Crankworx Les Deux Alpes came around far to quickly, but hopefully isn't forgotten yet! Being the first ever Crankworx to hit European soil it would have been rude not to have made it out to snap up this event and slap a bow on it for all you guys and gals to see. So that being that, I tried my "darnedessed" to get you Pinkbikers the content you deserve in the form of still imagery.
So you guys know the format of
Slopestyle by now right? Yes...boom lets get on with it. No?...Right well, big jumps and features...ah screw this...lets get on with the photos. Thats what you came to see! (but honestly if you dont know what Slopestyle is yet...google it or something)
Let Crankworx Les Deux Alpes Begin!...or ReBegin as this is just a recap from the event!
Crankworx Les Deux Alpes Slopestyle |
 Huge Mountains everywhere |
 |
| Les 2 Alpes is a pretty big resort with quite a lot going on |
 |
| Epic scenery around Les 2 Alpes |
 |
| Lifts into the clouds |
 |
| Weather was very mixed here, cloudy morning, hot midday and windy in the evening seemed to be the norm |
 |
| Crankworx 2012 is here |
Les Duex Alpes opened its grounds to the worlds biggest mountain bike event, but I dont quite think the expected what was to descend apon this quite French village in the hills
 |
| Well made course this year and all went down well with the riders |
 |
| Dry and more dry |
Conditions were mainly good overall, sun tended to come out towards midday but wind was a slight issue most afternoons and did make things a little "tricky"!
 |
| Sram rolling in with style as always |
One of the leading the sponsors for Crankworx was shoe dominators Teva, who pulled out all the stops with tons of free shwag from bikes to pedals to tees to BEERS, they had it all.
 |
| Teva set up and ready to rock it. Head up to the Teva VIP tent for "FREE" beer on slopestyle day |
Athletes from all over globe transcended into the small world of baguettes and "hammer game" but still managed to find the time to chill out and enjoy the trip
 |
| Tough life being a Slopestyle Superstar |
 |
| Si and Ryan bringing Pinkbike the action |
But there was still room for the french shredding locals like Leo Delfour Barsacq who could mash up the park and the slopestyle course! #younghopeful
There was still a bunch to do for just spectators too, they could sign up to win bikes, get free ice cream at the Sram Tent, jump around on some trampolines or just enjoy the action.
 |
| Sign up for the chance to win a Sam Prilgrim Signed NS! |
I managed to catch up with Brandon Semenuk for a quick chat, run through his "Bear" bike, talk about future plans ect ect. All I can say is this guy is totally living the dream.
 |
| Bike checking with Brandon |
 |
| Super chill and damn motivated |
Teva gave away some "free" things and apparently the French go CRAZY for these things!
 |
| The giving away of a signed Sam Pilgrim NS...one stoked Kid |
Right now into some action and a run through of the Slopestyle, including the ups and downs of professional mountain biking!
 |
| Gondola to the top of nowhere |
 |
| Gee Milner catching the action in video form and bringing it to you guys at home |
 |
| Easy transport to the top of the hill |
 |
| Game face Cam ready to drop |
 |
| Damn windy here today, shame the best trick was postponed |
Anthony Messere seemed on form the whole week, but just couldn't pull it together on his final run. I know the wind made lots of issues, but everyone was in the same boat with it and some riders just managed to cope better than others.
Teva Best Trick was to be separate event in a Jam Session format, but due to the winds the event was merged into the Slopestyle and best trick was picked by the riders from their finals run. Shame Sam Reynolds had to pay the price by getting caught out by the wind.
 |
| Sam with a huge double backflip despite the high winds! Shame he crashed out and bust him self up. Two broken vertebra but so many man points for trying! Get well soon |
Martin Soderstom was favorite to win Crankworx this year and he got so damn close to doing so!
 |
| Prepping himself in a quiet corner |
Kelly McGarry did himself proud and in his own words told me "Not too bad for a washed old Kiwi aye". So chilled and just loves riding bike. Big respect goes out to Kelly.
Zink did himself proud winning the SRAM Speed and Style the day before and tried to go all out on the slopestyle, but a few silly offs trying to front flip off the whale tail cost him the comp.
Sam Pilgrim entered this comp to win and thats all he wanted, but after a few things didnt go his pay he seemed to loose...how should we say it...loose track of the situation and took up having fun rather than winning, but when it came down to final runs he went all out and a bit more and binned it big style back flipping the road gap. Lucky to walk away from it!
 |
| Wife beater for the ladies |
 |
| Disappointed that he fell on his run |
 |
| Sore knees and bruised egos |
But everyone got into it all pretty damn well and made the most of the calm morning and chill back a bit in the afternoon, but when it came to finals everyone tried there best to pull out the stops and go big or go home!
But there was only one rider that truly did fight all the battles, pushed the limits and really gave it all. Coming straight off the back of a win at Chatel, Brandon Semenuk was feeling quietly confident that he could take it all away with him and close down the FMB ranking gap between him and leader Sam Pilgrim. All I can say is that backyard training has paid off!
Super clean, fast, with big amplitude and huge tricks...a winning combination from Semenuk which proved he isn't out there to mess around and helped gain him his second FMB victory in two weeks (and if you paid attention, he also won Claymore the week after...boom!)
And Boom! That concludes
Crankworx Les Deux Alpes 2012 Slopestyle and damn was it a wild trip, even came home with a British Sun tan.
And till next time...
Adiós!Photos & Words:
Laurence Crossman-Emms
www.laurence-ce.com
