Freestyle Triumph

Freestyle Triumph

Yellow Fever Football Freestyle 2008 Champion Graeson Cooper has just beaten the Aussies in the Reb Bull championship. He will now compete in the World Champs

Legend.

My internet doesn't like the link.

The first ever Australian Red Bull Street Style champion was crowned at Bondi Icebergs! With style, attitude and determination, Graeson Cooper takes the glory and a ticket to the Red Bull Street Style World Final in South Africa next year.

Thousands of spectators packed Bondi Icebergs Club to witness 16 of Australia's top freestyle footballers battle it out in the Red Bull Street Style National Final. Brisbane based football freestyler 18-year-old Graeson Cooper wowed the judges with his fancy footwork to claim the prestigious title of Australia’'s first ever freestyle football champion! Graeson will now go on to represent Australia in the World Final in 2010.

Performed by only a select few athletes worldwide, freestyle football is the art of juggling a football using various parts of the body, whilst simultaneously performing creative, skillful and visually spectacular tricks and dance moves in time with the beat of the music.

The pool at Bondi Icebergs Club was emptied specially for the event, transforming the iconic venue into a freestyle football playground. As the action heated up the waves crashed over the sides of the pool, adding intensity to the atmosphere and creating a spectacular scene for the audience.

Despite being up against 18-year-old Chris Beavon from Football Superstars, Graeson won the judges over in the end with his creative flair, unique tricks and skills and perfect ball control. When he was announced the winner, Graeson was so elated, he was lost for words. However, his words were replaced by celebrating with an entertaining victory dance that made the crowd go wild.

"It has been a dream come true to win the Red Bull Street Style Australian Final,"said Graeson. "The competition was so fierce, I actually had to invent new moves on the spot to beat Chris in the final. To compete with the best at the World Finals will be another dream come true and to make sure I'm prepared, I'll be training 5 hours a day, 7 days a week," he continued.

Among the judges was none other than former Manchester United goalie, Mark Bosnich and John Kosmina, former Sydney FC coach. "The level of talent was amazing today and it was very hard to choose between the 2 finalists, however Graeson just skinned through with a crowd pleasing technical manoeuvre," said Bosnich.

Graeson will be flown to Capetown, South Africa where the World Final in April 2010 will take place, with transfers and accommodation included

Brisbane based? A shame it doesn't mention he's Kiwi.

think he prob had to blag that he was an aussie to enter

Excellent news and good luck to him in SA. Lonegunmen2009-07-19 21:07:07

I could have sworn I saw him on Queen st at like, one in the morning after big day out

yeah that is him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6COX-wEE-M

The guy makes it look like poetry in motion. Such awesome talent - signed, Dead Jealous!

Congratulations, and Goodluck

Awesome!!

Hopefully he will boost about being a Kiwi at the World Champs rather than being Aussie.

Hei Guys thanks for all your great comments!! im still kiwi at heart and i will be shore to mention that while reppin ozzie and of course yellowfever !!

Or Graeson to wear  YF Tee when he performs??

he wore his Retro Ricki when he won the Roar comp at the start of the year which Fever helped fund for him.

I will definitly be getting a custom made shirt b4 i go and will def have yellowfever on it !!!  also cheers again for that support that yellowfever game me in jan !!

faark off

Bugger, I walked past that at the weekend and wondered why the rock pool at Sarf Bondi had been drained....saw all the Red Bull tents too and the folk hanging over the balconies at Icebergs but thought it was a surf comp - would've definitely swung by to cheer Graeson on if I knew it was a freestyle footie comp....

Well done Graeson and best of luck for the Worlds.....

here's the comp on World Game - though I think the audio is poked