Random Rider Mix: Worlds 2004

Another great upload from the archives from TJ Perry, this time a random rider mix from the Worlds in Cologne back in 2004. Featuring Kotaro Tanaka, Justin Miller, Ryoji Yammamoto, Alex Jumelin, Raphael Chiquet, Pedro Melo at the Hyatt riding spot, Chris Bohm, and Dan Hennig. Well worth a watch…

Throwback Thursdays: Suzuki BMX Masters 2006

Great edit from the Suzuki BMX Masters 2006 by Global Flat, that Alejandro Marques recently re-uploaded. So much good riding in this from the likes of Justin Miller, Adam Kun, Kotaro Tanaka, Martti Kuoppa, Matthias Dandois, Viki Gomez, Nathan Penonzek, and many more. Well worth watching this one….

Terry Adams – King of Ground Nagoya + Diversion 5.0 Repost

Great footage of Terry Adams tearing the King of Ground in Nagoya, Japan a new one. This made me think of Bobby Carter’s Diversion 5.0 so let’s place that below for your viewing pleasure. I miss seeing the King of Ground contest footage, so much energy.

Flatground VI – Pro’s do Amsterdam

Just came across this “Pro’s do Amsterdam” edit from Flatground VI that I haven’t watched in years. Featuring great riding from the likes of Matthias Dandois, Shintaro Misawa, Hiroya Morizaki, Justin Miller, Raphael Chiquet, York Uno, Thomas Noyer, Seppl, Michael Sommer, good times in A’dam!

BMX Masters 2006

David Hoffmann sent in this awesome agoride edit from the BMX Masters 2006, I’m not sure if I posted this before or not.
Nevertheless, this is certainly worth a rewatch! One of the most important events on the flatland contest calendar, that retains a certain aura year to year when I’m there. Hit play for amazing combos from the likes of Viki Gomez, Martti Kuoppa, Matthias Dandois, Adam Kun, Seppl, Justin Miller (Kickflip backpacker line at 2:28 into his hitch kickflip backpacker!), Chris Bohm, Bram Verhallen (lookout for his Xft 360 Kickflip hitch at 1:34!), Frank Lucas, Kotaro Tanaka, Wolfgang Sauter and Keelan Phillips.

Throwback Thursdays – Voodoo Jam 2006

The Voodoo jam, round 3 of the 2015 World Circuit is just a few weeks ago. For this weeks throwback we go back to 2006 and this nice edit from Mickey Gaidos! Justin Miller killed the spot this year, take a trip down memory lane and check this one out!

If you missed our interview with Scott O’Brien, hit the link below:

https://www.flatmattersonline.com/scott-obrien-voodoo-jam-2015-interview

To scuff or not? part four

photo: sam foakes, crackpacker twist at the green mile.
photo by ec.

Is this whole matter a personal thing to your riding? Or can it be looked upon as something more than that?
Terry Adams: Not personal at all. If I bust a combo with no scuffing I do get stoked. But in no way do I think I will ever be so anal about it that I will change every trick to no scuffing.

Sam Foakes: For me, pumping has opened up a number of possibilities to progress my riding. It has also enabled me to extend my combos much more than if I didnt pump. In some cases, it can be used to stabilize a trick, I would say I am definitely guilty of that one, especially in contests. That said I dont think stabilizing pumping is as safe as stabilizing scuffing. When done to excess or without any real purpose (e.g pumping a trick with no intention of using that speed for another trick or switch) i wonder if its worth doing….

Jay Forde: It is personal, I work on a lot of different styles, rolling, pumping, scuffing, you need to work on all these to be a well rounded rider. I find myself freestyling most of the time with a lot of hustling.

James White: You could call it progression, In the 80’s, I was balancing and hopping the 90’s rolling and scuffing, and now I’m pumping. I think it’s obvious that riding will continue to get more fluid. But every time the new wave comes you think this is it, this is the bomb that cant be beat. YES! Even when I was doing petersons, gumbies, etc kitted out in full factory Skyway gear on my street corner!!! (balancing tricks for those of you werent around in the 80’s).

Keelan Philips: Each rider to their own, as I said if you feel like your going to fall off and you scuff to stabilize then cool, but it technically is less hard than if you didnt scuff, and as I said about my riding, I used to not scuff at all, but as long as I have my own original tricks in a link, no matter how small it may be, I dont mind scuffing somewhere, but if any scuffing does happen, it should be kept minimal! Like if you stabilize yourself then a scuff should do. I obviously prefer pumping, I think  I can pump just about every trick I can do (I think I was the first doing pumping cliffs -not turbines just helping it move forward and hang fives).

Matthias Dandois: There is something else, after pumping, its called jumping! You only need one jump to take full speed whether you need more than to pump to get speed. So I think this whole matter is way more than that. No limit!

Justin Miller: It’s not a personal thing. This is how I’ve rode my whoile life and enjoy how I ride. I’m not going to change most of my tricks and pump it a million times to make a few people happy. I want my own style and tricks.

Chad Johnston: Yeah, its a personal thing, each person chooses what tricks they want to learn. It defines a riders style to eliminate or use different techniques. I think its cool to do your own thing. More flavours make riding interesting. There are two ways to look at it. If I look at it from an artistic standpoint, I say do whatever you want, especially if its something cool and unique. From a sport standpoint, I believe every position should be isolated and analysed. then, I think you have to take into account that there is a variety of techniques to move on your bike. Some are more technical than others. Some are more popular than others. Some are more popular than others. There should be an objective laid out for all to see.

Cory Fester: I just look at it like I want to do things as hard as I can. I like the challenge. I do a lot of backwards stuff and that stuff you cant really scuff and pumping it is ridiculous so I dont really have to worry about stuff like that too much. For me doing a 2 minute link with like 5 or 6 switches is boring and easy for the most part, I want to to do 5 or 6 switches in 20 seconds not in 2 minutes. I’ll take one really bomb original trick over a generic, flashy 2 minute link anyday.

Thanks to all the pros that answered my questions, a few didnt get back to me, but I think this is pretty comprehensive as it is. What was interesting to me, was how opinions seem to vary country to country.

any feedback blog readers?