Very questionable judging on a few of the runs, Sam's especially.
Need some sort of judging criteria release. There doesn't seem to be any reward for innovation if they are giving such a huge margin of points to semenuk for just being consistent with his landings.
yeh i felt sams 2nd run deserved more, but semunuk had that win, he just stomps every trick, an that 720 corked dumped whatever was so good and he nailed the landing
Are people retarded? Semenuk's whole run was full of opposite tricks. That's where your 5 point difference comes from. Pilgrim had a mega standard run (flip tuck, flip table, flip superman, ad nauseum), while Brandon & Rheeder killed it with creative, subtle shit all over the place.
Seriously, an opposite 3 drop terrifies the shit out of me.
I think Pilgrim's run should have earned more points, but I'm not sure if it was better than Söderstrom's run...
For me Semenuk was the best, his run was the most technical, doing opposite tricks and this crazy super dumped 720. I think he also did more tricks than anyone else! I don't think that he is being overrated, he's just super clean and technical, for me his second run was even better than some peoples best run, even though he was just cruising and playing, but it looked unbelievably easy and just made me wanna go ride! That's why he's winning everything right now, because he just rides flawless and does his tricks with ease and his very unique style!
I don't understand why everybody is so stoked about the flip drop... yeah, it was a world first, but for me, rheeder's front flip drop looked way harder to do, and not many people have done that yet (I can only think of messere)
Would be cool if they do the judging like at district ride last year, that every feature has a maximum of points plus flow and that's the score. Nobody would complain anymore about unfair judging.
It's natural for people to struggle with the fact that Semenuk wins everything. But he is that good - he rode the course fast and smooth... he makes it look easy. I love watching him, he always rides fast and lands high in the landings. He is smooth and has a vast bag of technical tricks...and I like his taste when it comes to what tricks he decides to do.
hahaha, this was the first time I got to watch any of this and after watching the replay and reading these comments all I've gotta say is... Welcome to the world of "switch" or "opposite" spins. They are very tech and if you cannot recognize that then you should not say anything. All these scores were well deserved and I never would have thought Rheeder would have gotten a podium finish this season based on how good everyone else was. He killed it today and that aggressive style was way too sick. I can't wait to see him at Crankworxs and to see how well he does.
Semenuk deserved the win, Rheeder was DAMN close, his run was facking amazing and I'd also consider it a winner. But damn, all the oppo tricks in Semenuk's run, general smoothness and TWO banger tricks, of course he should take home the win. But still, lol at all the Brits on any FMBA article complaining about Pilgrim.
my .02, i thought semenuk had by far the best run, he won it for sure. maybe i see it differently than others, but i thought the judging was pretty good.
I think the judging was bang on. Semenuk is so good, that people expect more from him. Line up his run trick to trick for degree of difficulty, and style against anyone, and I think you'll see why he deserved the win. The scary thing is, I honestly think he could have done more (e.g. a bigger trick off the last jump), whereas I think everyone else was riding at their limit.
Sam pilgrim did almost all flip combos.. Just like every other run he does at contests he's good but semenuk is a deserving 1st place.. A flat flip drop is no where near as sick as cork 7 it's just new , Sam does flips And flips and flips and flips.. Brandon put totally different tricks in a run unlike sam.. Reason 1 why Brandon won , rheeder an Martin killed it Sam didn't get on the podium for a reason.. Don't blame the judges ..
Anyone who thinks pilgrim should have been in the top three should rethink that. his run was amazing, but not every feature was tricked where as the top three riders tricked everything with different variations and more technicality. Judging was spot on in my opinion
Rheeder, pilgrim and Soderstrom were all robbed from Semenuks first run... Im sure he could've pulled together a better for his second run, but all three of should've beat Semenuks first run
@Da-Moose: You are maybe right.. but in my opinion: on this level of the slopestyle everything is so-so important! I mean for example the landings.. was it dusty? if yes it's -0.5 ponit...etc.. You haveto be excellent! very-very excellent.
