The results of the Red Bull Joyride — part of Red Bull’s Signature Series – were no big secret going into Saturday’s broadcast on NBC, given that the event took place last month. But Brenden Semenuk’s winning run was something of beauty – so beautiful it needed to be viewed by the world.
Joyride is a hybrid event, fusing elements of both slopestyle and dirt jump mountain biking to create a course built right into a portion of Whistler Blackbomb ski resort in British Columbia. As usual, Red Bull takes it to the next level, adding ridiculous jumps, riding on the tops of cabins and attracting a huge crowd.
After an impressive outing last year, hometown native Brenden Semenuk was back and looking to win back-to-back titles at the event, but after falling on his first run it wouldn’t be easy.
The event allows each rider two runs on the course and keeps only the best score. The course was unforgiving, making it hard for the athletes to put together one, let alone two, podium-worthy showings. Semenuk – the favorite in the event – didn’t hold anything back in his second run. Filled with tricks like a 360 whip, a huge backflip and an unbelievable final trick, it was the sick run he hoped for and led to Semenuk getting mobbed by fellow riders as the crowd and announcers went crazy.
Check out the run that won it all:
As evident by the second half of the video, Semenuk had plenty of competition throughout the second run, none more so than Martin Söderström. As the last rider to compete Söderström – who sat in second place – knew he’d have to go big or go home. And that’s what he did, but as he neared the finish line with a run likely to rival Semenuk’s in the judge’s mind, he spilled – sealing the victory for his opponent. Had he nailed it, it would have been another run that needed to be seen to be believed.
Sure, we might have known the outcome thanks to the power of technology but Semenuk’s run was something that needed to be seen and not simply read about on Twitter. At just 22, Semenuk still has many years ahead of him and could definitely become one of the dominant forces in MTB slopestyle.
Ed is an MMA/Extreme Sports contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @PhillyEdMiller, and subscribe at Facebook.com/CraveOnlineSports.
