Who says that you can’t play TENNIS in the city?  Or where does it say in the rulebook that COWBOYS aren’t allowed in a metropolis?  What can we learn from these examples?  When there’s a will, there is a way.  Especially with the cowboy.  I don’t know how he survived on the streets of NYC for so long.  We’re living in a different day and age and if these rural beings want to venture out beyond their realm, they should have the right to.

Snowboarding has joined the city phenomenon.    Join 16 of the world’s best snowboarders in New York City on the banks of the East River February 5th from 3 – 9 pm, as they compete to own a piece of a $100,000 prize purse at the 5Star Swatch TTR event. Red Bull Snowscrapers marks the debut of the largest snowboarding contest held in an urban setting in North America complete with top music acts (soon to be announced) and a spectator village located in East River Park (corner of Houston and FDR).  Read the Press Release below for all the info.

For the first-time ever, Red Bull will create an amazing 90-foot state-of-the-art structure for top riders to own the iconic Manhattan skyline. The athlete’s will drop in from a nine-story building before flying off the specially constructed kicker toward an immense 80-foot long hip. The innovative hip built by world-renowned designers Frank Wells and Mike Bettera of Snow Park Technology allows riders multiple angles of trajectory— frontside or backside, landing on either the right or left side of the massive 45-degree spine. Additionally, the groundbreaking ramp design will allow spectators to get up close and personal giving fans an opportunity to experience the action first hand as the riders spin roughly four stories into the sky.

New York spectators may deem them insane, but for the competitors, pushing the limits is a constant frame of mind. Although both their skill and style will be put to the test, the challenge here lies in the Red Bull Snowscraper’ s unique double-sided pyramid landing that pushes the envelope of big-air competition and rider adaptability.

With so many angles of approach, options, and opportunity, the athlete who ultimately conquers may be determined by their creative state of mind. And that creativity will be rewarded handsomely with hefty $50,000 to the winner. With so much on the line Red Bull left nothing to chance enlisting snowboard legends to judge the banner event soon to be announced.

Iconic snowboarders including Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White, freestyle / backcountry legend Travis Rice, ultra-progressive phenomenon Pat Moore and soon to be announced others will compete against the majestic backdrop of the East River and the New York City skyline in a contest that should prove to be the biggest winter event in the city.

The Red Bull Snowscrapers will join the ranks of the most prestigious snowboard events on the planet as a 5Star stop on the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour. “We are very excited to have the Red Bull Snowscrapers come on as a 5Star event on the TTR World Snowboard Tour” says Reto Lamm, President of the TTR World Snowboard Tour. “It is great to have another innovative Red Bull concept on tour and there is no better location then New York City to put this on. New York has a huge snowboard community and this will be a great opportunity to showcase our sport on such a large platform.” The TTR crowns a World Snowboard Tour Champion at the culmination of each season and pays out an end-of-season prize purse worth $200,000.

Aussie Robbie Maddison continues to build his reputation as this generation’s Evel Knievel with his second-straight New Year’s Eve stunt.

Last year it was a world-record breaking jump (since broken) in the parking lot of the Rio.  Not bad, but any Vegas regular will tell you that no matter how nice it is, Rio is still decidedly “off-strip” and therefore always going to be a red-haired stepchild to the likes of Caesar’s Palace (site of Knievel’s most famous jump).

This year, Maddo moves up in the world by setting up shop with Red Bull at Paris, which definitely ranks as strip-worthy.  The hotel has a replica of the Arc de Triomphe that is about 100 feet high and Maddo will jump on top of the Arc, ride along it, then do a freefall of 50 feet onto a landing ramp below.

This isn’t exactly a world record — unless you count doing something for the first time a “world record.”  But it should be pretty cool to watch.

Maddo won’t be alone on the night.  Kiwi Rhys Millen is going to pull off the stunt he couldn’t attempt last New Year’s Eve due to injury.  He’ll be the first person to attempt to land a backflip in an off-road truck.  Unfortunately, the backflip attempt will take place at a different (as of yet undisclosed) location than Maddo’s jump.

ESPN, as it did last year, will broadcast the event live — assume it will take place around 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET (details forthcoming).

Find out more about the event at www.redbullnewyearnolimits.com or keep reading for the full press release.

RED BULL: NEW YEAR. NO LIMITS.
New Year’s Eve Event from Las Vegas to Feature 100-Foot-High Motorcycle Jump and Truck Back Flip By Motorsports Stars Robbie Maddison and Rhys Millen, Telecast Live on ESPN

Santa Monica, Calif. (November 18, 2008) – Deviating from the standard New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking or save more money, two world-class athletes have resolved to break boundaries before the clock strikes midnight on December 31, at Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. in Las Vegas. Robbie Maddison will follow up his history-making motorcycle distance jump with another world-first performance. Rhys Millen seeks redemption for what was supposed to be a New Year’s celebration a year ago before a training accident derailed his plans, but only temporarily.

Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. will be televised live on ESPN/ESPN HD immediately following the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (approx. 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT). The show will also be simulcast live on ESPN360.com. Viewing of Maddison’s jump at Paris Las Vegas is free to the thousands of revelers on the world famous Las Vegas Strip.

LET IT RIDE Having broken the Guinness World Record for a motorcycle with a leap of 322 feet, 7.5 inches over the length of a football field during the 2007 Red Bull New Year’s Eve event, Maddison will attempt a more finessed, but equally challenging jump this time. The 27-year-old Aussie will jump his bike more than 120 feet high and land on the top of the 96-foot-high and 40-foot-deep replica Arc de Triomphe in front of Paris Las Vegas. What goes up must come down, and Maddison’s not going to argue with physics. Upon completing the jump, he will then drop off the Arc and freefall 50 feet to a massive landing ramp below. Maddison’s impressive resume, in addition to his record-breaking distance jumps, includes a very successful freestyle motocross career. In March, Maddison leapt an astounding 378 feet in Australia.

“I had some doubts last year whether or not I could jump a football field,” said Maddison. “But as I practiced, I got more and more confident and realized I could pull it off; and I did, twice. This year, the doubts are way bigger. The jump has never been done before, but I’m confident in my ability and I believe that as I start training, the dream that seems impossible will become a reality.”

Millen will attempt to become the first person to complete and land a backflip in an off-road truck. The flip will take place at a location to be determined in Las Vegas. Millen’s flip demands the truck to travel a distance of 80 feet at a height of 50 feet. During his final practice before the 2007 New Year’s event, Millen overshot the landing, resulting in injury, damage to his vehicle and his withdrawal from the event. The 36-year-old New Zealand native is fully recovered and more determined than ever. Millen’s motorsports credibility is unrivaled. He was the 2005 Formula Drift champion and 2008 Red Bull Drifting World Championship winner, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb world record holder and has been the lead stunt driver in several commercials and movies, such as Dukes of Hazzard and Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.

“Last year we attempted what was before then thought impossible,” said Millen. “Laws of physics and vehicle dynamics were pushed to the limits with success, but failure came in one small miscalculation. My body can be broken but my mind cannot. This year, people will witness the first ramp to ramp back flip in an off-road truck – ever!”

Maddison and Millen will be practicing for their epic night at the Red Bull Compound training facility north of Los Angeles, which features massive foam pits for each athlete to safely prepare to make history.

Additional details for Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. will be released in the coming weeks. For event information, as well as information on Maddison and Millen, visit www.redbullnewyearnolimits.com.

Since Red Bull is putting this on, it’s no surprise the company’s top snowboarders will be there, including Shaun White, Travis Rice and Pat Moore.

Other than the concept, there’s barely any other info out about this contest yet, except that it will take place on Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 in Manhattan someplace.

Of course, sometimes Red Bull’s events don’t go off as planned *cough*Metallicross*cough* but when they do, they are among the best in the business.  We will be watching.

With Halloween just around the corner, we’re seeing the onslaught of Halloween themed events around the country.  Red Bull’s Trick Or Treat BMX contest brought out the best BMX riders to Rochester New York.  With a supposeded haunted contest venue, everyone had their eyes peeled for some ghost, maybe a few goblins, and definitely some trannies because you know them dudes like to dress up as hot chicks when October 31 rolls around.  And you have to be extra careful because girls like to dress pretty scantily as well.  And when you factor in some booze, you may find yourself hautned with bad memories the next day.

The night was loaded with plenty of sick tricks from riders including Edwin Delarosa, Chase Hawk, Brian Kachinsky, Aaron Ross, Pat Laughlin, Sean Sexton and many others.  Check out the Red Bull video below for some of the coverage. 

Some of the best and brightest in BMX descended upon Rochester, New York, Saturday to take part in the Halloween-themed Red Bull Trick or Treat contest.  More than 30 riders took part, though it was an unfamiliar face that came out on top.

Charlie “Monkey” Bowers dominated the field, taking full advantage of the course which included a tombstone wallride and a coffin-shaped box jump.

X Games Gold Medalist Garrett Reynolds landed in second place with Bruno Hoffman in third place.

BMX legend Kevin Robinson was a guest judge and liked what he saw in Bowers.

“Everyone out here rode amazing.” Robinson said. “Charlie put so much energy into every run he had, he just really stood out.”

For more about the contest, check out the official site and keep reading for the final results and official press release.

