Emil Johansson scores seventh-straight Crankworx Slopestyle gold
Griffin Paulson nails top-10 in Innsbruck
Emil Johansson can’t be stopped. The Swedish slopestyle sensation scored a seventh-straight Crankworx gold medal on Saturday. In doing so, Johansson broke his own points record, scoring a staggering 98 in the finals.
“Honestly, I don’t even know how to put words into today,” Johansson said of his big win. “It’s been ever since Big White back in 2019, every FMB contest I went to, I stood on top of a podium which at this time around is nine events or something. To be able to secure seven diamond events in a row, I’m very humble against the position I’m in. It’s nothing I can take for granted, and I work on defending it for every single event.”
Johansson needed only one run to put his indelible mark on Crankworx Innsbruck. Packed top-to-bottom with video game-level tricks, the Swede was most proud of sewing the full run together perfectly over landing any one move.
“Even though I have technical tricks, I always try to view the run as a top to bottom piece so I don’t have the fourteens, I don’t have the twisters, I don’t have the big spin combos, but I’m doing a lot of tricks back to back and that’s what ties the package together for me.”
Germany’s Erik Fedko finished second with a score of 95.25. Timothé Bringer of France takes third with 93.75.
The other star on Saturday was the massive Innsbruck crowd. That is something Johansson was happy to have back, and something he’s looking forward to having more of when Crankworx returns to Whistler in August.
“It makes everything. I miss this, it’s what I came into the scene with. To have this, it feels like home again and it’s quite crazy because it’s been so quiet otherwise,” said the 22-year-old of the roaring Austrian fans. “I can’t wait for the rest of the season. There are plenty more events with Australia and especially Whistler. Even though Australia is going to be interesting, I am looking forward to Whistler because I know what’s there and I can’t wait.”
Griffin Paulson breaks into top 10
Canadian Griffin Paulson rallied from a rough first run to score 80 on his second go at the Innsbruck slopestyle course. That put Paulson in 10th overall at the end of the competition.
At top 10 in Innsbruck should help the Canadian get on the start list for August, when Red Bull Joyride will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Crankworx Whistler.
