Next week, Portland will host the largest slope-style mountain bike competition in the U.S.
The Wham Bam Thank You Jam will take place at the HindsightMX Indoor Motorcross Park in North Plains (just a few miles West of downtown Portland) and is expected to attract over 50 of the sport’s top-ranked competitors from around the world.
Slope-style mountain biking is a unique sport that combines BMX and skate park tricks on natural dirt terrain with man-made obstacles such as ramps and jumps.
The event was created by Portland-based entrepreneur and found of Match Videozine Aaron Lutze. He says this type of riding is,
“huge in Europe, with some events seeing over 50,000 spectators…and the U.S. is quickly following suit”.
This is the first of four stops on the Wham Bam tour and Lutze says it’s sure to showcase some great action,
“This is the first event of the year so riders are very excited to try out and share some of the new tricks they’ve been working on during the off season.”
Guy Marsh pulling a “no-brakes-look-back”.]
Aaron has partnered up with former Portlander Landon Holt, seen here at the City Hall Bike Show. Landon has moved to Mt. Hood but his Tonic Fabrications frame building shop remains in Portland. Holt, who plans to unveil a prototype bike at the event, sponsors two pro slope-style riders including Guy Marsh (right) who will ride in next week’s event.
The riders are staying at the stylish Jupiter Hotel on lower Burnside Street, so don’t be surprised if you see some slope-stylers shredding the streets of Portland next week.
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Further info:
- The Wham Bam Thank You Jam will be held at the HindsightMX Indoor MotoCross Track, 29345 NW West Union Road, North Plains, OR. Rider check-in begins Monday, March 5th at 2pm with practice beginning at 4pm. Amateur competition will be held Tuesday March 6th at 2pm with the pro competition beginning at 7pm.
I would love to go but the midweek scheduling is going to cause a problem. Oh well, I will get my slopestyle fix at crankworx 🙂