Rockin’ All Over The World - Nicholi Rogatkin

Sep 8, 2016
by FMB World Tour  
by Richkphotography

Nicholi Rogatkin was not only the most successful but also belonged to the most active athletes on the FMB World Tour this year. Travelling to three different continents really paid off for him in 2016. Despite a disappointing performance at Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler there was no time for gloom. Thanks to his dedication to finish his run after having hit the dirt hard off a cork 720, it was just enough for the title. After winning the FMB Diamond Series, the new 2016 FMB World Champ took the time to talk through his stellar season.

by Bartek Wolinski

First of all, congrats Nicholi! The amount of nerves it must take to shake off a crash like you did and still send a run full of tricks down to the bottom is impressive. What did you think when you went down hard, biting the dust and what made you decide to follow through with it?

Honestly, there were mixed feelings throughout that run. I was very frustrated and almost in disbelief that I had a huge crash so early in the run. But I knew I had to get up and do the rest of my run. The World Championship was at stake. I knew every single point could be vital at the end of the day. That's why I made sure to get up and trick my way down the course even in a throwaway run. That perseverance paid off in a big way at the end of the day.


Did you have to think your run through again or did you just stick to the plan?

I stuck to the original plan. I definitely went a little safer on several features because the last thing I wanted to do was crash again.

by Bartek Wolinski

Let’s look back a bit. The season really got going in Rotorua where you came second and landed your Twister in during a contest for the first time. How important was the first FMB Diamond Event for achieving what you have this season?

That event meant a lot to me. It was a very emotional experience for all of us riders, as the event was completely dedicated to Kelly. I was very satisfied to do a dream run including the Twister at the end, and get on the podium. Looking back on it now, it was vital to the Championship at the end of the season.

by Ale di Lullo

After New Zealand you did a lot of travelling in Europe and also took part in contests. How important is it to you to get out and about and see new places?

Traveling is easily one of best parts of a career as a mountain bike rider. We all have the best times everywhere we go and are stoked we get to experience so many different cultures and parts of the world others don't get to see.


You took part in four Gold and Silver contests in three different countries (Switzerland, Austria, and France). Which contest did you like best and why?

Swatch Rocket Air had to be one of the best contests of the season. The crowd there is absolutely mental, getting incredibly loud for all the riders. Max and I battled it out and ended up first and second, which was epic as well.

by Richkphotography

After winning Swatch Rocket Air you could have sat back and relaxed having already scored the best possible Gold result, but you kept driving on. In which way did competing at other contests support you in achieving your goals? How important was this?

Riding in contests is always good times. Even though I could have sat back, traveling with all the guys is the best, and competing is the greatest practice. The more competition practice you have, the better chance there is that you will be ready for bigger contests and pressurizing situations in the future.


At Swatch Prime Line you finally secured your first win at an FMB Diamond Event after coming so close at other events in the past. What went differently this year? What was the key?

The key this year was confidence. I put together a run that I was 100% confident in, so when I dropped in the stress was minimal. Thankfully, my run scored the highest at the end of the day and I finally got that much-desired Diamond Event win.

by Bartek Wolinski

Before Red Bull Joyride you again competed at the FMB Gold Event at the Colorado Freeride Festival. Other than the fact that it was the only US Event this side of Joyride, in which way did it help you to prepare for Joyride?

The level of competition at CFF was mental this year. Even in qualifying riders were doing incredible runs. All of us had to execute our runs 100% to get a good result. That level of riding was great preparation for Joyride, as we got a taste of the riding we would have to do only a couple weeks later.

by Chris Wellhausen

Red Bull Joyride must have been bittersweet for you. Were you nervous at any point that Max actually may make the nearly impossible become reality?

I knew that Max and Brett both had the ability to knock me off the top step that day. They both did incredible runs and ended up on the podium, so I was super stoked for them. Of course, them making the nearly impossible become reality came to mind a couple of times.


Were there mixed feelings in Whistler or did happiness take over after a difficult day's work?

There were a lot of mixed feelings. Of course, I was disappointed to crash two runs at Red Bull Joyride. However, winning the World Champion Title made me look back on a year of hard work and success. It brought a lot of reminiscent thoughts of everything that went into that Championship season.

by Richkphotography

Looking back at the whole FMB World Tour season so far, what is the first picture that comes to your mind and that may stick forever?

So many pictures come to mind that will stick forever. However, the biggest one has to be the memory of landing my run in Rotorua, pointing to Kelly on my jersey and hearing the crowd's ovation for that. It made me proud to represent a legend of our sport and have him with me on one of the greatest runs of my life. I know he was looking down from above and felt the love from myself and from everyone witnessing that. That is something I'll definitely never forget.

by Ale di Lullo

You’ve had an unbelievable season. What’s up next for you? Will you be competing at other events on the FMB World Tour this year?

Next for me is the same as always: riding my bike and trying to progress MTB as much as possible.


