Nevada`s Cam Zink (Haro/Oakley) had the biggest win so far in his emerging pro-freeride career in taking the top spot in arguably the world`s most prestigious Freeride event, the Crankworx Slopestyle held last weekend at Whistler Mountain, Canada.

The Slopestyle is the focal point of a multi-event mountain bike festival held annually at North America`s premier mountain bike resort. In 2005 Cam finished 3rd, but this year the Haro rider took it up two notches to the top of the pile, ahead of two Californians, Cameron McCaul and Cam`s good mate, Kyle Strait.

In the 1st qualifying session on the Thursday, 100 riders are reduced to 24. Three heats of 33, where the best 5 are selected in each heat, then a further 9 from the best of the rest, make up the 24. In this qualifying Cam decided just to keep an eye on who was in his heat and did enough to get through, completing tricks he had no trouble doing but which looked good enough to warrant strong scoring from the judges.

After training on Friday it came down to Saturday, the day of the 2nd qualifier and then the finals. The 2nd qualifier takes the 24 down to 12 and Cam`s aim was to do enough to qualify but in the lower half by keeping one or two tricks up his sleeve for when it counted. Others went for it in this qualifier showing their hand, but Cam did what he needed to do, but was admittedly pretty freaked out when he saw he qualified 12th.

"That was damn close. I was pretty sure I`d done enough to qualify, maybe 8th or so, but 12th? That`s cutting it fine. But it worked out well for me because it meant I had to go first in the finals and this gave me the chance to set a high standard early, creating a bit of pressure so that some other guys crashed out trying to match me or go bigger", said Cam today on his way back home to Nevada.

In the first run of two in the final, Cam rode his Haro Shift to a one footed X-Up to knack knack back flip on the step up, then 360`d the Gap-O-Tron. He scored the highest of the finals with a 34.2, but went up for his second run to keep the pressure on his main rivals. In run 2 he flipped the step down, did a One foot X-up flip to knack knack on the step up and then over rotated and crashed, but the first run was enough to take the win all the way to the bank.

"The course was pretty rocky so I`d put on a Maxxis Minion Front 2.35, which is a downhill tire but because it`s single ply, it`s really light but exactly what I needed for the rocky course. It really made a difference. After I over rotated in the 2nd run I was super scared that Cameron (McCaul) was going to take it. He`s always up there and I just chewed my nails for the next 11 riders. But it finally happened, my first major win! It`s taken that baboon off my back, the pressure`s lifted and I feel more confident and at ease now, so I`m really looking forward to getting on that plane tomorrow to go to Germany for the Red Bull District Ride".

Results:

1. Cameron Zink (Haro/Oakley) - 34.2 points (Run 1)
2. Cameron McCaul (Trek/Fox/TSG) - 33.2 points (Run 1)
3. Kyle Strait (Specialized/Oakley/Red Bull) – 32.2 points (Run 2)

In addition to Haro and Oakley, Cam gratefully receives support and assistance from sponsors SRAM, Rock Shox, Avid, Truvativ, Deity, Maxxis, Sun Ringle, Crank Brothers, Chris King, SDG, Troy Lee Designs and Alpinestars.

19 year old Nevada native, Cameron Zink, will be putting together his own free ride and race program in 2006 which will see the talented mountain bike star attending all of the major free ride events around the world, as well as selected race events on the World Cup and NORBA calendars.

The recently announced signing of a major deal with Haro Bikes, who’ve come on board to not only supply their quality frames, but also to assist Cam with his travel and on road costs, is a major boost to the teenager’s career.

“For me Haro is one of the coolest brands out there, and their presence in BMX has been immense over recent history, especially while I was growing up, and to be part of that in my own way, is really incredible. I’m looking forward to living up to Haro’s expectations of me over the next two years and beyond,” said Cameron today as he prepares to finalize the other sponsors on his roster.

Cameron has recently re-signed his management deal with 23 Degrees Sports Management based in Spain, a company that will not only provide assistance in setting up Cam’s tour for the coming year, but also support and advice in the area of media and the overall management of what is fast becoming referred to in house as “CamZink Inc”.

Martin Whiteley of 23 Degrees says: “Cam is a highly creative rider both on and off the bike. He’s come to us with some great ideas, which we really want to help him develop further. Having the freedom of doing this with his own program has given him a new lease of energy and that can only mean great things for himself and his sponsors.”

Joining Haro will be the SRAM Corporation who sees Cameron as an important figurehead for their product line. SRAM will be providing Cameron with Avid Brakes, RockShox Suspension, SRAM Drive Train and Truvativ products.

Cam will be decked out in Oakley kit and eyewear, a returning sponsor from his 2005 season. Says Steve Blick of Oakley Sports Marketing: “We are 100% behind Cam and want to continue to grow with him through his career. We are all about building our relationships towards a bigger and brighter future and we want to work with him for many years to come.”

Other sponsors will be confirming their relationship with Cameron in the coming weeks as he prepares for his first major video shoot in Australia in January, and then his first major event, the Sea Otter Classic in early April.