Triple Crown for Vanstippen at King of the Whip 2024

by SFT | Nov 26, 2024 | Action Sports

Belgian Freestyle Motocross rider Julian Vanstippen successfully defended his crown at King of the Whip 2024. He claimed his third title in a row in front of a sold-out crowd at Montecasino, Johannesburg.

King of the Whip is presented by LW Mag in association with Ford, Monster Energy, Yamaha, Garmin, Motul, GoPro, PlayTSOGO and Estrella Cerveza.

Over 20 of the best Freestyle Motocross and Motocross riders took to the ramps to compete in the Best Whip and Best Trick contests. Up for grabs was a share of the R225 000,00 cash prize and various prizes from the official event partners. The 2024 edition saw the most extensive list of international riders come out to compete. Julien Vanstippen (Belgium), Tom Parsons (USA), Pat Bowden (Australia), Genki “Wanky” Watanabe (Japan), Andreu Lacondeguy(Spain), Sebastian Westberg (Finland) and Antonio Navas (Spain).

International Acclaim

Event organiser Ryan van der Spuy said: “Every year, this event exceeds expectations. It has gone from strength to strength and is now an event with international acclaim. We’re in our third year at this venue, sold out again, and saw seven international riders competing against our local stars, our most ever, This shows the event’s growth and recognition locally and internationally.”

“Additionally two firsts for this event, and the sport itself, saw an official pre-event riders press conference. Also, betting partner playTSOGO join to allow fans the opportunity to bet on their favourite riders.”

The action for the Best Whip competition began with the riders going head-to-head in four qualifying rounds. Judges were looking for amplitude, style, and variation when deciding which of the 15 riders would qualify for the semi-finals. Seven more riders were eliminated in the semi-finals, leaving only eight to compete in the Finals.

Before the King of the Whip could be crowned, FMX riders had a chance to show off their crowd-thrilling freestyle tricks in the Best Trick Right-Side-Up and Upside-Down competitions, where Pat Bowden proved to be the King of the tricks.

Right Side Up

In the Best Trick Right-Side-Up competition, each rider had two chances to take to the ramps and pull off the best trick possible. Bowden claimed victory by showcasing his heart-stopping tricks like a Holy Grab to Double Hart-Attack Lookback and a Holy Grab to Rock Solid Indie. He was joined on the podium by crowd-favourite Genki Watanabein in 2nd place, and Julien Vanstippen, who finished 3rd.

For the Best Trick Upside-Down, the riders had three jumps each to stake their claim. Not content with one first place, Bowden took the top step again to claim the title with a Backflip No Hander, Backflip Cliffhanger and a Backflip Double Grab. Rounding out the podium was Watanabe, who slotted into 2nd place and Dallan Goldman, who grabbed 3rd.

Bowden, winner of the 2024 Best Trick Right-Side-Up and Upside-Down competitions, commented: “It feels awesome as I had no expectations coming here. I didn’t even know if I would be riding until two days ago, as I broke my ankle around 10 days ago. I taped my ankle as best I could before riding, so going home safely with two medals in the bag feels incredible.”

Best Whip Final

After the Best Trick contest, it was time for the evening’s premier event: The Best Whip final. As the sun set, the tempo began to ramp up, with the action only aided by a dazzling pyrotechnics display and a crowd on the edge of their seats. The Best Whip final saw the riders pull out all the stops to unseat reigning champion Vanstippen as King of the Whip. It was a hotly contested battle between Tom Parsons, on-board the Stark Varg electric bike, and the defending champion Vanstippen. Vanstippen stepped it up to ultimately emerge as the 2024 winner and claim the Triple Crown. Parsons followed him in 2nd, and Watanabe claimed 3rd; rounding out the top five were local riders, Dalton Venter and Dallan Goldman, respectively.

Verstappen, the 2024 Best Whip competition winner, commented. “Third time in a row, baby. I’m so stoked and thankful to be back here. The crowd was insane. So claiming my third King of the Whip title in front of them was a fantastic experience. King of the Whip always puts on such a great event. I can’t wait to be back next year battling it out with these amazing riders in front of this crowd!”

