| Red Bull Ride Day One |
| Big-jumping Australian, Allen, shines through the haze at the 2003 Red Bull Ride. Australian Grant Allen was the only competitor to attempt the daunting 8.5 metre (28 foot) drop on the practice day of the 2003 Red Bull Ride, an international, extreme mountain bike contest at Jindabyne today. Recognised across the globe for his fearless jumping and blasé approach to huge drops, Allen completed his landing flawlessly. Today's effort was a solid endorsement of Allen's reputation in the mountain biking Mecca of North America, and complemented his performance at the 2002 Red Bull Ride, where he was the first to attempt that course's 20ft vertical drop. In intermittently smoky conditions 27 invited competitors from nine countries became the first riders to take on the toughest mountain bike course ever created. Half a dozen bikes were broken and Darren Berrecloth suffered a suspected broken wrist in an eventful day leading up to tomorrow's competition. |
 Aussie Grant Allen busting it metric - 8.5 metres photo Mark Watson courtesy Red Bull Ride |
The new course consists of 13 man-made and natural stunt sections strung over a kilometre of steep and rocky trail, where competitors from nine countries will be judged on technique, control, fluidity and overall impression. The difficulty of the line they take down the mountain is also vital; Allen's giant drop is the largest of four possible drops making up section five of the course.
| Further information on the Red Bull Ride can be sourced at www.redbullride.com. After the event, photography will be available at www.redbull photofiles.com. For further media information contact: Linda Critchlow - 0414 782
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 Unidentified Rider dropping into the Aussie sunset photo Mark Watson |
