Cool, calm and collected. Semenuk was showing no signs of pressure today.
The Euro crew watch on as they prep for first runs.
Logan Peat collects himself before his first run, he'd finish 4th on the day.
McGazza taking a quiet moment with his girl prior the start of the big show.
Carson Storch barely made it into the Joyride contest and had an amazing run for the rookie nailing 8th place overall. We're stoked for you Carson!
Cam Zink flips the opening flat drop.
Geoff Gulevich pops a 360 of the initial drop into the Red Bull Joyride course.
Anthony Messere Tail Whipping the opening drop.
Brett Rheeder flips the big first drop.
It just would not be Crankworx without some bananas running down the course between riders.
The Claw with a signature Indian Air on the boner log. All the riders will be heading to his invitational next weekend on Vancouver Island.
Quick tailwhip over the big boner log from Mr. Reboul.
Cam McCaul goes superman off the boner log.
Brandon Semenuk with a 360 Tuck No Hander off the boner log.
Szymon Godziek with a clean truck driver.
Yannick Granieri was on fire on his second run until he came up short onto the cabin jump.
Anthony Messere was going absolutely huge off of this hit.
Thomas Genon talking over the fifth feature on the track--the one that gave many of the slopestyle competitors trouble.
Szymon Godziek with a big superman double grab, one of the only riders doing tricks like this.
Kelly McGerry with a big Flip, Tuck No Hander.
Tomas may be a new kid on the block, but with a style like this he will go a long way! Flip tuck no - hander from him.
Gully with a dialled three table.
Some runs just were not meant to be.
Send some healing vibes to Antoine Bizet as he had a really nasty crash in the eliminations. He is young and made out of steel so he should be riding soon. Fingers crossed for you buddy!
Tomas Zejda runs the most colourful bikes and backs it all up with his style on the bike.
Brett Rheeder had all the makings of a podium topping run. He knew what he needed to do to beat Semenuk, but over rotated on the third jump in his second run cutting his hopes of a first place finish short.
Brett Rheeder going 720 degrees on this huge air.
Unlike in years past, the fun police--in this case the real police--were out in force to keep booze and general rowdiness to a minimum.
Cam McCaul cased the third jump on his second run and had a nasty crash. Had things gone to plan we would have seen this superman seat grab. He is in the hospital this evening and we wish him the best.
Anthony Messere front flip tucking the third feature on his first run.
Nicholi Rogatkin backflipping a double tailwhip on his first run.
Huge 3 on the quarter hit from Thomas Genon.
Semenuk cork 7 on his first run. That first run sealed the deal for local kid.
Anthony Messere whipping his way to a third place finish. The young gun had an incredible first run that he described as a safety run.
Nicholi Rogatkin tailwhips off of the cabin drop.
Look at all the people, no pressure.
Anthony Messere 3's off of the cabin drop.
Semenuk throws an off axis 720 on the final hit.
No one could better Semenuk's first run, and the fragile artist was certainly not going to risk it on a meaningless run; instead he cruised his second run and came home for the win.
Brandon's room mate Logan Peat congratulates him on his win.
Brandon enjoys his winning lap on Logan Peat's shoulders. Despite their pro attitude, friends stay forever, no matter what. Take notes kids.
The best selfies are the ones you take with your heroes.
Rheeder 2nd, Semenuk 1st and Messere 3rd
Smiles for everyone out here on today's podium.
1st - Brandon Semenuk 2nd - Brett Rheeder 3rd - Anthony Messere 4th - Logan Peat 5th - Louis Reboul
I don't want to disrespect any rider but i think for some of the heros who braught mountainbike slopestyle to me through the last 8 years I am riding it it is time to leave the big stage aka Fmb Diamond Tour. I already started thinking about that 3-4 years ago when some of them did the last run that i know from them top to bottom without crashing in a diamondevent. There are so many upcoming boys all over the world who want to show everything the have and made good results in silver and gold events and for the legends it is more getting into a representing for the sponsors and don't risk to much because they have a wife and kids now, and I'm happy for them.
But that can't be the vision of the fmb worldtour.
Like a said i don't want to disrespect them i love them and their performance in contests and videos like NWD but it maybe a good time to go proudly!
I think what he's trying to say is this kind of course isn't big and dirty enough for riders like Zink, McGarry, Gully, and Berrecloth. It will be interesting to compare these results with Rampage this fall. I would guess the order will be on it's head…
Zink I don't think should leave, he just had bad luck. he's the man. I had no clue he could flat drop flip. McGarry for sure, literally called his entire run out before he even started practice. I just think they should go make more big mountain events like Rampage... except not the FEST stuff.. Gully & the Claw too.
