H2H comp Berlin, Germany. Report by Jochen Bertenhoff

May 29, 2009

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 9207 times

The Highway to Hill (H2H) contest at the Mellowpark in Berlin was one of the German contests that I'd heard good things about but had not chance to visit yet. At the last H2H at the beloved Mellowpark it was time to get there. I should have visited it the year before as well. It all started on Thursday with the traditional BBQ but I was not there as it rained in Berlin.

Friday the program continued with an open session for everyone.

It was a good call to start a contest with an open session. But there were also a few side events. One of them was a soccer game between the Mellowpark team and a team that Bodo Hellwig of Sport Import set up. Bodo's team was able the take home the cup after a thrilling match. 2:1 was the end score. After th

at a team battle followed in the mini ramp which was won by Markus "Monkey" Braumann and Sergej Geier who put on a perfectly synchronized run. The prize was two cases of beer, which was good...for all. After that it was party time.

For Saturday the qualifications were on the program. The crowd decided by votes who made it to the next round. Unfortunately I forgot who all made it...I should have made some notes. Some of the results I have to say were really surprising. The contest was held in two classes and on two disciplines (Park and Dirt). Afterwards it was party time again. No pics as it was hard to combine the partying with taking pictures.

Finals on Sunday. This is where judges took over the scoring again...however I don't have a clue who won as I left before the prize givings took place. 400 kilometers back home had to be made. But in the finals all the latest tricks were done, in both Dirt and Park. It was a treat seeing the trails and the trains that were done.

On Park a slightly dizzy Bjorn "Bommel" Mager showed how a helicopter turns; he pulled a clean flip double whip over the box. Kevin Liehn showed his full program of tricks.

He does the best alley oop flairs in Germany. Is anybody really interested in tricks lists these days? Oh yeah, I have to tell you that Sergej Geier pulled a barspin to icepick to nosepick-footjam on the man's height subbox after two years of trying. (Sergej was the last one to leave the the party I must add).

A big thank you goes to the Mellowpark and their crew of volunteers. It was one of the most relaxed bigger contests that I have visited so far. Really gut.

Jochen Bertenhof