Emil Johansson Missing Red Bull Rampage to Target Rotorua Triple Crown

Oct 8, 2021 at 7:46
by James Smurthwaite  
Emil Johansson

Emil Johansson has revealed that he was offered a slot at Rampage but had to decline it to compete in Crankworx Rotorua.

Johansson competed in his first Rampage in 2019 and was awarded the Best Rookie title following a 12th place finish after a late call-up to the event.


When the athlete list was revealed for the 2021 event, Emil was listed as one of the five reserve riders. After both Brendan Fairclough and Brett Rheeder pulled out of the event due to injury, Emil was offered a slot but had to turn it down to compete at Crankworx Rotorua. Although Crankworx Rotorua doesn't start until November 1, New Zealand has a mandatory 2-week quarantine in place so Emil would not be able to fully prepare for and compete in both events. Johansson declined the Rampage slot and instead Thomas Genon and Reed Boggs have slotted in to take the injured riders' spots.

Johansson is currently unbeaten in five Crankworx slopestyle competitions and is on track to take the Triple Crown in 2021 following wins in Innsbruck and Silverstar. The accomplishment would make him the second rider ever to win the Triple Crown, a distinction that brings with it a $25,000 bonus paycheque.

Emil Johansson took 12th at his first rampage.

bigquotesAs a 2nd alternate for Rampage I last week got the invite to take part when a second rider pulled out due to injury. It was a tough decision but I unfortunately had to turn my invite down this year due to with my current schedule I can not physically take part at both Rampage as well as Rotorua because of the mandatory 14-day quarantine we have to do to get into New Zealand for the final Crankworx event of the season. Very frustrating that the schedules collide like this, but hopefully the future will allow riders to do both events in the same season.

Wishing the best of luck to all the other riders out there, really looking forward to watching the live stream next week.— Emil Johansson

It's a shame we can't watch Emil compete in both high-profile freeride events but we look forward to seeing what he has in store for his run at Crankworx Rotorua and wish him the best of luck in his pursuit of the Triple Crown.

