Extreme sports in the heat: This is how the weekend went at Munich Mash

“If you land at an angle, it can be dangerous,” explained Lars Kindermann, who took third place behind the Colombian Juan Caicedo and the Englishman Kaine Mitchell. To say it in advance: Even in this 11th edition of the action sports spectacle in the Olympic Park, there were no major injuries despite a few falls, which are simply part of the risky tricks in these crazy sports.

Kindermann has been a professional for three years and has now reached the top 20 in the world rankings and is the best German BMX athlete: “This competition is not only so unique because of its high value and the level of the athletes, it is also one of the best venues I have ever ridden at.” Every competition at this level brings him closer to his big goal: “I want to compete at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.” What’s special about Mash is that so many extreme sports can be seen at the same time, said the 18-year-old. Especially since the action sports scene is known for the fact that the top athletes see themselves less as fierce competitors than as like-minded people. Skateboarders, wakeboarders, BMX riders, mountain bikers and street dancers in one place, something that only happens at the X-Games.

When they withdrew in 2014, Olympiapark München GmbH (OMG) quickly launched Munich Mash under the leadership of managing director Marion Schöne. The risk paid off, and since then spectators have reliably flocked to the Olympiapark in droves. The skateboarders, like BMX Olympics, did not start in the park discipline this time, but returned to their roots with a huge halfpipe. The Italian Alessandro Mazzara won the competition. Among the mountain bikers, who were also back in the program after a ten-year absence, the Swede Alex Alanko triumphed.

The conclusion was traditionally the wakeboard contest, which is the unique selling point of the Mash, as water sports athletes are not part of the X-Games program. Accordingly, the absolute world elite gathers year after year, on Sunday the Brit Liam Peacock had the best finish for himself, Nico von Lerchenfeld was the best German in fifth place, and the Munich local hero Dominik Gührs was over after qualifying.