Monster Energy FMX High Rollers, In Review
Welcome to Vegas
FMX crews from near and far descended on Monster Cup weekend for the first time for the inaugural Monster FMX High Rollers event in Las Vegas earlier this month, a temporary FMX venue adjacent to Sam Boyd Stadium.
FMX crews from near and far descended on Monster Cup weekend for the first time for the inaugural Monster FMX High Rollers event in Las Vegas earlier this month, a temporary FMX venue adjacent to Sam Boyd Stadium.
Practice day
Practice day was a chance for the various athletes to catch up since the last time they'd seen each other. Kris Foster, Jackson Strong and Josh Penner share a laugh over stories.
Practice day was a chance for the various athletes to catch up since the last time they'd seen each other. Kris Foster, Jackson Strong and Josh Penner share a laugh over stories.
Build a bike
The morning of practice day, riders like Harry Bink were busy with final adjustments on their bikes.
The morning of practice day, riders like Harry Bink were busy with final adjustments on their bikes.
Planes and trains
Wind delayed the start of practice sessions, so riders were hungry to get out on course, with trains of athletes heading over the ramps in the shadow of planes landing at nearby McCarran Airport.
Wind delayed the start of practice sessions, so riders were hungry to get out on course, with trains of athletes heading over the ramps in the shadow of planes landing at nearby McCarran Airport.
Getting the shot
While riders used practice day to work through their bag of tricks, the camera crews lined up their shots.
While riders used practice day to work through their bag of tricks, the camera crews lined up their shots.
Bike check
On the midday break, Bryce Hudson walked Brandon Graham through the intricacies of an FMX moto setup.
On the midday break, Bryce Hudson walked Brandon Graham through the intricacies of an FMX moto setup.
Two-stroke smoke
Blake "Bilko" Williams wasted no time in tuning his favorite two-stroke mini, circling the event site between practices with mini wheelies and burnouts to boot.
Blake "Bilko" Williams wasted no time in tuning his favorite two-stroke mini, circling the event site between practices with mini wheelies and burnouts to boot.
Late day practice
In the day's second practice session, Levi Sherwood and Harry Bink got in their reps as the winds continued to gust.
In the day's second practice session, Levi Sherwood and Harry Bink got in their reps as the winds continued to gust.
Moto meetup
An all hands on deck rider meeting closed out the practice day, as sport organizer Eric Peronnard reviewed adjustments to the next days schedule to avoid forecast late day winds and ensure rider safety.
An all hands on deck rider meeting closed out the practice day, as sport organizer Eric Peronnard reviewed adjustments to the next days schedule to avoid forecast late day winds and ensure rider safety.
Cheat sheet
On Saturday morning of the competition, with finals close at hand, riders like Levi Sherwood were adapting planned tricks to suit the windy conditions.
On Saturday morning of the competition, with finals close at hand, riders like Levi Sherwood were adapting planned tricks to suit the windy conditions.
Morning quarters
The adjusted start times for finals day had the riders hitting the massive 18-foot quarter pipe to start the day. While Axell Hodges had been boosting some of the largest airs of practice, it was Jarryd McNeil who bounced back from an early hand injury to land the biggest hit of the morning, taking home the win.
The adjusted start times for finals day had the riders hitting the massive 18-foot quarter pipe to start the day. While Axell Hodges had been boosting some of the largest airs of practice, it was Jarryd McNeil who bounced back from an early hand injury to land the biggest hit of the morning, taking home the win.
Strong style
With the FMX competition under way, perennial favorite Jackson Strong dug into his bag of tricks overlooking the Vegas valley.
With the FMX competition under way, perennial favorite Jackson Strong dug into his bag of tricks overlooking the Vegas valley.
Experience matters
The wind continued to build, so the confidence in challenging conditions and simple clean style of veterans like Adam Jones beat out a heavy field of up and coming talents for podium positions.
The wind continued to build, so the confidence in challenging conditions and simple clean style of veterans like Adam Jones beat out a heavy field of up and coming talents for podium positions.
Watchful eye
Course officials kept a close eye on Levi Sherwood and fellow riders as the dust swirled.
Course officials kept a close eye on Levi Sherwood and fellow riders as the dust swirled.
Taka's territory
Taka Higashino's use of multiple features of the course and bold riding in challenging conditions reaped the reward of a top podium spot.
Taka Higashino's use of multiple features of the course and bold riding in challenging conditions reaped the reward of a top podium spot.
Family affair
Back to the pits for a break before the Best Whip contest, riders gathered with friends and bike maintenance became a family affair for Destin Cantrell's wife and daughter.
Back to the pits for a break before the Best Whip contest, riders gathered with friends and bike maintenance became a family affair for Destin Cantrell's wife and daughter.
Fan frenzy
With the Best Whip contest going off as originally scheduled in the afternoon, the fans were out in force to celebrate the massive airs.
With the Best Whip contest going off as originally scheduled in the afternoon, the fans were out in force to celebrate the massive airs.
Bilko's broadcast
With Blake "Bilko" Williams out of the competition with a pulled calf muscle, he put himself to work covering the stacked field of friends in Best Whip.
With Blake "Bilko" Williams out of the competition with a pulled calf muscle, he put himself to work covering the stacked field of friends in Best Whip.
Real Moto live
Real Moto silver medalist Kris Foster put on a whip show for the fans.
Real Moto silver medalist Kris Foster put on a whip show for the fans.
Fan favorite
Veteran Beau Bamberg put on a show for fans as riders pushed each other in to tweaking bigger and bigger whips.
Veteran Beau Bamberg put on a show for fans as riders pushed each other in to tweaking bigger and bigger whips.
Destin'd for podium
Destin Cantrell kept working his way through the rounds to a final podium position.
Destin Cantrell kept working his way through the rounds to a final podium position.
Parsons' peak
X Games gold medalist Tom Parsons continues to push the boundaries of Best Whip, going higher and more inverted than his fellow competitors to lock up the winning spot.
X Games gold medalist Tom Parsons continues to push the boundaries of Best Whip, going higher and more inverted than his fellow competitors to lock up the winning spot.
The showman
Always the showman, Jarryd McNeil backed up his early Quarterpipe gold with a Best Whip silver and his signature burnouts to the gathered fans.
Always the showman, Jarryd McNeil backed up his early Quarterpipe gold with a Best Whip silver and his signature burnouts to the gathered fans.