Crankworx Rotorua: Tricks and Other Cunning Stunts

We tried to explain to a mate last night how the Speed and Style discipline worked, but we all ended up a little confused. Suffice to say, it’s a kind of race down a mixed terrain slalom-esque course, with two massive jumps thrown in. Riders get time bonuses for the tricks they pull, so you can actually lose the race, but win the heat if you impress the judges enough.

It mightn’t be the most straight forward of disciplines, but it’s great to watch, and there’s no doubt that the most impressive rider of the day won the event. Martin Söderström showed the slopestyle crowd that he’s back in action, after a horror run of injuries; all eyes will be on him come Sunday’s slopestyle finals. 

The speed and style was as much a test of a rider's willingness to tip, white-knuckled, into a berm as it was a show of their skills in the air.
The speed and style was as much a test of a rider’s willingness to tip, white-knuckled, into a berm as it was a show of their skills in the air.
Bernard Kerr backed up a podium in the whip-off with another one today. His racer-boy style didn't offer up much in the way of tricks, but he slayed them in the corners.
Bernard Kerr backed up a podium in the whip-off with another one today. His racer-boy style didn’t offer up much in the way of tricks, but he slayed them in the corners.

Crankworx Day 2 6

 

The lower half of the course had a few flat turns that were made exciting by semi-slick tyres and massive tyre pressures.
The lower half of the course had a few flat turns that were made exciting by semi-slick tyres and massive tyre pressures.
Not crashing. Tricking.
Not crashing. Tricking.
Söderström. Back (in black).
Söderström. Back (in black).
Crankworx Day 2 1 (1)
Before the rain ruined the show, pump track practice was getting warmed up nicely. Speed (Sik Mik) and Style (Soderstrom).
Crankworx Day 2 2 (1)
Ed Masters might look like he’s taking the piss, but he’s not mucking about out there.
Pumptrack 4
The best shirt at Crankworx.

Pumptrack 5

 

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