KING OF THE WHIP 2024 FINAL RESULTS

Best Whip

1st Julien Vanstippen (Belgium)

2nd Tom Parsons (USA)

3rd Genki Watanabe (Japan)

4th Dalton Venter (South Africa)

5th Dallan Goldman (South Africa)

Best Trick Right Side Up

1st Pat Bowden (Australia)

2nd Genki Watanabe (Japan)

3rd Julien Vanstippen (Belgium)

Best Trick Upside Down

1st Pat Bowden (Australia)

2nd Genki Watanabe (Japan)

3rd Dallan Goldman (South Africa)

#KingoftheWhip

Read more: The Most Crazy Gallery – King Of The Whip

The Most Crazy Gallery – King Of The Whip

by SFT | Oct 20, 2024 | Action Sports

The Most Crazy Gallery – King Of The Whip

The Most Crazy Gallery – all photos @ eric palmer

see also: King of the Whip Set for the Ultimate Showdown in 2024

see also: Monster Energy SA

King of the Whip Set for the Ultimate Showdown in 2024

by SFT | Oct 20, 2024 | Action Sports

The adrenaline-fuelled Action Sports event is presented by LW Mag in association with Ford, Monster Energy, Yamaha, Garmin, Motul, GoPro, Estrella Cerveza and PlayTSOGO.

Doors open at 2 p.m., and fans can meet their favourite riders during the “Pit Walk,” which runs until 3:30 p.m. Proceedings kick off at 4 p.m. and continue into the evening with the final showdown under the night skies and flashes of pyrotechnics.

Best Whip

Riders scoring enough points through the Best Whip qualifying rounds will advance to the semi-finals and finals. Judges will consider style, amplitude and variation when allocating scores.The FMX Best Trick contests are set to take place before the Best Whip finals, featuring both right-side up and up-side down trick categories.Riders will compete for their share of the R250 000.00 cash prize purse and various prizes from the official event partners.

Four-time X-Games medallist Julien Vanstippen (Belgium) will be back to defend his title for the second time, hoping to score the prestigious three-peat. Local Freestyle Motocross star Dallan Goldman will be looking to continue his record of podiuming at every King of the Whip event to date. The event’s top Motocross rider, Jesse Wright, will also be in the mix and is hungry for the win. The list of local and international competing riders will be revealed soon, giving KOTW fans the chance to bet on their favourites

Monster Energy’s internationally endorsed DJ MA1A will be on the Monster Energy rig decks, ensuring next-level vibes and entrainment value. Also making his way back to South Africa is renowned FMX event host Steve Sommerfeld, who will be on the mic and keeping everyone informed throughout the day.

King of the Whip organiser Ryan van der Spuy says, “It’s incredible to see the beast of an event that King of the Whip has evolved into, attracting huge interest locally and internationally. Following two sold-out events, we are excited to bring fans an elevated and unforgettable experience. We’re in for a treat this year!”

Whip (Noun):

A manoeuvre performed on a motorcycle, usually during a motocross or freestyle motocross contest, in which the rider brings the rear of the motorcycle abruptly around to either side. Performed while the machine is airborne off a jump. In extreme whips, the rear of the motorcycle will end up perpendicular to the direction of travel, in addition to the motorcycle being laid flat. The purpose of the whip is to show off, alter the bike’s trajectory in flight, and scrub speed over jumps.

Inviting everyone, families, and friends to witness this highly anticipated, action-packed event. Tickets are available for R200 (standing) and R320 (grandstand seating) at Howler.co.za. Food and beverages will be on sale at the event.

King of the Whip event details:

Date: 23 November 2024

Time: 2 pm onwards

Venue: Montecasino – Montecasino Boulevard (Cnr William Nicol and Witkoppen)

Fourways, Sandton, Johannesburg

Tickets available from R200: https://www.howler.co.za/KOTW2024

#KingoftheWhip

King Of The Whip high-resolution images are available for media outlets.

Distributed by Truth Collective

e. craig@truthcollective.co.za

t. 082 376 4443

Ross Branch Brings World Rally-Raid Title Home

by SFT | Oct 14, 2024 | Action Sports

How does it feel to be a world champion? For Ross Branch, it’s a dream come true. Achieving this milestone in 2024, alongside his second-place finish at the Dakar Rally, makes this season incredibly special for him and the Hero Motorsports team.

The Monster Energy athlete from Botswana arrived at the Rallye du Maroc, the final round of the five-event 2024 W2RC series, as the leader. The battle for the title was still fierce, particularly with Ricky Brabec, the accomplished Dakar winner (2020 and 2024), in second place as a rival.

