The Colorado Freeride Festival set the stage for an awesome weekend here at Winter Park Resort for the Slopestyle event. The collection of riders that traveled here to compete was diverse, from BMX legends Ryan Nyquist and Drew Bezanson to returning CFF Slopestyle champ Carson Storch from Oregon, to first time being overseas seventeen-year-old Emil Johansson from Sweden. Several of the riders were pre-qualified for Crankworx Joyride next month in Whistler, but a lot of extra excitement and pressure was out there for the contenders that were focused on scoring one the two available Joyride wildcards offered at this venue. Many in attendance reflected on the good times and positive influence of the legendary Kelly “McGazza” McGarry, who was an integral part of the CFF Slopestyle. In fact, the ramp features used on-course for the event were built by McGarry. To top things off, Elevate Trail Building designed a fun course that all the riders enjoyed.
The level of riding in Friday’s qualifiers was undeniably impressive and it was the same come finals. For Saturday’s grand finale, practice kicked off, but a heavy tailwind made it sketchy for big tricks. At the riders meeting, everyone supported the idea of taking a chance to see if the wind would let off in the afternoon. The wind did let off and the event picked back up just before sunset. The delay didn’t throw the spectators off, they covered the hillside of the Sorensen’s run to watch the heavy antics as riders started sending it.
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 Continuing into the quarter pipe, Matt Jones, gets wicked with this Flair. |
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| Louis Reboul and Ryan Nyquist getting back up to top for more laps. |
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| As you can see with the dirt flying around, the conditions for sending were not ideal. Riders waited patiently for a calm moment. |
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| With a bit of practice in, riders started gathered to discuss the level of the wind conditions with optimistic perspectives. |
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| Lead Slopestyle judge, Paul Rak, comes up to check in with riders about concerns facing the finals. |
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| A brief riders meeting once more, everyone was on the same page to throw down heavy tricks on each feature to be scored best. |
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| For presenters at a mountain bike event, it doesn't get any better and more entertaining that Cam McCaul and Brad Jay. |
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| Paul Genovse, Flip Super Seater. |
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| Tomas Lemoine, Tuck No Hander. |
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| Lukas Knopf, Truckdriver. |
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| Max Mey - Oppo Double Whip. |
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| Ryan Nyquist, Suicide Rocket Air. |
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| Logan Peat, Downside Footplant. |
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| Carson Storch, Flipwhip on the money booter. |
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| Brett Rheeder. Cork Seven. |
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| Emil Johansson, 360 Double Tailwhip on the first trick jump of the course. |
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| Nicholi Rogatkin, Tailwhip to Barspin. |
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| Nicholi Rogatkin, Cash Roll. |
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| Matt Jones, Backflip Tuck No Hander. |
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| Matt Jones, securing his 1st place with a Double Backflip. |
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| "Over the Moon" is how Matt Jones said he felt about placing into Joyride. |
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| Definitely a special moment to witness that. The vibes were high and everyone was ready to send it into the evening. |
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| Joyride Wildcard winners, L-R, Matt Jones of Great Brittain and Emil Johansson of Sweden. See you in Whistler boys! |
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| Let the celebrations begin. |
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| Colorado Freeride Festival, Slopestyle podium, L-R, Nicholi Rogatkin 2nd, Matt Jones, 1st, and Emil Johansson 3rd. |
View full results and replay here.
MENTIONS: @chriswellhausen
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its art for christs sake, not a race.
there is no clear winner.
it all gets a little pro wrestling after a while.
Says who? Cam is wicked but ...................
"it doesn't get any better and more entertaining than Cam McCaul... and Brad Jay."
brad ewen was a hack behind the mic...............
brad jay is an EVENT HOST and has worked such gigs as the x-games, dew tour and the la clipper's in house host.
brad jay is NOT a color commentator, that's someone else's job.
brad jay is an event host and he does a killer job of herding cats all day long behind the mic.
show some respect to brad jay who is a true professional and not some hack like the majority of mtb event hosts.
tippie and warner don't even come close to brad jay as an EVENT HOST.
brad jay is the best god damn mtb event host in the game and you guys are talking shit?
wake up .
being a color commentator is pretty easy if ya know your shizz, but an event host?, thats a hard f ing job, real hard.
PS: warner can do everything better, than anyone on the world but he just doesn't give a f*ck
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfl6Lu3xQW0
classic.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoMgnJDXd3k
classic one for you too xD
"Emil" not "Email"!!!