Straitline Gear at Crankworxs 2012

This years event was big time, the show must go on type of big and that came with a lot of carnage on the riders as the winds picked up.

So it was anyone's game and our riders threw down in front of a crowd of 50,000.

Starting with Casey Groves who is full factory Straitline, he had a hell of a day finding out a family member just passed away but threw it down a ride dedicated to his cousin.

Casey has nothing but heart!

http://www.bikemag.com/gallery/wind-crashes-and-mechanicals-define-crankworx-red-bull-joyride/#a90570e89e

2nd place winner Martin Soderstrom riding our Race ring on his new Hydro ready Specialized Slopestyle bike:

http://www.bikemag.com/gallery/wind-crashes-and-mechanicals-define-crankworx-red-bull-joyride/#84013455a6

 

3rd place winner McCaul stole the show with our Hydro and had some squirrely landings that sent him into the Teva booth or RedBull icon  making the crowd roar:

http://www.bikemag.com/gallery/wind-crashes-and-mechanicals-define-crankworx-red-bull-joyride/#434d9b3890

5th place winner Anthony Meserre boosting as usual on our Defacto pedals, the wind didn’t play favourites, this event was gnarly.

http://www.bikemag.com/gallery/wind-crashes-and-mechanicals-define-crankworx-red-bull-joyride/#3dbf83fc3c

Jack Fogelquist, riding our Defacto pedals took some big falls due to winds. He was killing it but washed out on the dry surface ending his runs, he was bummed for sure after winning an invite

This opening shot in qualification shows his crash at 1:15, he still qualified and shook it off for the next days showdown.

Crankworx 2012 - Joyride Slopestyle Qualifiers on Pinkbike

Montgomery’s pinkbike bike check

Mike had a sweet ass run in the finals this weekend in Slopestyle… unfortunately his backflip barhop had his seat tap his back sending the bike the opposite direction. The trick was risky and he got deducted points just missing the finals.
But, he’ll be back and it’s no big thing, just more time to train right.
Here is Mikes Bike check with Pinkbike.com
Mike Montgomery Bike Check on pinkbike.com

Watch Freerides overview of the event, you can see Mikes backflip Barhop and tap his seat on Vital.

Red Bull Joyride - Official Event Video - More Mountain Bike Videos

Straitline’s Gyro on the 1st place podium!

Brandon takes first place on our Gryo system and now has more money than you and I! The first place check was $10,000 more than last years at $25,000! His precision style always ensures he hits the podium and it wasn’t a shock to see the scoreboard after his second run.

 

After the shot was taken below, Brandon was swiftly arrested for force feeding 15 year old minor Anthony Massere alcohol.  I made that up.

But what a show it was this year, super fun course to watch and the riders obviously liked it by the way they ALL threw down as apposed to every other year when only a few choose to throw down.

Big thanks to the Pinkbike crew and Redbull for letting us sit in the death star tower for the show. I was next to Brandons Mom and had to give her play by play when he did his runs because she couldn’t watch her son compete at this level of insanity.

Stoked to have Brandon on the Gyro and expect another blog on judging and our other riders Montgomery and McCaul that threw down. Montgomery got a 63.4? I guess stubbing your toe on one run deducts 30 points minimum.

Riders point of view

What is easy is watching and critiquing, huge difference when you are the one slinging your leg over the bike with all the pressure. Best web series going, no music nothing besides what it is.

 

Mike Montgomery VOD

Mike rightfully so stole the coveted Pinkbike POD today with a shot that captures how truly insane this years course was. Not saying that this is a good thing, most riders hated this years course and as Mike put it “The up top parts are kind of fun…” Then it just gets too gnarly but Huge congrats to Zink for the comeback, everyone did forget about him, its a shame how the industry works.

 

Mike ran a set of Jeff Lenosky flats on his Banshee amp.

The event organizers must hate me because we always rent the pimp pad and hang our banners, they edit the crap out of all videos to exclude us and the photographers tend to find that perfect angle that excludes our banner. But c'mon we need money for technology not fancy booths in the village!

Mike Montgomery rips Krankworxs a new A Hole!