CHARLIE BOWERS HAS THE BIGGEST BAG OF TRICKS AT RED BULL TRICK OR TREAT
A Virtual BMX Contest Unknown Steals the Show in Rochester

Rochester, NY – October 25, 2008 – With nearly two thousand fans looking on, Charlie “Monkey” Bowers proved he was the ghost with the most at Red Bull Trick or Treat. Over 30 BMX riders competed for $4,000 worth of prizes on a course consisting of Halloween-themed obstacles, from a 22ft. coffin-shaped box jump, to a tombstone wallride and hand-painted grind boxes complete with cobwebs, bones and bats as decoration.

A familiar face from the X Games, Brian Kachinsky set the scene, suggesting it was contest ghosts (those who rarely are seen competing) versus contest goblins (those who destroy the contest scene).  Charlie Bowers may have never competed on national TV, but he showed his tricks were prime time, blasting huge airs over the quarter pipe, nailing a vader foot jam and 540 hurricane on the sub box and an icepick grind on the wallride. He humbly described his feelings upon winning against big time BMX pros, “I couldn’t imagine it, I have no idea how it happened. Everyone out here rode amazing.” Guest judge and BMX vert legend Kevin Robinson gave some insight to his win, “Charlie put so much energy into every run he had, he just really stood out.”

Second place was claimed by barspin master Garrett Reynolds, who impressed the crowd with tricks like his 720 bunnyhop to flat off the coffin, and a no handed 360 wallride. He also got into the Halloween spirit by painting his face like a skeleton, which was an added bonus for him. “It was fun, I like dressing up. It made for a good vibe. With the jam format, you just ride around and do your thing. It’s the way BMX should be.”

Best trick was decidedly won by Kevin Porter, who blasted a 360 whip off the side of the ramp and over the course railing to flat ground. He joked after the contest that he did the trick into the crowd because, “It was time to leave!”

The historic Rochester Main Street Armory, an early 1900’s building that is rumored to be haunted, was the perfect setting for a contest with plenty of spirit. This Halloween, when someone asks Charlie Bowers “Trick or Treat?,” he can say that he  officially has both.

Final Results
1. Charlie Bowers – $1200
2. Garrett Reynolds – $800
3. Bruno Hoffmann – $600
4. Pat Laughlin – $500
5. Joe Riley – $400
Best Trick: Kevin Porter, 360 whip over railing to flat – $500

“Red Bull strongly believes in this innovative and exciting motocross event concept and will pursue other options to make Red Bull Metallicross a reality in the future,” Red Bull’s statement read.  “All registered competitors will be refunded in full and will be notified when a new date and location are determined.”

The contest, which was sanctioned by the American Motocross Association, was termed a “hybrid” competition combining traditional dirt MX racing with endurocross and arenacross. It was scheduled to take place at the abandoned Pullman Train Depot in Atlanta on Nov. 1.

The official site is still up at RedBullMetallicross.com and we’ll let you know when the event comes back around.

The residents of Rochester, NY will have to look out for more than ghouls, goblins and pedophiles in the streets this Halloween because on October 25th, more than 30 of the best BMX riders in the country will gather at the Rochester Main Street

Armory for a contest that will be full of tricks, and for the best riders, some much deserved treats.  And we’re not talking about crappy treats like pennies, toothbrushes, or raisins, we’re talking about that good stuff that sends you to the dentist with hundred dollar visits.  I love Halloween! 
 
 
Red Bull Trick or Treat will feature Halloween themed obstacles, like a grave stone wall ride gap and a massive coffin shaped wedge. Taking place inside the historic Rochester Main Street Armory (next door to the haunted House of Pain), the event is free for all ages. For those who are not easily spooked, they will get to see some of the biggest names in BMX, including recent X Games BMX Street gold medalist Garrett Reynolds, 2006 X Games Park gold medalist Scotty Cranmer, Edwin DeLaRosa, Corey Martinez, Chris Doyle, Aaron Ross, Chase Hawk, Brian Kachinsky and Sean Sexton.

These riders will battle it out for $4,000 in prize money against Rochester locals like Jay Roe, Tony Hamlin, Tom Dillon and Steve Debusk. The jam session format will feature heats of riders throwing down runs until it is whittled down to the best 10 for a final jam that will take guts, skills and some good luck from the dark side to win.

The event will also feature an after party at the Armory. In partnership with Kink Bikes, there will be a world premiere of their new team video Safety First and performances by The Isotopes and DJ Tim Tones. Costumes are encouraged for both spectators and riders.
 

Red Bull Trick or Treat info
Date: Oct 25, 2008
Time: 7pm-9:30pm

Venue: Rochester Main Street Armory
900 East Main Street, Rochester NY

Free for all ages

Aussie Robbie Maddison finished second in the contest (third overall) while Metal Mulisha rider Jeremy Lusk crashed twice on his way to a fourth-place finish (same overall).

