Tickets are sold out, so if you haven’t got your yet best you stayed tuned to our Instagram and Facebook socials as we bring you almost live action as the world’s most fearless riders tear up the ramps at Monte Casino this Saturday!
From sky high whips to tricks that defy belief, fans are in for a jaw dropping spectacle that leave hearts racing and jaws on the ground. The international lineup brings pure FMX chaos, talent, and style, all in one electrifying show.
Japans Genki “Wanky” Watanabe:
A firm South African crowd favourite, Genki “Wanky” Watanabe is one of Japan’s standout FMX showmen, known for his high energy style, technical precision, and a riding personality that’s equal parts fearless and fun. A regular presence in the Asian FMX scene, Wanky has built a reputation for massive extension, clean whips, and a signature flair that instantly sets him apart. Whether he’s throwing stylish tweaked out moves or feeding off the crowd’s energy, he rides with a natural flow that makes every jump look effortless.
“Wanky” isn’t a stranger to South African soil, he lit up King of the Whip last year and walked away as the undisputed crowd favourite. His mix of massive extension, clean whips, and pure showmanship had the fans roaring every time he hit the ramp. Now he’s back, bringing that unmistakable Japanese FMX flavour with him, ready to crank the style even harder and remind SA why he stole the show the first time around.
Frenchman Julien Mannon:
Mannon rolls into South Africa with full throttle French fire and a whip game that snaps harder than a moto hitting the rev limiter. Coming out of France’s gritty FMX underground, Mannon rides with that trademark Euro precision, then throws a whole lot of chaos on top. He’s the kind of rider who can flip the switch from smooth and controlled to “did he really just send that?” in a single jump.
At King of the Whip, he’s not here to blend in. He’s here to shake things up, steal some airtime, and put the international field on notice. Mannon’s whips are long, loud, and loaded with attitude, the type that pop the crowd and make photographers panic to catch the moment.
If anyone’s got the potential to land a surprise knockout run, it’s this French wildcard with horsepower in his veins and zero interest in playing it safe.
Belgiums Julien Vanstippen:
Julien is Belgium’s airborne wrecking ball, a whip assassin with the precision of a surgeon and the attitude of a full throttle hooligan. He comes from a motocross background, but somewhere along the line he discovered he could bend physics further than most riders dare, and the FMX world has never recovered.
A reigning powerhouse on the global whip scene, Vanstippen has stacked serious hardware on international stages and every medal he’s earned comes stamped with maximum style. His whips are violent, beautiful, and borderline illegal. When he leans into a send, the bike doesn’t just turn sideways… it disappears into another timezone and snaps back like a slingshot.
He’s no stranger to South Africa either. When he hit King of the Whip last time, he didn’t just compete, he dominated, leaving the crowd howling and the rest of the field scrambling to decode whatever dark magic he was riding with.
Now he’s back, chasing the sky with the confidence of a man who already knows the crowd will lose their minds. If anyone can tilt the entire event on its axis with a single hit off the ramp, it’s the Belgian Whip King who treats airtime like it’s his home address.
Spains Marc Pinyol:
Pinyol is Spain’s FMX firestarter, the kind of rider who looks at a ramp and immediately wonders how to bend the laws of gravity in a new way. Known for insane trick innovation and a riding style that’s half genius, half chaos engine, Pinyol is one of those rare riders who’d rather invent something impossible than repeat something ordinary.
He’s no stranger to South Africa either, he lit up King of the Whip 2023, taking the crowd by storm and even clinching the “Best Trick” with a stunning California Roll. Every send he pulls off is electric, wild extensions, violent sideways movement, and that unmistakable Spanish flair that makes spectators hold their breath.
Back for another round, Pinyol doesn’t just throw whips, he defies reality. Expect fireworks, expect madness, and expect the unexpected. Marc rides like he has a score to settle with gravity and South Africa is ready for it.
