The longer the wait, the greater the anticipation! This is especially true for the Red Bull District Ride, which will finally be back in Nuremberg in late summer 2022 after a five-year break. From 2 to 3 September, the best slopestyle and freeride riders in the world will meet in the Franconian metropolis to find out who will follow in the footsteps of Aaron Chase, Cam McCaul, Sam Pilgrim, Brandon Semenuk and Nicholi Rogatkin. The favourites include high-flyer Emil Johansson and German slopestyle ace Erik Fedko.
Erik Fedko, third in the 2021 Slopestyle World Championship, whose career began with a wild card at the Red Bull District Ride 2017, has big plans for his second appearance at Kaiserburg, Hauptmarkt and Co: "The District Ride was the catalyst for my career. It definitely motivates me to finish well again and achieve a top position. It's the coolest thing to ride through the city and see the cheering crowds everywhere. I just hope it will be like 2017 when I was there for the first time. Mega cool atmosphere, mega crowd, varied course with lots of different features and surprises."
Triple Crown winner Emil Johansson will also be competing in Nuremberg's Old Town for the second time. The Swede is currently the measure of all things and only had to admit defeat to Nicholi Rogatkin (first 1440 on the bike, video: youtu.be/J3pYoolbMMo) at the last District Ride, while second place was enough for him to win the FMB World Tour overall: "The District Ride is a surreal experience. You actually have tunnel vision while riding, but suddenly there are 80,000 people cheering you on. When you get to the final drop at the main market... wow! The Red Bull District Ride is not just a slopestyle or freeride contest - that's my favourite thing about it. It has a lot of skate park riding, but with big jumps, drops and step-downs. The perfect mix. The event is an integral part of our sport and inspires not only die-hard fans, but also a whole new audience. I honestly can't wait!"
Emil Johansson at the District Ride 2017.
Tarek Rasouli, former freeride pro and creator and sports director of the Red Bull District Ride, is delighted to be able to add another spectacular chapter to the city's thousand-year history: "After a five-year break, it feels great to finally organise a District Ride again. Nuremberg is the perfect venue. Aaron Chase has designed an impressive course that promises even more action, especially in the final district. I can't wait for the riders to finally sail off the castle wall again and when I think of them celebrating from the town hall at the end of the course before the final district, I just get a big grin on my face."
The Red Bull District Ride is part of the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour. Of course, there will also be news about the track in the coming weeks, as well as the announcement of a very special new feature.
All current information at www.redbulldistrictride.com