There was also a Super Session contest featuring four teams of three riders each battling it out in Step Up, Speed & Style, Quarterpipe Jam and Classic FMX.  Ronnie Renner’s “Team Renner” finished in first, featuring Renner, Travis Pastrana (competing in his only contest of the series) and Thomas Pages.  Pages was riding in place of Andre Villa, who broke his leg during practice on Friday.

The contest took place in the historic Stadion X-Lecia in Warsaw, Poland, with 35,000 fans on hand.  The stadium is scheduled to be demolished and replaced by a new arena.

For more about the contest check out the official X-Fighters site.

Mathieu Rebeaud in Poland | cr.Vitek Ludvik / red bull photo files

Lusk, Rebeaud, Torres.   Cr. Flo Hagena/ Red Bull Photo Files

Swiss FMX rider Mat Rebeaud continued his dominance of the Red Bull X-Fighters tour Saturday as he edged X Games champ Jeremy Lusk in Germany.  Rebeaud has won four of the five X-Fighters event, with Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg taking the Brazillian stop.  Twitch finished in second in the U.S. stop but has missed the last two events because of a nagging thumb injury.

Read on for the official release about the event.  The last X-Fighters contest of the season takes place in Poland on Sept. 6.  For more about the contest, check out the official site.

Rebeaud wins “Rumble in the Ruhr”
Red Bull X-Fighters champion beats rival Lusk

Switzerland’s Mat Rebeaud cemented his dominance of the 2008 Red Bull X-Fighters in Wuppertal on Saturday, notching up his fourth victory of the season in the explosive Oetelshofen Quarry. The Swiss freestyle motocross star defeated rival Jeremy Lusk (USA) in the finals on the penultimate stop of this season’s Red Bull X-Fighters tour which drew 15,000 spectators.

Spain’s Dany Torres and Australian Robbie Maddison were third and fourth at the course, located at the bottom of a limestone quarry in Germany’s industrial heartland where earth-movers and diggers made way for 100-kg motorbikes and their fearless riders.

Rebeaud’s win settled the score with Lusk who beat him at the X-Games in California earlier this month and means the Swiss rider is well on his way to lifting the trophy at the end of the Series. “You only have one chance here so there is a lot of pressure,” said Rebeaud. “I am very happy though. I have had a great season this year: four wins plus second in the X-Games.”

German giants Busty Wolter, who reached Round 2, and Fabian Bauersachs, who was knocked out in Round 1, helped whip the Wuppertal crowd into a frenzy during a night of spectacular riding on a tricky, tightly-arranged track that riders said was the toughest so far this year.

Rebeaud’s victory in the Red Bull X-Fighters’ maiden visit to Germany means the Swiss rider now looks unbeatable in the overall series, reinforcing his likely role as successor to retired American whiz kid Travis Pastrana who won in 2007.

After visiting Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Fort Worth in Texas, Madrid and now Wuppertal, the Red Bull X-Fighters’ next and final stop of the season is scheduled for September 6th at the Stadion X-lecia in Warsaw, Poland.

With Japan’s Taka Higashino sidelined after a brutal crash in training on Thursday, the “dirty dozen” were reduced to just 11 riders by Satruday who battled to impress the panel of five judges on a course built 75 metres down in the bottom of the Oetelshofen Quarry. German Touring Car Masters driver Martin Tomczyk added a dab of four-wheeled expertise to the proceedings with his appearance in an off-road Race Touareg.

Tonight’s results put Lusk, Maddison and Torres in close competition in the overall classification behind Rebeaud. A nagging thumb injury forced the other possible contender, America’s Jeremy ‘Twitch’ Stenberg, to sit out the rest of the season.

After visiting Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Forth Worth in Texas, Madrid and now Wuppertal, the Red Bull X-Figthers’ next stop is scheduled for September 6th at the Stadion X-lecia in Warsaw, Poland.

Final Result of Red Bull X-Fighters in Wuppertal

1. Mat Rebeaud (SUI)
2. Jeremy Lusk (USA)
3. Dany Torres (ESP)
4. Robbie Maddison (AUS)
5. Petr Pilat (CZE)
6. Sebastian Wolter (GER)
7. Ronnie Renner (USA)
8. Fredrik Johansson (SWE)
9. Dustin Miller (USA)
10. Fabian Bauersachs (GER)
11. Nick DeWit (RSA)

Just when it looked like skateboarding was kind of catching up with snowboarding as far as production value, this comes out. It’s not even a snowboard movie; it’s a snowboard epic film. This film features the likes of , in some of the most beautifully shot sequences I’ve ever seen. Even more beautiful than “The Sound Of Music”, and that says a lot. Check out the teaser and judge for yourself.