A Decade Of Flatland: 2010/2020 Part 1

Intro/Interview: Effraim.

Flatland, a decade on. Where is it at? In 2008, when I was starting Flatmattersonline, I hit up a broad scope of riders from across the globe, and asked them a topical question at the time, “To scuff or not?”.
As we went into a new decade, I wondered…. in terms of styles, have we really moved on in progression over the past 10 years? I hit up some of the same riders that were involved in the first main article on the site, and also some fresh riders to get their perspective. How has their personal riding developed over the past ten years, are there still lines and tricks that they feel never get old, and stand the test of time?
How has bike technology affected their riding, riding spots and so on. Welcome to Part 1 where I reach out to the 2019 Flatmattersonline Rider of the Year, Dominik Nekolny, Pete Brandt, one of the most hardcore riders on the planet. And Matthias Dandois, winner of reader choice edit of the year and the most recognisable face in flatland in the world. Part 1 is an interesting read, you might want to grab a cuppa and give this your attention….

A decade on technically what’s different about your riding style? The tricks are obviously different, but has your approach changed?

Dominik Nekolny: Man, I just watched some footage from KOG back in 2010 – and boooooiiii I was killing it 😀 I guess my riding was little bit more technical and “jumpy” which I actually miss a bit…

Pete Brandt: My approach has changed with some tricks and techniques, but the commitment of exerting a trick is a lot still the same. I love the feeling of full commitment on the approach, and throughout the the trick.

Matthias Dandois: I only do things that look good and feel good. I film all the new tricks I learn, and if they don’t look good enough to me I just put them in the trash can. Even if it’s contest winning trick.So I guess I got less technical but more flowy. Works for me!

Describe your riding ten years ago?

Dominik Nekolny: My riding now? I love it! 🙂 I come up with some style and links which nobody did in the contest and I spend a lot of time to make those links dialled as fuck, so what you want more. :D.

Pete Brandt: Lots of spinning and turbine styles.

Matthias Dandois: My riding 10 years ago was more technical, less aesthetic. More trick based. Contest winning tricks.

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The 2019 Flatmattersonline Year End Award Winners Announced!

It’s about that time where I announce the winners for the 2019 Flatmattersonline Year End Awards, both in editorial and reader categories!!!

The awards are now in their sixth year, and this year was noticeable to see the efforts of many of you to get in the mix for edit of year as the deadline drew closer. That in itself felt like a win win situation for us all….

This really is a chance for me to give something more back to the flatland community, and not just award one rider with an award. Nice in my opinion to have a mix that recognise the talent within our community, without a further a due lets get right into it!

BIG congratulations to all the winners (I will be in touch!), and also everyone who got nominated. Huge honour in my opinion to get nominated from your riding peers. Thanks again to everyone in the flatland community who took the time to vote, great to see such a healthy participation for 2019!

Effraim Catlow / Flatmattersonline, 11 years strong.

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Repo: UCI World Championships 2019 Chengdu China

Text: Effraim.
Photos: EC, The Agency Photo.

The finals day at the UCI World Championships was a great day for flatland. The day started with Women’s flat and four riders knuckled down and give it their all, Irina Sadovnik was battling a knee injury and with the help of Trish and her medical skills she was able to ride. Sometimes when you are faced with a physical obstacle such as an injury your focus is heightened. The injuries were stacking up in China and kind of became one of the main topics of everyones discussions during the two week trip.


Lionel Cardoso on the MIC duties, and David on the decks. props to these guys who killed it throughout the series and the two weeks in China!

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Fise Chengdu 2019 – UCI BMX Flatland World Cup Men Final

I just got round to watching the Fise Chengdu Mens Final, what a great end to the year for the Fise World Series. We had a different winner at each stop this year which really shows the level right now. This time it was Moto Sasaki’s day, taking his first win in 12 years of trying for him and Matthias Dandois finsuihed second with Dominik Nekolny in hid. It was enough for Matthias to take the year end title. When you have the time, it is certainly worth watching this final unfold. Amazing times in Chengdu, China.

Ryo Katagiri wins Fise World UCI Flatland World Cup Round 1 in Hiroshima, Japan

Just got done judging the Pro finals at the Fise World UCI Flatland World Cup here in Hiroshima, Japan. Congratulations to Ryo Katagiri who had the run of his life to take the first place position, Ryo was followed by Matthias Dandois and Dominik Nekolny in the third place spot.
You can watch the whole show above, or the top three runs below.
What a contest!

Flatland Immersion Podcast 4

Today is all about the podcasts and Dusty Tweedhopoe is on fire with his new Flatland Immersion Podcast! Today he dropped the 4th episode, where he discusses the winners of the 2018 Flatmattersonline year end awards and all the latest edits from the New Year, Flatark news, Simon O’Brien’s Landscapes 3, Martti Kuoppa’s coaching and much more. Go and support Dusty and leave him a comment, show some love.

The 2018 Flatmattersonline Year End Award Winners are…..