Australias Pat Bowden:
Bowden isn’t just a rider, he’s a whip hurling, airtime defying machine straight out of Australia. Known for a style that’s equal parts savage and smooth, Bowden has a knack for throwing tricks that look impossible until you see him land them with flawless flair.
He’s coming back to South Africa as the reigning King of the Whip Best Trick champion, having taken the crown last year with moves that left the crowd screaming and the competition scrambling. Now he’s here to defend his title, and you can bet he’s dialed in, cranked up, and ready to push the envelope even further.
Bowden’s whips are violent, clean, and ridiculously extended, a perfect mix of raw power and masterful control. When he hits the ramp, the air feels electrified, and every landing is a statement: the Aussie doesn’t just compete, he dominates.
Expect a full throttle assault on gravity, a showcase of daring innovation, and a rider on a mission to prove that last year was just the opening act.
Australias Ry Hazell:
Ry Hazell is Australia’s new airborne daredevil, a rider who treats ramps like launchpads and whips like weapons of mass excitement. Known for fearless sending and a style that’s both smooth and savage, Hazell can flip from clean technical lines to pure chaotic flair in a heartbeat.
He’s built a reputation for high energy runs that keep both fans and competitors on edge, one second you’re catching a perfect whip, the next you’re wondering how he’s still standing after the most insane airtime. Hazell rides with a grin, but don’t be fooled, behind that relaxed Aussie vibe is a competitor with the precision and guts to shake up any event.
At King of the Whip, expect Ry to throw tricks that push the limits of creativity, extension, and pure spectacle. He doesn’t just compete, he ignites the ramp, delivering a ride that’s part show, part chaos, and all adrenaline.
Uganda’s Stav Orland:
Stav is Uganda’s rising MX and FMX prodigy, a young rider with fearless style and raw power that commands attention. At just 20, he’s already making waves on the international stage, blending technical skill with untamed aggression that makes every jump a potential game changer.
Orland rides with the hunger of an underdog and the audacity of a future champion, a combination that can electrify any crowd. Expect high flying whips, jaw dropping airtime, and a rider who isn’t just competing, but staking his claim as Uganda’s first global FMX threat.
At King of the Whip, this is a debut you won’t forget, the crowd’s in for a full-throttle display of style, courage, and pure adrenaline from one of Africa’s fastest-rising talents.
USA’s Vicki Golden:
Golden is America’s two-wheeled firebrand, a rider who refuses to accept limits and rewrites the rules of FMX every time she hits the ramp. She blasted through the motocross ranks as a teen and quickly became a pioneer in freestyle, proving that fearless style and technical mastery can go hand in hand.
Golden is a multiple X Games Women’s Moto-X champion and a trailblazer, known for landing tricks that many thought impossible. Even after a serious leg injury, she returned stronger than ever, smashing records and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on a dirt bike.
At King of the Whip, Vicki doesn’t just ride, she makes statements. Every whip, every flip, every landing carries her signature boldness. She’s built for moments like this: high stakes, high energy, and gravity-defying style that leaves the crowd gasping.
USA’s Wyatt Fontenot:
Wyatt Fontenot is FMX unleashed, a rider who transforms every ramp into a stage for fearless creativity. With lightning-fast reflexes and jaw-dropping style, he pushes tricks to the edge, twisting, whipping, and launching into maneuvers that make crowds hold their breath.
A rising force in freestyle motocross, Wyatt combines technical precision with pure audacity. He thrives on risk, turning high-stakes jumps into moments of sheer spectacle, where gravity is just a suggestion and limits are meant to be shattered.
Every whip, every flip, every landing is an electrifying performance that leaves fans screaming for more. When Wyatt takes flight, expect nothing less than the impossible.
Get ready to witness the impossible, as these global daredevils take on our SA riders and turn every jump into a masterpiece of speed, skill, and audacity. This isn’t just FMX, it’s an international storm of adrenaline, and you won’t want to miss a second.
See you there!!!
