The runaway success of last year’s Ultimate Freeride challenge – where huck-happy hopefuls submit videos of their exploits in the hope of securing sponsorship with Race Face – has persuaded the North Shore component manufacturer to organise a second coming.

The Pop Idol of the freeride world has already projected Canadian, Tyler ‘Super T’ Klassen, into the media spotlight, where he has been travelling the globe filming, and for 2003 Race Face hope to find another new star. The incentive offered is a sponsorship contract with Race Face worth $10,000 US.

“The UFC is really a contest for the people. It’s for those talented riders who haven’t had a good opportunity to showcase their skills to the general public and potential sponsors,” said Race Face’s Marshall Rutman. “It is not a pro-invitational event judged by a small group of people. The UFC is open to anyone who wants to enter and the winner is chosen by the public, through online voting at the Race Face site.”

The rules are simple: entrants must submit a one-minute riding video that represents their view on the current freeride scene. They must also submit an additional 30-second lifestyle segment, which will give the rider a forum to showcase their personality and to explain what freeriding means to them.

A panel of judges will select the crème de la crème and publish them on the Race Face site. From then it’s up to you, the online jury, to decide who out of the ‘sweet 16’ deserves the spoils.

Like last year, the finalists will be flown to California for the Sea Otter Classic, where the votes will be counted and the winner announced.

Europe was very poorly represented in last year’s competition, so all you EU riders who like to go big, get those Mini-DV cams rolling.

A few changes have been made to this year’s Ultimate Freeride Challenge, most notably:

1) All submissions must include a 60-second riding video PLUS a 30 second lifestyle segment on what freeriding means to you.
2) We will only accept submissions with ORIGINAL footage. Footage from previously or soon to be released videos will not be accepted.
3) All videos from our international riders must be in NTSC format.

Once again, creativity is held in high regard.

Submissions will be accepted up until January 31st, 2003 and must include an entry form, which can be downloaded from the Race Face web site: www.raceface.com