Andreu is the champ
Double Back For Victory
Stay tuned for nsmb.com's take on the event with more great photos as well as video. For now here's a release from the event organizers and some tight shots. - CM.
WHISTLER, BC, August 16, 2008 - The Monster Energy Slopestyle @ Kokanee Crankworx dominated the Boneyard Slopestyle course in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park today. Every year this event draws the biggest crowd of the festival, watching the best athletes in the world of mountain biking compete for $30,000 in prize money. 
Andreu brought his boost as always. Photo ~ David Ferguson
KONA team rider Andreu Lacondeguy of Spain took top spot and $15,000 in the finals with a score of 94.3; second place and $8,000 went to Lance Mcdermott of the UK with a score of 91.5; third place went to Whistler's own Brandon Semenuk, walking away with $4,500 and a score of 89.8. All the riders in the top eight took home cash for their amazing efforts today.
Lance McDermott spent much of his time in Whistler upside down. Photo ~ Geoff Gudavicius
Lacondeguy's winning run consisted of a long list of impressive tricks. He started out with a double back flip off the first table, a trick that has never been seen as part of a complete run in a Slopestyle comp before. He followed that up with a foot plant off the Monster Snake, a back flip X-up, flat spin 360, topside nac-nac, can-can step-down, superman, and finished off with a back flip onto the final Kokanee feature and superman off into the village.
Fan favourite Brandon Semenuk's runs were squeaky clean. Photo ~ Geoff Gudavicius
"I just kept trying the double back flip," says Lancondeguy. "It was that trick that did the job, it was gnarly you know."
This year's Slopestyle course was designed by John Cowan and as usual the course was nothing but perfect. With huge tables, dirt jumps, wooden spins, the Giro box and the always insane Kokanee drop as the last feature, the riders had their choice of line to impress the judges in the two-run format to advance to the eight man final. 
Cam McCaul never fails to impress. Tailwhip off the final feature of the course. Photo ~ Geoff Gudavicius
"Slopestyle contests are about the all around impression, and all the guys in the finals had clean smooth runs," says Head Judge Colin Duncan. With tricks like the double back flip, back flip tail whip and the back flip up onto the Kokanee box and a front flip off, it was an incredibly tough contest to judge. In the end, Lacondeguy's stylish run, and the insane double back flip, just won out."
Trond Hansen was a factor because of moves like this tabled three. Photo ~ Geoff Gudavicius
The Monster Energy Slopestyle @ Kokanee Crankworx was the highlight of Day 8 at Kokanee Crankworx 2008.
