The Crankworx Slopestyle event is now complete and Norco Factory Team rider Sam Dueck took home some cash with a 4th place finish. Sam lay down a huge lap first run down which held out for a final score good enough for 4th place. When all was said and done, this is how the results came through. Way to go Sam!
1: Cam Zink
2. Mike Montgomery
3. Casey Groves
4. Sam Dueck
Thursday at Crankworx up in Whistler entailed two main events. Slopestyle Qualification/Best Trick and the Pumptrack challenge. First off was Norco Factory Team Rider Sam Dueck at the Slopestyle. On Sam’s second run he pulled a massive backflip off the whale-Tale then a Superflip on the next booter. Making his way down the course, he then Tail-Whipped off the final step-down and caught a gust of wind bringing him down. Sam was okay, a little swore but pleased with the run besides the small tumble. Plus, the run was enough to bring him through to Saturday’s Semi-Final. 16 riders move on to Saturday where the field will again be reduced down to a total of 8 riders for the final. Way to go Sam!
After the slopestyle qualification, The Pumptrack Challenge kicked off. Pumptrack is a bit of a newer competition but it is a lot of fun to watch. The corners are tight, the speeds high and the energy is awesome. For the event Bernard, Fionn, Nick and Angie were all representing Norco on the course. The field of riders was about 50 deep and Norco’s top finisher was Fionn Griffiths in 4th for the women.
I am now home from Colorado and stoked on the final result! after a lot of hard luck and disappointment on my qualifying runs and my first final run i finally was able to pull it off in the end and made it down to the bottom of the course that has been just killing the riders all week. I was so happy to be finished my run and be down at the bottom in once piece and i even did all the tricks i wanted to do. first was a 360 off the top drop which i was having lots of trouble with on previous runs. second was my downside tail whip on the massive hip booter after that i safely hit the wall ride and threw a bar spin on the Tressel bike park hitching post. I then peddles into the forcing wind to make it up onto the whale tail, I barely made it up and had just enough speed to 360 off the end. Casing my 360 a bit and losing a little control i was quick to get back on track and just have enough speed to t-whip the big double and lastly a perfect tail whip air on the quarter pipe to bank landing.
Photo By Ian Hylands/Pinkbike.com
Right after my run the wind was picking up even more. so windy that the judges and riders decided to have a one hour wind delay. after coming back the judges has discussed what to do for the second round of runs. I was the only one who made completed my second run and I was happy with my score. I was able to keep my second run at a score of 77 that put me in 6th place over all at the time, while everyone else was able to redo their second runs. I was happy with the decision i made at that point where riders were getting hurt on the course and the weather was picking up all I wanted was top 10 and to be safe.
I ended up getting bumped into 9th place once it was all over. I was super happy and soon after the top 10 riders went on to receive their awards.
top 10 results.
1st. Brandon semenuk
2nd. Grandeiri Yannick
3rd. Martin Soderstrom
4th. Greg Watts
5th. Grahm Agassiz
6th. Jack Fogelquist
7th. Darren Berrecloth
8th. Sam Pilgrim
9th. Sam Dueck
10th. geoff Gulevich
Photo by Ian Hylands/Pinkbike.com
On our way to the awards i ran into some more Fans that were so exited to see me and remembered me from last year. it was really cool to see how kids so young remember who you are and to be cheering for you on the sidelines.
Crankworx Colorado this year for me was very stressful. seeing fellow riders being carried away to the hospital, being force to ride in windy conditions, and the pressure of wanting to place high. In the end of it all when i look back it was a very good learning experience for me and there was a lot of cool moments during it all.
I had just received an email informing me that I have been confirmed a wild card spot into Whistler Crankworx slopetyle and best trick for 2010 for getting top 10 in Colorado.
I am so exited to have this opportunity once again this year to ride ride my bike.
See you all in whistler!
Sam Dueck.
Last night I arrived in Winterpark, Colorado for the first Crankworx Festival. The course looks groomed and there are some cool features like the Captain-Hook Mustache, Kona Wall Ride and some big-ole’ booters that I can’t wait to ride. I am looking forward to getting on my Empire today and checking out the course before my qualifying runs tomorrow.
Walking the run, I bumped into some kids who remembered me from last year and were so excited to chat. Love the fans! I’ll check back soon once I can get a few runs in. For now, you can see a full course walk-through at pinkbike.com
More soon,
Sam D
Norco Videos