Darren Berrecloth wins adidas Slopestyle 2006

On Saturday, Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria’s Salzburger Land saw the biggest rock show mountain biking currently has to offer: the adidas Slopestyle. Witnessed by 170 journalists, film crews, and photographers from 22 countries and thousands of spectators the fifty best pro freeriders in the world performed breathtaking stunts on a spectacular obstacle course designed by Canadian course builder Riley McIntosh. In its third year, the adidas Slopestyle managed once again to step the level up, both in terms of course design and rider performance. “When the course was built, we were hoping to see maybe a back flip into the so called Fruit Bowl, a curved wooden ladder bridge obstacle, or a jump over the cable car gondola”, smiles event director Mike Hamel. “But we didn’t expect to see a front flip into the Fruit Bowl or a back flip over the top of the gondola. I am stunned and stoked by the performance of the riders. The finals today were unbelievable. And by the loud cheers of the crowds one can tell that the spectators felt the same. The adidas Slopestyle 2006 has definitely set a new benchmark in mountain bike freeriding.” Compared to the two previous years the adidas Slopestyle course was constructed on a much shallower and wider slope resulting in more obstacles and lines for the riders to choose from. At the highest drop, bikes had to endure forces of 7.5 g, at some of the obstacles, for instance the quarter pipe, riders had to endure forces of 4 g which equals the impact in Formula 1 racing. The massive obstacles also included large construction equipment like a dumper and a loader. “This was the best contest I’ve ever been to”, raved Paul Basagoitia (CAN) who placed second after the finals. “It was so much fun. And the organisers did an amazing job. They took great care of us.” ‘Old hand’ and reigning adidas Slopestyle champion, Darren ‘Bearclaw’ Berrecloth (CAN) nailed it once again, after crashing in the first final run. With a perfectly smooth performance showing a Superman Seatgrab over the gondola, a Onefoot Tabletop off the drop, a No Foot Cancan over the big double, an incredible 360 down the adidas Yeti and an unbelievably high Superman Seatgrab overtopping the surrounding buildings at the finish bowl he took the hot seat with 85.7 points in his second final run and did not leave it again. Second placed Paul B. impressed the jury in the first final run with his big backflip from the gondola, a 360 from the Braun Northshore, a very high 360 out of the RockShox quarter and a 360 from the adidas Yeti which took him off the track, so that he couldn’t show a trick over the final double. Still his performance was awarded with 84.2 points and the hot seat in the first round. His spectacular crash when he didn’t land his back flip over the gondola in his second run took the spectators’ breath away. Fortunately he got up after two minutes and was unharmed and not even bruised. German Carlo Dieckmann secured a third place in the prestigious freeride event with his remarkable first run. His Big Air over the gondola, 360 out of the Slanted Wallride, Backflip out of the Fruit Bowl, Nohanded Suicide down the adidas Yeti and Back flip at the finish line impressed the judges and got him his best result (81 points) in a freeride competition to date. Unfortunately he couldn’t top his performance in the second run when he crashed. “This third place means a lot to me”, Carlo grinned. “Finally I managed to beat the international freeride elite at one of the most significant events in the world.” Lance McDermott (GBR), currently the only rider in the world who performs a front flip on dirt, was a spectator favourite and awarded with the ‘Smooth’ trophy for his unexpected front flip into the Fruit Bowl and his Flair in the quarter. For Lance it was the first freeride comp ever and his fourth place encouraged him to come back next year to do better. “Next year I will wear start number 4”, he smiles, “which means I will be one of the last riders to start in the qualifier. So I can check out the performance of the other riders. And I will come back with a different bike. Now I know what Slopestyle is all about. Watch out for me next year. I will be hitting the big stuff.” Australian rookie Darren Pokoj, who won an entry for the adidas Slopestyle in the RockShox Ticket2Style Qualifier on Thursday, was already stoked when he reached the finals. That he ended up on fifth place overall was hard for him grasp at first. But he deserved his place on the podium for his Nohander onto the gondola, Onefoot Cancan out of the wall ride, back flip into the Fruit Bowl, nohanded Suicide out of the Fruit Bowl, 360 over the dirt, nohanded Suicide over the first double and back flip X-up at the finish (78.7 points). “With RockShox Ticket2Style rookie Darren Pokoj placing on the adidas Slopestyle podium today, we have reached our goal to give talented but unknown young freeriders the chance to compete with the world elite”, said Elmar Keineke, SRAM MTB Marketing Manager Europe. www.adidas-slopestyle.com