I'm all for it if you can actually find younger riders that can put runs together better than the long timers. The hits are huge and with 30 000 people watching. It's just not so easy for the newbie dirt jumpers to perform. The talent pool is still way to small for the sport because at any time a quarter of the best riders are out due to injury. If Bizet, Pilgrim and Soderstrom were there, we may not be having this dialog. Godziek and Rogatkin are the best rookie riders with tricks nobody else is doing. If they are not finishing their runs yet. Taking out the "legends" would not leave much of a completion left to watch.
I think it's more exciting for someone to crash on a great run than to see the old guard x up on the same drops.
Think of X games. For all people complain about how terribly it represented the sport, I think the worst thing was Andreu taking 3rd with such a boring run. If you get more young talent in there trying to prove themselves there will be a lot more crashes, but there will also be more surprise runs to finish toward the top, and more progression.
@thinkbike you named the four riders I had in mind but I would also add McCaul. Honestly when their runs came on I went to the bathroom because as said by others they can't risk it like the young guns can. They'll always be my heroes but this type of slopestyle is won by those willing to put it all out there on EVERY hit!
@skierdud89 McCaul got third only 2 years ago. Sure he's had some bad luck but he is definitely above the level of Gully, Claw and McGarry when in comes to tricks. Had he landed his run he would've broken top ten in my opinion.
I totally agree. I was thinking the same thing. Bearclaw's run was so tame and boring. It definitely felt last generation - both in tricks and amplitude. If I were them I wouldn't even want to compete in an event like this when I know I'm not going to be able to place well anyways. Let the new school come through. Zink, McGarry, Gully, Berrecloth, time to just shoot videos and get us stoked through different channels.
Yes, let's abandon the "old guard" and pad the ranks with eager youngsters for slope style courses. I am sure nobody in the crowd of 30,0000 would complain about that brilliant arbitrary approach by organizers. After all, we just want to see guys in helmets upside down and probably wouldn't even notice the switch ~ except for the extra stoke! Hilarious that people would suggest it would improve performance and completed runs. All these guys are pros and even the lowest scoring run is well off the charts for skills. The Rogatkin Invitational is still a few podiums away...
Way to misconstrue the point. The fact that everyone respects the legends for all they've accomplished shouldn't need to be said again, but I'm sure you'll decide to get histrionic about that next. This is about gracefully bowing out when the progression has surpassed where they're willing to go. No one should be proud to stay mid pack for years on end only by merit of the people below them crashing.
"Sorry to those who wanted to see me ride in crankworx, I dunno why but this year I've been getting crazy mental blocks at the events, it could be a mixture of pressure from last year and stress etc, who know's, anyway I'll be back at some point just need to sort out my mindset! Don't wanna be hitting 50footers while I'm not feeling 100% really, do I!!!? "
From Sam's Facebook page - "Sorry to those who wanted to see me ride in crankworx, I dunno why but this year I've been getting crazy mental blocks at the events, it could be a mixture of pressure from last year and stress etc, who know's, anyway I'll be back at some point just need to sort out my mindset! Don't wanna be hitting 50footers while I'm not feeling 100% really, do I!!!?"
This was on his Facebook - "Sorry to those who wanted to see me ride in crankworx, I dunno why but this year I've been getting crazy mental blocks at the events, it could be a mixture of pressure from last year and stress etc, who know's, anyway I'll be back at some point just need to sort out my mindset! Don't wanna be hitting 50footers while I'm not feeling 100% really, do I!!!?"
His Facebook said this... - "Sorry to those who wanted to see me ride in crankworx, I dunno why but this year I've been getting crazy mental blocks at the events, it could be a mixture of pressure from last year and stress etc, who know's, anyway I'll be back at some point just need to sort out my mindset! Don't wanna be hitting 50footers while I'm not feeling 100% really, do I!!!?"
Legit a robotman made by the MTB association i swear.... guy is BEAST. He has everything dialed in his sleep. I cant get over the upcoming young riders, how much they push the limits. f*cking rogatkin is nuuuuuts man, carson after just getting called up the night before lands 8th place. Im still so stoked from watching it, i wanna watch it again!! CRANCKWORKS NZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOO Bring on the claw invitational and rampage!!! Love these guys/ these events!
So much different than others! Godzilla is bringing moto style to fmb. Somewhere Andreu is smiling seeing his extension on his seatgrabs or cliffhangers
The riders were amazing. I think this is my first time I saw a backflip double flip on a slopestyle competition. When Rogatkin did it, I was amazed because it's the first time I've seen it. Semenuk dropped in and did it also on the same jump. I was like, what the hell?!
Anyway, are there any other slopestyle riders who could do that awesome trick? It's probably not the hardest trick but it looks real good!
