The Mons Royale Speed & Style is arguably one of the most viewed events at Crankworx Rotorua - and for good reason. It's a beautiful marriage of the speed of Dual Slalom racing and the tricks of slopestyle. And just because a rider is fast, doesn't mean they'll always win. Tricks are key in this game and we saw how that aspect played out in this year's edition of the event.
As last year's champion, Martin Söderström was the favourite going into the event. Lo and behold, we found him and Kiwi hometown hero Billy Meaclem facing off in the final.
Meaclem was a welcome surprise for sure. As an event first-timer, he was stoked to find himself in the final against his hero, Söderström. And with a brief scoring controversy in the semi-finals behind him, he was ready to bring home the gold in front of a New Zealand crowd.
Tension was high as the riders took off from the start gate, but in a moment of absolute insanity, Söderström hit the dust in the second berm section. The crash allowed Meaclem to cruise to victory in front of a wild Kiwi crowd. What a way to end off a high-octane day.
The Mons Royale athletes and crew will be at Crankworx Rotorua all week long. Tune in to our social channels for Photos of the Day, event stories and more!
Photos: Jay French
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