The weather held off for a incredible two days riding. Saturday at the City Skate Park
and Sunday at the City Dirt Park, including both MTB and BMX riders.
Some big names in town included Dave MacLaughlin, Luke Fink, Kenny Raggett,
Kym Grosser, Michael Bayzand, Andrew Gul and Daniel Dunn, with a big crowd both
days to see what was going down.
Saturday morning held the MTB comp, with 'Wacka'
laying down big original lines to win ahead of local
lad Jack Foster and Loius Maddiford. All riders laying
down an assortment of grinds, big airs, 360's, and even
flips. The junior competition was taken out by Rhys Guy, ahead of Michael King and
Elliot Smith. Even some of the BMX riders were surprised at seeing MTB riders that
actually rode well in the park.
The afternoon was all BMX, with help by guys like Simeon, Cairns, a yellow coloured
Jamie Moore and even James Wade. Junior, and Amateur classes showed a very
healthy level of skills, with really impressive rides by Darryn James and Jay Wilson to
take out the junior class ahead of Russel Provan. Some serious skills coming out of
Victor Harbour again with Ben Miels and Beau Jablonski killing it in the park, but outdone
by the quiet achiever Tom Blanch.
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The pro's judge format was changed to be a 'jam', with all riders riding together trying to
impress the judges to make it into the final 5. Some crazy lines going down with Dwayne
handplanting the spine, Mick Bayzand trying backflip to sprocket stall on the steep quarter,
Mozzie double whipping everything, Gul going HUGE, Kym pulling original tech moves, and
Luke Fink has b@**#%^t skills.
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Credit to all the guys who rode in pro, but the final 5 was decided as Gul, Fink, Grosser, Dunn
and Tom Blanch impressing the judges to make it through. In a tough battle for the judges
Mozzie was waay ahead of the riders with his energy and consistent big moves in all corners
of the park and took honours. The judges then voted on Fink ahead of Kym with Andrew and Tom
rounding out the five. All guys had original moves, that can't be dscribed in words...make sure
you check out the pics and wait for the DVD!
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Sunday saw the MTB riders run first with some serious skills Fergus Milne took victory with his
first barspin, ahead of Elliot Smith, with big sui's, and styly airs, and in a points re-count, Chris
Viney takes third place, where Mack Abbatista had actually been awarded the points.
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The Open MTB comp saw local lad Chris Soininen tie for first place with Aussie legend Dave
MacLaughlin, big 360's, flip variations, stretched, styly tricks - these guys have some serious
skills. In the end it was Wacka awarded the victory in a head to head ride off. There is no doubt
Alan Hepburn would have also given these guys some stiff competition, but injured himself
during practice. Fergus stepped up from Junior to take third place in Open aswell, and walked
away a very happy young lad. Loius Maddiford and Rhys Guy rounded out the top 5.
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In BMX a big turnout in all grades kept the spectators dumbfounded to silence with young
Jake French smiling all the way to first place in Junior with tricks over jumps, most juniors were
not game to attempt. Scott Kinlay backed up a great display at the Skate Park to backflip his way
into second place ahead of Ryan Lloyd, just edging Russel Provan out of two medals from the
weekend.
In the open category David Baker showing some big tricks and serious skills to take first place
ahead of doublewhipping Ben Miels ahead of WA rider Kie Ashworth for third busting butter
smooth style and big 360's inside a whole bag of tricks normally reserved for 'pro' level riders.
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Saving the best till last about 10 pro's lined up to have 5 runs, best three count.
Crowd favourite Daniel Dunn was a sure bet, but in trying to doublewhip the first set - and
crashing first two runs, the field opened up. Andrew Gul threw down every trick in the book,
over both big runs and looked a sure thing, Luke Fink made impossible tricks look effortless,
with Kenny landing tricks in every direction, and Dwayne Golding always going big. Sean
Wescombe and Kie Ashworth were the other two riders standing out, with Kym and Mick out
injured with broken bikes.
In the end it was 0.5 of a point that separated Victorian Andrew Gul and the wizzkid that is
Daniel Dunn. With no room for error, Mozzie set out and with only three runs to count, laid
down the three biggest runs of the day to take first. Luke Fink was not far behind to take third
and walk away with two Chrome Medals.
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Big thanks to Dave at SAFreestyle.com and the guys from CMBMX for putting up dollarsfor a
best trick competition Mozzie pulled out the decade air combo runs, Kenny pulled his 4th, 5th
and 6th backflip on dirt, Dwayne just couldnt stop riding, Fink fastplant 360's his way to some
applause, while Gul shuts the whole place down with a front flip attempt over the big set. Just
failing to get around he heads back up to the start mound as a massive crowd gets their cameras
ready near the big doubles. With the crowd finally warming to the idea of encouragement
Andrew Gul sent the crowd crazy with a clean MASSIVE front flip - and running a grin from
ear to ear, took the dollars and best trick.
Presentations and a bit of a cleanup soon followed, with a few guys hanging around for a BBQ and
a few drinks before heading off to the Premiere of Jamie Moore's Stowaway DVD - Patterns.
The DVD from the comp will be available hopefully by July/ August.
In the meantime - go grab yourself a copy of Patterns by Stowaway Distribution.