Crankworx: Semenuk wins major title in memory of McGarry (+video)

Canadian rider Brandon Semenuk has won the 2016 Crankworx Rotorua Slopestyle event in a race he says was all about late Kiwi rider Kelly McGarry.

Semenuk pulled together the best run of the day during the slopestyle event today, the main event at the Crankworx Rotorua mountain bike festival.

The competition featured a course full of massive jumps under the gondolas on Mt Ngongotaha, plus 18 world-class riders capable of performing outrageous tricks.

McGarry, who tragically died early this year, built the slopestyle course for the inaugural Crankworx Rotorua last year, alongside his track building partner Tom Hey.

Semenuk, who won today's event with a score of 94.33, said it was all for his friend McGarry.

"This whole event is for sure in memory of him. We wouldn't have this event if he did not pour his heart and soul into this track."

Video: Slopestyle at Crankworx

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Semenuk said ever since he first roomed with McGarry they became good mates.

"I hung out with him a lot. I can't remember the first time I met him, but I remember the first time I roomed with him at an event.

"He came in and his arm was all bandaged up from the event before, and he was just the nicest guy ever, we got along instantly.

"Then he had a crash the next day on the course and his arm was even more battered, and he had a cast on it.

"But just being Kelly he took the cast off and still rode the event and killed it. And that goes to show how awesome he was ... and he just wanted to be apart of what we have."

Semenuk was rapt to win today after crashing out of contention last year at the same event.

"It feels good always to lay down a good run and walk away with a win, I'm so stoked. And I love this course so to get the run I wanted feels good."

Nicholi Rogatkin (US) finished second with last year's champion Brett Rheeder (Canada) finishing third. Semenuk won $20,000 for winning the event.

Podium:
1 Brandon Semenuk (Canada) score 94.33
2 Nicholi Rogatkin (US) score 93.00
3 Brett Rheeder (Canada) score 92.00