"Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself. He imposes his own stamp of action, takes responsibility for it, makes it his own. — Charles de Gaulle
Crankworx Les 2 Alpes, France. Twenty of the world’s best slopestyle mountain bikers converged on the small ski town of Les Deux Alpes to contest round two of the Crankworx Slopestyle Triple Crown. Despite this contest’s inherent prestige, most of the riders entered were simply looking to bang out a solid run. Hopefully, they might safely land a spot in the top 5 — or 10.
After all, this second-round Crankworx course was, well, slightly less stellar in its design than the magical opening-round course in Rotorua, New Zealand, and the benchmark course that the riders will see in Whistler. There was dust. And there were competition holds for gusting winds. The setting sun made the visual approach to the final jump sketchy at best. But as they say, it was the same course for everybody.
On paper, there were 20 dudes vying for the title. But, like Crankworx Rotorua, Brett Rheeder and Brandon Semenuk were the odds-on favorites. For Rheeder, it was the second step in the chase for $75,000 and a Triple Crown title. For Semenuk, it was a shot at redemption after a disappointing crash in New Zealand. As favorites, Rheeder and Semenuk were the last two riders in the start order, which is both a blessing and a curse. While they’re able to see how the judges are scoring, and maybe how the wind and changing course condition are affecting other riders, nervous anticipation compounds exponentially until it’s time to ride.
For Semenuk, it’s no longer a matter of banging out a set, pre-determined run. He’s seen others struggling here in ways that seem out of character. And, as this sport has progressed well beyond where it was even just a few short years ago, it requires a fair bit of strategy. Minutes before he makes his way to the start house, his run is still not 100-percent clear in his mind. Rheeder drops in and delivers a big, but not entirely flawless run. It’s a 93.25 and he’s solidly in the lead. Semenuk follows. Though they trick the jumps differently, watching these two riders compete against each other feels a bit like watching a game of aerial HORSE in which bikes take the place of basketballs. Nothing but net… Semenuk’s run looks good, but he misses a pedal on one of his landings and it costs him any chance at a round-one lead. The judges score it 89.25 — 4 points shy of Rheeder.
Though his first-round nerves are gone, there’s still the heavy weight of competition on Semenuk’s shoulders. Should he clean up his run, take the lead and force Rheeder’s hand? Or should he open up his secret bag of tricks and pull out something huge? Though it seems ridiculous to call anything these athlete do conservative, decides against risking it all on a Hail Mary, a high-stakes, do-or-die attempt at landing a nearly impossible trick. But just a few jumps in, it’s clear that Brandon is not executing is second run according to plan. Even in the chaos of inverted airtime and the deafening cheers, he was surely weighing the possibility of hauling out that Hail Mary on the bottom part of the course. At this point, it would be Brandon’s only chance to better Rheeder’s score.
Ultimately, though, he didn’t. Maybe he couldn’t make the points-bonus didn’t add up in his head. Maybe, just maybe for an upside-down instant, a second-place finish didn’t seem that bad. Maybe. But it was clear that any fleeting notion of second place being okay was gone as quickly as he rolled across the finish line.
Eighteen other Crankworx Les 2 Alpes Slopestyle competitors were probably a bit envious of Brandon Semenuk’s podium place. He did, after all, finish ahead of them. But as anyone who has ever tasted both victory and defeat will recall, second place sucks — at least when you have your eyes firmly trained on winning. And especially when you have no excuses — when you know you simply came up short.
Video by: Mind Spark Cinema / @mindspark Photos by: Adrian Marcoux & Sven Martin Words by: Joe Parkin
Brandon is one of the most inspirational riders out there. He is focused on winning, and even though some people say it's a bad thing, I think it just makes me want to get out there and be like him.
Well, he tried to add a barspin to his corked 720 in Rotorua. Had he landed it I guess he would have won. Same thing this time with the tuck no hander to tailwhip... But how can you get tricks that hard every time ? It's getting really crazy what these guys do.
1080=3x360... But i think that the Joyride's jumps don't offer enough airtime to land 3 rotations,i feel more a cork 720 variation or a bangers on the final stepdown...
@chyu I think 720 variation will be more common, seen barspin from Semenuk and tuck-no 720 in the BMX world all over the place. Semenuk's normal 720s almost look awkward without the barspin in them now, like he's getting ready to do one every time. Rheeder's are way more corked and fluid at the moment.
Brandon,you probably won't read this but thank you!Thanks for being the most inspirational rider in the game,thanks for always push the limits,thanks for acting with more discretion and maturity than some others riders,thank for all your edit and film part,thanks for inspire me since i discover mountain bike,i hope you will keep riding for a long time and keep impress all of us!
I seem to be feeling a concerning level of man love for Logan Peat. Even through injury he just comes across as an awesome guy. He also has fabulous hair. What's happened to me?
For Brandon there two possible results of an event: 1st and not 1st. He doesn't care if he is second or if he didn't make it down, all he wants is the win.
Never give up Brandon. My dad's got cancer & life at the moment is average to say the least. But when I ride a bike all of it disappears. Never give up man.
I believe he is one of the finest free riders I have ever seen and watching him capture the sport I adore has been a blast. Sorry to say this but he seems to do it to himself either by pressure or....meh whatever....I feel it's in his head and until he finds himself he will be number 2. It really shows in his backstage vibe as we view on these live shows week to week. While this is happening Rheeder wins and others advance through progression. Just like watching the Claw and countless others I prey he finds himself. The last film on that green pasture gave me goose bumps and the new rainy day stuff was pure dope.
I know Brandon gets a lot of grief but this whole downer he is on is getting a bit wearing. Reading the article and the comments section here sounded like someone had died! Self pity isn't inspirational
Logan and Anthony really made the video awesome- so much better than the write up. What is the difference? They are having fun and not moping around. Sure it sucks to be second when you are accustomed to winning but I can't help feeling Semenuk needs to just chill and let things flow- not dissimilar to Pilgrim lately I guess.
You can tell that Brandon takes slope style very seriously, but also you can tell that he is not psyching himself out nearly as much as he did in years past. I think the tides 'a turning...
Brandon's run was absolutely insane. Even tho he didn't get the tail whip after the 3bar I still think he could have won. Definitely shouldn't have stopped his run
Sounds like he had something big planned for the stepdown, but when he missed the whip out of the 3 bar he clearly knew that even if he threw whatever he had planned, it wouldn't have been enough to beat Brett's score. I don't think he lost where he was in his run, he is just too calculated to throw something that hasn't been done in what would have been a second place run. So basically, wait for Joyride.
But how can you get tricks that hard every time ? It's getting really crazy what these guys do.
But i think that the Joyride's jumps don't offer enough airtime to land 3 rotations,i feel more a cork 720 variation or a bangers on the final stepdown...
Logan and Anthony really made the video awesome- so much better than the write up. What is the difference? They are having fun and not moping around. Sure it sucks to be second when you are accustomed to winning but I can't help feeling Semenuk needs to just chill and let things flow- not dissimilar to Pilgrim lately I guess.
Chin up
I thought the same thing tho, kinda cold of em' to just leave Rheeder completely out.