FreestyleXtreme Magazine Issue 8 | Page 55

£ Beau Bamburg
was cranking
some huge Whips
in Austin

After the awards for the Best Whip
contest there was a short wait before
the much anticipated closing event
of the 2015 Summer X Games: Best
Trick. u

£ Last year’s winner
Tom Parsons’ had
to settle for silver
in 2015

© GABRIEL CHRISTUS / ESPN IMAGES

On Sunday afternoon the stands in the
main arena were packed. The eight
riders taking part in this year’s much
anticipated Best Whip Contest were:
Jarryd McNeil, Tom Parsons, Todd
Potter, Josh Hansen, Jeremy Stenberg,
Beau Bamburg, Edgar Torronteras
and Josh Sheehan. There were a few
minutes for some warm up jumps,
then everyone made their way to the
starting line for the official sendoff. The jam style format allows six
minutes for the riders to demonstrate
who has the skills and can best show
their interpretation of the oldest yet
most spectacular trick in the world.
The spectators in the stands and the
audience at home, who can vote for
their favourite rider via Twitter, are
the judges. Hansen took off first with
Twitch behind him but they were not
riding very well, possibly because they
missed out on the practise session due
to being held up at the Off-Road Truck
Racing. Right from the start McNeil’s
two-stroke seemed to be the most
upside down and twisted of them all,
but Parsons and Bamburg were not
far behind. Potter threw some huge
Turn Downs with perfect precision.
Torronteras was alternating between
old school Whips and some tough Turn
Downs. Six minutes went by quickly
and we awaited the results of the
public vote. The Aussie Jarryd McNeil
stood out as the winner thanks to his
crazy bike skills. Parsons was awarded
a well-deserved silver medal and Todd
Potter took home the bronze.

© GABRIEL CHRISTUS / ESPN IMAGES

Best Whip

ALVARO’S X GAMES

© GARTH MILAN / ESPN IMAGES

© GARTH MILAN / ESPN IMAGES

£ McNeil’s Whips
are officially the
most twisted in
the game!

FreestyleXtreme.com | 55