The first gravity event of Crankworx 2012 is in the books...here's a look at the Dual Speed and Style event, where Brendan Fairclough managed to take the win and $2500...enjoy the photos and stay tuned for more!!
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Words and Photos by David Peacock
Dual Speed and Style replaces the Dual Slalom event of year's past for 2012, meaning the best slopestyle athletes had a better chance to grab some cash this year. Riders like Martin Soderstrom and Andreu Lacondeguy stood out as the ultimate all around riders of the day, but eventually the speed of Brendan Fairclough, along with some good luck, could not be topped. The runs went down in a head-to-head, one run format, meaning there was no room for error.
Martin keeps it loose at the top of the course... click the photos for HI-RES versions.
Soderstrom's nac nac 360s were a treat to watch, all the way to the semi finals.
Greg Watts out-tricks Kyle Quesnel...
Photo by Liam Mullany.
Bikes...and...stuff..wait what?
Tom Van Steenbergen and Reece Wallace doing a poor synchronized backflip.
Andreu cruising.
Tyler McCaul leads Cody Warren, managing to beat the Nitro Circus rider.
Nice steeze...
Soderstrom was on a roll all day.
Getting stylish off the wall...Photo by Liam Mullany.
Soderstrom was looking next to unstoppable, throwing tailwhips and nac-360s in his runs, and beating racers handily down the course. Andreu managed to keep both tires glued to the ground with the exception of some backflips, showing impressive speed and yet another aspect to his riding. Other highlights included Mitch Ropelato shredding the course like he always does, while including dumped 360s and more on the jumps, and Tom Van Steenbergen impressing everyone in attendance by front flipping the final jump. Brett Rheeder would have won if it was a slopestyle event, linking together a truck driver into a flip whip, while managing to beat out several riders in the race as well.
Martin Soderstrom.
Ropelato's enjoying that new Monster lid, en route to beating teammate Cam Zink.
Andreu high above the massive crowd.
Hecklers and Kelly McGarry fans...one and the same.
Fairclough seemed less laid back than usual, less whipping and more speed.
Soderstrom with a textbook tailwhip.
Andreu leads TVS by a hair...
Tom is an insanely fast racer known for taking seriously aggressive lines, but he's also a talented slopestyle rider. Photo by Liam Mullany.
Still time for a whip off the wall ride...
Photo by Liam Mullany.
TVS, front flips and bar drags...no big deal.
Brendan caught a lucky break with Strait being DQed.
Right here Strait skipped the wall, pushing Fairclough through to the finals.
The final four came down to Soderstrom against Lacondeguy and Fairclough against perennial Dual Slalom king Kyle Strait. Martin washed out in his semifinal, leaving Andreu an open door to the finals. Kyle Strait skipped the wall ride feature, and was disqualified from the run as a result. In the small final Soderstrom fell again and Strait cruised to third place, but Martin had the last laugh, throwing a double tailwhip for the crowd and drawing one of the largest cheers of the night. The finals were neck and neck, with Brendan opting for the speed route and Andreu trying to catch up frantically, leading to disaster in the final turn. Andreu couldn't hold on in the loose wash and went down a turn from the finish line, leaving Fairclough to cruise to victory and $2500.
Soderstrom double whips just for the crowd after washing out against Andreu...Photo by Liam Mullany.
Fairclough races and Andreu flips...
Holding it together...
...and pushing it too hard.
Disappointment for Andreu Lacondeguy.
The consolation was second place and $1500.
Congrats Brendan!!
Final Results
1. Brendan Fairclough
2. Andreu Lacondeguy
3. Kyle Strait
4. Martin Soderstrom
Next up is the Garbanzo DH tomorrow, we'll be back with more coverage, stay tuned!!
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