Things were going off at 'da grove (Great Lakes International Dragway in Union Grove, Wisconsin) in July when the facility hosted the first-annual Stuntlife.com Freestyle Shootout. More than 1800 spectators streamed through the gates to watch over 75 amateur and pro competitors stunt it out for more than $8000 in prize money. Here are highlights from the event.
Cory Kufahl of D'Aces tied for first place (with PBR's Brandon Ulrich) in the Sickest Trick competition with the aptly named Watchtower, a move he debuted at the Stuntlife.com event. Yes, the bike is in motion. It turned out to be a bittersweet weekend for Kufahl--his tough-as-nails Suzuki TLS, which he has been stunting hard for five years (!), finally blew its motor on Sunday. | 
Point of Balance's David Martin tests the abrasion resistance of Levi's 501 jeans with a stretched-out ape hanger. | 
1096's Thew Blankstrom, who holds the Guinness World Record for longest stoppie, dominated the Longest Stoppie competition. |
This guy had a helluva weekend at 'Da Grove--after totaling his own 954RR when he tossed it twice in one run, he had to borrow a friend's RR for the High-Speed Wheelie contest. | 
A picture-perfect captain America by Point of Balance's David Martin. Martin and teammates Lee Houston and Tim Barnes combined for second in Team Freestyle. | 
Zip Ties might not make the world go 'round, but they're pretty much the only thing that keeps some stunters' bikes together. |
Wheelies, wheelies and more wheelies, everywhere we turn! A nice throttle-hand-free wheelie by Lee Houston of the Dallas-based Point of Balance freestyle team. | 
A stylish, crossover Standup executed by Andy Niles of On One. | 
A nice High-Chair stoppie by the Unknown Stunter. |
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The High-Speed Wheelie contest was not won by this Hayabusa, as you might expect, but by another strong Suzuki: a GSX-R1000 that ran the length of the strip on one wheel and cut the lights at 111 mph. | 
An at-speed Spinderella by Thew Blankstrom, one of the moves that helped him lock up the Pro Individual Freestyle competition. | 
A sick laydown stoppie by Matt Lindamood of Oklahoma City's Asphalt Cowboys. Unknown Lindamood came from nowhere to win the Amateur Freestyle contest with a huge variety of flawless maneuvers. Lindamood definitely has a future in this. |
Many think of Wisconsin as the land of beer and brats, though it looks more like babes and bikes to us. | 
Just a few members of the army of volunteers that kept the Stuntlife.com event running smoothly. | |