani flipped out of the whale tail on his 2nd run to eventually settle in 8th place.

Frenchman Mehdi Gani flipped out of the whale tail on his 2nd run to eventually settle in 8th place.

Tomas Lemoine dropping in 360
Tomas Lemoine launches off the cabin on run two with a 360 bar spin. Lemoine took seventh.
Tomas Lemoine front flipped the McGazza step up on his second run.
Tomas Lemoine cranking a 3 off of the first drop.
7th place finisher Tomas Lemoine congratulates his good friend Thomas Genon after judges announced his final run score. 2nd place for Genon today which also happens to be his birthday.

Tomas Lemoine threw out 360 bar spins, front flips, and 3's for a 7th place finish. He was greeted by his good friend Thomas Genon as the judges announced his final score.

Anthony Messere with a 360 barspin off the first big drop.
Flip whipping his way to sixth place. Messere held it together in high winds today.
Anthony Messere double tailwhip on the hip before the cabin.
Anthony Messere front flip on run one on his way to 6th place
Anthony Messere dumped 360
Anthony Messere had a big run today and was going big off everything.
Messere was the first to make a full run down the course.
Early leader and the first to throw down a full run Anthony Messere would end the day in 6th.
Anthony Messier amongst the crowds and massive webcast infrastructures
Anthony Messere spins the final big drop into the finish arena.

Anthony Messere was the first contender to make a full run of the course. Stacked with 360 bar spins, flip whips, and a big 360 off the final drop, his program landed him in 6th place.

Best buddies
Logan Peat 360 bar spin to drop into the course.
Logan Peat was one of the few who made a full run of the course and took fifth.
Once again massive crowds made for standing room only in the Whistler base area as Logan Peat backflips his way up the McGazza step-up.

Once again massive crowds made for standing room only in the Whistler base area as Logan Peat backflipped his way up the McGazza step-up. One of the few who made a full run of the course, he secured 5th place.

Emil Johansson tailwhip off the start.
Emil Johansson tail whip on the hip on run one
A perfectly executed flip whip from Emil Johansson.
Emil Johansson went absolutely mental in his first ever Red Bull Joyride contest.
17 year old Emil Johansson has only been competing in FMB contest for a whole two months and currently has no major sponsors footing the bill from event to event. With his 4th place today we have a feeling a lot of things are going to be changing for him in the very near future.

17 year old Emil Johansson went absolutely mental in his first ever Red Bull Joyride contest. He has only been competing in FMB contests for two months and currently has no major sponsors. With his 4th place today we have a feeling that a lot of things are going to be changing for him in the very near future.

Max Fredriksson 360 off the top.
Max Fredriksson with a double tailwhip off the jump that took out Rogatkin.
Max Fredriksson walking on air as he double tail whips the off the Redbull House midway down the course.
Max Frederiksson with the backflip tuck no hander on the second feature.
Fredriksson followed the flip tuck no hander on the second feature with this double tail whip off the third big feature.
Max Fredriksson back flip tuck no hander off the boner. Max took third today.
Max Fredriksson with a backflip tuck nohander off the cannon log.

Max Fredriksson took the 3rd step with backflip tuck no-handers and a double tail whip.

Opposite 360 barspin for Genon off the first big kicker.
Thomas Genon s corked 720 halfway through his first run.
Thomas Genon whips it up to the cabin on his second run. Genon had a massive day pulling off two huge runs for second.
Thomas Genon tailwhip up onto the whale tail.
Thomas Genon boosting of the whale 360 table.
Tomas Genon on his way to second place
Thomas Genon soaring off the final drop with a tuck 360 on his birthday.
With NBC and Red Bull s cameras recording his every move Thomas Genon shows a 360 tuck no-hander off the final jump.

Thomas Genon pulled off two huge runs for second place, including a massive 360 tuck no-hander off of the final jump.

Rheeder about to nail his run 1
Brett Rheeder truck driver off a very small start gate drop.
Brett Rheeder s winning run included this fast plant 360 drop at the top
Brett Rheeder fast plant 360 drop at the top
Brett Rheeder fast plant 360 off the top drop and on his way to a winning run.
Rheeder pulled a text book fast plant 360 off the first feature.
Combo - Rheeder flip tuck off the whale tail
Combo Rheeder tailwhip on to the whale.
Flipwhip off the Giant Boner log.
Today was all about Brett Rheeder who brought his A-Game and threw the gauntlet down on his first run. Setting the standard and rising the bar higher than anyone else could reach.
Victory lap flat drop flip can from Brett Rheeder.
For the win. Brett Rheeder
Brett Rheeder 2016 Crankworx Joyride champion
combo
Combo
Winning bike of the day this was sure the ticket.
Brett Rheeder 2016 Crankworx Joyride champion
Brett Rheeder 2016 Crankworx Joyride champion
Fredriksson congratulating Rheeder in the finish corral.
Every camera in the finish arena was pointed in one direction. At the man of the hour Brett Reeder.
After succumbing to the pressure last year Brett Reeder found redemption today buy winning his first ever Red Bull Joyride in Whistler.
Brett Rheeder
This one has eluded Rheeder for a long time that makes it all the sweeter.

