Steps to the Top - Martin Söderström

Mar 26, 2015
by SRAM  
Views: 15,523    Faves: 137    Comments: 1


“I couldn’t really have a better comeback than this, actually.”

The past two years haven’t been the kindest to Martin Söderström. The tall Swede suffered an injury that was potentially career ending, on his final run of Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler in 2013. It was the final run of the day, and nailing it could’ve meant taking top spot on the podium. His big check for taking second place was delivered to him in the hospital. Recovering from the broken bones required months of painful physical therapy.

Then, shortly before the Crankworx Whistler 2014, Söderström’s journey to the pinnacle of the sport was detoured by another serious injury. Fall and winter were spent healing up and regaining strength.

The top of the mountain bike world really doesn’t care about wounded riders, though. It doesn’t care how many podiums you’ve stood on or how many times you’ve stopped to autograph some kid’s t-shirt or poster. Progression in this sport is rabid and unstoppable—and it’s easy to forget just how good a rider is if you haven’t seen him in a few months.

Söderström came to Crankworx Rotorua with plans to compete in the Whip-Off Championship, Speed and Style, Pumptrack Challenge and Slopestyle. He was undeniably entertaining in the Whip-Off, and it only took a first competition run down the Crankworx Rotorua Speed and Style course to see that Martin Söderström doesn’t plan to be forgotten anytime soon. Not only did he throw big tricks into each run, he pushed every bit of forward momentum he could out of each pedal stroke.

Steps to the Top
Söderström made it through the round of 16, 8 and 4, to face French rider Adrien Loron in the final. To the Swede, it seemed clear that Loron might have the speed advantage, so he decided to put his money on style.

“In the final, I was against the fast Frenchy, so I just had to really go for the big tricks instead of the speed,” Söderström explained. “Obviously, I tried to go as fast as possible. I went for the big tricks, and yeah, it worked out.”

“Worked out” is classic Martin Söderström—almost self-deprecating, but perfectly on point. “Worked out” means he started his 2015 season with an early win in Speed and Style. And perhaps not surprising, he’s a big fan of the event and the Rotorua course.

“Speed and Style is my favorite discipline now,” he says. “It’s got a little bit of everything, and this course was really that way…the perfect mix of everything.”

Steps to the Top
sram.com

Video by: Mind Spark Cinema
Photos by: Adrian Marcoux, Ross Measures and Paris Gore
Words by: Joe Parkin


MENTIONS @SramMedia / @mindspark / @Amarc / @rossmeasures / @officialcrankworx / @parisgore



Author Info:
SramMedia avatar

Member since Apr 1, 2011
178 articles

43 Comments
  • 48 0
 So cool to see him recovering well and still not holding back. Such a rad guy.
  • 8 0
 You can be sure you're the best of the best on an MTB when you're throwing clean double whips in races & winning the race. I bet that Loron guy just decided to lay it down & forget it after dead sailoring next to that. Keep the rubber down this year Martin. Give us Canadians something to fear! Wink
  • 37 0
 It'll be interesting to see how he stacks up against Semenuk and Rheeder.
  • 21 0
 This. Should be an exciting season.
  • 11 1
 Well i think for both Rheeder and Semenuek its gonna be hard now when martins is back.. Martin is Semenueks biggest opponent on a slopestyle course
  • 4 4
 I am going to bet that sam reynolds, is going to be a challenger this year aswell... he has been throwing quite some cork 720's and he have seen to be very active on instagram atleast
  • 4 7
 Naah,I think it will be hard for Martin to challenge Semenuk and Rheeder, the development these last years has been immense and there is a couple of other riders who been throwing down too but fingers crossed!
  • 3 1
 Orkar inte skriva på engelska.

