Crankworx 2024: Slopestyle | Godziek Edges Out Rival Johansson For 1st Crankworx Slopestyle Win At Cairns
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What a show it’s been! Crankworx Cairns 2024 delivered once again!
Dawid Godziek got the better of Swedish rival Emil Johansson to win his first Crankworx Slopestyle event on Sunday in Cairns as home star Harriet Burbidge-Smith earned third with the men and women competing together in the same Crankworx FMB Slopestyle World Championship (SWC) event for the first time ever.
The world’s best freeride MTB riders had to contend with difficult conditions all week at the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park as tropical rain showers kept both the course builders and athletes on their toes.
The demanding conditions remained on Sunday morning with rain showers, however the crowds arrived en masse and competition started at 2.30pm when the skies cleared up and the sun came out finally.
New features on the course consisted of two big jumps that replaced the halfpipe at the bottom of the course while – for the first time in Crankworx Slopestyle World Championship history – all alternates present on site got the chance to compete including Mia Moore and Tobey Miley.
In the men’s event, Poland’s Godziek was looking for his first Crankworx slopestyle victory and he put down a brilliant 93 first run packed with precision and amplitude to give himself a great chance.
Crankworx legend Johansson was eager to pick up yet another slopestyle victory in his young career and, after he posted a 90.25 first time out, his 92.25 second run fell just short of the gold medal.
With Godziek assured of victory, he could take it easy on the second run with Frenchman Timothé Bringer’s first run of 89.25 earning him the bronze as German Erik Fedko finished fifth following a classy 86.25 run.
Godziek, 29, said: “It was always my dream to get this gold medal here. It’s been a long journey as well. I dreamt about it, so it couldn’t be any better. It’s the best feeling ever.”
In the women’s event, Australian Burbidge-Smith scored a 75 in her first run only to see Kiwi Robin Goomes and Swede Alma Wiggberg go better.
Rookie Wiggberg’s second run of 89.75 assured her of victory with Goomes’ 86 earning her silver and Burbidge-Smith staying in bronze.
After seeing Wiggberg return from serious injury, Burbidge-Smith said: “Having Alma back on the circuit, I was already expecting amazing things from her. And seeing her first run was sick, and then us dropping in for our second run, it motivated me to try something new. And then, Alma came through and did something she has never done before as well. That was just insanely sick, and it just makes you be a better rider.”
The women’s participation in the same event as the men marked a significant milestone for the sport, highlighting the growing inclusivity and recognition in global Freeride Mountain Biking.
In terms of the 2024 overall standings heading into the next June 12-16 Crankworx Innsbruck event, Australian Ryan Gilchrist and Briton Martha Gill have slim King and Queen of Crankworx title leads respectively.
