Canadians are off to a fast (and stylish) start at the first-ever Crankworx Cairns, with two podium finishes in the Speed and Style event. Vaea Verbeeck added to her Queen of Crankworx title defence while Anthony Messere added a medal to his warm-up for the marquee slopestyle competition at the end of the week.
Women’s Speed and style: Hometown hero
In the women’s competition, Harriet Burbidge-Smith seized the rare opportunity to take a win at home. The Australian revelled in the victory in the first live broadcast event from Cairns.
“You have some wins, and it’s cool, but that one was special.” Burbidge-Smith, said in the finish corral. The win didn’t come without some stress. “It was a combination of everything. The flips is a big thing for me. It’s a new thing for me, so to get them in every run, that’s still a battle for me. They feel good but it’s still scary, which maybe takes off the pressure ‘cause I’m not thinking about racing, I’m just thinking about getting that dialled. That, and I haven’t had a good Crankworx win this year, so that felt really good. And to do it in Australia is really sick.”
For Canada’s Vaea Verbeeck, second place brought mixed emotions. It cements an impressive comeback from an ACL injury at Red Bull Formation. But it was also a near-miss on the win.
“I’m feeling bittersweet but I’m trying to focus on the goods,” said the reigning Queen of Crankworx, who missed one trick in finals. “I can’t help but be disappointed when I miss a trick. I think I need to learn to do the thinking before I drop into my run. Mid-run I made a bad decision and tried to do a sui, which I only did once the whole week, versus I could have done a tuck-no hander and settled for half the points. It’s just split seconds, and you’re racing, and, I don’t know. I’m still learning. I’m very stoked for Haz. I think she freaking nailed it. In finals, pulled off the gap line, which is super sick. I just wish I did a trick and I would have been happier than losing this way, ya know?”
Australia’s Caroline Buchanan, also returning from injury, landed third.
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