There are two events during the nine-day Crankworx Festival in Whistler that truly highlight the bravest and most talented bike handlers: the slopestyle and the Canadian Open downhill. With the nature of slopestyle being intentionally spectator friendly, at Crankworx, it has become the marquee event. In the event's seventh year, 24-year-old Cam Zink is the first to repeat as the Crankworx slopestyle champion, having previously won the event in 2006. Despite being an accomplished gravity racer and slopestyle icon, Zink has battled injuries his entire career. Cam has impressively persevered through numerous reconstructive knee surgeries to prove once again, that when healthy, he is still among the sport’s best slopestyle riders.

RESULTS
1. Cam Zink $15,000
2. Mike Montgomery $7,500
3. Casey Groves $3,000

Zink flipping to victory. His second run score of 95 held up throughout the one-run final.

- Whistler local, and slopestyle favorite Brandon Semenuk put down a perfect run before crashing on a backflip on the last step-down jump. Semenuk left the competition with a shoulder injury.

- Former Crankworx Slopestyle champion (2004) Paul Basagoitia was injured during practice and did not compete.

- Crankworx Volkswagon Best Trick winner, Darren Berrecloth, put down yet another amazing run, but like Semenuk went down hard on the huge last obstacle, breaking his hand and unable to continue.

 - 2009 Crankworx Slopestyle champion Gregg Watts was bumped from the last super finals spot after a flat tire ended his second run attempt.

Brandon Semenuk looked effortless and smooth throughout his entire run. His hopes of victory ended with an ugly crash in front of his home crowd. 

The first seven slopestyle competitors put down incredible, error-free runs. The dangerous nature of slopestyle eventually caught up to the competitors, and took down several riders along the way.

Crankworx 2010: Getting rowdy.

Zink receives a hero's welcome back at the SRAM pit.

MONSTER ENERGYS SLOPESTYLE DETAILS

• 16 athletes
• Best of 2 runs
• Head judge to oversee judging panel to allocate a score out of 100
• Top 6 riders advance to Super-Finals
• One Run Super-Final – reverse order seeding (final ranking will be based on best score from either Run 1, Run 2 or Super-Final (ie Super-Final can only advance a rider's final ranking)

Prize Money - $30,000
1st $15,000
2nd $7,500
3rd $3,000
4th $2,000
5th $1,500
6th $1,000

Look for complete Crankworx coverage in an upcoming issue of Mountain Bike Action.

Story and photos by Ryan Cleek