Brett Rheeder took his first ever Red Bull Joyride win today after stomping his first run and earning a score of 93 - enough to hold the lead for both rounds.


Crowd dodging for the podium.
The top three riders from Red Bull Joyride Thomas Genon Brett Rheeder and Max Fredriksson.
Number 1 Brett Rheeder
Brett Rheeder 2016 Crankworx Joyride champion with Tomas Genon and Max Fredriksson
Podiums. First top step in Whistler for Rheeder.
Birthday boy Thomas Genon enjoys a champagne shower from Red Bull Joyride winner Brett Rheeder

Brett just bought a new place in the interior BC and now has a nice house warming mantel piece.

The top three riders from Red Bull Joyride; Thomas Genon (2nd), Brett Rheeder (1st), and Max Fredriksson (3rd). Birthday boy, Thomas Genon, enjoyed a champagne shower from Rheeder.

King and Queen of Crankworx.

After the podiums, Crankworx organizers announced the King and Queen of Crankworx; Jill Kintner and Tomas Slavik.

MENTIONS: @officialcrankworx / @redbullbike / @WhistlerMountainBikePark / @sterlinglorence / @meagerdude / @mdelorme / @parisgore / @davetrump


Posted In:
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43 Comments
  • 96 1
 Damn good photography. Cheers to all the photographers.

Can this be my moment to say how putting joyride on sunday kills a ton of the fun? Such a smaller crowd turnout then previous years, nowhere near the energy I've seen. Last year got rained out to Sunday morning, understandable. This year, what was it... a money grab? More people shopping in the village and hopefully staying one more day? As much fun as it is Sunday is my go home day every Crankworx, next year the homies and I are probably just going to ride on Sunday and go home after and catch the joyride highlights when we're home. Joyride is much better on Saturday evening. Everyone got their riding in for the day, people are posted up all over the hillside ready to watch the greatest event ever, big party after all over the village and everyone gets up the next morning and rides/goes home/watches the DH. Meh. Sorry for bitching, everything just felt hugely off this Crankworx, and it's my one trip I look forward to every damn year. Please for god sakes switch it back.
  • 2 0
 When it got postponed to Sunday last year, it was at 10 am instead of in the afternoon, which allowed Europeans to watch with the time change and Redbulls live view ratings were the best theyve had. But I agree 100%, Saturday is way better.
  • 3 1
 Agree it's better overall to have it on Saturday, but the turn-out was pretty solid I thought (until it started raining during run 2). Definitely less of a buzz, but I think part of that was due to the crashes and really, everyone knew Rheeder had won after Semenuk and Rogatkin crashed on run 2.

Having Canadian Open DH on Saturday was awesome, as was having great weather until Sunday night. Got in a ton of riding too.
  • 2 0
 @gramboh: I go pretty much every year and I've never had this much freedom to move around the hill and stand just about anywhere. Two years ago the hill had so many people on it you could barely move. IMO evening time is just better for the event. So much more fun. I like Sunday DH, it's fun to go up the lifts and get the final day of riding in while watching pros clear the road gap. Having heckle fest on Sunday makes Sunday seem like it's not Monday-eve
  • 1 0
 Sunday Joyride = Buzzkill. But, it sells a shit ton of beds and food.
  • 36 0
 Just wish we could've seen what else Rogatkin and Semenuk were going to put down......;(
  • 2 0
 Same here... so sad.
  • 28 0
 Ryan Nyquist, putting every 30-something to shame today!!!
  • 11 0
 @dro-cfr: I don't think the MTB industry values true style enough. It's all about the trick difficulty. I don't think he's getting enough credit for what he's doing and that's saying something considering he's placing top 10 in every event he's entering.

It's one of the reasons more of the older BMX guys haven't made the transition.

I personally love a super styly trick thrown in the middle of all these other tricks as much as anything else. It's like a snowboarder throwing a super huge 180 or 360 with a massive grab instead of a 1080 in the middle of a bunch of other cork spin variations. I love that.

