VAKLOGO


Vienna Air King 2011: The first rider's line-up

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Vienna, Austria, March 11th, 2011 - The biking season 2011 is almost here and one of the year's first mountain bike dirt jump contest is approaching even faster. In just three weeks, on April 2nd and 3rd, some of the world's best riders will travel the globe from 14 different nations not only to try and secure a spot on the podium of the Vienna Air King, but also to be off to a perfect start into the 2011 Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour. After all, the kick-off event of the 2011 biking season is also the first stop of this year's FMB World Tour.

The biggest names in the dirt jump universe were invited to Vienna and are ready rock the new course before the eyes of the 100.000 expected visitors on the city square. As an official silver event of the World Tour, the Vienna Air King also draws several riders from overseas to the Austrian Capital. Cameron Zink (USA), winner of last year's FMB World Tour, is intent on securing himself the perfect start to the Tour at this year's kick-off event. Chances are, the competition for this spot will be tough and the biggest threats to his title are not only coming from his four countrymen Goldman, McCaul, Montgomery and Watts. Last year's winner of the Vienna Air King Sam Pilgrim (UK) is not planning on letting go of his title easily and will be sure to try to repeat his victory. However, the invited riders are not the only ones with a chance to take home part of the prize money of 10.000 Euro. As usual, there was a flood of applications from young talents keen on butting heads with the biggest and best. In the pre-qualifiers on Friday, April 2nd, 50 of these riders from all over Europe will battle from 4pm for the 10 coveted spots, which represent their ticket to starting with Zink, Pilgrim, Soderstrom & co in Saturday's qualifying at 2pm. During the finals on Sunday at 2.30pm, the 15 best riders will then fight for the Vienna Air King title.

Here is the preliminary list of invited riders:

The course of the Vienna Air King has been redesigned completely for this year. The layout is turned by 90° and now runs perpendicular to the town hall. This means that the course now has a natural decline allowing the riders to do even higher jumps and sicker tricks. The starting tower sends the riders over a drop into the dirt line over three large doubles and a fruit bowl. All doubles are constructed of wooden kickers and dirt landings; the perfect mix for high-level dirt action.

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VAK2010_action_seq_Sam Pilgrim_superman seatgrab 360_by AleDiLullo

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As a special goodie, the Panasonic Best Trick Award is back this year. On Saturday after the qualifying, the judges will award the best trick in a separate contest. The winner can take home a cash price of €500 and a surprise from Panasonic.

If you don't want to miss out on the spectacle made possible by Raiffeisen Club and Panasonic you should come to Vienna on April 2nd and 3rd to see the Vienna Air King and visit the ARGUS Bike Festival. And be sure not to miss the rider's party where riders and fans meet over some tasty beverages in the U4.

For more information visit the official homepage of the Vienna Air King: https://www.vienna-air-king.at/en/home/index.html

Watch last year's highlights here: https://www.watch26.tv/video/3360

Vienna Air King on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viennaairking

Source: rasoulution | Thomas Wimmer
www.rasoulution.com