Canada's Brett Rheeder thrills the crowd on his way to a Slopestyle gold medal. Photo / Stephen Parker
A new season of tricks and stars was ushered in during the Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza and it was Canadian Brett Rheeder who took top honours.
"I couldn't ask for a better feeling," said an elated Rheeder after popping the first champagne of the season. "I've worked toward this all winter. It's been my goal. I'm on top of the world."
Rheeder was riding like he meant it from the moment he launched from the start gate.
"I started off with a cork 720 on the step down, which was my second one ever, my first one being in practice two days ago. I was super stoked on that."
He then flowed through the course, redesigned with some new features for the first time since the event launched in 2015, in classic technically-strong Rheeder fashion, ending decisively with a 720 bar spin on the final jump.
He set the bar on his first run with a 94.25, which left him sitting in first place heading into the second round, followed by Nicholi Rogatkin (USA) and Thomas Genon (BEL). The contest appeared to be shaping up for a repeat of the epic Rheeder/Rogatkin showdown that lit up the slopes of Crankworx Innsbruck in 2017, but more than a few riders still had a few tricks up their sleeves.
Midway through the field, Diego Caverzasi, of Italy, made the crowd in Rotorua, and the world, stand up and take notice, as he finished his second run with a trick that surprised even him.
2018 Crankworx Rotorua Recap - Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle in Memory of McGazzaThe Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza was all thriller NO filler. Unreal. Congrats to Brett Rheeder and all the other athletes that put it all on the line today. Watch the replay on RedbullTV or www.Crankworx.com
Posted by Crankworx on Saturday, 24 March 2018
"I've been thinking about trying the twister for three months at least. I tried it in September, twice, and didn't land. I landed the second to last jump a little bit sketchy today, but I pedalled hard and I was like, 'No, I have to do it, I have to do it' and I just sent it and it worked out," Caverzasi said.
His run earned him a 90.5 and pushed him into second, but four riders later, veteran Slopestyle rider Thomas Genon dropped in and threw down an inspired run that would bump Caverzasi down into third.
With one rider to go, all eyes were on Rogatkin, 2017's winner in the event. Charging through a trick-heavy run, he looked set to challenge, but ultimately crashed on his last jump, leaving Rheeder at the top with a victory lap to roll out.
And what better way to celebrate in Rotorua than to send it for the big man. After a minute of silence for the beloved rider and builder whose hands helped shape the dirt that set the stage for last night's contest, Rheeder led a train of riders, including Tom Hey, Kelly McGarry's friend and trail building partner who built the course alongside him. It was a fitting ending to an epic day.
With his first victory of the season in the bag, Rheeder said he was focused on the long game, a game that now includes the Slopestyle World Championship, as well as the Triple Crown of Slopestyle, which remains unclaimed.
"There are three more Crankworx stops that are going to be equally as hard as this one, if not harder. Everyone's going to come back with new tricks, more aggressive riding, more practice. The next one will be even harder than this. I'm looking ahead to that one," he said.
The champagne soaking in the dirt of the Slopestyle course was quickly joined by a few extra bottles as the leading riders in the battle for the titles of King and Queen of the Crankworx World Tour were recognised for their efforts, nine days and nine contests into the season.
Heading out of New Zealand, Jill Kintner (USA) leads the pack of pro women with 565 points, while Sam Blenkinsop (NZL), fresh off a win in the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill, leads the pro men with 500.
Now the best riders in the world make their way to Europe in June for stops two and three of the Crankworx World Tour. The gauntlets have been thrown, rivalries sparked and challenges set. It's on.