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 Zeiss to give you the lowdown.

How did you end up going to the Grand Palais for a contest and what are your expectation from it?
Andy Zeiss: The Red Bull Skylines will be one of the biggest BMX events that have ever taken place in France. It's an invite-only event, meaning 24 top elite pro riders have been invited to come over to Paris to ride in this contest. The ramp park design was made by welll known course designer Nate Wessell who is also building the course in Paris. It consists of amazingly big ramps and will be put up at the Grand Palais, a unique location in Paris so it doesn't get much better than that.

Can you tell something about the format of the event?
Andy Zeiss: The contest will start with 24 riders who will be divided in six groups of four riders. We've talked about the best possible format for the riders and for the crowd. We came up with the jam session format where four riders get 10 minutes to show their best tricks on the course. Each rider then has time to do one more last trick when the 10 minutes are over. After the first round 12 riders will make it to the final. Then it's 3 groups of four people who again get scored on overall impression. 4 people will make it to the super final where each rider has the chance to better their score in the final. If they better their final score, the new score will count. If they don't, their old final score will be taken. The 2nd or 3rd place finishers for instance will have a chance to finish up at a better place.

How does the judging process work at the Red Bull Skylines?
Andy Zeiss: We've got 5 judges and one headjudge who overlooks the scores making sure things are done right. Each judge gives an overall impression which includes criteria such as style, altitude, number of tricks, originality, creativity, and use of the course.

Any final comment?
Andy Zeiss: The Red Bull Skylines will be one of the biggest BMX contests that have ever taken place in France. It's in the heart of France in the middle of Paris. Everyone should come over to witness it. BMX history in the making.