Emil
Johansson
Sweden
·
MTB
Date of birth | 20 June 1999 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Trollhättan |
Age | 26 |
Nationality | Sweden |
Career start | 2016 |
Disciplines | Mountain Bike Slopestyle |
If you're looking for a name that will live long in the folklore of slopestyle MTB, Emil Johansson might just be it. The rider from the southwest of Sweden has wowed the crowds and judges at contests all over the world with his stylish tricks and smooth riding since bursting onto the scene in 2016.
After impressing massively with a fourth-place finish on his debut at the iconic Red Bull Joyride event in 2016, the following season Johansson put the slopestyle world on alert that he'd be a major force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Kicking off the campaign with a third place at Crankworx Rotorua, he followed that up with second at Crankworx Les Gets and Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler to claim the prestigious Crankworx Slopestyle World Tour overall title in his very first year on the tour – all before his 20th birthday.
Notice had been served to the sport's elite riders, and with Emil still learning the ropes and developing as a rider, the sky looked to be the limit for this slopestyle phenom.
However, things took an unexpected turn in 2018 as Johansson spent the year struggling with an autoimmune disease. His courageous – and successful – return to slopestyle competition in 2019 is the subject of the documentary EMIL – Every Mystery I’ve Lived, while the 2020 follow-up, The Next Chapter, looks at the ongoing struggles below the public surface as he bids to regain the Crankworx title.
The slopestyle king had a banner year in 2021, cleaning up with first place at Crankworx Innsbruck, Red Bull Copenride, Crankworx British Columbia and Crankworx Rotorua.
The winning streak continued in 2022, when Johansson won an eighth straight Crankworx Slopestyle event at Red Bull Joyride in Whistler, Canada, to continue his dominance of the discipline. This was followed by the overall contest victory and the Best Trick award at Red Bull District Ride in Nuremberg, Germany, and yet another Crankworx win in Rotorua, New Zealand, sealing his 3rd World Championship title.
Johansson made 2023 a historic year, once again pushing the boundaries of the sport. He completed the perfect season taking the win at all four Crankworx stops landing him a 4th World Championship title as well as his third Tripple Crown of Slopestyle. On top of that Johansson upped his total number of wins to 13, overtaking the legendary Brandon Semenuk and his 11 Crankworx wins to become the most successful slopestyle athlete in the history of the sport.
After two seasons plagued with injuries – including a broken collarbone and ribs suffered at Crankworx Cairns in May – Johansson came back to win Red Bull Joyride 2025 in Whistler, Canada. He scored an impressive 91.00 points from the judges, securing his fourth Red Bull Joyride title.
Emil Johansson takes a breather before ripping the trails
© Jesper Gronnemark/Red Bull Content Pool
Emil Johansson on the Cairns slopestyle course
© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool
Emil Johansson made it four Red Bull Joyride titles
© Tyler Ravelle/Red Bull Content Pool
It's like he never left - Johansson back on top at Red Bull Joyride 2025
© Tyler Ravelle/Red Bull Content Pool