Pinkbike Poll: Who Will Win Red Bull Joyride?

Aug 19, 2016
by Mike Levy  
Every sporting series has its marquee event, the 'Big Show,' so to speak, that competitors want to win more than any other contest. Formula One has Monaco, skiing has Kitzbuhel, and surfing has Mavericks. And slope riders? They have the Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx. There are two other Crankworx events that already happened this year, one in France (cancelled due to biblical flooding) and the other in New Zealand, but Whistler is where it all began in 2004. It's also the one that counts for all the beans.


Red Bull Joyride Crankworx Whistler 2015
Hey, no pressure, though...


A victory in Whistler isn't only worth a large cheque and a hefty bonus from sponsors; Red Bull Joyride winners join a shortlist of names that include Basagoitia (2004 and 2005), Zink (2006 and 2010), Boyko, Lacondeguy, Watts, Thomas Genon in 2012, and four-time winner Brandon Semenuk (2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015). Not a bad list of names to be a part of, then.

The question is, who is going to take the crown in 2016? With four wins here in the past and a victory at this year's Crankworx event in Rotorua thanks to a perfect run, you'd be crazy to say that local boy Semenuk doesn't sit at the top of your list. He's the one that the crowd waits for; the Silent Assasin with technical skills that make some of us wonder if gravity even applies to him.

His Trek teammate, Brett Rheeder, has proven to be one of the few riders who can challenge him, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see a two-way battle between the Canadians go down on the Bone Yard course. However, there are others who could bring the fight to Semenuk and Rheeder, especially one particular twenty-year-old from Lincoln, Massachusetts.
Red Bull Joyride 2015
Rogatkin, Semenuk, and Genon made up last year's podium.

With massive off-axis spins, Specialized's Nicholi Rogatkin is another one who could challenge, as could Logan Peat, who recently took an impressive third at the Swatch Prime Line event in Munich. Messere, Genon, Thelander, and a handful of other riders all have a shot at the top spot as well.

So, who will it be?





Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

68 Comments
  • 34 0
 Torquato Testa looks set to be a name to remember. The Italian dark horse.
  • 12 0
 wonder if his dad is Chuck Testa
  • 2 0
 @hardyk: nope!!! it's just Torquato Testa with another death defying trick
  • 2 0
 bummed hes injured and not competeing now
  • 30 0
 If soderstrom was competing, I reckon he could shake the field quite a bit
  • 6 0
 I miss him too much.
  • 19 2
 Andreu Lacondaguy is doing Joyride?! Sick!
  • 14 1
 Wont believe it unless he actually drops in. He showed up twice in a row and pulled out the morning of. He will not compete.
  • 8 0
 Agree, he is not going to compete.
  • 3 0
 From Spain, he is doing it remotely this year! Watch out at Rampage though....
  • 15 1
 It'll be a shame if Andreu doesn't drop in- he should just hit it with style and shred it in his own way. Proper flat and sideways- all the other guys have to trick everything so it would be nice to see something different. No tricks, just whips till the end and then boost one of his silly spins to remind the world where it's at!
  • 3 0
 @NR8productions: The whole reason Andreu got into the fest series was because he got sick of contest riding, i.e. Redbull Joyride... I'm pretty sure he's on film saying this in a few different clips.
  • 1 0
 @millsr4: Plus he literallty doesnt have the technical tricks to compete. "Style" is so subjective and unquantifiable that desipte him being able to pull a smooth flatspin 360 he'll never win a comp doing nothing but these, supermans and whips.
  • 1 0
 @NR8productions: Its ashame he doesn't as its just taking a spot that another rider could have had!
  • 1 0
 @robaussie99: andreu won joyride in 2008 and was 3rd in the xgames behind brett & brandon, even though he probaby won't be winning he could have a decent result
  • 1 0
 @aldago: correct, nearly 10 years ago, when flips and 360's were what was required.....
  • 18 1
 a better poll would be on who will be robbed
  • 9 4
 Norbs
  • 15 0
 Really hoping for some something special from Emil Johansson, he absolutely killed it at the last two comps in my opinion!
  • 5 0
 kid's a beast. definitely excited to see what he brings
  • 14 2
 Nyquist podiums for sure, with some variation of a bar spin we could have never imagined.
  • 12 0
 i feel like there might be more than one bar spin in his run
  • 9 1
 He takes Dayquist to reduce dizziness from all the spinning...
  • 10 1
 Hope that somebody will push Semenuk to do some next next level stuff. If Testa flip whips a flat drop that might do it, and im expecting Matt Jones to throw something wild.
  • 11 1
 go go go Tommy G !!!!! Belgian power!!
  • 1 0
 half cabbbbbbbb
  • 9 1
 I think it's Rheeder's turn finally.
  • 9 1
 Never count Jones out for something wild.
  • 1 0
 Wildcard Win for Matt would make UK history and generally be pretty awesome.
  • 7 1
 I can't help but cheer for Semenuk, although the whole field is absolutely stacked.
  • 8 4
 Semenuk might be the man again, but if Rogatkin puts it all together he probably beats Semenuk!
If Rogatkin stands cork 720, cash roll and 1080 this can be the winning run..will see Wink
  • 29 1
 i have mixed feelings about rogatkins tricks. they are obviously rad and insanely difficult. but there is something to be said for adding some steeze to a run.
  • 2 1
 @adrennan: He does insane tricks but compared to some other riders he doesn't land them very smoothly
  • 3 1
 @natemeyer: i agree with you but it isnt just landing. in the air he seems very forced (not saying i could do any better). but look at semenuks 720s or rheeders 720s there is just an x factor to their tricks that make them so visually appealing
  • 2 0
 fuck squid lids
  • 5 0
 There should be a pool who you wish would win so we could compare.
  • 6 0
 Matt Jones to podium
  • 5 1
 Semunuk has 420 votes #blazeit
  • 2 0
 turn up mane.
  • 3 0
 Zink on course.. ahhh ok ! I don't know
  • 6 7
 It's hard to say wether flow, style, and combinations of Semenuk will beat Rogatkins progressive riding tricks, especially now that these jumps are bigger than last years, allowing Rogatkin to possibly pull the twister somewhere mid run and obviously not on the last step down off the flat whale-tale. Semenuk will always be my number one, but I think Rogatkin will pull out on top because of his progression, imagine if he hit the twister mid run with a cash roll, cork 720, flip off the drop Box and had only slipped one pedal, there is no way Semenuk could contest to a run of such high difficulty. These judges better play a fair game, Rogatkin should have won on the Rotorua course. What do you guys think, both are great riders, but who has progressed this sport more than anyone else in the last year?
  • 2 2
 I still say Semenuk is probably the best all-around rider in the world right now, but Rogatkin can out-trick him. Semenuk has way more style and combo's, but it's a slopestyle competition where tricks are key. Semenuk is my favourite rider, but if Rogatkin can pull something crazy like he has been the past couple years then I think he can win it
  • 2 2
 I'm feeling Rogatkin for sure. Considering his run in Rotorua, I wouldn't be surprised if he takes gold just as long as he can land the twister. Besides he's been killing it in FMB.
  • 3 0
 Messere for the podium... Has some revenge since 2012 at Joyride...
  • 3 0
 Matt Jones of the win
  • 2 1
 I told my wife I would win, she said "falling down the hill doesn't count".
  • 3 2
 Bezanson is a better bmx rider than Rogatkin no?
  • 10 0
 completely different style of riding
  • 2 1
 Soderstrom will soon join the mongoose team.
  • 2 0
 The Russian!
  • 6 4
 not bezanson. lol.
  • 2 0
 Tippie and Mcduff
  • 1 0
 nyquist is gonna bar spin his way to first for dave!
  • 1 0
 Anywhere I can find a rerun of it?
  • 1 0
 Brandon got some combos up his sleve...thats for sure
  • 1 0
 Soooo...Drew Bezansen what happened?
  • 2 3
 Its annoying that you see all of these guys competing elsewhere except for Semenuk,
  • 2 2
 Is Bezanson back on his bike already? Heard some rumors he got injured.
  • 3 1
 he dislocated his shoulder. he did it right before swatch rocket air
  • 2 2
 Votes so far - Semenuk: 726 votes, Rogatkin: 217 votes!
  • 3 3
 Who cares
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.050484
Mobile Version of Website