Nowhere else do slopestylers get such a big stage as in Nuremberg's Old Town. It's all about fame, money and honour. The idea of the event remains the same for the sixth edition: the best bike acrobats plunge eight metres from the Kaiserburg and cross various districts, i.e. sections of the course that differ in terms of obstacles and jumps, until they reach the main market square. At the end of each run, the athletes roll from the top floor of the town hall onto an XXL wooden wave and take a run-up for the final jump: "This is where we will see the most spectacular jump combinations," says event organiser Tarek Rasouli. The various runs of the 15 athletes will be judged by a seven-member jury based on special criteria.
"You can expect an awesome show!"
Aaron Chase won the first edition of the District Ride in 2005. Now he is designing the course of the mega-event along with its XX districts. Five questions for... the slopestyle legend Chase.
BIKE: Aaron, what can we expect in Nuremberg in September?
Aaron Chase: You can expect an awesome show! This year it's all about making the course even more spectacular than in the previous edition. That's our aim, and that's what people expect from us.
Bigger, more spectacular, more blatant. Is that also in the interests of the athletes who compete there?
You've got it wrong. It's not about making everything bigger, it's about building the course in such a way that the riders can maximise their skills. And yes, that's what the athletes want, and that will make the District Ride 2022 more spectacular than the times before.
The different districts will have different characters. Which of these sections did you like best?
My favourite section is the halfpipe district. There will be elements here that you haven't seen before. I don't want to give any more away. I can't wait to see what tricks the riders will perform here.
You are responsible for the course, develop the course and negotiate with the authorities to obtain licences. What is the biggest challenge?
Perhaps exactly that. I want to realise as many of my visions as possible without having to make too many compromises.
The District Ride is a model for success. No other MTB event is watched by so many people on site. Why doesn't the event take place in London or Paris?
I've asked myself the same thing. Maybe it's the nature of the city. You need a gradient. First and foremost, however, it would fail due to authorisations. The city of Nuremberg supports the event and is motivated to help.
The favourites of the Red Bull District Ride
Ex-slopestyler Peter Henke has revealed his list of favourites:
This is how the Red Bull District Ride works:
The concept: Each of the 15 finalists has two runs and the best run is scored. A seven-member jury awards the points.
The rating is done for air level, difficulty, variety, execution, progression and flow.
Best Trick Award: Friday evening at the final jump on the main market square
From 2 - 3 September 2022, admission free!
