Press release

Europe’s biggest Freeride Festival takes place from may 23rd to 25th in Winterberg, Germany

The iXS Dirt Masters Festival enters year two: Next may Germany´s greatest bike park in Winterberg will be the host for
Gravity riders from all over the world. In the center of the festival will be three of the biggest and most successful mountainbike gravity events, which started last year for the first time at this festival:

The Cut Slopestyle Contest
The Cannondale „The Cut“ Slopestyletour started 2006 in Germany and is publics favorite. At „The Cut“ Slopestyle Contest
amateurs and pros will compete.

iXS German Downhill Cup
Downhill racing at its best presented by iXS-sports-division and the mountainbike rider magazine. The cup exists with five
single international races. The Prelude run 2008 will be held at the iXS Dirt Masters festival.

Scott 4X Challenge
4 racers at the same time on a track with big jumps. De luxe racing of the world’s best riders elbow to elbow.

Top pro racers and amateur riders from all around the world will compete and show the crowd spectacular tricks, tramendous
speed and great race action.

In the iXS Dirt Masters expo area companies will have again the opportunity to present their products to a huge bicycle interested audience. In 2008, the expo area will be enlarged. On top there will be additional entertainment in the iXS Dirt Masters Rockzone with extraordinary live bands and lots more.

Over 20,000 spectators, 1,000 competitors out of 20 nations und 105 exhibitors experienced the premier event in may 2007.
The resonance was impressive. There was never such an interest in a contest like this before. There won’t be an entrance fee.

More info dirtmasters-festival.de

Back home after a short trip to Liége, Belgium. Tomorrow Red Bull is hosting another cool urban event; called Stairway to Hell. It’s a slopestyle event om what’s maybe the longest stairs of Europe. They invited about 36 riders and I’m one of those… starting to think I didn’t belong there in the first place. *grin* I mean, I could have come down safely I think… but in the midst of backflips, tailwhips, cancans and superman-seatgrabs… I know I had nothing to bring there. Now in what flick does Nathan Rennie say: “where boys got separated from the man… and apparently I’m not a man!” Auch my poor ego…

Yesterday there was a 12 hour spinning (indoor-cycling) marathon held in Apeldoorn. The goal was to raise money and awareness for the research of energy metabolism-diseases (I hope I’ve translated that one properly). Outside the venue we had Cannondale, Specialized, BMC and Rocky Mountain set-up with newest bikes to test. Unfortunately the weather didn’t coorporate and we got a mere few visitors. I decided to check out the marathon inside and it took me 2 minutes to regret not entering the marathon myself.

It’s teamefforts trying to cycle the full 12 hour and I don’t think there was one that did the full 12 hours. Would have been somewhat mad! A couple of them did 6-hour challenges. Anyway, I raced home, got into my spandex and raced back to put in my two hours of sweat for the good course.

Seems like work-frustration is the best epo around, because I had so much energy… I could have done a few extra hours I think. The second hour I didn’t sit down at all, had to push up the hills, hauling ass. It’s an awesome good feeling joining in for the greater course and working your ass of (and cleaning your head in the process).

Anyway, it looks like they raised 12.275 euro’s yesterday and they’re planning another marathon next year. Anyone want to team up with me to go for a 6 hour bashin’? 

» Dutch info on the METAchallenge.nl

I just got home from a long day of Groningen. It’s about 340 km in total for me, but apparently, dozens of riders took the trouble of heading out there. They came from as far as Germany. 9 am I parked the car, got my numberplate and did a few runs on my old Slayer. It’s the demo bike I borrowed earlier this year, when I was waiting for the Switch.

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Translated from a press release on the forum of Dirty Pages:

Stichting Bikepark Groningen presents for the first time a multi extreme mountainbike event: the Fujitsu Siemens Computers King of the Hill. Sunday august 26th SGB is the scene of the finale Dutch Fourcross Series-race, but also the Dutch National Champions 4x (Elite, women and juniors) and the King of Slopestyle competition. All in one day!

- Dutch Fourcross National Championship
- Dutch Fourcross Series Final
- King of Slopestyle

I’m not sure how this Slopestyle comp will work. They’re calling it MTB Slopestyle and plan to building a slopestyle course with drops and big jumps. They are promising a lot! Fujitsu Siemens Computers King of Slopestyle riders will be judged on height (to me this is a weird and unusual criteria), style, difficulty and flow. Most points will be awarded with the honorary titel of King of Slopestyle the First!

Sunday 26th, don’t forget!

More info: www.bikeparkgroningen.nl or www.fujitsu-siemens.nl.

We’ve seen this guy ride all weekend, and here’s his clip from the start of the Megavalanche. Look at him go… awesome!!! He finished 65th!!! And at the end of the clip he thanks everyone encouraging “La Varche”, you’re welcome mate, was awesome to see you ride!

“Just heard that there has been lots of snow this year in Alpe d’Huez, so there is lots of snow at the top for this years Megavalanche. Lets hope it stays cold until then! Fun times…”

Their heading says: “YOU ARE ALL DOOOOOMED…THERE IS SNOW AT THE MEGA!” but I say YES! Snow is much better then rocks and it’s a huge part of the Megavalanche experience. Pray it stays cold!