As the big screen showed a moving tribute to Kelly McGarry, the crowds gathered at the Skyline Mountain Bike Park were humbled into silence. Kelly’s friends and fellow riders were gathered at the top of the course, and ran a mega train down the track that Kelly himself had built. Kelly's tires were the last to touch the track before this year's event, so it was a fitting send off for the big man. Hugs, tears, and stories were shared beneath the final jump that displayed the big ‘McGazza’ logo for the world to see. He truly was connected with this course that he and Tom Hey (Elevate Build and Design) built and will be forever remembered here.
Tom Hey leads out the Kelly McGarry tribute ride on the slopestyle course followed by 29 other riders all shredding for their fallen friend. Tom and Kelly built this course together, and were not only business partners, but close friends.
It wasn't just slopestyle bikes on course either. Brendog nac'ing over the McGazza jump on his Scott Gambler.
Carson Storch was feeling it and dropped a flip whip during the tribute ride.
Will the circle be unbroken. By and by in the sky. We'll see you on the other side.
Tom Hey and Emmerson Wilken, two of Kelly's closest friends, doing it for #McGazza.
Emotions were running high, as was the support in the group. R-dog lends a hand.
Every rider in the slopestyle gathered at the finish after a run in remembrance of Kelly.
Carson Storch gives Sam Hitchcock a long hug after the tribute ride. Kelly took Carson under his wing during their time with Diamondback and still helped Storch out immensely even after moving to YT.
Nicholi was wearing a custom Alpine Stars jersey, dedicated to Kelly.
You could see it on everyone's faces, and you could feel it in the atmosphere; Kelly's absence left a huge hole in the community, but he was definitely there in spirit.
After possibly the most solemn start to a Crankworx event, the riders were slow to regain their composure, but once they got their game face on the action was anything but slow. Tires were popped, and banger tricks were thrown, leaving the crowd awe-struck. Contest firsts such as Rogatkin's 1080 ‘twister’, and Semenuk's 720 bar left the crowds floored. How much higher can these boys raise the bar?
The long walk to the start gate.
Carson Storch was riding with Kelly on his mind.
Eyes on the prize for Carson Storch.
Canada's Anthony Messerre was going huge but could only clinch the 11th spot once the dust settled.
Sam Reynolds' flip drop out of the start gate Waharoa.
Warming up and doing his stretches in the air, Amir Kabbani is ready for the remainder of his run.
Carson Storch flip whip off the start step down.
Messere with a bar spin up the step up.
Sam Reynolds tail whip off the boner log.
Sam Reynolds was looking smooth all day, making this 360 drop look easy and then throwing a casual 720 over the final jump.
Sam Reynolds flatting it out over the crowd.
Sam breakdances out of his 720 crash on the final jump.
Sam Pilgrim, reporting for duty.
The bar for tricks never seems to stop climbing, this year a 720 was almost required to make it into the top 10.
Sam Pilgrim gets bent out of shape on the money maker finish jump.
On his first run, Rogatkin exploded his rear wheel while dropping in. He was on a fierce hunt for redemption come run two and had the crowds going berserk.
Nicholi Rogatkin's first ever 1080 in a slopestyle contest.The crowd just about flipped out just as hard as he did.
And this is what a 1080 victory dance looks like.
High fives all around for Nicholi Rogatkin for landing the first 1080 in a contest run.
Cam McCaul lost his sh*t when Nicholi Rogation 720'd the start drop and blew his tyre on his first run.
Rheeder, focused and in pursuit of the gold.
Rheeder was out for blood, throwing down hard all week with massive tricks. Unfortunately, a few small errors saw his score suffer in the final.
Brett Rheeder 360's the step up.
Twisting hard and sending it huge on the final jump, but unfortunately a messy landing ended his chances of a win.
Brett Rheeder flip double whip.
Brandon Semenuk flipping the boner log.
Brandon Semenuk backflipping the SRAM step down.
Flat out and super stylin'.
The gentle genius demonstrates text book precision.
The definition of steeze: Brandon Semenuk throwing a flip barspin to tuck after cruising through a victory lap, smooth as butter.
Semenuk stoked on throwing down a winning run on his first run.
Semenuk took the top spot once again, this being his fourth Crankworx gold, close on his tail was Nicolai Rogatkin stomping his 1080 and popping his rear tire upon touchdown. Brett Rheeder rounded off the podium with a notable flip oppo-whip from the starting step down. Kelly's friends gave it absolutely everything in a send off which the man with the big hair, and the even bigger grin, would have been so stoked to see.
Throw your hands in the air.
Although the rivalry is fierce they still get stoked on each other winning.
Semenuk revels in the redemption from last year.
 | It feels so good, such a good redemption. To come back and get a win at this event kind of rounds out the Crankworx series of events for me. - Brandon Semenuk |
Brandon Semenuk and Sammy Hitchock, Kelly McGarry's partner, with the McGazza award.
Friends, family and everyone that had Kelly in their lives. A truly honorable remembrance for a real hero.
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MENTIONS: @parisgore / @FRNZ / @fraserbritton / @cameronmackenzie /@Chamakazi / @officialcrankworx
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but beside all that, where the f*ck is the vital raw video about the downhill training??