Brabec’s retirement after the first stage significantly impacted Branch’s strategy. As the first-stage winner, the Hero Motorsports racer no longer had to contend with his main American rival. Instead, he simply needed to finish the race to claim the crown—easier said than done in rally raids, where every detail matters and danger lurks around every corner.

Ross Branch Brings World Rally-Raid Title Home

After five stages and 2468 km, Ross Branch showcased the desert racing skills that have earned him the nickname “Kalahari Ferrari” and could finally celebrate with his team, Hero Motorsport, India’s leading two-wheeler company and one of the biggest players in the world’s bike industry. 

Interview with Ross Branch

Ross, congratulations! What a golden moment!

  Only this crown was missing in such an incredible season that started with a podium finish in Dakar. It means a lot to me and my team; eight years of passionate racing, persistence, and hard work have brought us here.

What’s next?

  A win is a win, and having a world championship on my CV is a great acknowledgement. I have worked my entire life for this, and the team also deserves this championship. But our main goal is to win Dakar. We came close last time, leading in the first week, so we’ll strive to do even better this year.

What was the main challenge?

  Finishing the rally healthy and fit is crucial since Dakar is less than 100 days away. At the same time, it was a competition, and the world title was at stake. It was tricky, but I wanted to win the race for myself and the team. We took it day by day, stage by stage.

What was your mantra during this time?

  No regrets. I came here to give my best, and I didn’t want to leave feeling that I could have done something better. This mindset guarantees that I can fly home with a big smile regardless of the outcome because I did my best.

Sometimes, even slowing down can be dangerous.

  Strategy is always important, especially in a factory team. However, overthinking can be risky. You have to go out there and enjoy it. We ride dirt bikes because we love it. I set my risk limits and adjust accordingly, but when you start overthinking or focusing solely on the championship, you tend to take more risks.

How did your second place at Dakar change your life?

  It didn’t change my mindset since I’ve always aimed to win. What really changed were the lessons we learned to improve. Leading the Dakar, getting lost, recovering, and then dropping down a few places showed that we need to address certain aspects—whether it’s my skills as a rider, the bike, or navigation. So many elements contribute to a rally, and the final result reflects every detail.

What kind of work have you done throughout the season?

  I focused on the small details to improve. I’m still relatively young in rally racing, having started my first Dakar in 2019, so I worked hard on navigation, especially when opening the track and going as fast as possible. I also trained rigorously in the Namibian desert.

Finally, what modifications have you made to the bike?

  This is an evolution. The team has done an incredible job, quickly making significant changes. We adjusted a few things regarding the bike’s weight and the engine, and overall, it’s now 110 per cent better. A big thank you to the team for their hard work.

Looking ahead to Dakar, what is your target?

  We want to win and have a strong lineup with Nacho Cornejo and Sebastian Buhler. Although it’s an individual sport, it’s also a team effort; a strong team is essential.

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Defending Champs Reclaim Titles At The 2024 Street Lines Skate Tournament

by SFT | Oct 14, 2024 | Action Sports

The 2024 Street Lines Skate Tournament took place over the weekend at the renowned Thrashers Skatepark in Pretoria. It was presented by LW Mag and Dragon Energy in association with Converse, Garmin, Balwin Properties and DJI. The fourth edition saw defending event champions and 2024 Olympians Boipelo Awuah (Kimberley) and Brandon Valjalo (Johannesburg) reclaim their titles in the Women’s and Men’s divisions, respectively.

Street Lines has evolved into the biggest Skateboarding contest in South Africa, with the event capped at 70 Skateboarders from across the country competing in the Women’s and Men’s categories. Each year, the level of skating increases, and this year was no different as skaters took to the park in the qualifying rounds looking to score enough points to make it into the finals and compete for their share of the R60 000.00 prize purse and Garmin Instinct 2 Smartwatches.

Defending Champs Reclaim Titles

Each skater had two 45-second runs, with the top-scoring run counting in the qualifying rounds. In contrast, in the finals, each skater had two 45-second runs and four Best Trick attempts, with the top-scoring run and top two best tricks counting towards their final score. Judges considered consistency, difficulty, style, and use of park when making decisions that would see 6 Women and 15 Men advance to the finals.

