Welcome to RECON, the email delivering your MTB news every Friday in < 5 mins.

This week we posted a video of Tayvin Sheridan–a wicked young rider who shreds using just one arm.

So quit making excuses and get on your bike this weekend!

On Today’s Ride:

• 🇳🇿 Crankworx Rotorua Preview

• 💰 Win This $4K Gravity Stunts Airbag

• 🇺🇸 The Story Of Nicholi Rogatkin

Oh and there’s 11 days until RECON’s big announcement on 3/18/2025!

EVENTS

🦵 Crankworx Kicks Off

It’s that time of year.

The snow’s melting, allergy medicine becomes as essential as your wallet, and the Crankworx World Tour kicks off.

A couple epic events have already gone down at Crankwork Rotorua 2025 and the weekend is shaking up to be an absolute banger. This iconic event kicks off the Crankworx World Tour, with stops in Cairns and Whistler lined up to bring the gnar across multiple geographies.

What To Look Out For

After a long winter of grinding and perfecting new tricks, the world’s best slopestyle riders are ready to strut their new arsenal at the Maxxis Slopestyle event.

With big names like Emil Johansson, David Godziek, and Erik Fedko missing, the door is wide open for the young guns to take over. We’ve got our eyes on Kaidan Ingersoll and Jake Atkinson.

Ingersoll, in particular, has seriously stepped up his game since landing his Monster sponsorship and is our favorite to win. On the women’s side, all eyes are on Patricia Druwen - can she take down Natasha Miller after falling short in Christchurch?

Meanwhile, the racers aren’t just battling for cash; they’re chasing crucial points in the race for King and Queen of Crankworx. Defending champs Ryan Gilchrist and Martha Gill won’t go down without a fight, pushing full throttle in Downhill and Dual Slalom.

Speaking of Ryan Gilchrist, you gotta check out his new custom painted DJ we covered on our IG.

What Happened Last Year?

Looking back at Rotorua 2024, the women's slopestyle scene made history.

Kiwi rider Robin Goomes who most recently won the first Women’s Red Bull Rampage, also clinched gold at the first-ever Women's Crankworx FMBA Slopestyle World Championship last year.

But the men didn’t even hit a jump…

Last year at Rotorua, the male slopestyle riders straight-up boycotted the event. They were fed up with low prize money and especially the lack of appearance fees.

In 2024, the event organizers bumped up the prize money by 37% compared to 2023, aiming to attract top-tier talent and keep the competition fierce. Despite this increase, the male slopestyle riders felt it wasn't enough.

We don’t have a read yet on what prize money is out for Crankworx Rotorua but if you know hit our line!

The Schedule

Saturday, March 8

• Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza: Kicking off at 8:45 AM NZDT, the top slopestyle riders take to the course

• Crankworx Rotorua Downhill: Later in the day, from 12:45 PM NZDT, the downhill demons take to the trails. Broadcast finals is at 3:15 PM!

Sunday, March 9

• Specialized Dual Slalom Rotorua: Wrapping up the weekend, this head-to-head battle starts at 4:00 PM NZDT. Riders will go bar-to-bar on parallel tracks, combining speed and strategy in a race where every millisecond counts.

Like with almost every MTB event, you know where to tune in: Red Bull TV! 🐂

GIVEAWAY

💨 Win This $4K Airbag

The Gravity Stunts Mars Lander is massive.

But you know what else is massive?

The list of tricks you can learn when the Mars Lander gives you the peace of mind to absolutely send it. This airbag is the top of the line, expert-level product sold by our friends over at Gravity Stunt Systems.

While it comes with a hefty $4,000 price tag, it won’t matter if you win the giveaway we’re running over the next week with Gravity Stunts.

To enter the giveaway, head over to our Instagram and follow the instructions and pay attention to the giveaway rules in the caption!

ATHLETE FEATURE

🤪 MTB’s Ultimate Hypeman

Ever watched an MTB video and thought “why is that dude the only rider not wearing a visor on his helmet?”

Well that dude is Nicholi Rogatkin, one of action sport’s biggest rockstars.

The 29-year-old mountain biker’s quirky helmet setup is far from the only thing that differentiates him and we dove into his story.

Born in Boston in 1995, Rogatkin grew up as a BMX prodigy before making the jump to mountain biking. The transition wasn’t smooth—his loose, unpredictable riding that lacked “steeze” clashed with slopestyle’s polished aesthetic. But he wasn’t there to fit in; he arrived on the scene to push boundaries.

Rise To Stardom

Rogatkin hit the FMB World Tour in 2014, flipping and spinning harder than anyone before him. Then, in 2017, he changed MTB history at the Red Bull District Ride in Nuremberg, landing the first-ever 1440—four full rotations. The crowd erupted. The sport had never seen anything like it.

But his biggest moment came in 2018 when he secured the elusive Crankworx Triple Crown. After winning in Innsbruck and Les Gets, all eyes were on Whistler. His first run wasn’t enough, but on his second? He threw down his signature Twister, stomped every landing, and secured his place in history—the first rider ever to claim the Slopestyle triple crown.

