X Fusion Side flight Championships
by Jason Peters
Dec 7, 2009
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
With the setting of the sun came the camp fire and the riders celebrated a good day of riding.
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.
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!
Video by jbombz69.pinkbike.com:
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
 |
| 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.
 |
| JD follows Logan into the big step down |
 |
| 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 |
 |
| Brendan Fairclough took third |
 |
| Ryan Howard was fourth |
 |
| John Hauer |
Jason Peters
Link to News Story
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67 Comments
- + 4 Show
? the shock on the gt is x-fusion and so are the shocks on the x-fusion team riders bikes, they dont make a downhill fork
- + 4 Show
Sick Biker - Why do you have to be a hater? Both first and second place - Griz and Tyler - are on the X-Fusion Vector HLR coil-over shock. X-Fusion does not make a DH fork (yet).
- - 3 Show
Here's a way better vid...
http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Sideflight-Champs-Practice-Blasting,993/sspomer,2
http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Sideflight-Champs-Practice-Blasting,993/sspomer,2
- + 2 Show
Gravityjunkie47 you should make good on your warranties and make better products. i had a velvet on my hardtail and broke it riding street just like the ad in decline magazine. you guys said too bad, its not for street riding. oh wait thats what you show in an advertisement. hmmmm false advertising maybe.
can you explain this to me
can you explain this to me
- + 5 Show
"The aim for X Fusion's Side Flight Championships was to see riders doing big whips on their downhill bikes, over really big jumps."
- + 3 Show
I would enjoy both giant slalom and a whip contest. Don't do away with a proper mountain bike orientated race, MTBing already has enough motocross influences without whip contests.
- - 2 Show
Slalom is basically an MTB supercross race...So i wouldn't consider it a MTB oriented only sport. But yeah, do both!
- + 4 Show
All but the wind it was a fun day.
At the end of the day Brendan Fairclough did this insane whip http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/4349136/#top
Nice photos Jason!
At the end of the day Brendan Fairclough did this insane whip http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/4349136/#top
Nice photos Jason!
- + 3 Show
such a shame that the wind became such a big factor...
great competition, its like the downhiller's version of slopestyle
great competition, its like the downhiller's version of slopestyle
- - 8 Show
I'm sorry. but if this was a jam to see who could get it sideways. then why were most of the pictures not really all that sideways?
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
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
- + 3 Show
did you watch the video? cause they were getting extremely sideways.
and you say you can get more sideways then them? can you do that on a jump as big as that one?
and you say you can get more sideways then them? can you do that on a jump as big as that one?
- + 2 Show
i didn't watch the video.
i was more wondering why none of the pictures don't do it justice
just trying to get people talking anyway
i was more wondering why none of the pictures don't do it justice
just trying to get people talking anyway
- + 4 Show
I'm trying to figure out why the shots don't feature a lot of rad whips either, but I guess it comes down to timing a good shot. Maybe the shooter missed some bangers, but the video is a good idea of how things went down.
- + 3 Show
The weather was horrible, there were gusting side / front winds up to 35mph and blowing sand on the day of the event. It was a miracle that that anyone even cleared the gaps on Saturday. All of the pro's were really trying to put on a show on Saturday but pedaling full speed - biggest gear into the first set the wind was still making them come up short.
- + 1 Show
I was saving shooting the whip jump for finals day because I knew the bigger more gnarly whips would be done in finals. Finals Never took place.
- + 1 Show
I got some pretty good looking shots on practice day also which i will be uploading here shortly.
Take a look at them everyone let me know what you think!
Take a look at them everyone let me know what you think!
- + 2 Show
because most of the pics are of a jump after the actual "whip" jump. and also because it was practice day...
- + 2 Show
you know its f*cking windy when the turbines up there are spinning. overall, it looked kinda weak. and wheres vanderham?
- + 3 Show
Man I wish X-Fusion would come out with some killer dual crown forks to go with their DH shocks. I'd buy for sure.
- + 2 Show
They should have the technology to make some pretty good ones. They should make some alright ones so they get the design down, then once they figure it out, Make some DH killers!
Can't wait for them to come out with it. X-Fusion is a tight company.
Can't wait for them to come out with it. X-Fusion is a tight company.
[Reply]
[Reply]
- + 1 Show
is it just me or does tyler mccauls bike have a pretty high bottom bracket and just high in general or is that the way the bike should be ? i mean compared to mik hannahs and mark beaumonts it looks a lot higher and shorter
- + 3 Show
It wasn't well deserved at all hahahah the contest never even happened... winning something for practice runs is kinda lame
- + 1 Show
if you want less wind,, then you gotta get up to the pac nw, and hit that kinda stuff in the woods.
ima be right back while i go build those jumps!
so radical.
its seems like there should be MORE fmx infuence in mtb.
whats wrong with that. bmx is bmx, mtb should go this bigg always!!!
ima be right back while i go build those jumps!
so radical.
its seems like there should be MORE fmx infuence in mtb.
whats wrong with that. bmx is bmx, mtb should go this bigg always!!!
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