In this slightly British episode of FlatWebTV we interview British ex-pat John Yull and UK Flat godfather Effraim Catlow. JoMoPro results come in and we outline the special Jungle Rider frame giveaway. Enjoy!
In this slightly British episode of FlatWebTV we interview British ex-pat John Yull and UK Flat godfather Effraim Catlow. JoMoPro results come in and we outline the special Jungle Rider frame giveaway. Enjoy!
Effraim Catlow f… rules !!!
This show gets better and better. Very insightful interview E.
Top notch, every show makes me proud to be a flatlander.
thanks guys my kids think I’m cool now!
Remember are chat about the xfest event Effraim 😉 enuff said.
Yep you were right Matti! No one wanted to pay £60 a head. Thats why i pulled out of that one.
The problem with flatland in the uk is money, motivation, lack of support, beef the list go’s on, what E said about getting out there and showing everyday people what flat is about is bang on the money, TGM is in the middle of nowhere this dose not help. we all need to come together and get back on track, the ”1WM” jam that happened at TGM proves that flat is alive and kicking. I aim to keep up the momentum with your (flatlanders) help, stay tuned, got a meeting tonight for another jam/small comp in the city.
Good stuff jay! Keep doing your thing! It is appreciated!
I did talk about Yinka as a positive on the scene, but I felt like theres too much pressure to put on one rider.That didnt make the show. In regard to sponsorship, thats never been there, money of course is always an issue. We are all older, as I was saying, other responsibilities, there are a lot of factors.
Theres no reason why we cant have more jams tho. They are free. If people choose to go to all of them, then great, if they dont, some can make some, some can make others, but it keeps the scene going.
Interested in the jam/small comp idea, be good to hold an ams only contest jay!
My tuppence….
Been looking at possible ideas too today. I Checked Moulescoombe leisure centre, but they charge Almost £400 squidders for an afternoon.
Dooable… but basically it’s too big a gamble for me personally.( I really appreciated what Chris Carter had held there.)
I Also would suggest a Jam on Brighton seafront, however that has now been made into a Segway course! so that’s idea ruled out.
We can do another TGM Jam later on in the year. Or alternatively another trip to Southsea might be better suited for a pre warm up Am stage event!?
@E – I wonder if we do a Pre-Ams only comp, as well as the final event over the Aug Bank Holl too will be a good idea.
We can include bike control too, which will wet the appetites of the bmxers that ride flat, but don’t realise they do in the true sense of the word…!
E has already touched on this already:
but I reckon “bike control’ is the next big thing, in which could/would be the big big positive for the Uk’s Flat scene, even if’ it’s not as ‘we’ know it as such….!?
Started a facebook group for the future of flatland in the Uk. Lets make something happen people!
I have so much to say right now… so im not going to say anything…..
Great job flatweb and nice interviews….
John Yull wtf…. AWESOME!!
if i were to rent out a Sports centre for 400 quid a throw , how would i cover my costs ? how do i know who will and won’t turn up ? would people bail out and think sod it would be a waste of time and money how would i make a profit if it was all for nothing ,it a big gamble.
yinka is not a positive on the scene one rider does not make a scene too much pressure for one and thats unfair , same as one footballer does not make a team ,its a team effort its in for a penny in for a pound as the old saying goes .The UK scene has always been stale always its tiny people scattered everywhere we need to discuss this in a meeting to get any plan together i mean when do you ever get everybody in the same place at the same time ? never .
agree howard, i did say that about yinka , but it wasn’t used, it is too much pressure. Lets move forward tho, why not organise sessions at your local spot, invite people, ride in public places, see what happens.
yeh howard do another jam pls i missed your last one.
yeah i will have to get something sorted Jay or at least enquire and see what i can do its positive for the area and kids as well who are interested in something new for the better an education in itself , if a kid see’s flatland for the first time whether its basic,medium or hard tricks it’s an eye opener for them its new,its different and its fun and healthy ,there’s a lot of negativity in society here in the UK especially with youngsters if they create their own path in whatever they choose flatland,music etc it could lead to better things and educate others in the process .
There are future riders in the UK i’ve seen who have progressed at an alarming rate Yinka,Andy Hale,Josh Briars,Steve Green,Matti Hemmings etc etc to name a few these guys and many others impress the hell out of me and if they were to enter the pro class in the future that will be one hell of a battle and generate a great atmosphere no pressure guys haha ,it is a small scene in the UK yes as most kids get into street,park,ramps etc as it’s more appealing than riding in a car park etc and we know kids get bored easily , but the amount of flatland talent on offer in the UK overshadows that , there’s an old saying “Quality not Quantity” in some aspects that is very fitting.
in Mole Valley where i live i’m good friends with the local county counciller this is regarding sport and leisure activities so i can only try and get something going i’m up for renting a place out round my way its whether the local authorities here ( country bumkins haha) see it that way any feedback on their behalf is a positive as it will open their eyes a bit , if its a no go then we try another approach or get local jams going or discuss ways to improve the scene here online or in a meeting ,it can happen lets hope the rain stops for once and this old fart can go out riding this weekend haha.
