Emboldened with a massive success from last year's edition of his own show, Sam Pilgrim knew it had have to happen again. Hosted at the UK's Cycle Show, this year was improved in some ways as the event flowed well and everybody from the riders to the general public who came to watch left Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre with big smiles on their faces. A show with Sam Pilgrim's name assigned to it has a unique atmosphere, and the the cream of British dirt jumpers and some of Europe's top riders made their way to top of the roll-in to give their best through the set of neatly prepared jumps and amuse, amaze and entertain the good people who gathered to look at these "crazy guys who can go up-side-down on a bike".
| This year, we decided to have two jumps in a row and a quarter pipe at the end of the course, removing the drop, we had last year. Two jumps in a row is much more fun and for the crowd. It looks well good, too! So yeah, the jumps are cool, not too big, but definitely fun to ride. It's good to have this event, because when I was younger, I used to do this sort of thing all the time and then it stopped happening... until now. Next year is going to be even bigger! - Sam Pilgrim |
| I have been here since Tuesday, helping to build the jumps. We had a few problems with dirt being too wet, because it rained the day it was brought in and it didn't dry out on time. Now, we've got some wood on top of it and making the best out of it. I especially like the idea of the 90's session with no tailwhips nor 360s, because this makes you do tricks you remember from back in the day. The crowd is really happy and that's all the matters! - Sam Reynolds |
| Last year was the first time Sam Pilgrim put this event on and it definitely was the highlight of the Cycle Show at the NEC. Sam's Invitational can't been seen as a comp; it's a show and we get awarded for doing tricks. If they did make a competition, everyone would ride in a completely different way, be more stressful and the crowd would see the stress. Whereas now everybody can smile and have a lots of attempts to nail a trick, they can, if they want to chill out with the friends, then can do it, as well - Matt Jones |
| The Cycle Show is always good fun, because it's a pretty chilled and laid back competition. I have been coming here since something like 1998, quite a few year and I love it! The crowd really makes it worthwhile. We've moved the venue a couple of times, but the NEC is always seems to be the one - Chris Smith |
| It's a pretty sick event to be fair! It's cool to come a place where is no pressure on riding, there's good vibe between the riders and that what makes it fun. Usually when you get to a comp', it's serious, everyone has an individual run, but this is literally hanging out with your buddies and having a good laugh - Adam Williams |
| This is a pretty cool way to end a season. It's a very good comp to have some fun with the boys, where's no pressure, but only good times and big tricks for cash! - Tomas Lemoine |
| What's good about being at Sam Pilgrim's Invitational is that it's almost like going back to my roots, especially being down here at the NEC - you've got good jumps, big crowds and everybody from the industry is here. It's always a positive fun vibe and I think it will show in all the riding. It's the best time of the season to do something like this where you can see some big tricks and have a good laugh! - Grant 'Chopper' Fielder |
| I think, it's better this year, because we have more than one jump, so you can put a little run together ending on the quarter, which is pretty cool. It's definitely better for the riders and of course the public, because there's more to see. - Ray Samson |
| Sam's doing a really good job, here! Seems like everyone's appreciating 'Cash for Tricks' format, which keeps us motivated to go big and yeah, I am stoked to be here! - Max Fredriksson |
| It's really good to be here! It's way better than last year thanks to an additional jump and the half-dirt quarter pipe! The old-school session was... weird, but super fun, because we got to do tricks we don't usually do - Eric Walenta |
MENTIONS: @lunatyk
But its not *textbook inverted tabletop* on photo, just a opo table with oppo/goofy 180 in a quarter.Big difference.