Built Different

If one moment defines Rogatkin’s toughness, it’s his 2015 Red Bull Rampage crash. Mid-run, he got tossed off his bike, free fell off a cliff, slammed into the dirt—then got up and sent the next feature like nothing happened.

His progression doesn’t come by chance. He’s spent years training with custom-built airbag setups, dialing in tricks no one else dares to try. More recently, he’s teamed up with slopestyle legend Greg Watts to build the Rogatkin Compound, a next-level training ground designed to push the sport forward.

More Than Just Tricks

Beyond contests, Rogatkin is the ultimate showman. Whether hyping up the crowd at Master of Dirt or firing up the finish corral, his energy is unmatched. That’s why they call him the Hypeman—he’s always the loudest, always fueling the stoke.

And when the sport needs a voice, he steps up. He was a leader during the 2024 Crankworx Rotorua rider boycott and has been a vocal supporter of women’s slopestyle. His impact goes beyond the bike—he’s shaping the future of the sport.

Pushing The Limits

Lately, Rogatkin’s been expanding beyond slopestyle, tackling freeride beasts like Darkfest and Natural Selection Bike. Massive jumps, gnarly lines, and pure progression - the US rider with russian roots is up for the challenge!.

Whether stomping world-firsts, hyping the crowd, or standing up for the sport, one thing’s certain: MTB wouldn’t be the same without him.

GEAR PATROL

👨‍🔬 This Week In MTB Tech

Dialed AF? TRP’s New EVO Pro Brakes

TRP has dropped their latest stoppers, the EVO Pro brakes, building on the DH-R EVO's legacy. These brakes boast a redesigned lever with tool-free reach adjust and a new Pad Actuation Dial (PAD), letting riders fine-tune the bite point to their liking. The result is a firmer feel and increased power, all while maintaining that signature TRP modulation. Plus, the slimmer lever design plays nice with various cockpit setups, making it a solid choice for those seeking both performance and customization.

Race Face Turbine Pedals: Grip It and Rip It

Time to channel your inner Sam Hill. Race Face has unleashed the Turbine pedals, aiming to set a new standard for flat pedal grip. Featuring a dual concave design and strategically placed tall pins, these pedals lock your feet in place, offering a "clipless" feel without the actual clips. While some testers found the grip almost too intense, there's no denying the Turbine's ability to keep your feet planted through the gnarliest terrain.

Geometron G1 GPI: Gearbox Gravity Machine

Geometron's G1 GPI from Germany is turning heads with its integration of a Pinion C1.12i Smart.Shift gearbox and Gates Carbon Drive belt system. This setup offers a massive 600% gear range with consistent 17.7% increments, ensuring you're always in the right gear for the trail ahead. Paired with the G1's adaptable geometry and 175mm of rear travel, the GPI is built for gravity-focused riders seeking low maintenance and high performance. It's a unique blend of cutting-edge tech and proven design, making it a standout in the world of gravity bikes.

RIDING SCHOOL

🎡 How To Wheelie On A MTB

This section of our newsletter is written by MTB education app Mastery, founded by Justin Rausch (@OneMTB) where we bring you the advice of pro riders to sharpen your skills out there.

The wheelie is one of the most iconic bike skills. While it looks cool and is always impressive, it's also incredibly useful for tackling steep obstacles and rough sections of climbs. Mastering the wheelie takes balance, control, and a little bit of patience. We’ve broken it down into a few simple steps.

Finding Your Setup

• Start in a seated position with a fairly low gear.

• The slower you go, the easier it will be to get the front wheel up—your torque will help lift the front end.

• Keep your chest low and wait until your preferred lead foot reaches the top of the pedal stroke.

Lifting the Front Wheel

• As your lead foot begins its downward stroke, apply strong pedal power.

• At the same time, lean back and extend your arms, allowing the front wheel to lift off the ground.

Balancing and Controlling the Wheelie

• Stay seated and use your rear brake to control your balance. If you feel yourself going too far back, lightly tap the brake to bring the front wheel down.

• Keep the pedals moving and get comfortable using a combination of braking and pedaling to maintain balance.

• Your upper body should remain neutral and leaned back, while your knees help counterbalance.

With Mastery, you can learn MTB skills fast. Several incredible courses are launching this Spring from top pros so If you haven’t yet, be sure to join the app’s waitlist.

🎥 Video Of The Week

Olly Wilkins with a fresh and inspiring MTB short documentary:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

FMD team leader Tahnée Seagrave opens up in the new TRC podcast:

🌊 Wipeout Of The Week

We have a full video analysis coming out on this: Jaxson Riddle’s 40 ft drop to flat 

👇 More Sick MTB Content

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This newsletter is written with ❤️ every week by Nic Bean, Michael Sikand, Justin Rausch, and Marc Brodesser