Yeah and pilgrim could not believe it, when he saw the score you could hear him "really!?" Did they not se his perfect that no one have ever done before in a competition flat drop flip or what!!!
semenuk´s run was best, he did truck driver , oppo 3,dumped 720, oppo whip, flip transfer, flip whip, everething smoth, run was dialed , he deserve win no doubt
All of the riders were awesome... very tight comp, but Semenuk totally deserves his 1st in my book. He tricked almost everything, oppo whip, a huge oppo 360, cork 720, monster flip whip and maintained enough speed for a sick shoulder buzz off that hip ramp where most riders couldn't throw anything. The guy is unreal.
maybe not the best run but the hardest. doing oppo whips/360's and 720s which nobody else was doing let alone in the same run. and the backflip over the transfer.
it was close but semenuk disserverd the win. ya there was a front and back flip of the drop, but the corked 720 equaled that or even better that plus he did a truck driver out of the berm thing
I think it should of gone, 1st Semenuk, 2nd Soderstrom, 3rd Rheeder. There wasn't anything more special in Sam's run than other than his backflip drop. Sam didn't even trick everything.
Soderstrom d*cked all over him, 3 whipped that first stepdown, the 3 double whip.was better than a 720 and a double whip.is just about as good as a flip whip, and not to.mention all the tricks inbetween. He should if won.
I think it was completely accurate how it was semenuk rheeder and then soderstrom!!! semenuk and rheeder were both throwing opposite tricks... semenuk did 360's both ways and tail whips both ways how many people can do that in a run and cork 7 and a perfect flip whip and trick all the little stuff to... pilgrims run wasnt that sick the flip drop was gnarly but other then that it was classic pilgrim and he didnt even trick everything and soderstroms run was gnarly but not a technical...
Semenuk is the man!!!!!
I don't think you should get more points for riding a bigger bike. It should be riders discretion and they should ride whatever they feel most comfortable on, they're pros after all and bike choice is just as much a part of a run decision as trick choice is I think. You don't get 10 seconds knocked off your run in DH if you ride a hardtail!
Definitely think Pilgrim should have been on the podium, I had the same reaction as him when his second run score was posted.
Rheeder's, Soderstrom's, and Pilgrim's run was absolute off the hook. Although Semenuk's run was clean and dialed, he didnt have the creativity and was kinda plain. Pilgrim's backflip drop, Rheeder's frontflip drop, Soderstrom's 3 double whip deffs shouldve snagged first place. No doubt Semenuk's dumped 720 was outstanding, but i dont think he deserved first.
PS. Anthony Messere should pick up his game and start banging his runs and dont make mistakes. He definitely couldve been a monster here
Messere is too young not to make mistakes. He is riding at a pro level but he is not a pro yet because it takes time and effort to become a consistent rider. Respect of course.
Semenuk is just ridiculous winning every contest he rides this year! (Jumpship, Chatel, Crankworx Les 2 Alpes, Claymore Challenge) He's the embodiment of consistency.. Anyway, massive respect to all the guys And cheers for the live stream Red Bull
Interesting comments...Semenuk was 'judged' fairly in my opinion, a textbook run, with opposing tricks, clean flawless landings, stylish execution, leaving the viewer never scared...while rheeder and soderstrom rode fantastic, had to UP their game because of Semenuks first run, their runs still had a bit of slop in the execution and landing, even if the tricks were technically harder or more inventive, I also watched their runs being scared from their mistakes. You want to see the best, doing things you could never do and doing them with confidence and grace.
I think the judges were spot on for the top 3, I dont even think pilgrim should have been 4th though....and I have been a life long hater of 'judged' sports, but I have to say, they did get it right.
PINKBIKE. Can you refrain from telling us who wins contests in the title on the homepage?!! I'd like to watch these without knowing the outcome sometimes.
