Mansour Al Safran’s Mission to build his very own Manmade Skate Park
Try your best to reach the top, advises Red Bull’s very own Mansour Al Safran
Mansour Al Safran, Kuwait’s first pro BMX rider and one of the top in the region, is on a mission to build his very own manmade skate park. His ultimate goal is to utilize the skate park to share his skills, expertise, and passion with the local youth in hopes of progressing their careers.
Al Safran is one of the top sportsmen in his region. He began his career as a flatwater kayaker, competing for four years and earning a place in the Kuwait national team, but he could not hold back his passion for BMX. He made the switch to BMX Freestyle in 2006, making his national debut at the Red Bull Street Style event in Kuwait City the same year. His dream was always to go pro – in his early BMX days, Mansour watched his idols and pro freestyle athletes, learning from the best. He picked up tricks, whips, and skills that saw him ultimately achieve his goal in becoming the first Kuwaiti pro BMX rider. His easy, flowing style has earned him a number of top spots in regional competitions. A bronze medal at a 2013 Asian freestyle tournament in Malaysia was a pivotal moment for the local athlete, as he shredded his way onto the international scene to compete alongside the best. Mansour has found a new passion in passing on his expertise with amateurs and training them under his wings. Through his skate park, he plans to hold continuous workshops throughout the year, teaching the basics of BMX riding.
The skate park will be constructed in Al Abdali, on the border of Kuwait. An area once dominated by agricultural land in the 19th century, Al Abdali has now become a center for camping, barbeques, and amateur bikers, since the discovery of oil in Kuwait.
Construction will be completed with the assistance of Red Bull World BMX champion, Senad Grosic. A fellow Red Bull athlete, Grosic made his mark on the BMX world in 2003, and went on to claim the prestigious titles of Austrian King of Drift and Red Bull Dirt Ride Champion. He has since then continued to compete in contests throughout Europe and in 2010 completed a tour of Saudi Arabia as an ambassador for his sport.
Construction will begin today and will continue until Thursday, November 15.
To stay up to date with the progress of the skate park, follow @RedBullKuwait and @MansourAlSafran on Instagram, @RedBull on Facebook, and @RedBullKuwait on Twitter or visit RedBull.com