Thanks so much Nicholi and congrats once again to becoming the FMB World Champion 2016!

Photos by Ale Di Lullo / Bartek Wolinski / Richkphotogrpahy


MENTIONS: @FMBA / @aledilullo / @wolisphoto



Author Info:
FMBA avatar

Member since Mar 1, 2011
143 articles

27 Comments
  • 29 1
 Class act and such a tough dude. Kills it all the time. Stoked on his FMB overall win. Smile
  • 1 1
 Why isnt he doing Rampage this year?
  • 4 2
 @SpinningAddiction: rules changed. Less riders. He wasnt chosen. Thats all
  • 1 2
 @RedBurn: f*ckin' balls. Way to f*ck up Rampage some more there Rampage people. :s
  • 10 3
 While I wish he put more energy into style and less into hucking around tricks, there's no denying that he's progressing the sport in a way that somebody who is doing like 16 barspins with style isn't. The aerial vision is so stong by him. And he deserves to win this after so much hard work. I will say that his style in competitions is a product of the way things are judged. If the two scores were added instead of best of two formatted, riders would have to creep way back into their comfort zone to win with the tricks they can land every time.
  • 15 1
 Who cares, if everyone had style it wouldn't be special. I'm sick of hearing everyone complain about how he rides, everyone rides different and style is build in years of flowing with less tricks. He is all about tricks and having 2 runs added together isn't going to change the way he rides.
  • 4 5
 The fact that you think 16 bar spins has anything to do with style means you're way off mark and your opinion doesn't count.
  • 4 0
 @jflb: You didn't read what I said. Your opinion counts negative opinion points.

@biker3335: I agree. That's what I said. Although... I don't think you could possibly answer for him on his competition approach if the rules changed.
  • 13 0
 I disagree, I think Nicholi was harshly scored this year at certain events. Yeah his landings may be a little ragged at times and it doesn't look at smooth as someone landing a highly polished trick but when he's trying something no one else is doing and riding it out then imo that should be recognised as progressing the sport and the score should reflect that. I'd rather see someone pull out something crazy and just stick it than someone throwing a back flip variation that they do all day every day.
  • 2 7
flag Hyperx (Sep 9, 2016 at 14:25) (Below Threshold)
 Nicholi got super high scores for his runs,sometimes it's too overscored (like prime line,where Mehdi Gani from 4th place,have much better run-just check replay and compare runs feature-to-feature).

And yes,style at all is like perfect execution of tricks plus variety of tricks - and not so many riders can be really stylish. Look at the another young gun - Emil Johansson. He do most of tricks with style - on pedals/to pedals/fully extended.
Doing 1 or 2 tricks,that others don't, and have like 3.5 repeating tricks at run at all is no style Wink Nicholi pushes some limits,but IMHO he's overhyped. He can't do like 90% of tricks of another riders,but can some prerry unique tricks.

So it's very stupid to think, that only Nicholi pushes the sport. You see 1 big trick,but you don't see strong runs with linked to each other tricks.
Hard work? LOL.Hard work is to perfectly land all your tricks, not messed up 50% time and barely surviving on the landing (and also not even keeping foots on both pedals on every damn trick)
  • 4 0
 If this is aimed at me I'm not for one second suggesting that Nicholi is the only rider progressing the sport. All I am saying is if someone tries something nuts that no one else is currently doing then regardless of wether they land it cleanly or ride it out ragged then the score should reflect the progression. This applies to any athlete. I find Nicholi great to watch, really exciting and unpredictable
  • 11 1
 Nice job man! Love seeing what crazy trick you're gonna pull next!
  • 8 0
 He risked so much in every single run all year! Glad all that risked payed off for him in the end!
  • 10 1
 What a guy!
  • 4 0
 This dude is progressing the sport more than anyone. I don't care how many times he crashes or how many tires he blows up, he'll always be my favorite guy to watch
  • 5 0
 Everyone in those events is mind blowingly good. They're like gymnasts on bikes.
  • 4 0
 Having seen him land wrong and crash so many times,he just seems that rules of gravity do not seem to apply to him at all respect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 2 0
 Tough as a tank & maybe just as brutal. This guy is all about heavy weaponry & I want to see him win more. MTB is lucky to have him. He throws down even on blown runs & victory runs. I can't think of anyone else that does that. He really wants to be here & he's brought a ton of insane stuff with him, no doubt with even more to come. Thanks for uppin' the game bruh.
  • 5 0
 well done
  • 5 0
 Yeaah nick!
  • 3 3
 The question they should have asked was "What happened to your visor?"
  • 2 0
 I still don't get people being hung up on him not wearing the visor, What am I missing here? I thought he said he prefers no visor for spin tricks, makes spotting his landing easier.

Is it all about fashion? He doesn't have "the look"? "Ohh my GOD!! Becky, look at the size of his butt!"?

I never remember hearing anyone talk about Matt Hoffman not having a visor.

Not attacking you man, truly curious.
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