Dawid Godziek made it two wins in a row as he claimed victory in Sunday’s slopestyle event at Crankworx Innsbruck, while Sweden’s Emil Johansson was pushed down into third by French rider Timothé Bringer.
With plenty of rain falling on Innsbruck in the last few weeks, the world’s best freeride mountain bike riders were greeted by damp conditions. Fortunately, the weather started to improve and by the time the slopestyle competition began on Sunday there was bright sunshine. In the eighth running of the event, Johansson was seeking revenge after narrowly losing out to Godziek in Carins and was desperate to win his 13th Crankwork slopestyle title. The Swede delivered a brilliantly technical first run that scored a huge 95.25 as he moved into the lead at the halfway stage. Once the second runs got underway it was Godziek who moved into the lead courtesy of a ride that was full of precision and amplitude.
France’s Bringer then delighted the crowd as he went full send to earn a score of 95.62 to move into second place, while Germany’s Erik Fedko delivered a classy run to move into fourth place with a 94.12. Johansson was the last man out of the gate but after a difficult landing early in his run decided to coast through the rest of the course, meaning Godziek could celebrate a second consecutive Crankworx victory and will have the chance to complete the Triple Crown next time out in Whistler.
After the crash in the first run I was under a bit less pressure. I just wanted to make it to the bottom but the judges liked my run so I am super stoked. I am focused now on doing my best performance in Whistler and I will see what that brings.”
Dawid Godziek
In the women’s event, Robin Goomes set the standard during the opening round of runs as she secured an impressive score of 94.5. Despite the best efforts of her competitors, no one came close to bettering the mark of the Kiwi rider who also triumphed earlier this year in Rotorua. Sweden’s Alma Wiggberg, who won last time out in Cairns, secured second with a score of 89.75, while US rider Shaelen Reno grabbed third place courtesy of an 86.5.
Slopestyle results
Pro men
1. Dawid Godziek POL 96.75
2. Tim Bringer FRA 95.62
3. Emil Johansson SWE 95.25
4. Erik Fedko GER 94.12
5. Chance Moore CAN 93.25
Pro Women
1. Robin Goomes NZL 94.50
2. Alma Wiggberg SWE 89.75
3. Shealen Reno USA 86.50
4. Caroline Buchanan AUS 84.50
5. Lisa-Marie Blanc FRA 74.50