Bruno Top Canadian Baller

Jaime “Magnet” Bruno Crowned Canada’s Freestyle Soccer Champion
3 Minutes, 2 Players, 1 Ball. The rules of Red Bull Street Style are simple, the skill level immense. In today’s National Final at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto, 16 of Canada’s best ballers displayed their unique flow of control, style and creativity, battling head-to-head in a fight to claim the title of Canada’s best soccer freestyler, and earn a spot in the Red Bull Street Style World Final on April 15-16 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Ultimately one freestyler grabbed the spotlight and crown, displaying innovative style and astonishing creativity in his body use. Magnet made the ball dance effortlessly with his deft footwork with tricks like “Double facewash into an ear-stall” and “Lying down eye-stall with shoe-stall on the ball” – to beat out 15 other top freestylers from across the country.

“It’s the best day of my life. I didn’t spend one day without my ball. My goal for this year was to make at least the top 16,” said 20 year old Canadian Red Bull Street Style Champion Magnet. “It’s such a good feeling.”

2008 Canadian Champion Jose “Avalos” Avalos from Toronto came in a close second place, with his extraordinary display of fancy footwork and ball control that impressed the panel of celebrity judges, which included soccer commentator for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and former professional soccer player – Jason De Vos, Toronto FC star midfielder – Dwayne De Rosario, and legendary B-Boy Benzo. Alexandre “Alex” Tremblay from St-Nicolas, QC finished in third place. “It’s a big surprise. The guys have a different style than me so I didn’t know what to expect,” said Alex.

“I felt it was fantastic. We really need to improve the ball skills in Canada. It’s all about confidence of trying new skills. It’s a real asset of bringing skill in front of a massive crowd like today. It’s really good for kids to see high hand competition like Red Bull Street Style. The one piece of advice for Magnet is to let go and be yourself. Do what you’re good at,” said control judge Jason De Vos.

Creativity judge and Toronto FC’s 2009 MVP, Dwayne De Rosario was also on hand to witness the crowning of Canada’s champion. “The competitors all kept their composures. Magnet got the fans involved. It’s a great honour to have him represent Canada,” said Dwayne De Rosario.

Red Bull Street Style offers to the world’s best freestyle soccer players the opportunity to compete and display their unique flow of control, style and creativity. Freestylers face off on a special stage, alternating ball possession every 30 seconds while displaying their most wicked ball tricks to beat their rival and move on to the next round. Freestyle players are known to have the unique ability to control the movement of a soccer ball in a way that it transcends into a fluid motion of ball and player.

Over the past few weeks, 14 of Canada’s most talented ballers earned their tickets to the National Final after battling it out head-to-head in each of the qualifying rounds in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. With moves like pancakes, side kicks and rainbows, the competitors gave it all they got and were judged on control, style and creativity. After displaying their electrifying ‘feets’ of freestyle soccer, the top qualifiers were set to scuffle at the National Final, showcasing their skills and agility as they vied for a spot in the upcoming World Final. Joining the 14 competitors were two on-line winners who submitted their videos proving why they should be competing with Canada’s most talented ballers.

“It’s amazing to see the development of freestyle within a year. Kids are getting better as they are using more their imagination. Today, I felt the energy of the crowd,” said pioneer of Freestyle Soccer Steve “Eli Freeze” Elias.

For additional information about the World Final, please visit the Red Bull Street Style website.