This summer’s UTV Takeover calendar was jam packed with activities, from drag races and group rides to raffles and tire toss competitions. But of everything that gets crammed into each four-day event, there was one attraction that stole the show every time: Huckfest.
The UTV jumping competition stood out as the highlight of the day for most in attendance. After all, who doesn’t want to see side-by-sides hurling themselves 100+ feet across sand? As expected, this year’s Huckfest didn’t disappoint. The event served up new world records and even a little carnage, making for some serious entertainment in the dunes.
Those in attendance at the UTV Takeover Huckfest in Little Sahara saw history being made. And for regular UTV Takeover attendees, it wasn’t the first time.
If you’re familiar with side-by-side distance jumping, Al McBeth is no stranger to you. The Polaris-sponsored rider is known to some as the “Big Air Mile King,” and for good reason. McBeth has broken multiple jumping records in recent years, including a 148-foot snow-to-snow jump and a 223-foot ramp-to-dirt launch.
He’s just as capable in the sand dunes as he is in snow or dirt, which was clear to anyone at Little Sahara State Park on September 19. McBeth and Medusa, his custom 2017 Polaris RZR XP Turbo, showed up with the intention of breaking the sand-to-sand jump world record.
And 215 feet later, they succeeded.
Breaking sand jump records at UTV Takeover is nothing new to McBeth. In June 2017, he executed a 155-foot jump that set a new world record. He then went on to shatter that same record two summers later, with a jump of 188 feet.
McBeth attempted to break his own record once again last month during UTV Takeover’s final stop of the year at Sand Hollow State Park in Utah. But instead of claiming victory, he was met with a more harrowing end. McBeth and Medusa flew more than 200 feet in the air before landing nose-first and rolling several times.
Amazingly, McBeth walked away injury free and with his thumbs up in the air.
Another much-talked-about occurrence on the UTV Takeover 2K20 Tour was an appearance from one of the industry’s youngest up-and-comers.
Twelve-year-old Ruslan “Greasehandz” Yankilevich is a racer and amateur stunt devil who made a big splash in the powersports scene last year after jumping the canal at Glamis.
He served up another impressive stunt during Huckfest at last month’s UTV Takeover event in Coos Bay, with an insane 141-foot jump. That kind of jump would be an accomplishment for any seasoned rider, let alone someone so young.
Ruslan’s jump was made possible by his Addiction Powersports RZR XP Turbo S and none other than Rhino 2.0 Axles. We’re happy to have played a role in such a remarkable feat!
UTV Takeover is a vendor-style expo held at some of the hottest ride spots across the country. The 2020 tour made its way to four parks: Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure in Grundy, VA; Little Sahara State Park in Waynoka, OK; Boxcar Hill Campground in Coos Bay, OR; and Sand Hollow State Park in Hurricane, UT.
Each stop along the tour crammed dozens of races and attractions into a four-day event. The SuperATV team really enjoyed being a part of UTV Takeover 2K20 and we’re already looking forward to next year’s tour!
If you plan on attending next summer, be sure to stop by the SuperATV booth and say hi!
