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 Fusion
Look 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.
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| 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.
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| JD follows Logan into the big step down |
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| 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.
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| John Bitner |
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| 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.
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| Brendan Fairclough styles out the hip |
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| 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:
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| The Chicken Man waiting out the winds |
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| Yes, that's Bender and his dog |
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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!
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| Tyler McCaul took second |
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| Brendan Fairclough took third |
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| Ryan Howard was fourth |
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| 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 
