Nussbaumer Breaks Through as Godziek Reigns in Rotorua Slopestyle Finale
The curtain came down on Crankworx Rotorua 2026 in spectacular style with the Crankworx Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza, the festival’s headline event and a key stop in the Slopestyle Super League.
Set against the iconic backdrop of Skyline Rotorua, the world’s best riders faced off for Diamond-level points, raising the intensity as the battle for season rankings continues.
The course, built in honour of New Zealand legend Kelly McGarry, once again featured massive jumps and signature features—including the towering McGazza money booter—delivering a technical and creative playground for progression.
Nussbaumer Takes Gold in Diamond Debut
Johanna Nussbaumer delivered a stunning breakout performance in her first-ever Diamond-level competition, marking a major milestone in the progression of women’s slopestyle.
Battling strong winds during the opening run, Nussbaumer sat fourth early on. But when conditions stabilised, she seized the moment—dropping a massive second run that scored 92.50 points, catapulting her to the top of the leaderboard with a commanding margin.
Local favourite Robin Goomes thrilled the home crowd with a huge improvement in her second run to secure second place, while Shealen Reno, the reigning world champion, completed the podium in third.
Harriet Burbidge-Smith narrowly missed out on a podium finish in fourth, while Alma Wiggberg struggled in the gusty conditions to round out the top five.
Women’s Top 5 Results
- Johanna Nussbaumer (GER) – 92.50 pts
- Robin Goomes (NZL) – 82.25 pts
- Shealen Reno (USA) – 73.25 pts
- Harriet Burbidge-Smith (AUS) – 65.75 pts
- Alma Wiggberg (SWE) – 28.75 pts
Godziek Untouchable as Shootout Delivers Drama
On the men’s side, David Godziek once again proved why he is among the sport’s elite, delivering back-to-back top runs to dominate the competition.
Opening with a 92-point run, Godziek raised the bar even higher in run two, scoring 93.62 points with a technically flawless performance packed with amplitude and precision.
Lucas Huppert surged into second with a strong second run, while veteran Nicholi Rogatkin held onto third heading into the high-stakes Shootout round.
With six riders within striking distance, the Shootout delivered pure drama. Rising star Dane Folpp impressed in his Diamond debut, while Paul Couderc showcased creativity with a chainless trick.
Canadian Chance Moore ignited the crowd with a world-first trick, earning the highest Shootout score of the day. Rogatkin answered with a massive Triple Tailwhip to secure his podium position.
For a moment, Huppert looked set to claim a breakthrough win, but Godziek had the final word—stomping a decisive trick on the McGazza booter to lock in victory and reaffirm his dominance.
Men’s Top 5 Results
- David Godziek (POL) – 97.67 pts
- Lucas Huppert (SUI) – 94.88 pts
- Nicholi Rogatkin (USA) – 94.10 pts
- Chance Moore (CAN) – 91.7 pts
- Paul Couderc (FRA) – 89.77 pts
A Fitting Finale in Rotorua
From breakout performances to world-first tricks, the Slopestyle finale delivered everything fans expect from elite competition. As the Slopestyle Super League season continues, the results in Rotorua have set the tone for a fiercely contested year ahead.
With emerging talents like Johanna Nussbaumer rising fast and established champions like David Godziek maintaining their dominance, the future of slopestyle has never looked more exciting.