Yesterday Cam Zink announced his retirement from slopestyle at the age of 30. In a career that saw him claim the US Junior Dual Slalom championship and a race spot on the Santa Cruz Syndicate, he will no doubt be remembered most for the ten years he was one of the defining figures of slopestyle.
Cam Zink would go bigger and harder than anyone else and, although that often meant crashing harder too, his commitment to this sport is unquestionable. Here are the very best moments from a career that helped shape slopestyle and freeride into what they are today:
Crankworx 2006
Cam Zink won his first Crankworx slopestyle crown 10 years ago in 2006. The festival was much smaller then, with just five events, but the Garbanzo, Air DH and, of course, the slopestyle remain to this day as the most prestigious events to win. Cam McCaul was second and Kyle Strait was third.
Crankworx 2010
Zink would have to wait another four years before he lifted the Crankworx crown again but he did it in style. After a few injury strewn years, including multiple knee injuries that required surgery, a broken tibia, and a dislocated wrist, which also required surgery, 2010’s Crankworx marked Zink’s big comeback. It was the stuff of fairytale as he blew away the field with a score of 95 in his first run, allowing him this victory lap straight to the top of the podium.