Also, heal up Antoine Bizet. I was looking forward to your run but didn't know you got injured. Healing vibes dude.
welcome to whistler. where you can ride the lift and drink with everyone from fortune 500 CEOs, gold medal olympians, pro skiers/riders, to your local grom who just took top step on BC Cup last weekend. its the best part about whistler, no one is a celebrity because there is just so much damn talent in one town.
Next weekend is going to be awesome with bearclaw invitational, World Cup final and hoff fest!! It could be a bit strange with people like Andreu at hoff fest not bearclaws
That was the baddest Crankworx Yet!!! I was worried the winner might be spoiled when I went to watch the replay last night. Since I usually can't catch it live I have to watch the replay. The last few crankworx and big events got SPOILED by the website(s) I was going to stream the replays from because they would SLAP the winner up on the main page.
Luckily, I managed to NOT see who won but I thought it was Rheeder before I started watching. When Semenuk came out and beat his run I was floored! This was the best showdown ever in slopestyle.
Sorry to hear about Cam and I wish him well but he didn't seem too bad. And Nicholi Rogatkin had one of the most unique runs! I wish he could have pulled through for USA but I'm glad we have him riding for US!
I was curious why the crowd didn't seem as rowdy as usual, especially with the # of people in attendance. Now I see why, the "Fun" police were out regulating and screwing with the VIBE.
Woah there - that Bartek Wolinski kid needs to tone down his processing. I expect to only see the finest photographers featured in these collections, and while he admittedly has potential, over editing is a rookie error.
If he reads this: Great shots dude but the key to post processing is in the Subtleties.Leave the HDR-esq effects to the Iphone Apps. Work WITH the shadows and highlights, not against them. I want the image to draw me to the subject, not force me to play a game of Where's Waldo.
I don't mean any disrespect, but if you want to play with the big boys you have to be able to take the critique like they have as well - Hope you view this as a positive comment and use it to your advantage in the future. Look forward to seeing more of your stuff!
Godzeik could've had the top run I think tho... His video from 9 nights 2013 is absolutely mental his trick level is easily semenuk level! Next time for sure
Apart from two massive runs, in my opinion Semenuk and Rheeder didn`t have a big competition as Söderstrom ,Bizet , Pilgrim were out and Rogatkin crashed. But all in all it was a great show!
Do you see a hard tail on podium no you don't and why is that cuz it's called slope style for a reason and they make bikes called slope style bikes for a reason it's not called hardtail style now is it bud. Now why don't u just ride your fucking bike and beat it
The finish line party was not as big this year. No one knocked semenuk over and sprayed him with beer like in previous years. Seemed like the contenders weren't very happy for Semenuk to win
"Sorry to those who wanted to see me ride in crankworx, I dunno why but this year I've been getting crazy mental blocks at the events, it could be a mixture of pressure from last year and stress etc, who know's, anyway I'll be back at some point just need to sort out my mindset! Don't wanna be hitting 50footers while I'm not feeling 100% really, do I!!!? "
I cant get over the upcoming young riders, how much they push the limits. f*cking rogatkin is nuuuuuts man, carson after just getting called up the night before lands 8th place. Im still so stoked from watching it, i wanna watch it again!!
CRANCKWORKS NZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOO
Bring on the claw invitational and rampage!!!
Love these guys/ these events!
Anyway, are there any other slopestyle riders who could do that awesome trick? It's probably not the hardest trick but it looks real good!
Also, heal up Antoine Bizet. I was looking forward to your run but didn't know you got injured. Healing vibes dude.
Nobody is stoked that Brandon is there, he walks simply, everebodys face is simple.
for me would be an experience for a lifetime that i can watch him live :O
Luckily, I managed to NOT see who won but I thought it was Rheeder before I started watching. When Semenuk came out and beat his run I was floored! This was the best showdown ever in slopestyle.
Sorry to hear about Cam and I wish him well but he didn't seem too bad. And Nicholi Rogatkin had one of the most unique runs! I wish he could have pulled through for USA but I'm glad we have him riding for US!
I was curious why the crowd didn't seem as rowdy as usual, especially with the # of people in attendance. Now I see why, the "Fun" police were out regulating and screwing with the VIBE.
If he reads this:
Great shots dude but the key to post processing is in the Subtleties.Leave the HDR-esq effects to the Iphone Apps. Work WITH the shadows and highlights, not against them. I want the image to draw me to the subject, not force me to play a game of Where's Waldo.
I don't mean any disrespect, but if you want to play with the big boys you have to be able to take the critique like they have as well - Hope you view this as a positive comment and use it to your advantage in the future. Look forward to seeing more of your stuff!
But all in all it was a great show!