That's what Nyquist brings that not to many of the other guys do. That effortless style of 35 years on a bmx bike.
  • 1 0
 @onemanarmy: his run was my favorite, everything else looked too techy with not enough style. Don't get me wrong, I think Semenuk has crazy style and tech, but there was only one run that I cheered out loud for, and that was Nyquist
  • 17 2
 Still so bummed about Semenuk... Really was looking Forwards to the banger run he was gonna throw down
  • 4 6
 YOU THINK YOU'RE BUMMED, IF HE'D WON I WOULD BE GOING TO ROTORUA!!!!
  • 2 1
 @kjjohnson: y?
  • 2 1
 @Colelrg: more than likely I would have won the crankworx fantasy contest
  • 1 1
 @kjjohnson: DANG
  • 1 0
 @Colelrg: It's alright. I'm over it now. I never expected to do so well. It was exciting to watch and know that I was so high in the standings. I was about to have a heart attack watching Brandon, though.
  • 11 0
 I'm sad for Rogatkin but this photo is hilarious.

www.pinkbike.com/photo/13850701
  • 4 4
 Ahahaha he fully raped that bike, so gutted he couldn't clean his run
  • 5 0
 man this guy is a gladiator. He did the most brutal case (second to hospital gap), twice, even blowing both his tire, and still completed his first run with bangers. He is definitely the rider I enjoy watching the most.
  • 2 0
 @GabrielDugas: He did the same at rampage, fell of a 40ft cliff and then proceeded to jump the 70ft canyon gap with concussion for a certainty, absolute nutcase!
  • 10 0
 Love how stoked Max Fredriksson looks on the podium. Hope we see more of him in the future!
  • 5 0
 Thomas Zejda's picture 'f*ck this shit, I'm walking' !

Thomas Genon latest drop tuck 3-6 : you can see the delay between the real action and the giant live-screen.

That Semenuk sequence... damn... going blind on such a high drop... !

Mega props to all photographers. Thank you so much for this amazing job. Thank you pinkbike !
  • 7 0
 Some really awesome photos here. Love seeing these 'photo-epic' threads after big comps!!!
  • 9 1
 Emil Johansson is a rising star.
  • 6 2
 duh. Think that's pretty clear. Next time he rides he'll have at least 4 new sponsors.
  • 2 0
 Was super bummed that Semenuk didn't finish a run but Rheeder's performance was insanity. It was awesome to see him get a win.

HDMI > TV works pretty great but not everyone has that luxury. They seriously need to get Joyride and Rampage televised.. I know Rampage gets shown after the fact on daytime TV but this stuff is way too awesome not to share with the world on a live stage.

P.S. I 3 Photo Epics
  • 3 0
 Anyone get a picture of Semenuk's magicians cloak?

Just curious if it was a traditional red and black or if it was like a red/white theme with a bunch of maple leaves or something.
  • 4 4
 I think this joyride event was a bust. Many of the features were not dialed in and it was difficult to ride the course because of that. Look at the results, more than half the field crashed. The first major booter, which rogatkin crashed on was an oversized spine and was hard to clear most of the time. Almost everyone was casing it. Joyride has been the pinacle of the slope style scene forever, but is it still? Terrible weather each year and too many crashes. Reminds me every time of the X-Games a few years back.
  • 1 0
 Cant wait to see Rheeder half cab off a drop next year. Seems like Semenuk brings all the new shit and Rheeder just copies it a year later Example: flat drop, cork 7, flat drop 1 footed can.
  • 2 0
 Oh yeah true man. And cork 7 oppo..... Wait
  • 3 1
 Awesome photos. I feel for both Rogatkin and Semenuk. There is always a next time.
  • 5 4
 a little birdie told me that this is Semenuk's last year competing in mtb and that he's gonna solely concentrate on film work and rally driving in the coming years...
  • 4 0
 That wouldn't surprise me. A lot of these guys are going to start transitioning out of full time competitions over the next few years.
  • 3 2
 Red Bull Joy Ride is the big time. They should at least provide decent bottles of Champagne for the podium. Freixenet cava does not cut it for a world class event.
  • 3 0
 Ride in peace Zarja Cernilogar :'(
  • 1 0
 RIP Zarja.
  • 1 0
 I think the riders should throw some tricks in that involve throwing out swag. Just sayin, could be epic.
  • 3 0
 FREIXENET all day!
  • 1 0
 Anyone have a link to the replay? I can't seem to find it on red bull tv
  • 1 0
 www.redbull.tv/live/AP-1KNH9PQVD1W11/crankworx-triple-crown-of-slopestyle
  • 2 2
 What? ....
Is Trumper watches out where Gore stands and takes the same frames/pictures?
  • 2 0
 Haha.... Thanks for the LOL dude.
  • 1 0
 @davetrump: Big Grin just joking mate thanks for all the beautiful moments you guys freeze for us.







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