Mja.. Men sen vet ingen utav oss hur mycket Martin har tränat och övat för att komma tillbaks.. Jag tror att iaf Rheeder och Semenuek kommer få det jobbigt iaf.. Martin är ju som sagt Brandons största "fiende" eller hur man nu kan säga. Men vi får se nu på söndag vad som avgörs.
  • 9 2
 "Martin is Semenueks biggest opponent on a slopestyle course"

Yeah "biggest opponent" maybe, but Rheeder is his biggest threat, full stop.
  • 1 0
 How long has Soderstrom been back riding/training?
  • 2 11
flag ridethree (Mar 26, 2015 at 23:28) (Below Threshold)
 I personally don't really like his style but rogatkin should be someone to consider aswell
  • 4 0
 Martin shows a level of smoothness and style that no one else has. That will be a big advantage for him.

Also with this exceptional attitude and insane recovery and progress he made, I would bet my money on Martin for winning the next FBM title.

Even though Rheeder and Semenuk are insane, Martin was the biggest game changer. And and i do believe he has what it takes to be #1 again, just like he won the speed and style (guesing none of you expected that either).
  • 2 0
 No Martin is Semenueks biggest threat, plain and simple.. It has and will allways be beetwen Martin and Brandon on a slopestyle course.
  • 2 0
 Sluta tjata och njut av underhållande cykling gubbar
  • 1 0
 haha, lite trollandet får man la göra..
  • 14 0
 Thats a pretty good looking bike. Almost worthy of a söderströme bike check by pinkbike
  • 14 1
 If it was Semenuk's Ticket, they'd have a full feature.
  • 4 0
 @pinkbike, if you're reading this, I'd genuinely like to know what he's running for a set up...sag, compression, fork travel, gearing etc.
  • 3 4
 I mean, yea I'm sure their is some magic going on in there somewhere, but its a SS bike. The suspension is set-up stiff as fvck, and its probably light, like every other SS bike. I'd rather see more bike checks of DH and Enduro bikes honestly.
  • 2 0
 Just curious about the set up and if he ran it any differently from his slope course set up. Fork looks like its more than 100mm and the travel indicator on the shock is pretty far down. Maybe he runs it softer with more rebound for for quicker berm to berm transfers....who knows. I'd just be interested.
  • 1 0
 Fair enough, never thought about that.. I suppose seeing whether he changes it according to SS or DSS would be interesting to see.
  • 1 0
 No kidding - both seem nuke bike checks were only 1.5 months apart too...
  • 1 0
 This might be a stupid question, but does anyone know what this small, round, red thing on his forks is? I' ve noticed it on a lot of the other Sram guy's bikes too
  • 2 0
 anyone notice the new specialized sx doesn't get much attention since the intro?
  • 1 0
 @ridethree My guess is it's a transmitter, to track the time when he crosses the finish line. I had something similar when I raced an enduro.
  • 1 0
 @cmkneeland: it´s like no sag whatsoever, full compression, 120mm running at around 220psi front with 2 tokens and 250ish rear, gearing changes between 32/14 and 30/13, one year late but now you know..
  • 9 0
 What a cool video...that was ACE!!!
  • 1 0
 hell yeah that was incredibly entertaining. I couldn't believe it was over 3 minutes when I got to the end. felt like half that
  • 7 0
 Loving these "Steps to the top" videos, keep em coming!
  • 1 0
 I think you give us mountain bike fans too little credit! Progression is rabid, sure, but we wouldn't soon forget someone as rad as Martin, even if that had been a career-ending injury (sure am stoked it wasn't, though!)
  • 4 0
 Soderstrom to Rheeder: "excuse me bro, you're in my spot.. I'm back!"
  • 3 0
 great work on the video...must have been a late one last night
  • 1 0
 I have such a not worth mentioning the Far East fans

Wait you too long!!!

Bless my idol! Congratulations!!
  • 2 0
 Dig that ride. Red fork would go good.
  • 1 0
 at the end is the best 360 i have ever seen
  • 1 0
 Anyone know the music used? Too cool
  • 1 0
 Awesome. Glad MS is back.
  • 1 0
 and that bike!!
  • 1 0
 What bike is that?
  • 1 0
 I am so happy!
  • 1 0
 Beautiful bike!
  • 1 0
 Its a 26!!!







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