Women’s Division

In the Women’s division, Street Lines newcomers, Danielle Pan (Johannesburg) and Ashley Gindre (Johannesburg) made their mark by skating the park with confidence and impressing the judges in a closely fought battle for 2nd place. Ashley’s run included a Mellon Grab over the Box, a One Foot Nosegrab on the Quarterpipe and a Boneless on the Bank to secure her 3rd place.

Danielle’s run included a Mellon Grab over the Box and on the Quarterpipe, a Mellon Grab 180 and a Boneless on the Bank to claim 2nd place.

Hot off competing at the Paris Olympics, Boipelo Awuah retained her Street Lines title by winning the event for the fourth time in a row. Her use of park paired with consistency and technical tricks; 50-50 on the Pyramid Rail, Frontboard on the A-Frame Rail, Noseslide on the Pyramid, 50-50 down the big Hubba and 50-50’s straight and down the Pyramid Rail resulted in a dominant performance and scored Awuah above the rest of the field.

Nosegrind down the big Hubba

The Top 15 Men took to the course in an exciting and competitive three-heat Men’s Division final. Jean-marc Johannes (Cape Town) was stylish and consistent throughout the day including tricks like a Lipslide down the Pyramid Rail, Bigspin on the Pyramid Hip, Fakie Noseslide 270 out on the Floor Box and a Nosegrind down the big Hubba into his runs to score his first Street Lines podium in 3rd place.

Ethan Cairns (Cape Town), who won the first-ever Street Lines Skate Tournament in 2021, was looking to secure another victory. Cairns’ runs through the park were solid and fast with technical tricks like his Backside Lipslide on the Pyramid Rail, Overcrook on the A-Frame, Nosegrind on the Converse Feature, Frontside Feeble on the big Rail, Backside 270 Boardslide on the A-Frame, and a Hurricane down the Pyramid Rail. The judges’ score was enough for the runner-up position.

Paris Olympics

Brandon Valjalo has had a busy year competing internationally and at the Paris Olympics but made it back to South Africa just in time to defend his Street Lines title. Valjalo was on-form throughout the day with high-intensity runs stacked with difficult and technical tricks; a huge Indie Shifty over the Box, Switch Tre-Flip on the Bank, 360 Shove-It on the Pyramid Hip, back-to-back 5-0 180 and Nosegrind 180 on the Floor Boxes, 270 Transfer from the Quarter to Bank, 360 Shove-It over the whole Pyramid and a Bigspin Boardslide on the big Rail to be crowned the 2024 Street Lines champion.

The day ended with the Best Trick jam, in which a host of competing skaters participated in the 30-minute jam session down the stair-set featuring rails and hubbas. Notable tricks landed were Ashton Banwell’s 180 Switch Nosegrind Switch heelflip out. Marci Rodrigues’ Flip Backside Tailslide Bigspin Out. Kyle Kheswa’s Hardflip Backside Tailslide to Fakie. Blue Nkomonde’s Bigspin Flip over the stairs to flat. Allan Adams’ Flip Crooked Grind. In the edit, Brandon Valjalo’s Bigspin Backside tailslide to Bigspin out to Fakie took home the Best Trick title and a new DJI Neo Drone.

Street Lines organiser, Ryan van der Spuy says, “It is incredible to see how quickly the Street Lines Skate Tournament has grown into the country’s premier Skateboarding contest. We’re proud to be able to put this event together for the skaters and allow them to showcase their skills. The focus on growth and development of the sport locally is key, and Street Lines is a building block to what the future holds.”

2024 Street Lines Skate Tournament Results

Women:

1st Boipelo Awuah – 91.60 points

2nd Daniele Pan – 35.30

3rd Ashley Gindre – 33.00

4th Zakiswa Lebambo – 26.60

5th Thabiso Mashiyakgomo – 25.00

6th Asiphe Tseek – 8.50

Men:

1st Brandon Valjalo – 197.30 points

2nd Ethan Cairns – 175.00

3rd Jean-marc Johannes – 115.00

4th Karl van Antwerp – 113.50

5th Byron Rhoda – 110.00

6th Siye Matshalilange – 100.30

7th Josh Beukes – 87.60

8th Blue Nkomonde – 77.60

9th Noel Cossa – 67.30

10th Allen Adams – 66.60

11th Terrence Khumalo – 63.00

12th Brad Balie – 53.60

13th Saeed Waggie – 52.00

14th Puddy Zwennis – 49.30

15th Marci Rodrigues – 46.60

#StreetLines

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