Freestyle: 2012 FATBMX LOOKBACK: Adrenalin Games Moscow report. By BdJ

FATBMX 2012 REVIEW. ADRENALIN GAMES: Moscow is not really a place that you’re going to spend a weekend at. At least not in my case, so when Alexander Furaev sent me a mail if I wanted to come over for the weekend to judge at the Adrenalin Games, I said yes before I even checked the calendar. It was either Chillin’ and grillin’  in Oldenzaal, or spending a weekend in a country that’s still pretty new to me. In December I had made it over there for the RBA, the Russian BMX Awards show, kinda the Russian version of the Nora Cup, but it was cold in December and the main focus was on the nightlife, rather than the riding. That’s fine with me too but Russia has so much more to offer than the nightlife alone.

When arriving at the site I was amazed by the whole set up. A course had been set up surrounded by bleachers, three big screens and a giant stage that could host the biggest flatland contest ever. TV production was set up, an international rider field was present and the IOU course suited both the street and park riders alike. I have a feeling that there’s a big contrast

Daniel Wedemeijer and I flew in on Friday and were greeted by a lady from the organisation. We opted for a train ride to the Radisson hotel which was a breeze. The train had 6 seats per row by the way making them wider than at home. After checking in we got a ride from Sascha in his Camaro which already was a strange feeling cruising in an American car in the streets of Moscow. Later that night it even became crazier when his friends showed up on the Harley and lowrider and it was a crew of Brian Kachinsky, Christian Rigal, Garrett Reynolds, Ryan Fudger, Sean Ricany, Daniel and the locals on their way to the local Biker Bar where more bad boys got their dinner at 01:00hr at night. It was a scene, especially when Sascha and his friend started racing each other, doing burnouts and skids. Welcome to Moscow guys!

Needless to say we had a good night of sleep before the qualifications started in the afternoon. It was a skateboard and BMX event and the seats surrounding the course were filled up at all times. The Russian riders are on top level riding top material so there’s really no difference between riders from Russia and the rest of the world. In all honesty I would say that they’re even hungrier than riders on other parts of the planet as they want it so bad. Their enthusiasm is unreal and they riders and the crowd were so stoked to see Garrett Reynolds and his crew present in Moscow. Also Daniel Wedemeijer has his following in Moscow as this was his 4^th time there and he sent himself to the moon in the RedBull high air comp to become the winner picking up a big stash of Russian cash. 21 riders out of 45 pre-qualified riders made it to Sunday’s semi-finals.

It was single runs in the semi finals and the top competitors made it work. Missing the cut was Alessandro Barbero who played it safe but that wasn’t good enough to transfer to the final program. Nicholi Rogatkin was one to mix it up in the finals with a 900 on the quarterpipe and superman flips over the box for fourth. Third went to Daniel Wedemeijer who wasn’t even sure he could ride the comp because of his busted knee. With the screaming fans in the crowd a BMX rider blocks off the pain and gives them what they came to see. Daniel had plenty of transfers, tech tricks, and flips for third place right after Maxim from Siberia who had travelled even further than us to get second place. Maxime used the course to the fullest, riding the transition part as well as the street obstacles at a level that most riders would be proud of. He did it clean too, congrats to the Gorilla Energy Drink rider. Fresh off another X-Games win Garrett Reynolds took care of business once again. His bike only arrived an hour before qualifying on Saturday. Without even hitting the course, and riding a new Ty Morrow prototype frame, Garrett made it work and got better along the way. Where others do truckdrivers, Garrett does 360-bar catch bars. Just an example of why he has been winning so much, he’s on a different level and can add the Adrenalin Games to his list of winnings.

The Saturday night party counted for two so we chilled in the hotel lobby on Sunday night before packing up to catch a plane back home on Monday. I have a feeling the Adrenalin Games are the next Simple Session with organizers that are smart and eager to learn, party places galore, and riders who are ready to explore a new part of the world. This comp can only get bigger and better. Can’t wait till 2013!

BdJ

BdJ