CHICAGO, IL, Nov 06, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — More than 5,000 Chicagoans witnessed seven of the world’s best snowmobilers battle head-to-head, showing off their best freestyle moves right outside the iconic Wrigley Field during Red Bull Fuel + Fury. The participants broke out their best tricks, including the Hart Attack, Kiss of Death Flip, Cliffhanger, Superman and Indian Air. While everyone broke out their best moves, Daniel Bodin sealed his win when he debuted the Shaolin Backflip, the first time this trick has ever been performed in any competition. Making the winning moment even more special, Bodin received his trophy from legendary baseball player Ernie Banks.
“This is just amazing,” said Bodin on what it was like to win in Chicago. “There’s a lot of history here, it’s only the 5th of November so we didn’t have snow, but the crowd was screaming and to get a first place win, I mean, it’s the best start to the season. Now I want to go more, harder, stronger and kill it this year.”
This year’s Red Bull Fuel + Fury competition put a spin on what is traditionally a winter sport, taking out the snow and challenging the riders to go head-to-head in a double elimination format on an urbanized track of dirt mounds, turf and steel “kicker” jumps. This event marked the first time Red Bull Fuel + Fury landed in the heart of a major metropolis.
The competition, hosted by seven-time Winter X Games medalist Levi LaVallee, was judged by industry heavyweights Drake McElroy, Dylan Harju, Paul Thacker, Jack Rowe and Greg Hartman. The judging criteria included flight height (air), execution of trick and landing. Other competitors included snowmobiling all-stars Cory Davis, Fred Rasmussen, Ted Culbertson, and Jeff Mullin. Second place was awarded to Heath Frisby and Jimmy “Blaze” Fejes was awarded third.
Bodin earned legendary status in 2008 when he set the world record for longest backflip on a snowmobile, propelling his machine to a massive 147 feet. A true motorsports ambassador, he continues to push the boundaries no matter what the terrain.
HISTORY OF RED BULL FUEL + FURY
In 2003, snowmobile pioneer Jay Quinlan executed the first-ever backflip on a sled en route to winning the inaugural Red Bull Fuel + Fury in Jackson, WY. In 2004 and 2005, he returned to the event, which moved to the abandoned Pabst brewery in Milwaukee, WI, wowing the crowds with back-to-back backflips in 2004. The competition returned to its backcountry roots in Alaska in 2006. The 2011 competition marks a much-anticipated comeback on the biggest stage yet. For the latest updates, visit www.redbullusa.com/fuelandfury .