Slopestyle

So, we've got a little bit to catch up on. The introduction of lighter evenings and nicer weather marks the start of competition across Mountain Biking (apart from Whitestyle). Kicking things off properly was Vienna Air King...

It was great to see the some of the worlds best slopestyle and dirt jump rider's back in one place for this FMB World Tour Silver event. The first chance riders get to show off the fruits of their winter training. A chance to get your bangers competition ready for the more important Gold and Diamond events.

The course was fairly straight forward...in the sense that it was a straight line. The huge kickers, gaps, crowds and talent in the field made sure that it was not easy going. The line up might not have had the full compliment of freestyle MTB royalty that we can expect to see later in the year at the likes of red bull district ride, but with X Games gold medallist, Brett Rheeder, rising talent Thomas Genon and the UK's Same Reynolds in the top 10, the competition was fierce.

Kicking off the podiums was the best trick competition. Szymon Godziek stomped a cliffhanger-backflip with all the moto flow and style you could ask for to take first place and coupled with a second place overall, earned himself a wildcard to the district ride.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Trek rider Rheeder took the win for runs of flips and barspins scattered all over the place with the top 3 rounded off by Genon. Brit Sam Reynolds struggled to nail his 720's but provided typically entertaining style for the thousands of spectators earning himself a 10th place finish.

With cashrolls, moto style tricks and a swarm of even more young talent emerging, this season is set up to be an absolute belter.

Check out the photo recap from Pinkbike here - http://www.pinkbike.com/news/photo-recap-2014-vienna-air-king-finals.html.

Sean