Will Crankworx Les Gets set the scene for Brandon's biggest year?

May 23, 2016
by Official Crankworx  
Brandon Semenuk could be the first to win the Crankworx Triple Crown

With less than a month to go until the inaugural Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle, one of the world’s best Slopestyle riders, Brandon Semenuk, has yet to confirm whether he will compete.

The Canadian rider won the Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle in Memory of Kelly McGarry in March, leaving him the sole athlete with a shot at securing the prestigious Triple Crown of Slopestyle, in the same year he has a shot at a fifth Red Bull Joyride ring.

Brandon’s supreme concentration and careful planning make him the uber-gifted competitor that he is. These events are stressful and he’s no less thoughtful in considering where he’s at before making the decision to compete.

We see this as the ultimate year for him to leave his mark on the sport he’s conquered, but it’s ultimately up to him. He is already the best athlete the sport has ever seen. From this point forward, it’s entirely up to him how the story unfolds,
” says Darren Kinnaird, Crankworx General Manager.

Brandon getting ready to drop in at Crankworx Les Deux Alpes in France Photo by clint trahan crankworx
Brandon Semenuk getting ready to take on the Slopestyle course at Crankworx Les Deux Alpes in France (Photo by Clint Trahan/Crankworx)

Semenuk holds a Slopestyle medal from every location Crankworx has ever visited, pre- and post-World Tour, including the most gold medals – ten – in the history of the discipline. And with construction now well underway, he could be among the first to take on the Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle course.

More than 5000 cubic metres of earth was moved to create the new course and it’s got some quirks the athletes haven’t seen before,” says Kinnaird.

Dropping in off of an eight-metre North Shore-style ramp, the riders will have three massive booters, a log ride and some major drops on which to craft the perfect run. The line is built by Alex Dropsy and crew, some of the best course builders in Europe, and it’s expected to give the predominantly Canadian and French field an arena to perform their best.

Thus far, Nicholi Rogatkin (USA), Brett Rheeder (CAN), Thomas Genon (BEL), Semenuk (CAN), Logan PEAT (CAN), Tomas Zejda (CZE) and the Sams, Pilgrim and Reynolds, of Great Britain have been invited, as the top eight riders from the 2015 FMB World Tour season.

In addition, Tomas Lemoine (FRA), Yannick Granieri (FRA), Mehdi Gani (FRA), Paul Genovese (CAN), Torquato Testa (ITA), Max Fredriksson (SWE), Anthony Messere (CAN) and Szymon Godziek (POL) have received invites as the top eight riders in the 2016 FMB rankings, along with wildcards Diego Caverzasi, (ITA),a newcomer who placed third at Swatch Rocket Air, and BMX legend Ryan Nyquist (USA), FISE Montpellier second place and former champion Cam Zink (USA).

Crankworx will be broadcast live on Crankworx.com and Pinkbike.com, and featured on Red Bull TV. The full broadcast schedule is:
• Crankworx Les Gets Dual Speed & Style 5:30 p.m. CEST on Thursday, June 16 in Les Gets, 8:30 a.m. PST on Thursday, June 16 in Whistler and 3:30 a.m. on Friday, June 17 in Rotorua, New Zealand

• Crankworx Les Gets Pump Track Challenge presented by Rockshox 8:00 p.m. CEST on Friday, June 17 in Les Gets, 11:00 a.m. PST on Friday, June 17 in Whistler and 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 18 in Rotorua, New Zealand

• Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle 4:30 p.m. CEST on Saturday, June 18 in Les Gets, 7:30 a.m. PST on Saturday, June 18 in Whistler and 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 19 in Rotorua, New Zealand

• Crankworx Les Gets Downhill presented by iXS 2:00 p.m. CEST on Sunday, June 19 in Les Gets, 5:00 a.m. PST on Sunday, June 19 in Whistler and 12:00 a.m. on Monday, June 20 in Rotorua, New Zealand

Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle course is coming together. Here are the latest pictures:
Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle course build 2016

Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle course build 2016

Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle course build 2016

Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle course build 2016

Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle course build 2016
Crankworx Les Gets Slopestyle course build 2016