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56 Comments
  • 64 4
 Rampage was robbed.
  • 29 4
 Dude will be back to win Rampage 2023-2029 prolly
  • 8 0
 So no Tommy g in Rotorua. I can't remember a slope contest without him
  • 1 0
 again.
  • 5 40
flag roma12 (Oct 8, 2021 at 11:46) (Below Threshold)
 mark my words, this guy will never win rampage! his level is much lower than any past ten year winners
  • 23 2
 @roma12: I remember when everyone thought Semenuk was just a park rat and could never win Rampage.
  • 4 0
 Honest question: what does breakdown of prize money look like at Rampage? How much for podium spots, People's Choice etc.? I googled around some, and found nothing other than conflicting info on grand total of prize purse ($100k?, $200k?)
  • 2 0
 @roma12: so who do you have winning o wise one.
  • 23 2
 not surprising the Kiwis want to limit this man's ability to take flight
  • 22 3
 Lame... Wanted to see Emil vs. Semenuk
  • 5 21
flag RedBurn (Oct 8, 2021 at 14:01) (Below Threshold)
 Emil is no freerider
  • 3 1
 @RedBurn: is there even 1 article on pinkbike that doesnt have a lame ass comment from you on it?
  • 3 0
 @camerondodd98: its findable. Hard but it is
  • 1 0
 @RedBurn: I bet that's not the first time you've said that
  • 13 1
 I wish him the best at Rotorua...decision makes sense.
  • 9 0
 50/50 if Crankworx Rotorua will even take place. Limits are in place currently on event sizes and sporting events are getting cancelled left, right, and center around here at the moment.
  • 4 0
 Not to mention the hotel quarentine as well. Most athletes can't even get spaces
  • 3 0
 @Lloydmeister: I understand that CW had 70 spaces booked pre Chippie and Jax made MIQ Lotto a thing
  • 1 0
 what a mess
  • 2 0
 Ahh man I really hope not. Emil has been on fire. Been loving the slopestyle contests this year.
  • 5 0
 I would not be coming here right now sadly Rotorua only 50km from being locked down it's only a matter of time
  • 2 0
 @dirtbeard: can’t be long now. Not the way the mob have been running round. Seems like they are running the country now.
  • 3 0
 @juanmenendez: Ever since the prospected the PM they have been on top
  • 1 0
 @dkendy1: dead right.
  • 1 0
 @juanmenendez: be kind! How's that working out lol in the bop now slowly circling Rotorua I give it a week tops
  • 11 0
 Booooo Wendy Testaburger!!! Booooo Wendy booooo!
  • 10 1
 I just want to see Dylan Stark at Rampage lol.
  • 3 0
 oh bro 120 percent agree with ya on that. surely next year
  • 8 0
 He’s seen Semenuk’s single crown double bar spinning flip whipping big rig and bailed.
  • 10 2
 25k for the triple crown?!! Think they're missing a zero or two!!
  • 58 0
 $25,000.00?
  • 8 2
 It's Rampage tho. Ya win that your solidified legend. The coverage for sponsors has to be much higher too.
  • 18 1
 he is young. he has time. at the short-lived peak of a slopestyle career.
  • 12 0
 I don't know what his chances are of winning rampage, not super high. I mean no offense, he's a great rider and could win, but he's far from the favorite to win. Whereas in slopestyle, he is definitely the favorite. Seems a sensible decision to me. Not sure how two red bull sponsored events ended up conflicting time wise.
  • 1 5
flag kroozctrl (Oct 8, 2021 at 9:29) (Below Threshold)
 Not if you get a triple crown. And he would be the first true triple crown winner as the time Nicolai won there were 4 stops.
  • 4 0
 Rampage definitely has room for old (haha 25+) riders. Slopestyle? not so much these days.
  • 6 0
 Gonna be shit for him if/when New Zealand doesn't allow Crankworx to happen.
  • 2 0
 *when
  • 5 1
 This article was written as if the dude doesn’t have that triple crown IN THE BAG ALREADDDDDY
  • 7 6
 Seems the RB helmet played a really big role in filling the alternate spots. There is absolutely no doubt that their athletes are amazingly talented and worthy of being @ rampage, but guys like DJ are dedicated big mountain free riders and it sucks they don't get to participate.
  • 4 0
 I mean these days DJ is a specialist, but to be fair his career started with the skatepark and dirt jump edits.
  • 8 1
 @adrennan: Didn't DJ get hurt pretty bad when he first started getting more into BMFR stuff? Also looking at previous results Reed, Emil, and Tommy G all placed better than he did at the last event, why wouldn't they be first for the alternate list?
  • 4 0
 I didn't know Reed had a rb helmet.
  • 1 0
 @Artikay13: A lot of these guys have been badly hurt. I root for DJ just because he has a style all his own. Weird corky flips, fakie tricks, the originality is fun to see.
  • 3 0
 Inviting the best slope rider has always been tradition at Rampage, hence Brandon Semenuk and Brett Rheeder. Its weird you guys are upset by this long existing thing.
  • 1 0
 Oh yeah cool Emil can get into MIQ. When did he become a citizen? Love biking but come on.
  • 1 0
 It is certainly notable that Crankworx got 80 MIQ spots and SailGP in Christchurch, for example, did not get any and cancelled their event.
  • 2 1
 Makes sense now. Emil was a clear choice for those slots.
  • 1 0
 GO DJ!!
  • 2 1
 Music please
  • 2 5
 Is it me or slopestyle is a bit "meh" nowadays? I used to enjoy watching them, but now, it's so boring.
  • 3 6
 How the f*ck are two slopestyle riders offered spots before DJ and Bizet?
  • 11 1
 Because they both placed better than DJ at the last event

Also bizet had nothing the last time he was there except the double flip. His run+line was subpar aside from that because he ended up putting all his effort into that one trick
  • 2 1
 @Artikay13: Ah yes, I forgot. It's a slopestyle event now.
  • 3 5
 Piss Vipers
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