Courtesy of Red Bull Newsroom
Guide to the 2017 edition of the iconic BMX and skateboard indoor event.
When the planet’s best riders and skaters line up in Estonian capital Tallinn this week for the second year in a row, it will represent the 17th year that Simple Session has provided a platform to show off their skills.
The BMX and skateboarding extravaganza will be held in the fan friendly Saku Arena where competitors from over 30 countries will be pitted against each other ending in two days of intense weekend battle.
Estonian pre-qualifications and international wildcards play out on Wednesday February 1 with training on Thursday 2 and Friday 3.
Qualifiers start on the morning of Saturday 4 with the cream of the crop fighting it out on Sunday 5 as the event draws to a close.
This year’s edition is also part of World Cup Skateboarding, giving added incentive for the skaters to try and pull off their most insane tricks.
Once the action has finished on the bikes and boards, the athletes and crowds will unwind at the infamous Simple Session after-parties.
Sports and disciplines
BMX Park
BMX Street
Skateboarding Park
Skateboarding Street
Red Bull Best Trick Contest
What will the schedule look like?
Saturday’s skateboarding qualification opens with an introductory 30-second cruise followed by a four-minute jam format comprising of four skaters.
The 12 best skaters on Saturday go into the Sunday Finals with each skater given two individual one-minute runs to impress with the best run counting.
BMX contestants take turns on Saturday in eight-minute jam sessions with four riders in each group getting roughly two one-minute runs in.
The BMX Street Finals will also be in jam groups of four with each rider given three roughly one-minute runs over 12 minutes, counting the best two runs and scoring every run. One run is a scratch.
Lastly, the BMX Park Finals are three individual one-minute runs counting the best two runs and scoring every run. One run is a scratch.
What will the competitors be judged on?
Flow, style, creativity, use of course, amplitude/height, number of tricks shown in their run, originality, difficulty of tricks, crashes/foot-downs/perfect runs, NBD’s, consistency, variety of tricks, control of tricks, bike/skate control, landings and execution.
What is different from Simple Session 16?
Simple Session 17 is slightly different from last time out because it will be split into park and street disciplines, allowing the riders to attack the course like never before. It promises to be epic entertainment!
Pick of the best tricks in recent years
2012 – Tony Neyer’s BMX hangover toothpick over to switch toothpick.
2014 – BMX star Dan Paley won with a 360 to crooked grind to 180 out.
2015 – Alex Donnachie’s BMX 360 gap across two wedges to manual 180 off.
Who to look out for?
There are 150 elite athletes turning up to wow the crowds with the likes of Courage Adams, Simone Barraco, Pat Casey, Daniel Dhers, Alex Donnachie, Tom Dugan, Dan Foley, Dawid Godziek, Bruno Hoffmann, Alex Kennedy, Ben Lewis, Ryan Nyquist, Victor Peraza, Anthony Perrin, Garrett Reynolds and Reed Stark all looking to build on their glowing reputations.
Watch the Simple Session Finals on Red Bull TV HERE.
