2014 Dirt Shark Biggest Whip Preview

The Dirt Shark has circled back to strike again. Blood is in the water and only one will survive the fierce fight that will be the 2014 Dirt Shark Biggest Whip contest at the shark tank that will be this Saturday’s Monster Energy Cup. The world’s best whip pilots — those who apply hubris and aptitude to altitude — will all take to the heavens of Las Vegas in a full-on aerial assault of Sam Boyd Stadium.

“Last year was sick,” proclaimed the marauding Dirt Shark himself. “For this year, it’s simple: The biggest names, biggest purse, biggest dirt-to-dirt hit, biggest kickass trophy, biggest whip contest. Got it?! Good. I’ve got to get back to lurkin’.”

When asked for his take on the new surface-to-air set-up, Jeremy ‘Twitch’ Stenberg scoffed, “I think this year is going to be way more bad-ass than last year because this year is a new format and the jump is dirt-to-dirt. Being a dirt hit, a lot of dudes who can whip it really big on the ramp are going to have so much trouble when it comes to the dirt whip! I’m just laughing right now! The dudes that end up in the top three after this thing is all said and done will be the dudes that can actually ride a bike and have the skills.”

Interestingly, Josh Hansen, no stranger to taking big chances (both on and off the track) will not only be competing in the Dirt Shark Biggest Whip contest, but racing in the Monster Energy Cup as well. “I’ve heard some of the guys say I’ll have an unfair advantage because I’ll be out racing on the track and hitting the Biggest Whip jump lip all day,” said Hansen. “I’ve even heard the Twitch is going to protest me to the AMA officials. Whatever. Haters are gonna hate. I’m going to take it to all of them, man. I want that bad-ass Dirt Shark Biggest Whip trophy. You see that thing? Man, it’s so sick!”

And turning the screw on the whole big sky grudge match will be an all-new event format. Joining pre-qualified fighter pilots, Tom Parsons, Josh Hansen, Jeremy Stenberg, Todd Potter and Edgar Torrenteras — all former X Games Best Whip Gold Medalists — will be three additional riders who will transfer to the main event via a Saturday afternoon qualifier set to run in the cacophonous Sam Boyd parking lots. And when the all-conclusive Dirt Shark Biggest Whip goes down at promptly 8:00 PM, each of the eight riders will get only two passes to throw out their best turn up, turn down and seat bounce whips. Subsequently, the three riders who impress the judges the most will then face-off in the Podium Session where they will each throw their two very best whips. Best scored Biggest Whip wins. Enough said.

“I won here last year and, well, the whole thing changed my life. It’s just crazy how it all worked out,” said reigning Dirt Shark Biggest Whip champ and 2014 X Games Best Whip Gold Medalist, Tom Parsons. “The new dirt-to-dirt jump will change it all up quite a bit. On a ramp you’re used to it and you’re dialed-in, you know exactly how it feels. When you throw in a dirt face, there are so many different things involved. There can be ruts and the face can change as it’s dirt. The dirt jump will make a huge difference on what kind of whips we can throw and how big we’ll be able to go. And with the new format, you’re pretty much going to have to go and throw what you can right away. You’re going to have to try and be as consistent and perfect as you can.”

And can he win again?

“You know, now that I’ve won Biggest Whip and X Games, I kind of feel like I have a target on my back. Before I was just kind of in the background. Then I came out and won these things to where I’m now one of the guys that everybody is looking at. I’m going to win, but the competition will be fierce. The fans will love it.”

Pre-Qualified Riders (All X Games Best Whip Gold Medalists):

Tom Parsons
Josh Hansen
Jeremy Stenberg
Todd Potter
Edgar Torrenteras

Qualifying Riders:

James Carter
Jarryd McNeil
Ronnie Renner
Destin Cantrell
Brett Cue
Nate Adams
Beau Bamburg