Flatmattersonline is 9 Years Old!

As I sit here thinking about what’s next for me and Flatmattersonline, it hit me the website is 9 years old!
I’m taking a moment to reflect on what has come before, and thinking what I can do in the future with the site.
I grew up in an era when you had to imagine how the trick worked from a photograph in a magazine/’zine or wait months sometimes years for contest footage in crappy VCR quality. Nowadays we are asking, where’s the contest footage an hour after the event?

As technology advances, are we spoilt? Day to day videos, sometimes seeing contest footage livestream. Is the internet good for flatland, in many ways yes! Look at the documented progression, to document share and progress as I call it. That’s basically how I see a lot of the flatland world working nowadays, everyone is influenced daily to push their level or at the very least to be entertained daily and to be kept informed of what different riders and scenes are up to. The vast source of information (videos) to take in is of course hard to keep up with. I feel sometimes, videos are overlooked and I’m as guilty of that as anyone. You put so much time and effort and thought into something you feel like it deserves more and it’s up on the top of the site for a few days.

Flatmattersonline has become my second full time job. It’s a labour of love that’s hard to describe to you all, unless your inside it. From the daily requests “hey can you post my video”, to searching online for something new and fresh. From the messages about what kind of bike to buy, or how do I get good at flatland? One thing remains so constant, I love all forms of flatland riding! Whether it’s old school (Old School Sundays was born), mid school (throwback thursdays…), or new school, I always believed and still do believe there’s something to take from every generation that can inspire for that next session your going out on.

During the last 9 years I’ve ticked off some dreams I never thought would happen when I started Flatmatters. I was able to put up the prize money for the Flatmattersonline contest at King of Concrete which will return in 2018. I always wanted to be in a position where I could give back to the sport I love. A few years ago, I ticked off another, I started to think about all the work I do and showcase and having some kind of recognition for that on the site ticking off another, the Flatmattersonline Year end awards were born.

I feel like these awards help legitimise what I have been working especially in the last five years with FM. So with that being said, tomorrow we celebrate another great year of flatland! Whether it’s a video part, a MOC entry, maybe it’s a contest run you watch over and over. Maybe a rider is coming through the ranks and it’s pumping you up. There are so many factors that make flatland great and make it matter. It’s been another fantastic year for flatland, and next year already looks exciting with the inclusion of the UCI into flatland contests, plus MOC not to mention everything else that organically happens along the way.

It’s time to celebrate flatland! I have changed up the awards, dropped some categories and added others this year and it’s equal pickings, five awards each for editorial and reader choice. Send in your votes and let us hear your voice!

Thanks to everyone that checks the site daily or whenever you have time, all the riders that send in their edits. Thanks to all the advertisers that have supported over the years, and continue to do so. And last but not least, big thanks to Kurt at BMX Union and Johann Chan for their work behind the scenes on the site and the graphics.

Much love to you all!

Effraim Catlow/FM.

28 thoughts on “Flatmattersonline is 9 Years Old!

  1. MUCH love / congrats to you-THIS site BIG E !!!! I can PERSONALLY tell you EVERY day , since DAY 1 I look forward / am ALWAYS ammmmmped to check/ comb THIS site on the daily , theres been times where I wouldn’t even have PLANNED to session sometimes………………..got online , checked the site and INSTANTLY felt MOTIVATED / DETERMINED to session AND chase / struggle with a particular trick , like back packers , HAHAHHAHAHHA , IMMEDIATLY after , just as you stated , FOUND some MOTIVATION on your site !!! I COULDNT even imagine THIS site NOT being here for me to CONSTANTLY check out on the DAILY , BEING IT like part of my DAILY routine like EATING , GOING TO WORK , BRUSHING MY TEETH , SLEEPING , SHOWERING , ETC , ETC , HAHHAHAHAHA !!! THIS site has become like FLATLAND ………..A WAY of LIFE for me for SO long its pretty much like BLINKING………..INVOLUNTARY , mate !!!! CHEERS BIG E !!!!!!!

    • Thank you Rodney for such an amazing comment, really do appreciate your kind words. And more than that it’s nice to hear some feedback into something I put so much time into. Wish you luck with the backpackers Rodney, theres always a trick that catches us out. Keep chasing it!!

  2. year after year, even after 9 years, your site is still sooo cool, good and useful.
    One of the best thing and value for me is the interviews you produce, and that “new” video format you use for some months adds some goodness to that part. You got good questions (but a hard accent to understand sometimes :p)! Hope you will continue your effort about the interviews!!

  3. Been riding a lot longer than the sites been up. I only discovered FM a couple years ago from what I remember. Ever since I check it daily. The site got me back into riding despite not having the free time I used to have to be able to make noticeable progress. I get that extra little push so often by checking in. It was a James White interview I saw on here where he talks about being a dad, and seizing every free moment, no matter how short or shitty the weather to get some time on the bike. “Always bring your bike” – James White. If I can get a dry spot and some freedom its on. Otherwise FlatMatters has to fill the void for the time in between sessions. Thank you so much Effraim!!!! thank you.

  4. I frequent this website practically daily… the content and feeling I get from the site is its a fantastic community promoting this sport we all love – Flatland. Keep pushing forwards big E, we all appreciate it!!!!

  5. Thank you Effraim for connecting our Flatland Community together through your updates and videos. I can only imagine how much work there is that we don’t see. I appreciate the opportunity to check what’s up around the world in Flatland Bmx.

  6. Great work Effraim you are the Glue that binds ! And to suggest a further category best commenter on FM …Rodney Williams ! Whoever you are I love your comments and USE OF CAPITALS! Always positive. Long live FM.

  7. Big thanx and big respect for keeping flatland alive through FM!!
    Your work is so essential for all the beginners who want to get into flatland!
    And for any flatlander, it’s more than a website where we can all share our passion and love, FM plays a real educational role thanks to your knowledge and the will to share it!!

    It’s a hard work and we see that it’s all about passion and love!

    Once again, thank you very much Effraim and happy birthday FM!

Leave a Reply to Effraim Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*