What an awesome day it was, the weather was perfect and of course the riding was insane! It was the funnest contest I've ever witnessed, great work Mark Hayes and Highlands crew!
i honestly believe that mtn bike contests are not judged right.... they should be judged like most bmx contests where they take 3 runs and the overall score is a combination of the 2 best runs the ride did.. that way a rider cant just pump out one good run and call it a day,
I think they should have given 1st to Rheeder or Pilgrim. Just to put the pressure on Semenuk to throw down a banger 2nd run. You know he would have pulled through and still won but to put the pressure on him is what will make it happen. He throws down a smooth awesome first run every time. Lets see the pressure on Semenuk so we can see his A list tricks!
Whats the deal with all the euros riding hardtails and skatehelmets while all the american and canadians ride fullys and fullface (of course there are some exceptions)? Podium is pretty fair. Dont think anybody got robbed. Would have loved to see martin throw one of those truckdrivers to nac on the freebird instead of a double whip. pilgrim would have needed some double whip, downside whip (quarter) and barspins on the top of the course to get to podium. still a sick run.
Semenuk and pilgrim are both beasts. Semenuk is just unnatural tho, everything he does is so tight and clean and he tricks everything with pristine skill. Definately think he deserved the win just my opinion tho
Where are Pilgrims 720's and double whips from last years dirt jump comps? I think the judging was right for the top five. Front flips beat back flips off of any obstacle esp. when you manual into them. The judges are biased towards style and fluidity which sux for guys like Pilgrim and Watts and increases the scores for guys like Rdog who throw less bangers but, tweak more style out of lesser tricks. Rheeder's run was the most entertaining cause he was obviously trying so hard but Seminuk has a lazy technicality about him and has increased his style every year. Well done PB great coverage and the level is so up from last year esp. all the European riders. There maybe ten guys now who can fluke a win off of Brandon but, he is definitely the bench mark. Can't wait for JoyRide and Rampage!
Soderstrom (i dont like his race style) is only tailwhip machine, he does only this trick alltime and Pilgrim had better run then he. And Semenuk is beast.
I keep seeing people arguing that 'semenuk nailed the landings', but unless I'm mistaken he cased the shit out of his 720. Still deserving of the win though.
IMO these slopestyle riders need to really step it up more! I mean common, guys are doing double flips, 360's, 720's, all on dirt bikes now! And in bmx they are doing triple flips and quad whips...Just doing plain old back flips, 360's, and bar spins doesn't hold my interest much. But then again I don't ride slopestyle or pay much attention to it. I was at highland during the practicing and qualifying for it though and the course does look awesome.
Tough call for the judges. IMHO Semenuk is a bit overrated and his run wasn't the best among the top 4. 1. Soderstrom/Pilgrim 2. Semenuk and 3. Rheeder.
its almost like the judges are scared to mark brandon down, the flip 720 was good but a back flip or front flip off that log ramp scores more in my book
Opp. Tricks aren't easy either man.
The flip drop and the 720 were equally awesome. The 5 point difference is a little strange given the rest of the runs.
Seriously, an opposite 3 drop terrifies the shit out of me.
For me Semenuk was the best, his run was the most technical, doing opposite tricks and this crazy super dumped 720. I think he also did more tricks than anyone else!
I don't think that he is being overrated, he's just super clean and technical, for me his second run was even better than some peoples best run, even though he was just cruising and playing, but it looked unbelievably easy and just made me wanna go ride!
That's why he's winning everything right now, because he just rides flawless and does his tricks with ease and his very unique style!
Semenuk's and Soderstrom's runs were crazy. Nothing too special about Pilgrim's and Rheeder's...
Anyway, massive respect to all the guys And cheers for the live stream Red Bull
1.) Semenuk
2.)Pilgrim
3.)Soderstorm
yes Pilgrims backflip drop was sick but semenuk has crazy innovative trick and he tricks almost everything
trackmill.com/free-rider-2/Tracks/1785079
2. Semenuk and 3. Rheeder.