For the second year in a row, American Nicholi Rogatkin has put himself in position to take home the Triple Crown of Slopestyle.
But when he comes to Crankworx Whistler, he'll look to improve on his 2017 opportunity, where he finished 14th in the Red Bull Joyride and was unable to claim the $25,000 prize.
For now, though, Rogatkin is appreciating the chance he has after claiming Crankworx victory for the second consecutive weekend. After topping the field in Innsbruck, Austria on June 16, he did it again in Les Gets, France on June 24, scoring a 94.5 to hold off Canadian Brett Rheeder and Germany's Erik Fedko.
Rogatkin thought he'd squandered his Triple Crown challenge after placing fifth in the season opener in Rotorua, New Zealand, but is thrilled he's clawed it back.
"I'm stoked for the opportunity once again and I definitely can't complain about going back-to-back in Europe here. It's been absolutely unreal," he said in a release.
Elsewhere, American Kyle Strait nicked countryman Tyler McCaul in the Muc-Off Dual Speed and Style, while Great Britain's Sam Reynolds took third. In the Crankworx Les Gets Mont-Chery Downhill, France's Baptiste Pierron came away with the men's win over New Zealand's Sam Blenkinsop and Canada's Kirk McDowall, while on the women's side, American Jill Kintner rode to the triumph over France's Marine Cabirou and Canada's Casey Brown. French riders also dominated the podium in the Les Gets Downhill, as Amaury Pierron and Loris Vergier were second and third to Australia's Troy Brosnan on the men's side, while Myriam Nicole took second on the women's side, sandwiched between winner Rachel Atherton of Great Britain and third-place finisher Tracey Hannah of Australia.
Atherton also topped the field in the 100% Dual Slalom, besting Kintner in the big final while Great Britain's Tahnee Seagrave placed third. As for the men, Briton Bernard Kerr scored the win over New Zealand's Edward Masters in the big final while Strait placed third.
In the RockShox Les Gets Pump Track Challenge, New Zealand's Keegan Wright earned the men's win over France's Tomas Lemoine, while American Luca Cometti placed third. France's Mathilde Bernard bested Kintner in the women's final while American Kialani Hines was third.
Lastly, in the Official European Whip-Off Championships, American Ryan Howard took top spot over Great Britain's Kade Edwards and Australia's Dave McMillan while New Zealand's Vinny Armstrong topped Canadian Casey Brown and France's Lia Weill on the women's side.
In the King of Crankworx chase entering Whistler, New Zealand's Sam Blenkinsop holds the advantage, with 740 points compared to 550 for Tomas Lemoine and 455 for Keegan Wright. As for the women's table, Kintner has a line on taking home the title for the third consecutive year with 1,165 points, well ahead of Brown's 765 and Canadian Vaea Verbeeck's 665 points.
For more, visit www.crankworx.com.
Leppard invited to Lightning development camp
While Whistler's Jackson Leppard didn't hear his name called during the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas on June 22 and 23, one club still had him in mind.
Leppard received an invite to the Tampa Bay Lightning's development camp, which kicked off on June 26 and will run until June 30.
The 18-year-old scored 15 goals and 21 assists with the Western Hockey League's Prince George Cougars last season.
Last season, Whistler defenceman Will Warm of the Edmonton Oil Kings was an undrafted invitee to Vegas Golden Knights camp, later earning a showing at the team's main camp in the fall. His twin brother, goalie Beck Warm of the Tri-City Americans patricipated in Vancouver Canucks development camp.