The night before the big show down Mike had a corona in hand, hanging out near the bar at the Camp of Champions year ender party. Jack Fogelquist who also rides for Banshee was off sucking face with a girl –go jack- and the entire place was gossiping on what Mike had planned tomorrow.  Few days earlier Jack had a issue and needed a repair on his Banshee Rampant so Mike just handed him his and said use it , I’ll ride my hard tail. When I heard of the story my hat was off, true sportsmanship but we all offered to get him another Rampant, it wasn’t that hard to sort out the issue but he denied the offer, shrugged his shoulders and said, I’m cool!

The dude did the entire course with His Banshee hard tail amp! If you were not there in person you have seen the videos but nothing ever shows its true height or steepness when filmed… there was zero room for error! Not only was he to ride his hard tail on a course that demanded respect, he planned to tail whip the judges box, a cool 30 out 40 down drop.

 

Check out Mikes gopro footage riding a set of Jeff Lenosky flats while Jeff and I sat on the roof top in awe of the run. 

 

This run set the pace, Fogel was slaying it but unfortunately made a simple mistake on a simple stunt that took him back to 17th, but anything can happen in slopestyle, Casey snapped his chain and had to pump his way down finishing with a sick on hander fist pump for the crowd.

More to come!

Crankworxs! WTF?

 

Wow, we had three riders in the finals Jack Fogelquist Casey Groves and our new comer Mike Montgomery, all of them stepped it up on a course that was not the best to date.

Mike tail whipping the judge box..

Casey right behind him with his whip, this box was very scary just to look at.

 

 

Jack took a spill in semi finals but threw down like a mad man having qualified days before in 2nd place with Montgomery 1st.  Come showdown, it was the best event yet, the course was not a good one but the riders sucked it up and sent it for sure.  Casey Groves took 3rd with Mike Montgomery Second and a well deserved 1st again for Cam Zink! Stoked to have 2 riders on the podium representing our gear.

It was a tough course and Casey and Mike ended up on that podium and Casey is on cloud nine, huge congrats Casey! Just watch the video and see for yourself how huge it was this year.

 

And of course… our legendary roof top party spot. Pinkbike did block our view a bit but we were cool with that and hugged to the right and watched it all unfold.

FULL COVERAGE IN A PHOTO COLLECTION HERE

We crammed on the roof along with friends Kali Helmets, Transition bikes, Banshee bikes, Jeff Lenosky, Dylan Korba, Andrew Mitchell and friends. in the shade out of the 32 degree sun! I’ll post more up later.

Lenosky and Korba  insisting that shot gunning beer can in fact make you a better person.  

Sucks to be you!

You are not here so I feel sorry for you!

We are in Whistler on a roof top, beer in hand –not kokanee- and the slope style is happening as we speak. And yes these shots are from a few years ago but since I am remotely blogging and I just found the delayed post option, I made this on Weds day but we have the same rooms with the view!

 

Casey Groves and Jack Fogelquist, Straitlines finest are going to battle it out in front of our epic view point.

 

 

Get Dirty!

I finally figured out how to set my post dates… I am amazed at how Dumb I am at blogging sometimes…

While you reading this I am on a deck, up in Whistler, beer in hand… watching the Slopestyle quali unfold right in front of us. I’’ll be with Lenosky and friends and those ever annoying Giant guys on the balcony to our right. So excuse me for pre-writing all this out but it’s not like I would be the news breaker on who won what anyways, you can scour the hot spots for it all. I will be super stoked if Straitlines very own Casey Groves and Jack Folgelquist do well though. I’d actually shit my pants if they podium’d, so cheers to that!

Enjoy this video I carefully selected for you until I am back on Monday, it may have been VOD but it is new to me and worth a second watch!

Freeride Park! Crankworxs!

Many years have gone into the park just to get it opened , this video was sent to my by Mark Mathews of some kids making a video. 

 

Keep in mind the big pro section and slalom tracks we are still fundraising for but it is open and fun so check it out www.freeridebc.blogspot.com

 

Oh and Whistler was nuts as usual!

Here we are chillaxing –HATE THAT WORD- with the Giant crew on the roof top!

 

 

The What's Next premier was nuts as well, went off with just a few hitches, Larocque was a bit stressed at first when the audio cut out, his face was funny, I laughed. Check out the Camp of Champions recap on the party here.

 

I beg you to forgive me if the blog slows down… Eurobike is here and we are hammered with deadlines, but you can Chew on this…

Click on it for high res and enjoy my toe shot!