Cam Zink brings home the win, Mike Montgomery places second, Casey Groves third. Brandon Semenuk breaks collarbone in crash, Berrecloth breaks hand. Full details and insight inside...
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Words and Photos by David Peacock
Reno, NV native Cameron Zink performed a slew of competitive tricks, all landed perfectly, to win this years Crankworx slopestyle. This was Zinks second win, but having come back from a multitude of crippling injuries, including at least three knee surgeries, Cam couldnt have written a better comeback story. After a bizarre and tumultuous departure from his previous sponsor, Felt, who suddenly decided that freeriding wasnt in the cards for their brand, Cam has been riding Corsair Bikes this season to great success. He was also looking strong at Crankworx Colorado, but unfortunately fell on his final run. Saturdays proceedings proved to be sweet redemption for Cam, and cements him once again as one of the worlds top mountain bikers.
Sam Pilgrim and Yannick Granieri await finals.
The Monster truck was the perfect viewing area for VIMB, very important mountain bikers.
This was during practice, the course was absolutely packed during finals.
Jack Fogelquist getting a bit nose heavy out of the pink fruit bowl.
Cams run was consistent throughout, but included a few tricks that were unique. He was the only rider to complete a run while 360ing the massive drop midway down the course, as well as the sole rider to cork a front flip. One element of Zinks run was his ability to spin both directions; on the roll- in stunt, Zink spun left, following that up with a superman onto the Kokanee box, at which point he spun right off, landing without error. Zink then flipped into and out of the pink fruit bowl, and nailed a flip-table on the snowboard-style jump that brought riders into the finish corral. By this point, beyond emotion, Cam could only clench his fists and enjoy the moment.
Fogelquist 360in the Kokanee box during finals.
Tyler McCaul with a downside tailwhip.
The course was not as kind to some of the other competitors, though. Brandon Semenuks seemingly perfect run went horribly awry when he approached the final stunt. Having flip-whipped one of the doubles to pedals and 3ed the drop, the Whistler local was looking untouchable, but then disaster struck. A moments indecision on the lip of the jump caused Brandon to under-rotate his flip and land harshly on his shoulders, breaking his collarbone cleanly. He will be out 6-8 weeks, but having seen the way the kid got up from the gnarliest fall all weekend, I wouldnt put it past him to be back sooner and ready to go for Rampage.
Semenuk during practice.
Zink getting warmed up.
Sombreros and smiles all around.
Mike Montgomery of Santa Cruz laid claim to second place; he was one of only two riders to tailwhip the Monster drop. Third place went to Kelowna, BCs Casey Groves, who was extremely excited to grace the podium alongside riders he has been idolizing for years. Groves run was completely deserving of the position as well, as it included two drop tailwhips, a super flip, and a tailwhip on the final jump.
Berrecloth 360ing out of the Sram catcher's mitt, a feature that wasn't very popular amongst the riders.
Martin Soderstrom, Indian Air.
Red Bull athletes Martin Soderstrom and Darren Berrecloth also had very solid runs in the works, but were unable to complete the course due to crashes. Soderstrom went down 3ing the big drop, and Berrecloth attempted an opposite 360 but instead tomahawked his way down the landing. Had things worked out differently, it is entirely possible that we could have seen an all Red Bull podium, but crashes were the Achilles heel of Semenuk, Soderstrom and Berrecloth.
Yannick Granieri is one to watch from now on, kid's got style.
The crowd at this years slopestyle was as rowdy, unruly, wild and awesome as ever. One fan had to be escorted by police down the mountain, but for the most part the spectators managed to channel their excitement into productive outlets, such as cheering. And there was a lot of cheering. No streaking this year, though, much to the dismay of everyone in attendance. Last years de-clothed menace was one of the most entertaining things of the entire evening. Next year Crankworx will undoubtedly be back in the same vein thanks to the roaring success that was 2010, but until then, congrats to Cam Zink for winning the Monster Energy Slopestyle. Full results can be found here.
Zink is about to take his Corsair for a ride...
Bar humping on the victory lap...
After his victory lap, Cam is smothered by his fellow competitors.
Zink, the crowd, and the media all going crazy.