It’s that time, thanks once again to everyone who voted in the 2018 Flatmattersonline Year awards and a massive congratulations to the winners and everyone who got nominated. In my opinion, if you get nominated you already won. But, as always there has to be a winner. Let’s get into this, first up the editorial votes then the reader choice. Medals will be sent out once I return from my trip to the One Love Jam, so I will be in contact with the winners over the next week or so.

Editorial Vote:

Rider of the Year:
Winner: Jean William Prevost
Runner Up: Matthias Dandois

Edit of the Year:
Winner: Jean William Prevost – Puro Flat #2 Spring
Runner Up: James White – Stop the World

Most Progressive Rider:
Winner: Jean William Prevost
Runner Up: Sietse Van Berkel

Outstanding Contribution:
Giannis Caternellis completing his 100th episode of his freestyler series. What an amazing contribution to flatland not only in 2018, but the last couple of years hunting this amazing achievement down. Thank you Giannis.

Line of The Year:
Winner: Jean William Prevost – 3:52 End Rodeo Line from Puro Flat 2 Spring.
Runner Up: Sietse van Berkel – Final Round Entry from Master of Creativity 2018.

Reader Choice:

Rider of the Year:

Winner: Jean William Prevost
Runner Up: Sietse van Berkel

Edit of the Year:

Winner: Jean William Prevost – Puro Flat 2 Spring
Runner Up: Denes Katona – Rolling Stone

Most Progressive Rider:
Winner: Jean William Prevost
Runner Up: Sietse Van Berkel.

Contest Run of Year:
Winner: Dominik Nekolny BMX Cologne Finals
Runner Up: Jean William Prevost Fise Chengdu Finals

Breakthrough Rider of the Year:
Winner: Sietse van Berkel
Runner Up: Julian Baron

The 2018 Flatmattersonline Year End Award Nominees are…

Hello everyone!

Great response to voting this year for the 2018 Flatmattersonline Year End Awards, this really is a labour of love for me and my chance to really give back to the content that I post throughout the year and also reach out to you the readers of Flatmattersonline. Thank you to all the readers that took the time to vote, this years voting was really interesting. A definite shift towards how you decide and who you vote for. Let’s get right to it..

– Effraim Catlow / 10 Years of Flatmattersonline.

Editorial Vote:

Rider of the Year:

Matthias Dandois

Yu Katagiri

Jean William Prevost

Alex Jumelin

Sietse Van Berkel

Edit of the Year:

James White – Stop the World

Benjamin Hudson – Done Deal

Matthieu Bonnecuelle – Riding Waste

Jean William Prevost – Puro Flat #2 Spring

Denes Katona – Rolling Stone

Most Progressive Rider:

Jean William Prevost
Sietse Van Berkel
Alex Jumelin
James White
Yu Katagiri

Outstanding Contribution:
TBA ON ANNOUNCEMENT DAY.

Line of The Year:

Austin Luberda – 3:05 from the Autumn Flow edit.

Jean William Prevost – 3:52 End Line Puro Flat 2.

Yu Katagiri – Bikeflip line at 3:00 from the Yu Katagiri 2018 edit.

Sietse van Berkel – Final Round Entry from Master of Creativity 2018.

Dominik Nekolny – Best trick from Sport Zone contest.

* Go back and search and watch these! Incredible…

Reader Choice:

Rider of the Year:

Yu Katagiri

Ryo Katagiri

James White

Jean William Prevost

Sietse van Berkel

Edit of the Year:

Jean William Prevost – Puro Flat 2 Spring

James White – Stop the World

Denes Katona – Rolling Stone

Yu Katagiri – 2018

Joe Cicman – The idea in brief

Most Progressive Rider:

James White

Sietse Van Berkel

Ryo Katagiri

Yu Katagiri

Jean William Prevost

Contest Run of Year:

Dominik Nekolny BMX Cologne Finals

Jean William Prevost Fise Chengdu Finals

Ryo Katagiri BMX Cologe qualifying

Dominik Nekolny Hungarian contest

Yu Katagiri BMX Cologne Finals

Breakthrough Rider of the Year:

Mates Tucek

Sietse van Berkel

Julian Baron

Austin Luberda

Kio Hayakawa

Year end award winners announced:
Friday 11th January.

Amateur & Pro – Sport Zone Verseny 2018 Highlights

With Sevisual behind the lens and Rob Alton on editing duties, here is the AM and Pro highlights video from the Sport Zone Verseny contest the other week over in Hungary with great riding from the likes of Dominik Nekolny, Martin Drazil, Matti Hemmings, Keelan Philips, Fülöp Vidakovich, and many more. Great to see grassroots events like these being so well attended, this looked like a lot of fun including the longest mega spin contest. Anyone dizzy?

Snipes Battle Square Final Highlights

Woozy BMX came through with a sweet highlights edit from the weekends Snipes Battle Square contest in Rotterdam, Holland. Amazing riding from the likes of Alex Jumelin, Jean William Prevost, Dominik Nekolny, and Benjamin Hudson. If all goes according to plan, the Snipes Battle Square contest will be a six round series next year, stay tuned for the news on that one!