Les Gets mountain biking trails


MENTIONS: @officialcrankworx



Author Info:
officialcrankworx avatar

Member since Jul 14, 2011
363 articles

34 Comments
  • 48 3
 If he doesn't enter the contest I will 100% be bummed out but I will for sure understand why and I hope every one else will also. Sometimes its good just to chill out and ride with your buddies
  • 35 2
 Neg prop me all you want but I dont think he gives a crap about competing in contests anymore, who can blame him, the guy has nothing to prove and probably enjoys riding with his buddies a lot more. Can't blame him!
  • 3 15
flag biker3335 (May 24, 2016 at 19:19) (Below Threshold)
 @Ride12: I think he likes to make us think he doesn't care by waiting until last minute, makes it look like it's no big deal to him and if he is seriously not competing for a good reason it's probably that he's saving himself for whistler
  • 12 1
 @biker3335: he's the best mountain biker of all time. Most natural talent, skill, drive. We are lucky to see a dude like this in our life times. The scary shit is that he's not slowing down, I put him in the top of the top ranks with Wayne Gretzky, Travis Rice, jeremy McGrath, Michael Jordan, you get it haha
  • 2 0
 @makripper: Brandon's my favourite rider
  • 2 0
 Brandon has been becoming more involved in the Canadian Rally Championship lately and podiums quite often at these events as well. Seems that he has been both passionate about mtn biking and rally from a young age. Props to him for being able to participate in both of these sports and show his natural talent!
  • 24 0
 Does someone know when Martin Plans to compete again?
  • 7 5
 If it were me, it'd be when Brandon doesn't show up.
  • 13 0
 The course is looking sick! Semenuk has his work cut out though. Rheeder seems to be bringing serious heat this season
  • 23 11
 My prediction: Nicholi Rogatkin gets the win
  • 30 18
 God help us no! No style Nicholi.
  • 5 4
 @molloser: with you on that. The guy has talent, but less flailing around with bowed legs would score much higher for me...
  • 10 0
 @cunning-linguist: He's throwing pretty massively recently, the other guys need to do something pretty special to win
  • 6 8
 @rrsport: yes he may be, but it's messy and ugly as f*ck. Yes the tricks may be harder, but a smooth combo would be more aesthically pleasing & surely that's what the style part of the name suggests? I'd like to see more toboggan to table 3's and the like, look smoother and flow. Not just slutting the bike around left right and centre. Not gonna lie, he's got skills, but on the other hand he doesn't look like he'd be able to get through proper tech trails, as he's so sketchy...

Horses for courses, but I'd rather watch Mark Mulville if I want to see tricks.
  • 10 0
 I've gone full circle on Rogatkin. When he first came onto the scene I found it irritating that someone with such terrible style was doing so well.... but.... overtime I have really grown to appreciate and respect him. His balls to the wall approach is a perfect compliment to the precision, style and execution of someone like Semenuk. People criticise Rheeder for being a copy of Semenuk... you could never say that about Rogatkin. Most importantly though he throws down HARD every single show or comp he does. A real crowd pleaser who loves to entertain and go huge. How can you not like that?
  • 4 4
 @gavlaa: Yeah to be honest I'm on and off with him. My previous comment was insensitive I'll admit, but sometimes it's hard to be a fan, ya know? He does throw down crazy tricks, but I won't change my opinion on his lack of style.
  • 1 0
 @molloser: I also see it from both sides of the coin. And he does go nuts. But just personally speaking of wait until the tricks were a bit more "polished" before bringing them to the arena that's all. Can't knock him for pure progression though.
  • 8 1
 I know I'll be cheering for him along with others. Keep pushing the sport forward for all that can't.
  • 7 0
 Brandon, ride dude. You're pure art when you ride. There is no one smoother. No one.
  • 15 9
 This is a lame article, a shameless plug for a headline. Semenuk will be there if he wants to be, just like everyone else.
  • 7 18
flag Toejar (May 24, 2016 at 15:03) (Below Threshold)
 This is a lame comment, a shameless plug for an opinion. Gubernaculum wishes he had a fraction of Semenuk's talent, just like everyone else.
  • 8 1
 La vache these features are high !
  • 5 4
 Semenuk dials out big tricks with combo's... cleaner than anyone on the FMB roster. Have you seen the latest vid of him by Trek? He's like a robot with ounces of steeze!

I'd be pissed off if Rogatikin lands the Twister with a really sketchy/sideways landing on the last jump and wins over Semen's usual clean landing from a 720 bar to tuck.
  • 2 3
 Why am I being neg propped?? It's just a observation...
  • 5 0
 Yeah Brandon ????
  • 1 0
 Just do your thing Brandon and have funWink
  • 4 0
 Do it and yer cool
  • 2 0
 brandon wont miss a crank worx slope style not if he can help it
  • 4 0
 he wasn't planning on riding in Rotorua. His filming plans fell through a week before the contest, so he decided to go.
  • 2 0
 Respect!
  • 1 0
 Did anyone else notice they wrote cam zink as the former winner
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