LET BATTLE COMMENCE!

OLD-SKOOL VERSUS NU-SU AT THE MALVERNS ROUND OF DIRT WARS

- WILL SOPPE

Riders have been doing tricks on bikes ever since they were invented. Early MTBs weren't great for this but by the late '90s, frames had become more compact, components more durable and, with a healthy dollop of BMX influence, a thriving dirt jumping scene developed. The UK led the way, with riders such as Steve Geall, Sam Pilgrim, Jim Davage, Grant 'Chopper' Fielder and Chris Smith introducing tricks never before seen on a mountain bike and becoming regular fixtures in the pages of MBUK and at trail spots across the country. Fast-forward through numerous NEC bike shows, jump jams and international contests, and you arrive at the present-day scene, spearheaded by the FMBA internationally and the Dirt Wars series here in the UK.

This summer's final round at the GT Bicycles Malverns Classic was the perfect opportunity to see how things have changed - and whether the sport's veterans can still teach the young guns some tricks!

FLIPPIN' ECK!

Back in the early '00s, a contestwinning run would typically consist of a variety of limb variations, such as can-cans, and basic tricks like X-ups and 360s. That won't cut the mustard these days, though. As we watch from the sidelines at the Malverns, Ashley Clark impresses with a backflip, tuck no-hander and frontflip; Sam Lewington-Booth one-ups him with a tailwhip, 360 and 360 tailwhip; and then Dan Vickery throws down a backflip, Superman seatgrab and 360-tabletop-to-X-up.