Red Bull Manny Mania 2012 - Have you entered?

The winner of the 2011 Red Bull Manny Mania skateboarding contest, Moses Adams from Cape Town, executes a highly technical manual during the 2011 final. Adams went no to represent South Africa at the Red Bull Manny Mania grand final in New York, and the winner of the 2012 edition will follow suit, winning an all-expenses paid trip to NYC to take on the world's best skateboarders. (Photo © Tyrone Bradley/Red Bull Photofiles)

One of the most anticipated events on the South African skateboarding calendar, Red Bull Manny Mania, is set to embrace the digital realm this year, with entries to the event being via online video submission. Scheduled to take place on 9 June 2012 at the Wave House in Gateway, Durban, skaters wanting to enter can upload a 45 second video edit showcasing their skills on a manual pad to the international ‘Red Bull Manny Mania’ Facebook Page to stand a chance of qualifying for the final.

Centered around the ‘manual’ trick aka, the ‘manny’, the 2012 edition of Red Bull Manny Mania will be the third installment of the contest locally.  A Manny is essentially a skateboarding 'wheelie' - a balancing act that is a must-do in any new skateboarder’s skill set but can be made extremely difficult with limitless combinations.

The top three in the 2011 event - Moses Adams, Dlamini Dlamini and Dada Marumo - will automatically qualify for the 2012 final at Wave House. The skater that takes the 2012 Red Bull Manny Mania title will win an all-expenses paid trip to New York, USA, to represent South Africa in the world Red Bull Manny Mania world amateur finals.

Last year’s winner, Moses Adams, is looking forward to this year’s competition: “Getting to go to New York to represent South Africa was such a big experience for me and I really enjoyed it. I’m going to do my best to defend my title and go to the world finals again this year.”

Red Bull Manny Mania has seen thousands of participants put their two wheels to the ground in Red Bull Manny Mania events across the globe, from America and Europe, to Africa and the Middle East. Who will join the best this year? Who will be the chairman of the United Nations of skate? Red Bull Manny Mania 2012 provides an opportunity for one skater to battle their way from their neighbourhood streets to the biggest stage in the world.

To enter, head to www.facebook.com/redbullmannymania.



*Entry into Red Bull Manny Mania is restricted to:
- Anyone aged 14 (as of June 9, 2012) or older who is a resident of South Africa.
- Amateur athletes (i.e. those who have entered a contest at the professional level at any point or have had a signature product sold in stores or received royalties from a product are not allowed to enter the competition.)

List of participating countries:
Argentina
Australia
Belarus
Belgium
Bolivia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Denmark
France
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
Netherlands
Peru
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States

For further information contact Hayley Venter on hayley.venter@za.redbull.com or 0839626755.

Manny Mania South Africa

Skaters in Jozi had a busy weekend with both the JHB qualifiers, on Saturday, followed the next day by the SA Finals of the Red Bull Manny Mania.

Kanya looked pretty stoked to make the Finals.

Kanya Spani of Sandown won the qualifier for Red Bull Manny Mania 2011 at the Revolution Skate Park in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.  He and 3 other qualifiers the event went on to compete in the South Africa finals of Red Bull Manny Mania, the largest international event for amateur manual skaters.

“I feel really stoked about winning. It was unexpected, so I’m really stoked. I'm a little nervous about the final, but I know most of the skaters so it's going to be fun.”

The Manny Mania 2011 Finalists

From 32 competitors at the event today, the three other skaters selected to compete in the final included: Anthony Monalonca, Dada Marumo and Michael Bervoets.

Moses on his way to the win.

The final day kicked off and the pressure was on. In the end Dlamini Dlamini from La Lucia and Dada Marumo from Johannesburg finished second and third, receiving prizes from Session magazine and Element.

According to Red Bull Manny Mania judge Brendan Body of Session magazine it was a very difficult competition to judge, due to the high level of skating. 

Moses Adams from Milnerton was the winner of Red Bull Manny Mania 2011 in South Africa, held at the Revolution Skate Park in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.  He beat out 12 other finalists at the South African finals as part of the largest international event for amateur manual skaters.

“I didn't expect to win, but gave it my all. At the end my legs were so tired and numb, so I just tried to act like I was alone at the park skating. And I thought, if I can pull this off then maybe I can win. The event was awesome, I had fun and now I'm exhausted.”

Moses Adams will be flown to New York City on an all expenses paid trip to represent South Africa at the Red Bull Manny Mania World Final for amateurs on August 20, 2011. The winner of this event will get a chance to step into the big leagues by competing in the invite-only Red Bull Manny Mania Pro Event, on Sunday, August 21 in New York City.

For more information on Red Bull Manny Mania:

• Visit www.redbull.co.za
• Follow @RedBullZA (#MannyManiaZA)

All images: Red Bull Media House / Tyrone Bradley