X Fusion Side Flight Champs was a "jam format" contest to bring together athletes in the true off season of our sport. This low key, friendly battle between friends showcased the talent these riders have. They were judged on Amplitude, Style and of course how sideways they can throw their bikes." -
X FusionLook inside for photos of how things played out and results!After a wind delay and some BBQ for lunch the guys were excited to start day one practice. Graeme Pitts was the guinea pig for the day, taking the first runs.
Graeme Pitts
The aim for
X Fusion's Side Flight Championships was to see riders doing big whips on their downhill bikes, over really big jumps. X Fusion Team rider Griz was in charge of building these massive jumps and he did an amazing job, I didn't hear one rider complain about the jumps.
Riders started on top of the hill and pedaled into the first jump which was a 35 ft step down.
<Deleted photo>
Ryan boosts the step down solo.
Once over the step down, riders were looking at the massive lip of a 40 foot step up. This jump drew most of the spectators and was where all the riders hung out between runs.
John Bitner
JD
After riders cracked the biggest whips that they could and brought them back, they would give their brakes a tap to set up for the last jump which was a right hip.
Brendan Fairclough styles out the hip
Tyler McCaul does one of the flattest tables of the day.
The winds were calm for the rest of the afternoon and the riders took as many runs as they could before the sun set.
Here are some photos of just how practice went down:
Cob was blasting every jump on the course as high as anyone else.
With the setting of the sun came the camp fire and the riders celebrated a good day of riding.
The moon
The morning of day two was calm and had riders and spectators excited about the finals. But the sunny, calm Californian weather failed us and by the time the practice session started, the winds were back in full force. It was decided that finals would be put on hold until the winds died down, but they never did.
The Chicken Man waiting out the winds
Yes, that's Bender and his dog
Results:
The decision was made that it was too windy and far too dangerous to run finals so it was canceled. Results were based off Day 1 with Sean "Griz" McClendon taking home first place. Griz built the jumps and showed that he was the big man on campus, Congratulations Sean!
Tyler McCaul took second
<Deleted photo>
Ryan Howard was fourth
Video by jbombz69.pinkbike.com:
John Hauer
Big thanks to John from
X Fusion for putting the Side Flight Champs on, and to Griz for building the coolest DH jumps I have ever seen. Rumor has it that this event will be back next year, If that's true, I will see you there!
Jason Peters
At the end of the day Brendan Fairclough did this insane whip www.pinkbike.com/photo/4349136/#top
Nice photos Jason!
i mean there were a few that were ok.
but not really
seriously, i can whip it better than that.
and i'm old and washed up
nice table tyler, that was sick
but all the rest of you. try harder, you're supposed to be professionals
and you say you can get more sideways then them? can you do that on a jump as big as that one?
www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Sideflight-Champs-Practice-Blasting,993/sspomer,2