"Everyone thought we were insane when we first proposed the idea, but now we're all laughing about how it gets bigger and bigger every year," says Clayton Shoemaker, Bear Mountain's youth marketing manager. "Kids are excited about the coming season so the timing is right for a big event. The challenge is continuing to come up with unique ideas to make the competition compelling for riders and spectators."

This year, the rider list was stacked with the likes of Ryan Paul, Ted Borland, Dylan Alito, Zak Hale, Brandon Hobush, Scott Vine, Nick Visconti, Yale Cousino, Brandon Concard, Forest Bailey, Johnny Lazz, Mike Casanova, Matty Mo and Jake Kuzyk, to name a few. The course included a gap to closeout rail or wall ride option on the rider's right side. The rider's left side was a downhill handrail and box on either side of the gap over a planter box filled with dirt, shrubs and trees.

Twenty thousand dollars was on the line propelling riders to let it all hang out as they competed in three, one-hour heats through the afternoon. Mike Casanova landed a perfect Switch Hardway to Back 5 off on the far rider's right down rail on the planter box feature to win the Red Bull Best Trick and $5000. Jess Kimura held it down for the ladies winning the best trick and $1000. Johnny Lazz was on top of his game which was good enough for third and $2500, and Canadian Jake Kuzyk rode smooth all day to take second and $4000. First place went to Nick Visconti who landed his tricks with style and pulled some unconventional crowd pleasers like his 5-0 through the Red Bull planter box to front flip out, a couple of one-footer wall-ride variations and his patented tuck-knee boardslide.

Matt Devino Nick Visconti, tuck-knee master. Not here, but you know... generally.

"The level of riding was amazing," said Nick Visconti. "Literally on another level. Any one of the competitors could have taken first because everyone was destroying it."

The full day of HDHR festivities were caped off with two major movie premiers including People's "Cheers" and Bear Mountain's ultimate park movie, "Paint It Red." Then it was off to the after party to celebrate the celebration. Now it's time for Mother Nature to do her part and get this season going.