Monster Energy Whitestyle 2012 - Wrap Up Post

Jan 29, 2012 at 21:46

The Monster Energy White Style presented by Kona was won by a UK rider named Sam again this year, but it was a different Sam than we're used to. This year Sam Reynolds took the win. After a spectacular final run in winter conditions the young Monster Energy rider took home the victory at the sixth annual White Style. Swedish Martin Söderström celebrated a second place finish, and Antoine Bizet from France took third. The latter was without a doubt the surprise talent of the contest and swept the jury off their feet with his first finals run.

The finals took place under floodlights with about 2,500 spectators watching and the action and the atmosphere was perfect. The crowd was ready for some serious mountain biking action and the riders were not about to let them down, they delivered a great show. After the event everyone was treated to a live show by “The NIHILS”.

The winner Sam Reynolds topped off his near perfect first run with a true Monster Energy White Style masterpiece of a second run. He started out with a three table at the step down out of the igloo at the start, then a backflip nohander, followed by a tailwhip at the next step down, then he flipped onto the massive "Monster Ship" and flipped off the 7 meter drop. Then the unexpected went down: Sam nailed a perfect double backflip, the first one ever to be landed at the White Style contest! Sam was absolutely stoked, winning the first comp of 2012!

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Unbelievable, I just dropped in and took my ride and then I thought, ok let's kick the double back! When I landed I already knew it was enough for the podium, but to leave Leogang as the winner is quite a little winter dream for me! - Sam Reynolds

Even if his score wasn't good enough for the top spot on the podium, French rider Antoine Bizet also definitely deserves a mention. After his bad luck last year (he broke his collar bone), this year he had a crazy first run that included flatspins, flip nohanders, flip drops and more. He was leading the competition for a long time...

Bizet was bumped to third place by the Swedish giant Martin Soderstrom who had the most technical run of the day. Martin was throwing down one banger trick after another with a 360-tailwhip out of the igloo, followed by a flip-whip, then a nollie to bar spin, flip up the Monster Ship, 360 off the big drop and finishing with a perfectly executed double tailwhip.

During qualifying Sam Pilgrim, the winner of the past two years contests, made it abundantly clear that he is on top of his game and was ready to complete his White Style hat-trick. Unfortunately he crashed on the first jump in his second final run, and was out of the battle for the podium.

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Final results from the Monster Energy White Style 2012 presented by Kona.

1 Sam Reynolds Polygon GBR
2 Martin Söderström Specialized SWE
3 Antoine Bizet Kona FRA
4 Jakub Vencl Rose Versand CZE
5 Teo Gustavson Mongoose SWE
6 Sam Pilgrim NS Bikes GBR
7 Thomas Zejda Dartmoor CZE
8 Thomas Genon UMF BEL
9 Linus Sjöholm YT Industries SWE
10 Bienvenido Alba YT Industries ESP

American rider Mike Montgomery didn't qualify for the finals at Whitestyle, not too surprising seeing as he lives in southern California. Here is an audio clip of Mike talking about riding in the snow for the first time.

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25 Comments

Score Time

jahmike (Jan 30, 2012 at 11:16)

Official Highlight Clip Monster Energy White Style 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6V7Jev4T4A

[Reply]

milanboez (Jan 30, 2012 at 4:23)

Interview with Sam Reynolds here: http://getabmx.co.uk/getabmx/FSamReynolds.html

[Reply]

jacob-jay-12 (Jan 30, 2012 at 0:23)

funny how the uk riders do really good in these! we get no snow round here

TheGravityProject-Magnus (Jan 30, 2012 at 9:55)

i don't agree with the caption under Mike Montgomerys picture. making out he did bad because he isnt used to riding in snow. it doesn't matter what the jumps are made out of does it? could be cheese, or peanut butter. the tricks are done in the air so for me it is irrelevant what the course is made out of. rant over

suicidedownhiller (Jan 30, 2012 at 22:17)

Sounds to me like you haven't ridden a bike. The surface is a huge factor.

TheGravityProject-Magnus (Jan 30, 2012 at 23:22)

well im not a dirt jumper if thats what your getting at. but ive hit jumps made of mud/clay/chalk/wood etc, they all feel the same when your in the air (the point where tricks are performed) so i cant see how the jump can make such a difference.

danhillracer (Feb 1, 2012 at 17:31)

Its just cause theres no canadians...

[Reply]

milesks (Jan 29, 2012 at 23:49)

Here is a video guys!

http://vimeo.com/35804753

kovacs2121 (Jan 29, 2012 at 23:56)

damn get rid of the jason derulo and it would be a sick vid...

karl-burkat Mod (Jan 30, 2012 at 0:21)

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/239699

gavlaa (Jan 30, 2012 at 3:58)

Standard of beats on vids these days is truly appalling!!
Jason Derulo? Really? Listening to that sh*t is a clear indicator of homosexuality.

[Reply]

guy38 (Jan 29, 2012 at 23:48)

these post keep teasing me, we need a video

karl-burkat Mod (Jan 30, 2012 at 0:21)

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/239699

[Reply]

Bike-Station (Jan 30, 2012 at 9:16)

Great Event, was there! Hopefully next year will come more Spectators, probably would be better to do it Saturdays!!!

[Reply]

fssphotography (Jan 30, 2012 at 1:13)

http://fssphotography.pinkbike.com/album/mikemont/

gavlaa (Jan 30, 2012 at 4:21)

Can't believe Montgomery didn't place. He's got some crazy tricks but obviously not that consistent landing them. Pilgrim is a machine- very rare for him to slam. Stoked that Reynolds one- he's got some balls.

[Reply]

joshdh (Jan 29, 2012 at 23:45)

isnt there a video anywhere?

epavichthesavage (Jan 29, 2012 at 23:47)

*looks around*

No I guess not

milesks (Jan 29, 2012 at 23:50)

http://vimeo.com/35804753

epavichthesavage (Jan 30, 2012 at 0:03)

^atta boy