What I’m saying is not about names, its about a new generation. How do they get into the sport? First base stuff…
The same way we got into it as it was fresh and new difference now is that there is the internet which is there for everyone ,its whether people stick with it or not ,i mean the publications when i was a kid BMX Plus,Freestylin,BMX Action Bike magazines played a big part a real infuence on me ,now in the UK we have Dig and Ride which sadly do not refect all aspects of riding as the popularity amongst the young is the daredevil type scenario and flatland takes a back seat in the media ,i mean some kids don’t even know it exists how crazy is that.
The average kid or adult even is more likely to be drawn into the “getting air scenario” that spending hours at at time in a car park practising tricks i mean kids are easily bored their minds chop and change its what their friends are into at the time that has an impact or whats considered ” cool ” guarenteed most youngsters will not be riding in 25 years or so like we are they get a car,girlfriend etc etc ,in answer to the first base method or step in the right direction my reply would be its the individuals choice and advertising flatland on You tube or Vimeo or in t.v. music video’s etc would influence a curious mind for sure its whether they are comminted or not ,that is the key factor to any growth within flatland commitment.
workshops, cheaper bikes, better facilities, media coverage etc?
Yes good idea’s Jay ,Workshops, Facilities etc that would appeal to anybody interested and it would encourage others ,cheaper bikes and parts definetely as financially it can be costly .
Effraim you say its not about names but you used Yinka as a positive example states that you have contradicted yourself ,sure new or newer riders are needed to help Flatland grow but thats very rare riders come and go and i estimate about 5-9% of riders in the UK are flatlanders its that low key and underground ,not since the days of the UKBFA has there been a governing body in riding corporate companies provide the main backing and sponsor now at comps Red Bulls a prime example good yes but as for knowledge of riding they have none it generates money and that equals greed takes the fun out of riding, if we need new riders it needs to be for the right reasons not you will ride to get sponsored and make money it is your job ,thats very far from the truth as only a handful of riders do it as a job.
As for it being a sport i have to disagree its a pastime i mean its not recognised as a sport in the media it is a physical activity but still seen as a kids bike with narrow minded views from others but it has got better as it is accepted more now in general ,you know how many times in the sports section of a newspaper do you see anything BMX related let alone flatland,never well we may read about BMX racing briefly during the Olympics but thats it ,the average BMX rider is treated like a criminal i’ve lost count of the amount of crap i’ve had in 30 years from people who think BMX is a crime authority figure with badges ,something so creative and positive in others eyes can seen negative guess those people need to wake up.
Your taking what i’m saying very literally Howard. For the record, I agree with a lot of the points you and jay both made. But its time for us to bring these ideas out, and try and make something positive happen.
I am starting sessions at this local public skatepark I have been riding out. When I confirm the date(s) I will let people know, I have already reached out to BMXers who didnt know they were riding flatland, even though they were. Within these sessions, I will try help with trick trips, etc. This is real grassroots stuff I am talking about, hence the not about names. I mentioned Yinka purely because he came out of this scenario at TGM.
so it wasn’t to be taken literally ? i’m not having a dig E just trying to understand ok so it was exaggerated then a tad ,it’s hard to understand text format at times ,yes there are great idea’s but lets not forget unlike Football or Athletics etc BMX Flatland is not mainstream its small fry it does not have financial backing or the input that many other activities have it’s purely through word of mouth at times as people who don’t know about it and want to need to be educated on it.
Workshops are a great idea but where would we put one ? in Norwood Park by TGM funded by Lambeth Council now there’s a thought ,plenty of riders there to coach encourage others etc it would purely be voluntary and advertised in local papers or at schools etc ,you know we all start somewhere and the workshop idea is a prime example at grassroots level .
it is physically demanding so who knows how long we can ride for but the way i see it is like yourself there is a great need for new riders and as long as they stay commited remember this is fun as well but if they stick with it and learn and progress at their own pace then their input may help others and help flatland grow even more,its never too late .
if more UK based riders came forward with their thoughts or any input etc regardless of if it was relevant or not on it would be defenetely helpful ,this is a passion we share a common bond we need to work together to make it grow.
To begin I’ve set up a facebook group, just sent you an invite earlier today Howard. Where we can discuss ideas. I am literally just about to start a coaching programme with flatland at the skatepark here in Southsea. I’ve also been doing it on an ad-hoc basis wherever I can. Hopefully we can get some more ideas rolling, and encourage a new generation into what we all love.
ok mate cheers ,great stuff 🙂
It would be good to get some young riders/blood to have there say about this issue. Howard a workshop at the mile is a dope idea, i’ll look into it.
nice one bro 🙂 , be great to see plus it could influence others.
damn!!!!! the Jun**e R****r commercials are grate!!!