After a crash in qualifiers left Hilder in 14th place, he knew he had to go all in on his last run. The final format allows athletes to rely on their best run out of two, allowing them to take more risks and pack a lot of tricks into a single minute-long attempt. Judges evaluate overall execution, creativity, and difficulty.
“My foot slipped off the pedal in the first run, and I didn’t want to risk big tricks after that, so I had to put all my eggs in one basket and go all in for the last attempt,” said Hilder.
In an exciting final, Hilder started his run with a stylish front tire slide transfer before attacking the entire course with his signature blend of street and park riding. Unique lines like an alley-oop 270 one-handed x-up from the side of the box into the landing kept the energy high, while technical street tricks—including a backward crook on the rail, 180 nose 
press, and locked-in tooth hangers—showcased his precision and control.
On the park side, Hilder delivered a massive Canadian nosepick on the biggest quarter, followed by his now-signature one-handed cannonball seat grab and a double tailwhip transfer. But what sealed the deal was his final trick: a perfectly executed backflip to Smith grind on a downledge, a move that epitomized the creativity and technical mastery that define his riding style.
Hilder edged out Great Britain’s Jordan Clark (93.25) and Japan’s Rim Nakamura (92.25) to take the top spot on the podium, once again proving why he’s a dominant force in BMX.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.