History Made as Slopestyle Super League Era Begins in Ōtautahi Christchurch
After a week soaked in sunshine, speed and festival energy, the second edition of Crankworx Christchurch closed with a statement performance at Christchurch Adventure Park. The Ōtautahi Slopestyle didn’t just wrap up the festival — it launched a new era.
The event marked the opening of the inaugural season of the Slopestyle Super League (SSL), replacing the Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship as the pinnacle of the sport. The new format delivered exactly what it promised: progression, pressure and unpredictability.
For the first time, the sport’s established elite must defend their dominance across a season-long series against Gold-level riders, emerging talent and local wildcards. Reputation took a back seat to execution — and Christchurch delivered fireworks from start to finish.
Qualification Fireworks Set the Tone
Saturday’s wind-affected qualification round trimmed the men’s field from 29 to 16 riders in a tense two-run battle. Defending Christchurch champion Kaidan Ingersoll led qualifying with an 88.5, narrowly ahead of 2024 Triple Crown winner David Godziek, while Switzerland’s Lucas Huppert sat just 1.5 points back in third.
On the women’s side, five finalists advanced from practice sessions earlier in the week, setting the stage for a historic showdown.
A Game-Changing Shootout Round
Finals day introduced something entirely new to Slopestyle — the Shootout Round.
Developed alongside the FMBA and athletes, the format ensures competition remains alive until the final trick. Riders within 10 points of the podium after run two get one last chance to add up to 10 points by throwing down a single trick on a feature of their choice. Victory laps and early celebrations are officially a thing of the past.
Shealen Reno Snatches Gold in Dramatic Finish
Momentum proved elusive early in the women’s final, with riders struggling for speed in the lower section. Both Morgan Antone and Chelsea Kimball were unable to complete their opening lines.
After run one, Patricia Druwen held the provisional lead. But in run two, Shealen Reno edged ahead by 1.33 points, setting up the first-ever SSL Shootout between the pair.
With both riders choosing the final feature in front of a roaring Christchurch crowd, Druwen landed a backflip to reclaim the top spot. Reno answered with a high-risk Disco Can, sealing victory in the final seconds.
Reno claimed gold with 90.33 points to Druwen’s 90.
Australia’s Harriet Burbidge-Smith secured third place — and a wildcard entry into the upcoming Rotorua SSL event.
Women’s Top 5
- Shealen Reno (USA) – 90.33pts
- Patricia Druwen (GER) – 90pts
- Harriet Burbidge-Smith (AUS) – 74.66pts
- Morgan Antone (NZL) – 37.33pts
- Chelsea Kimball (USA) – 25pts
Erik Fedko Delivers Strategic Masterclass
If the women’s final was dramatic, the men’s contest was historic.
Germany’s Erik Fedko set the benchmark early with a first run score of 92.5 that stood firm throughout most of the competition. Judges praised his amplitude, trick variety and effortless style.
The Shootout round, however, sent the leaderboard into chaos.
Ingersoll briefly climbed into second before slipping back to fifth. Canada’s Chance Moore improved but ultimately settled for fourth.
Godziek ignited the crowd with a Cashroll Tailwhip, adding 9.2 points to take the lead. American powerhouse Nicholi Rogatkin followed with a flawless Oppo Cashroll, sliding into second.
Fedko, last to drop, answered with a massive Three-Down Whip Seat Grab Indian Air. The 8.2-point boost pushed his final tally to an astonishing 100.70 — reclaiming gold and cementing his place in history as the first SSL event winner.
Men’s Top 5
- Erik Fedko (GER) – 100.70pts
- David Godziek (POL) – 99.86pts
- Nicholi Rogatkin (USA) – 99.13pts
- Chance Moore (CAN) – 97.63pts
- Kaidan Ingersoll (USA) – 92.16pts
A New Era for the Crankworx World Tour
With the Ōtautahi Slopestyle Finals complete, Crankworx Christchurch officially closes — but the 2026 Crankworx World Tour is only just beginning.
The Slopestyle Super League sets up a season-long battle between giants and hungry challengers across global FMB events. Meanwhile, the race for King and Queen of Crankworx and the Downhill Series standings is already heating up.
Next stop: Crankworx Rotorua, March 11–15. Riders including Rogatkin and Burbidge-Smith will return to contest the Rotorua Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza, carrying momentum from Christchurch into what promises to be another explosive chapter.
The stage is set. The season is live. And if Christchurch proved anything, it’s that the Slopestyle Super League era will be anything but predictable.
