Red Bull Bike Battle
took place today at Boston City Hall Plaza in Government Center, the
nucleus of downtown Boston. Architecturally stunning and perfect for urban
freeride competition, an amphitheatre style setting with an abundance of
brick, stairs and rails was custom tailored to the riding fantasies of
freeride mountain bikers by adding a diverse range of obstacles including
ramps, dirt jumps, concrete barriers, and even a car.
The most progressive mountain bike riders in the world gathered together
taking urban riding a step beyond in a new format set to pit riders head to
head and showcase both technical ability and style.
BATTLE STYLE
Thirty two top riders from disciplines such as downhill, street, skatepark,
dirt jump, bmx, and trials, each had a :60 solo seeding run placing them
into brackets. The competition then evolved to “battle style”, where two
riders at a time went one-on-one for two minute heats.
After several brackets, the competition narrowed to four riders –
international superstar Timo Pritzel, Red Bull athlete Shaums March, Kurt
Voreis (known for 360’s and inverts), and Aaron Chase, who took home the
gold. As the final heat between Kurt Voreis and Aaron Chase began with a
mutually respectful hit of fists, a freestyle game of follow the leader
ensued. Chase’s signature new school technical arsenal packed lip tricks,
grinds, gaps, big spins and even bigger flips.
Aaron Chase was inspired by all of the talent on the course “a lot of guys
came out with so many things I didn’t even know they could do” and was
impressed with the ever humble Shaums March, who landed a backflip, and
pulled out an unexpected 360.
Kurt Voreis landed second placed and paid respect to winner Aaron Chase
stating “He has all the tech tricks down and he goes big”.
Third place winner Shaums March summed up the day saying “Red Bull Bike
Battle is an all around urban competition on mountain bikes with riders
from five countries who all came together”.
2003 FINAL RESULTS
1st - Aaron Chase
2nd - Kurt Voreis
3rd - Shaums March
4th - Timo Pritzel
