Creager Wins Manny Mania Finale in New York

Aug 13 2007 / New York City, NY
Over 3500 die hard skateboard fans turned out under the Manhattan Bridge to witness one of the best pro contests New York City has ever seen.  Red Bull Manny Mania brought out top pros from coast to coast in a roaring battle that saw the old school manual wizard Ronnie Creager take the title from Venice winner Joey Brezinski.

A banger filled preliminary round featured skaters like Jereme Rogers, Dennis Busenitz and Josh Kailis. The New York sun wasn't the only thing brining the heat, as Kenny Anderson landed what MC Ryan Clements jokingly nicknamed "The 900" - a backside 180 nose manual, switch 180 nose manual, backside 180 out. Nine advanced to the semifinal with Brezinski leading the field after knocking down techy tricks like a kickflip nose manual to nollie back tail.  As the blaring heat wore downsome of the competitors, the top three advancing to the final were Ronnie Creager, Brandon Biebel and reigning Manny Mania champ Brezinski.


HOT COMBOS

Creager had 12 minutes in the jam format final to dethrone Brezenski andtake home the $10,000 and the best pimp cup this side of Brooklyn.  He did just that nailing a nollie backside flip, fakie nose wheelie to body varial and a kickflip nose manual 360 shove it up. "It was definitely stuff you don't see every day," said head judge Jason Rothmyer.

Brezinski clearly feeling the heat and suffering leg cramps still threw down some insane combos to take 3rd.  Brandon Biebel took a close 2nd with almost every tech trick being blasted off the big box.  The all West Coast (and goofy footed) final didn't bother the local NYC crowd who had the Manhattan Bridge rumbling with a deafening roar every time a banger trick was stuck.

Biebel was a crowd pleaser, flying in from Spain to make the Manny finals. Clements reflected the fans' feelings "I was pretty psyched that Biebel showed up. Seeing someone like that doesn't skate standard contests was cool."

After being announced the big winner the humble Creager was applauding the skills of his fellow skaters, "This event, it was just fun, with all the different obstacles, doing different stuff on it. All the guys that came out, just being able to watch these guys do what they are good at, I get to go home and practice new stuff that I learn from these guys"


THE END OF THE ROAD

For those skate fans who missed the live action, 411vm.com will be replaying the semifinals and finals all week.

The New York final wraps a summer long series that kicked off with a pro contest last May in Venice and rolled across the country with six amateur stops. For more information and to check out all the action from the entire Red Bull Manny Mania tour log onto to www.redbullmannymania.com

1. Ronnie Creager - $10,000
2. Brandon Biebel - $6000
3. Joey Brezinski - $4000
4. Eli Reed - $3000.
5. Malcom Watson - $2000
6. Jereme Rogers - $1000
7. Kenny Anderson - $1000
8. Dennis Busenitz - $1000
9. Forest Kirby -  $1000
10. Enrique Lorenzo
11. Daniel Castillo
12. Rob Gonzales
13. Chris Roberts
14. Josh Kalis
15. Chico Brenes
16. SAD
17. Rodrigo Peterson
18. Danny Montoya
19. Quim Cardona