Red Bull Manny Mania UK – the story so far…

Red Bull Manny Mania qualifiers have been happening across the country for the last two weekends, with 8 riders already claiming places at the London Final.

Leeds Qualifier – 4 Oct

The Leeds leg was first up, and was held in a hall named after Jimmy Saville with the smoothest floor imaginable. It was the first time the course had been skated, and the riders were stoked on it. So, there it was… the first qualifier was underway. Everyone got stuck into a big session, followed by one round of eight groups, onto a final with eight riders.

The top four were:

Mike Wright

Shaun Witherup

Chris Atherton

Joe Moore

Other standouts included long time Yorkshire rippers Dave Walker and Tom Brown, who made the last eight but narrowly missed the top four. Ex Leeds local Liam Sproat came over from Sheffield manned with a good crew, and skated hard all day, whilst Mike Thomas and Joe Moore were the local un-sponsored young-guns who really shone through, with Joe making 4th place.

It has to be known that Chris ‘Avi’ Atherton really got everyone going in the first round with a mental mix of tricks and combos that were tied together with long manuals on the flat.

It was a great reminder of the talented and friendly scene they have in Leeds. Loads of people made it down to watch and skate, and local hero Mike Wright took 1st place deservingly.

Tricks of the day:

Mike Wright – manny to tre flip out (kicker to ledge)

Avi – ride up, back foot flip to manny down (up/down pad)

Joe Moore – Fakie big spin to manny, tre flip out (high pad)

Brighton Qualifier – 11 Oct

The Brighton leg was a week later. The venue this time was a disused factory that had been spruced up for the day. It’s amazing what a few lights, some kitsch furniture and some graff can do to a place!

James Kilpatrick, Ollie Smith and some other locals came down and ripped the course, but it was these four travelers took the top places:

Adam Howe

Danny Brady

Sean Smith

James Gardner

Just outside the top 4 was a host of ridiculous talent. Will Greenfield got a well deserved 5th with some nice moves, and Ali Drummond skated really well in the final. Mark Nicolson pulled out some tech madness, whilst Nick Jensen found some cool lines linking together the different obstacles.

And let’s not forget Craig ‘Never Meddle With The Smeddle’ Smedley. He ripped the course in the first round, but didn’t quite pull it together in the final.

Adam Howes consistency was ridiculous, and it was great that so many people made it down for the day to see him and the others manny their way to the London final.

Tricks of the day:

Mark Nicolson – b/s nosegrind revert to fakie manny, half cab out (high pad)

Brady – kickflip to nose manny (wiggly block)

James Gardner – switch frontside heelflip to manny (kicker to high block)

The remaining dates are:

Bristol Qualifier – 19 Oct

Head to this one if you can… plus, , there’s extra cash being thrown afterwards about for a jam at Bristols current hot spot, which is out the back of the venue!

DETAILS: Midday – 5pm, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Portland Square, Bristol, BS2 8SJ

London Final – 25 Oct

Unmissable for anyone who likes skateboarding events really. The line-up for this is already ridiculous, and with the Bristol qualifier this weekend, and a small London qualifier on the 25th before the final kicks off, the skating is set to be ludicrous…

+ A free party afterwards. Game on.

DETAILS: Midday – 6/7pm, York Hall, Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9PJ