Red Bull Framed Reactions took place on 8th June 2013 in front of a huge crowd in Amsterdam. For the first time ever, it featured a BMX Park course with reacting parts so innovative riding was always going to be the result, and with 16 of the world’s best freestylers competing, the competition was never going to disappoint.
X Games course designer Nate Wessel was the creator of the huge 1,800 square metre course that sat in the courtyard of the Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam’s Culture Park. In the bowl, riders tried to touch two lanterns which would cause two typical local symbols, a train and a bridge, to come into motion.
Among the line-up was Gary Young, AJ Anaya, Harry Main, Alessandro Barbero, Daniel Sandoval, Daniel Dhers, Ben Hennon, Drew Bezanson and local legend Daniel Wedemeijer who had pulled off an epic backflip over the Passeerdersgracht canal a few weeks previously. However, by the end of the night, it was the Canadian rider Bezanson who impressed the judges the most to take the title from Ben Wallace and Pat Casey.
The contest was part of Amsterdam 2013, a year-long festival marking a number of memorable events, including the opening of the renovated Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum and the 400th anniversary of the Canal Ring, and with the aim of showing that Amsterdam, with its rich history, is also a vibrant, modern and sporty city.