Slopestyle riders boycott Crankworx Rotorua over low prize payout and lack of entry fee – The Hub – Mountain Bike Forums / Message Boards

Since it hasn’t been published here yet, here is the statement from the drivers:

Dear fans and supporters of Slopestyle.

As you will have heard, we as the entire field of male slopestyle riders at Crankworx Rotorua have made a collective but very difficult decision not to take part in the official competition tomorrow. But we will be at the event to fully support the girls as they make history with the first women’s Diamond Slopestyle event. We will also ride the McGazza train and be there for our fans.

Today was a tough day and there were a lot of questions about why we weren’t going and why this decision was made now. We all came to Rotorua with the full intention of starting our season, fully committing to this great event and reaching our full potential. So why don’t we go?

The short answer; We want to ensure a stable and sustainable future for slopestyle – including the current and future generation of riders. This decision was made to ensure that a minimum industry standard is achieved that advances driver welfare, safety, compensation, but also communication and decision-making. Not just individually for the Crankworx Rotorua event, but for the entire Crankworx and FMB World Tour.

Unfortunately, after years of negotiations, countless meetings and many letters, today we have finally decided to work for the well-being of all slopestyle riders and the sport. This schedule does not meet our expectations. At this time we will not go into the details of the terms we have requested from Crankworx as an organization as we do not believe this is the right place or time to do so.

But we want to make it clear that this is not a “shakedown” for compensation, but more than that.

Specifically, we addressed the following points as critical:

Safe competitive conditions
As drivers we always want to put on the best show and competition possible. As we put our bodies on the line, we believe our requests and feedback regarding competition times and training sessions have been ignored and we have once again not been listened to. This is not limited to a single year or event and there have been ongoing problems for many years.

Basic welfare and participation costs for drivers
In the past, we have come together as a group of drivers to personally sponsor flights for aspiring drivers/alternate drivers. We believe in putting on a show with a full field and a healthy slopestyle rider collective – we love pushing each other and being pushed by the youngsters. But how does young talent get onto the racetrack when they can’t even afford to show what they’re made of?

This year there has been a significant reduction in travel support for drivers and particularly replacement drivers. Due to the venues, many riders are simply unable to honor their legitimate invitation to compete. Driver welfare is basic at best, and if there is a buffet for Crankworx members but no food at all for the drivers, then something is very wrong.

These are events that we participate in, that we risk our bodies and our careers with, that are a major draw for us and that we believe we should have a seat at the table for.

Now is the time for change – time and time again we have been either ignored, rejected or simply not taken seriously, leaving us no choice but to make a point in the only way possible. We felt disrespected and unheard even though we had only asked for simple support for all drivers.

We love this event, we love Rotorua and the fans. We hope that with Crankworx and FMB we can find a solution to continue the growth of Slopestyle, showcase incredible riding and continue to create amazing memories for mountain bike fans around the world.