Top High-Flyers Return for 10th Anniversary of the Vienna Air King

Mar 17, 2015 at 10:10
by rasoulution  
For the last ten years, the world’s elite mountain bike dirt jumpers have been gathering at Vienna’s town hall square for the VIENNA AIR KING. This year, the top dawgs are back from April 10th to 12th as the FMB World Tour Silver event celebrates its 10th anniversary. Brett Rheeder (CAN) has two consecutive victories under his belt and will be riding for a third. Dirt jump maestro, Sam Pilgrim (GBR) is a top rival in the line up, but the competition does not stop there. Gemma Corbera will also be the first girl to challenge the guys at a FMB event. Take a look at some of VIENNA AIR KING’s best moments from the last 10 years:



VIENNA AIR KING 2015 images

Brett Rheeder will have to perform at his best to defend the VIENNA AIR KING title. After a long winter break, mountain bikings’ top athletes can no longer wait to get back on to the dirt. 16 of the world’s best dirt jump riders have been invited and roughly 45 pre-qualifiers will step up to the mark to compete at this 2015-jubilee edition. With his rookie year behind him, Nicholi Rogatkin is now getting down to business and will fly in from across the pond for a crack at the crown. The North American athlete caused a sensation last year with his cashroll and signature-trick, the long dart front flip. 2014’s second place and best-trick winner Szymon Godziek (POL) will try everything to step up a notch for the victory. Then there is also the trick machine, Thomas Genon (BEL) who landed in third last year but has a bag full of new technical combo’s to show off in Vienna.

VIENNA AIR KING 2015 images

Per usual, the French-connection stack the line up with their best riders including, youngster Tomas Lemoine, Louis Reboul, Antoine Bizet, Simon Pages and Mehdi Gani. From across the Channel, Great Britain is sending renowned high-flyer Daryl Brown, Matt Jones and previous VIENNA AIR KING Champion, Sam Pilgrim. Tomas Zejda will be representing the Czech Republic, Anton Thelander will be flying in from Sweden and Oszkar Nagy (HUN) will be looking for a strong start to the season in Vienna. From closer to home, Peter Henke will be riding for Germany.

VIENNA AIR KING 2015 images

Alongside the big names, 45 pre-qualifiers will be given the chance to ride at VIENNA AIR KING. Ten of these riders are resident Austrians and will have the home crowd advantage of moving up into qualifying. One of Vienna’s crowd favorites and 2013 Best Trick winner, Pavel Alekhin is back to get the spectators pumped and throw down more epic combos. From Canada, young gun Bobby Lamirande and experienced trick machine, Sam Dueck will be on course, ready for business. And for the first time, a girl will challenge the boys on dirt. Gemma Corbera from Barcelona will compete against the guys in Vienna for a spot in main contest. For all pre-qualifiers, the competition will be fierce; 14 will advance to qualifying and ride against the set riders - a unique opportunity for upcoming riders. All the action will go down on April 12th at town hall square in Vienna.

VIENNA AIR KING 2015 images

What is an anniversary without a good party? On Saturday, April 11th, the official riders party will take place at the LOFT, on Lerchenfeldergürtel 37.

VIENNA AIR KING 2015 images


MENTIONS @rasoulution / @rheederboyz / @sampilgrim / @TomasZejda / @FMBA



Author Info:
rasoulution avatar

Member since Oct 25, 2010
483 articles

18 Comments
  • 7 1
 Lookin' mad forward to Tom's crazy combos, God's steez & Rheeder opening up the slaughterhouse on everyone.
  • 8 0
 Where is Martin?!!
  • 1 0
 he isnt pre-qualified.. But i think he will show up Wink
  • 4 1
 Gemma Corbera riding in the same category than the boys, wow! I think in a few years there will be a female category in this events. That would be awesome!
  • 6 7
 I think you're a fvckin' goofer. Get real. Look at women's DH & then try to validate that statement. We'll see a women's cat' in slope about as soon as we'll see one in FMX & BMX vert. :/

Still, I wanna prop her for steppin' up. She'll no doubt fail to qualify unless they hand her a donation just for being a girl, but she's hardcore awesome either way & if she really brings a solid show then that's all the more better. Smile She'll arguably be one of the most interesting parts of the show.
  • 3 0
 way to backpedal after a total douche statement buddy, sounds like you don't want girls to ride......so I guess you're a gay douche?
  • 2 0
 Sexism aside Gemma has no chance of qualifying considering the only thing I've seen her land on dirt is a backflip (which is more than I can do!). But I do think it would be a good step for the sport to have a women's category. There are some girls out there that absolutely rip!
  • 3 0
 Totally agree with skierdud89 and freeride-forever. Let's get real and be honest, do you really think Gemma would qualify if she will compete with the boys? I'm not against girls on bike but she's not at level with those pros yet. Sexism aside.
  • 1 0
 I also think she's not gonna qualify, but i've seen more than one girl doing backflips already in mtb, and if you see bmx there is the sister session at the simple session, for example and they do frontflips and backflip variations! i think in some years girls could compete in dirt jump at their own category
  • 1 0
 Gemma hangs at La Poma on the regular, the boys better watch their backs!
  • 1 0
 There s enough air time on these jumps to make a tailwhip to opposite tailwhip oh men I d like to see that in a contest run
  • 1 0
 love this comp, its just straight up jumps, simple yet still sick tricks
  • 1 0
 no Reynolds?
  • 1 0
 Yeah, I thought that he's gonna compete in the Vienna Air King
  • 1 2
 one Canuk and no Yanks........meh
  • 1 0
 There are at least two other Canadian who could qualify, says near the bottom.
  • 5 0
 Nicholi Rogatkin is from the USA.
  • 3 0
 Yeah, Rogatkin is American. Also your Canadian is Brett Rheeder, come on, what more do you want??







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