Many are called but few are chosen

... for Red Bull Manny Mania: 12 skate pros and 50 talented amateurs will be showing their best tricks from May 19 in US cities. The best of them will be competing for the title of Manny Masters at the end of summer in New York.

Jumps, landings and spectacular tricks on two wheels are usually better known from BMXers and FMXers. The Red Bull Manny Mania contestants will carry out their two-wheel contest on skateboards. “Manual is a synonym for wheelie”, explains Carleton Curtis from Transworld Skateboarding magazine, “where you balance on one truck or the other. It’s very difficult.” So difficult in fact that only the best from this discipline are allowed to compete in Red Bull Manny Mania.

Looking for the Manny Master 2007

Twelve skate pros will be invited to the events in L.A., Tampa, Austin, Denver, Sacramento, Boston and Louisville. As well, 50 local amateurs, nominated by Red Bull and regional skate shops, will compete at each individual location. Both groups will be matched amongst each other in head-to-head battles on two wheels. As a challenge they’ll have the craziest manny pads ever built at their disposal. The winner of each event will move on towards the finale that will take place on August 12 at Coleman Skatepark in NYC – and where the best Red Bull Manny Maniac will be awarded the honorable title of Manny Master.

King of Manual as “conductor” of the event

Hosting the event series beginning on May 19 in Venice Beach, is the “manual tech wizard” Joey Brezinski – both the founder and undisputed champion of this style. The 24-year-old street skate pro from Santa Monica made a virtue of necessity when, during an injury-enforced break, he was unable to jump on any handrails. He technically perfected particularly ambitious maneuvers and specialised on manual skating. Since his two victories at the Go Skateboarding day comp in Venice he’s known as “King of Manual”. Among other contests, Brezinski has won the Battle of the Shops twice and the Seek and Destroy and the Matix Lord of the Lines once each.