Crankworx Unveils Rider List for Rotorua Slopestyle
PRESS RELEASE: Crankworx
It's the end of an era... for now.
In three weeks time on Saturday, March 7, all the action, excitement, inspiration and drama of the highest level of Slopestyle mountain biking will take flight for another season. 14 of the world’s top competitors have been given the golden ticket and are getting ready to descend on Rotorua for the first contest of the Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship season.
As the pilgrimage to the Southern Hemisphere begins, the full rider list for the Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza has been released.
First up, the top five from the 2019 SWC standings:
Emil Johansson SWE
Dawid Godziek POL
Tomas Lemoine FRA
Torquato Testa ITA
Erik Fedko GER
These riders have earned entry into all Crankworx Slopestyle competitions in 2020.
But noticeably absent from the roster: the reigning Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Champion. In recent years, Brett Rheeder has been the most decorated Slopestyle athlete currently competing on the circuit, second only to Brandon Semenuk in the history of the discipline.
Rheeder's winning run in Rotorua last year, and season end celebrating his overall championship win, and Emil's first at Joyride. Photos: Fraser Britton and Jay French
 | My decision to step away from competing for part of 2020 was tough to make but I feel good about it, in that it’s a decision that will prolong my career. Because of the level of riding we’ve reached in slopestyle, the athletes who consistently stand on each podium now have to dedicate everything they have to staying up there. For me, this has been the case for over 10 years and I feel that I’m at a point in my career where it’s important to take a step back and give myself the time to re-focus on elements of my riding that I haven’t been totally satisfied with in the past so that I can continue to achieve my goals for the future. |
Photo: Fraser Britton
Rheeder, who turns 27 in under a week, has won seven Crankworx Slopestyle comps over the course of his career. He says he still plans to return to compete at Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler 2020, as well as Red Bull Rampage.
With the Canadian removed from the roster, Johansson becomes the top ranked competitor heading into Rotorua. The 23-year-old Swede returned to competition mid-season after a year off working through some medical issues. He came out swinging, placing second in Innsbruck and ending his Crankworx season on the highest note possible, winning Red Bull Joyride.
Victory. Photos: Fraser Britton and Jay French
| 2019 was a crazy year filled with ups and down, doctor treatments and contests. I battled through it all and accomplished a few goals. With 2019 in the back all eyes are looking forward to this season. With a body that is feeling healthier than in the past I am so pumped to get this season started. |
It’s a feeling shared by others who’re chomping at the bit to put their off-season training to work.
| I’m looking forward to this year's tour and I feel great. I spent the whole winter on the bike and I'm excited to see how it will go at the first stop in New Zealand. I’ve been working on getting my current tricks even more dialed, plus I’ve got one or two new tricks! |
Erik Fedko, who'll be looking to better his top season finish of fith place last year. Photo: Fraser Britton
Following is the next top-seven riders from the FMB World Ranking. The ripple effect of Rheeder’s departure bumps Messere up from first alternate onto the start list.
Alex Alanko SWE
Nicholi Rogatkin USA
Thomas Genon BEL
Paul Couderc FRA
Lucas Huppert SUI
Lukas Knopf GER
Anthony Messere CAN
The world will certainly be watching to see if Rogatkin can find his stride once again in 2020. After winning three out of four events in 2018, the American cracked the top five only once in 2019. Genon will also be looking to better his performance from last season - a fall off the first drop in New Zealand resulted in a shoulder injury that took him out for the entire season.
Rounding things out, two wildcards will join the pack.
Timothé Bringer FRA
Owen Marks USA
Bringer gains entry as the 2019 Red Bull Rookie of the Year, while Marks earns his spot thanks to his strong performance in the 2019 Big White Tom van Steenbergen Invitational.
A new year and a new decade of competition are upon us. Who’s going to step up to the challenge and make their mark?
Where things ended in 2019. Photo: James Stokoe
Tune in Saturday, March 7 to watch it all go down.
Keep up with all the action from the Crankworx World Tour at RedBull.com/Crankworx, including LIVE coverage on Red Bull TV of:
CLIF Speed & Style presented by Mons Royale
Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza
100% Dual Slalom Rotorua
RockShox Rotorua Pump Track presented by Torpedo7
Crankworx Rotorua Downhill presented by Gull
Head to RedBull.com/Crankworx for broadcast details and times.
You can also catch the action live on Crankworx.com, along with schedule and broadcast info, tickets, event details, and results from across the Crankworx World Tour.
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Will Nikoli Rogatkin win it all?
I dunno guys, gotta be honest... I was really hoping to see Bill Murray out here on a new ebike, shredding lines like a monster.
Totally Agree. I really don't enjoy 'judged' contests b/c there ALWAYS is a bias... if only to grade the first rider lower to 'leave room' for others.
Every time I hear Cam McCaul going "WOW, the judges REALLY Love that!" ... & then they DON'T... & the pained silence afterwards... It's just cringe. Even to my wife, walking past the tv, "how come his score is so low?" EXACTLY.
I wish there was something as objective as a timer for Slopestyle.
My I posit:
1. Post a list of tricks with their 'value'. Then simple T-shirt size, "Good, Better, Great" for each jump, with a stated multiplier.
2. Sure there'll be more 'close' or 'ties'. Great: Do a run-off, -or-
3. Let the riders themselves decide.
Goal: Put the judges out of work, & make the contest far more enjoyable!
Having a point system wouldn't do anything. It may be worse. It'd make it more of a video game...
I was thinking that if there needs to be a winner, the riders should vote for it. Would be like a spirit award, effort award, and best rider award all rolled into one.
Problem solved.
Call me crazy, but isn't the whole point of sponsors to cover the costs of their athletes, not the event organizers? This isn't exactly PGA golf here... There shouldn't be privateers at crankworx because a sponsor should have picked them up by then....
If I have to ask, "Wait, was that oppo? Okay, so then, um, I guess that oppo 720 is worth more b/c it had a quick can-can" etc... I'm just hating watching. Stoke has left the building.
EVERYONE can see how awesome a Twister or double-backflip is. When the judges keep ranking those lower than 'oppo 720'? I think the judging isn't serving the 'stoke.
@mtbikemccoy : I do agree that being asked to judge is an honor. I just don't understand WTF they're judging on, & obviously, neither does the public, & nor even announcers like Cam McCaul.
Let's brainstorm on a more objective criteria, b/c there's clearly some major bias going on.
...& if Rheeder srsly is complaining? Dude, he was the clear beneficiary of a ton of judges bias, & now at Rampage. "Clinical not Flat-Out" seems to be the new judging criteria.
Don't mind me. Me & my bros will be watching the 'Fest series instead...
PB cracking me up negative propping me on that comment. LOL!
I just wish B.Rheeder was a bit more likeable. He always looks like he's getting teeth pulled when other ppl pull off a great run, let-alone 'force' him to make a 2nd.
His absolute worst was on the RedBull clip, when he said "I'd rather see an oppo truck-driver than another Twister".
Srsly dude? Lemme see you pull off a Twister, & then you can snark. At least apparently he agrees 'oppo' doesn't add much :-D