Photos and words: Chris Corbett
Cover: Lane Weaver 50-50 front flip gap zone 1
REDBULL HEAVY METAL: Montréal 2026
It’s never been known as easy.
It’s never been known as a chill event.
Ever since the first Heavy Metal back in 2002 at Niagara Falls, just north of Buffalo, New York the chill factor was thrown out the window and it lived up to it’s name as being HEAVY!!
Continuing year after year and only getting gnarlier as time has gone on, Heavy Metal has been to some legendary spots. Giving nods to notable street locations such as Minnesota’s Capitol Building rail and Scott Blum’s infamous hand plant in Detroits Hart Plaza and Downtown Boston. It was only right the tour took its ode to Canada’s street Mecca, Québec.
With an exhilarating month of the Olympics, what better place to host than Montéal’s Hochelaga residing underneath the looming tower of the Olympic Stadium.
Seb (Seb Toots) has been hitting the streets of Québec for the last decade and a bit and looks back on the zone when Max Legendre hit a 50 front 3 over 20 years ago. With the area already being hit hard Red Bull had to come out the gate with something crazy and they did NOT disappoint!
Arguable (and commented by riders) the gnarliest set up of the tour so far it only felt right to have it in Montréal and give those homage to the heavy hitters of the streets.
OJO FOREVER.
Montréal showed up in force to support the local scene and see their favourite riders throw down.
From Canadian Olympic Team rider and QC local Laurie Blouin to US heavy hitters Pat Fava, Veda Hallen and some up and coming riders like Oliver Hume showing their love for the steel.
The riders weren’t the only big names with Craig McMorris as MC and Canadian street gods Frank April and Louif Paradis making up half of the judging panel to tie in an all round goated event.
With all the legends said and done it was the up and comer’s that surprised the judges and the crowd with Lane Weaver, Veda Hallen and Truth Smith taking the Zone wins. But the ultimate winners of the day were Ontario born Montreal based Maddox Matte and Aussie Mela Stalker hitting each and every zone with steez, technical skills and boosting out the stadium to lock in as Montréal’s first Heavy Metal Winners.
