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Potter king of the hills in US

American Todd Potter was the king of the hill at the second stop of the 2012 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour on Saturday, mastering the biggest and most challenging course in the history of the sport in front of an enthusiastic Southern California crowd in Glen Helen.

Todd Potter was the master of the 60-foot high step up that scared half of the field away from the biggest hill jump ever included in a Red Bull X-Fighters course to beat Frenchman Thomas Pagès in a thrilling duel of fearless aerial specialists under the blazing heat of Southern California.

American Wes Agee also thrived on the hill-filled California-style track, getting a superb third place in his first-ever competition and winning the Swatch Best Move.

Potter, Pagès and Agee dazzled the afternoon crowd of 15,000 with their breathtaking flips and back flips.

Many of the favourites, including defending champion Dany Torres of Spain and 2012 championship leader Levi Sherwood of New Zealand, opted to skip the awe-inspiring step-up and paid a heavy price for that with the judges, getting knocked out in early rounds against the bolder riders who were not afraid to tackle the beast.

It was a risky leap more than 60 feet up to the top of a cliff – and anyone falling mere inches short of the landing on the rim could end up tumbling straight back down the steep hill.