Johansson and Höll star at thrilling Innsbruck opener at Crankworx
Swede and Austrian wow fans in Austria as Lemoine and Goomes also shine.
For the first time in three years, Crankworx welcomed back fans in full capacity at the Innsbruck stop of the 2022 Crankworx World Tour with Sweden’s Emil Johansson and home favourite Vali Höll wrapping up wins to fuel the loud crowds. Here is all you need to know:
Festivities started in earnest with the annual sundown session of the whip-off contest as Canada’s Jackson Goldstone and New Zealand’s Robin Goomes took the honours to whip up the big crowds.
Johansson put down a near-perfect 98 run heavy with technical tricks on his first go – the highest ever awarded at a Crankworx event – on his way to winning the Crankworx Innsbruck Slopestyle for the third time in a row, while also extending his superb Crankworx winning streak to seven.
Second place was taken by German Erik Fedko, who scored 95.25 on his first run – his highest-ever Crankworx score – with Frenchman Timothé Bringer’s second run of 93.75 enough for third place.
Emil Johansson poses for a portrait at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206180503 // Usage for editorial use only //
Erik Fedko, Emil Johansson and Tim Bringer are seen on the podium at Slopestyle Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206190156 // Usage for editorial use only //
Erik Fedko performs at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206180491 // Usage for editorial use only //
Szymon Godziek competing in Slopestyle at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206190179 // Usage for editorial use only //
Erik Fedko competing in Slopestyle at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206190180 // Usage for editorial use only //
Johansson, 23, said: “It’s what I put my heart and soul into, so to see the hard work pay off, it’s more like a relief than a surprise.”
Höll delighted her home fans in the downhill by triumphing ahead of Australian Tracey Hannah and American Anna Newkirk – her third successive Innsbruck victory – with Britain’s Charlie Hatton winning the men’s event from Canadian Finn Iles and Aussie Mick Hannah.
Valentina Höll performs at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 19, 2022 // Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206190737 // Usage for editorial use only //
For the second year running the Speed & Style event was the place to be with incredible progression as Frenchman Tomas Lemoine and Kiwi Goomes got the better of runner-ups Teodor Kovac (CZH) and Jordy Scott (USA) with Mike Ross (AUS) and Caroline Buchanan (AUS) in bronze.
Dual slalom brings together all-rounders head-to-head on a twisting track made up of rollers, berms and tricky grass turns with German Nina Hoffmann beating Höll and Newkirk, and Austrian Andreas Kolb taking men’s gold from George Brannigan (NZL) and Collin Hudson (USA).
A fervent crowd made sure they were heard for the pump track as Niels Bensink (NED) and Kialani Hines (USA) claimed gold with Bas van Steenbergen (CAN) and Buchanan bagging silver medals while Tommy Zula (USA) and American Scott ended the day in bronze medal position.
Strong showings from Höll means she now tops the Queen of Crankworx standings with 180 points from Buchanan (170) and Scott (163) as Bensink leads the King of Crankworx standings with 136 points, just ahead of Lemoine on 135 and Van Steenbergen in third place.
Erik Fedko competing in Slopestyle at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206190180 // Usage for editorial use only //
Winner Kialani Hines posing for a portrait at the Rock Shox Pumptrack Challenge at Crankworx Innsbruck, Austria on June 16, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206170137 // Usage for editorial use only //
Tomas Slavik racing at the Specialized Dual Slalom at Crankworx Innsbruck, Austria on June 16, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206170179 // Usage for editorial use only //
Emil Johansson competing at Slopestyle at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206190161 // Usage for editorial use only //
Niels Bensink racing at the Rock Shox Pumptrack Challenge at Crankworx Innsbruck, Austria on June 16, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206170146 // Usage for editorial use only //
Valentina Höll racing at the Specialized Dual Slalom at Crankworx Innsbruck, Austria on June 16, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206170171 // Usage for editorial use only //
Valentina Höll performs at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 19, 2022 // Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206190737 // Usage for editorial use only //
Szymon Godziek competing in Slopestyle at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206190179 // Usage for editorial use only //
Dawid Godziek performs at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 16, 2022 // Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206170233 // Usage for editorial use only //
Emil Johansson poses for a portrait at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206180503 // Usage for editorial use only //
Erik Fedko performs at Crankworx in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18, 2022 // Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206180491 // Usage for editorial use only //
Tommy Zula and Bas Van Steenbergen racing at the Rock Shox Pumptrack Challenge at Crankworx Innsbruck, Austria on June 16, 2022 // Boris Beyer / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202206170098 // Usage for editorial use only //
Crankworx Whistler in Canada is next up from August 5-14 with Australia’s Crankworx Cairns in October 5-9 and New Zealand’s Crankworx Rotorua across November 5-13 rounding out the 2022 season.
