Russian skater Alex challenges the “Red Bull Bank Job” obstacle in the rain 2
Unlike domestic skateboarding competitions that typically feature multiple obstacles scored in segments, the biggest highlight of the Red Bull Bank Job is concentrating all difficult maneuvers on a single obstacle. Competing skaters can perform flip tricks, grab variations, frontside/backside spins, and other moves on the banked combo obstacle before jumping across a horizontal gap to another banked section, or use the ramp’s incline to launch into the air and clear the vertical Red Bull obstacle onto flat ground. In other words, this setup allows skaters to gap nearly one meter using technical skills, or go for straight-up high-flying stunts. Yuan Fei, a representative of China’s first generation of skaters, said: “This kind of obstacle is rare even in international competitions. It may look simple, but it’s extremely challenging and will definitely attract many skaters eager to take it on.”
According to plan, the Guangzhou stop of the Red Bull Bank Job was scheduled to kick off at 2:00 PM on May 19, with nearly 100 skaters set to compete. The lineup included not only local Guangdong talent but also top skaters from across the country — such as Li Zhixing, a Liaoning Fuxin skater based in Shenzhen, who is regarded by American skateboarding legend Tony Hawk as the future of Chinese skateboarding; Liu Jiaming, who at just 15 years old won a national championship last year and is known for his all-around skills; and Wang Guohua, nicknamed “Little Chicken,” whose refined technique earned praise from China’s skateboarding pioneer Che Lin. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. Ten minutes before the start, the sun-drenched city of Guangzhou suddenly darkened under ominous clouds, and soon after, a heavy rainstorm struck unexpectedly.
Due to the slippery conditions, the competition was deemed unfeasible, and the judges had no choice but to cancel the event. The prize money will be carried over to the next stop, a decision in line with international skateboarding norms. However, the skaters, far from giving up on their fun, gathered at the entrance of Zhonghua Mall next to the venue and refused to leave. An hour and a half later, as the downpour turned into light rain, their enthusiasm reignited. Several skaters entered the venue and expressed to the organizers their desire to take on the never-before-tried Red Bull Bank Job obstacle. Amidst the drizzle, Russians Alex and Sergats stepped up to the starting point. Both young men are university students in Shanghai. Alex has been skating for nearly eight years and began gaining recognition in China’s skateboarding scene after competing in the Dragon sk8 series last year. Although Sergats is still relatively unknown in China, Alex speaks highly of him.
Following the planned route, both started by approaching the gap between the two ramps of the obstacle. With their unique skills, both were eager to show off once airborne. Alex, who went first, attempted a kickflip (flipping the board 360 degrees with his front foot), but the slippery surface led to a failed attempt. Sergats, who followed, tried to execute a shove-it (using his back foot to lift the tail and front foot to flick the board, causing it to spin horizontally) mid-air, aiming to land smoothly after the rotation. But pulling off the landing on a wet obstacle proved tough, and Sergats, holding back on power, ended up falling hard onto the rain-soaked ground. After both had unsuccessful first tries, Alex decided to give it one more shot, this time opting for the most basic trick, an ollie, to clear the gap. However, upon landing, his board flew out from under him, and he slid forward several meters after both feet hit the ground.
Although they didn’t complete their intended tricks, both skaters walked away with insights. Soaked from head to toe, Alex joked: “Pulling off tricks in these conditions is almost impossible, but I’ve already fallen — they haven’t yet.” Sergats added: “The Red Bull Bank Job is really tough. There’s just one obstacle, and you have to pull off high-level tricks without any mistakes. It’s a shame the event was canceled, but I’ll be well-prepared for the next stop.”
Although other skaters were reluctant to give up, the organizers had to call it a day for safety reasons. On June 15, the Red Bull Bank Job will move to Wuhan, and the 10,000 RMB total prize money from the Guangzhou stop will be carried over and awarded in Wuhan.