QUEEN KINTNER WINS SIXTH CONSECUTIVE CRANKWORX DUAL SLALOM

For Immediate Release

Reigning Queen of Crankworx brings dominance to discipline in Southern Hemisphere alongside Thomas Slavik, who takes third consecutive win

ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND March 20, 2018 – A familiar sight in unfamiliar territory tonight, as reigning Queen of Crankworx Jill Kintner (USA) takes the win in the inaugural 100% Dual Slalom Rotorua, alongside Tomas Slavik (CZE).

Tonight’s win marks the sixth consecutive win in the discipline at Crankworx for Kintner, who’s claimed the top step every year in Whistler since 2013. As for Slavik, he won in Whistler in 2016 and 2017, making tonight a three-peat in Crankworx Dual Slalom competition.

But while the Queen prevailed, the battles were tight. Second place finisher Kialani Hines (USA) proved a worthy opponent for Kintner, finishing just 0.28 seconds behind her in the first heat and 0.85 in the second.

“There was fierce competition today,” said Kintner. “It’s cool to see such talented ladies from all disciplines, and a few fresh faces.”

One such face was Tahnée Seagrave (GBR).

“I snapped my chain in the semis. I would’ve liked to have made it into the final with Jill, because you know she’s the one to beat and I’ve looked up to her for a long time in my career. It would have been sweet, but there’s always another one.”

In the end Seagrave claimed the final podium spot after beating Danielle Beecroft (AUS) in both rounds of the Small Final, an accomplishment that left her smiling ear-to-ear.

“Tonight was amazing overall. I’ve never done anything like it. It was really chilled. Everyone’s smiling. Great atmosphere. I loved it.”

Not only was the event Seagrave’s first foray into the discipline, it was also her first Crankworx (“I might have done one when I was really little but I really can’t remember!”) on her first trip to New Zealand.

Competition on the men’s side was arguably even more fierce, with a who’s who of international mountain bike competitors spanning all ages and disciplines, including Mick Hannah (AUS), Kaos Seagrave (GBR), Barry Nobles (USA), Darren Berrecloth (CAN), Adrien Loron (FRA), and Bas van Steenbergen (CAN).

“This is what’s really special about Crankworx,” said Slavik. “This is the place where we meet together and we race against each other…this is pretty unique and pretty special. And the racing was amazing today. There were so many fast guys. Really hard race.”

The Big Final on the Pro Men’s side came down to Slavik and Kyle Strait (USA), who had won all his heats to that point, save one against Matt Walker (NZL). Slavik would take both rounds.

The battle for third came down to the wire. Luca Cometti (USA) and Walker traded wins, but in the end, Cometti edged out Walker by 0.09 seconds.

The track itself featured four distinct sections: berms, rollers and rhythm, then flat corners, finishing with a table top before racers crossed the finish line into a sea of groms looking for fist bumps and autographs. Slavik said the style of the Rotorua track added to the rivalries.

“You had to go without any mistakes,” said Slavik. “You had to go super fast, 110%, which is what Dual Slalom is all about. It was amazing.”

A crowd of nearly 1500 local and international fans came out to watch the action go down on the all-new track, built by trailbuilders Empire of Dirt as a legacy project for the community in Rotorua.

“I’m really happy that we’re bringing more Dual Slalom competitions into Crankworx,” Slavik added. “It’s like old-school and new-school stuff coming together, which is really working. People are loving it and the riders are loving it.”

Slavik’s podium topping performance marks his first points in the battle for King of Crankworx, and Kintner’s second. She now solidifies her third place standing with 225 points, behind Vaea Verbeeck’s (CAN) 265 and Casey Brown’s (CAN) 325.

Other key points awarded after tonight were 50 earned by Walker for his fourth place finish, bringing him up to 205 after a weekend of Enduro and Downhill, behind Keegan Wright’s (NZL) 275 and Sam Blenkinsop’s (NZL) leading 300.

Up next, Crankworx Rotorua action shifts to Skyline Rotorua MTB Gravity Park for the next five days of competition.

“I can’t wait,” said Seagrave. “I literally can’t wait to get started.”

Get the times and details for all live webcasts during Crankworx Rotorua: http://bit.ly/2Fo51w0 w0

Start lists and results: Results

Details on the royal battles: King/Queen points

News: Press releases

Photos: Flickr

General resources: Media kit

About the Crankworx World Tour

The Crankworx World Tour is where ordinary humans perform the extraordinary and launch into the realm of the unimaginable. From slopestyle ninjas to downhill champs and enduro experts, sideways steeze-masters, slalom slayers and pump track pros – they all ride faster, climb further, fly higher, and go bigger than what was once thought to be possible, taking on the world and the challenges set before them with seemingly superhuman power and passion. In 2018, Crankworx brings their feats of two-wheeled magic to four stops around the world. Come along for the ride as the Crankworx World Tour travels to Rotorua, New Zealand (March 17-25), Innsbruck, Austria (June 13-17) and Les Gets, France (June 20-24), before bringing it home to Whistler, Canada for the 15th year of Crankworx competition (August 10-19).

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Media Contact:

Julia Montague | Communications Manager, Crankworx World Tour
julia@crankworx.com

+64 21 774 792 (NZ)