The second event in the 2014/15 calender – Style Wars – is halfway over, another interesting Aussie take on the traditional contest format after last week’s Mile High contest.

Rider’s runs are judged on style and trick range over gymnastic ability.

Style Wars day one was an all out jam format where the riders could lap as much as they wanted before calling exactly when their runs would be judged on style and trick range over gymnastic ability, kind of like the annual Vans Hi-Standard up at the Cairngorms.

It was a progress that saw riders able to relax, adapt to the course and try a range of runs rather than just one stock competition charge, testing their all round ability and natural style. It’s a wonder not more competitions are held like this, at the end of the day it provides as much as a spectacle and encourages an alternative to the much derided ‘spin-to-win’ approach of recent years.

The top 15 men and top 4 will go through to the finals, American wizz kid Kyle Mack topping out the runs after day one with a double back 10 japan, front 7 off the toes grabbed tail before heading into the rail section with a 5050 front 180, switch wall ride to back 180 and a boardslide switch up. WL’s favourite ‘Irish’ rider Seamus O’Connor came through in second with the run below.

Stayed tuned for more news as it comes, day 2 will kick off just as we’re headed off to bed here in Euro-land!