With the entire hillside buzzing and imbibing the dust, waiting for the athletes to drop in, I found my nest, hunkered down, and framed out a few shots in preparation to shoot an event that I have been gawking at for years. Sometimes life feels unreal, but in the best way.
Structured as a jam-style event, you don't get any more warning than a start announcement, hearing tires buzz down the trail behind you and the blaring voice of the commentators. The panel of judges determines those that advance and ultimately take home the prize money based on amplitude, style, and degree of whip past 90 degrees, and of course, ability to bring it all back together for a smooth landing.
The crowd erupted in unison as each rider gracefully weaved their bike around beneath them, aiming to clock a whip so contorted that the rear wheel was in front of and above their heads before bringing it all back beneath them to transition back to the ground seamlessly. With all the riders making these impressive feats look terribly easy, it is hard for the average rider to imagine the level of control and commitment required to be one of the select few in the competition.
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