Yearly Archives: 2014

Dez Maarsen – Battle in the Rockies Interview

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Intro/Interview: Effraim.
Photos: Supplied by Dez.

After the epic Battle in the Rockies video contest I felt it only right that I get in touch with each of the winners to get their thoughts firstly on the video contest, and on the up and coming BITR contest! Beginning with Dez Maarsen!

Firstly, congratulations on winning one of the flights to Colorado for the Battle in the Rockies. What was your initial reaction to the news?
I was super stoked and shocked! Especially since I wasn’t going in the first place. I was really hoping to go to the US this year and now I’ll be going to Colorado Spring in November. Super excited!

How much work went into your entry?
A lot of mental and physical hours! I wanted to put my best tricks together in one combo and it had to stay in time. A lot of tries I was all ready out of time. So I had to do my switches faster. Also I wanted to have a nice flow and trick order. I tried several days over the period to pull this combo. Most of these days it was more then an hour of repeating to pull the combo until I was to tired. I even got a nasty injury during the procces. The day (Tuesday before the deadline) I had to pull the combo I finally did it for the first time!

If you had to pick another entry besides yours, who would you have picked & why?
There where so many great entries! The last day I was hitting refresh so many times to see who else submitted an entry. I would have picked Moto, because he put all his hard moves together, showed a lot of different techniques and filled completely the whole minute with his combo up till the second!

The video contest seems the most cost effective way to involve riders across the globe in a contest, do you see this type of event growing in flatland?
This video challenge was really progressive! It was a great change for all type of riders to show the best they have in a competitive way. And ofcourse there was a great reward! It would be nice to see more of this. A few years ago Ground Tactics and Global-Flat Battles helped to give riders that can’t travel to competitions a great platform to show their riding and push them self. But at the physical event you always meet new people, hanging out with friends, see live new tricks and there is always a great vibe. That’s a really important thing for me about riding! So if this type of video contest will help riders to travel to contest I hope we gonna see more of it!

Were you harder on yourself composing a video combo entry than you might be for a live contest entry?
Yes I can say I was harder on myself for this video combo. It was a great challange to show some of my best tricks that I have quit dailed, but haven’t been able to pull concitance in a live contest. Also you where competing with the best riders in the world that all had 1 minute to show there best stuff! I’m pretty competitive and I wanted to win this ticket really bad! I set my boundries high for this combo and just stayed patiënt and positive that i would pull it. This was the first time for me to do this kind of thing so I really wanted to challenge myself.

What can we expect from you in Colorado?
A big smile and I’m gonna give it all I got! There is still a little more then two months left so I’m gonna train hard! Winning this ticket has given my motivation a big boost!

Any final shoutouts?
Respect to all the riders that send in an entry! Maximum respect to James McGraw for organizing this whole contest with the video contest! Can’t wait till the event!
Special thanks to my girlfriend for being an amazing support! And a shoutout to my riding buddies, family and sponsors!

Thanks Dez! Fun catching up with you, see you at Battle in the Rockies! Watch Dez’s entry again below!

Battle in the Rockies – Video Challenge from Dez Maarsen on Vimeo.

James McGraw – 2014 Progression Edit

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JAMES MCGRAW 2014 PROGRESSION EDIT from James McGraw on Vimeo.

2014 has been a great year for James, making the cut at Voodoo Jam, travelling all over the globe, and a ton of progression on the back wheel (even if he is doing time machines!- watch video you will understand) Always a good time hanging out with this dude, roll on battle in the Rockies! Hit play!

Brian Gavagan – Ride Fast, Live Slow Trailer

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Ride Fast, Live Slow Trailer from Jim McKay on Vimeo.

Brian Gavagan is pure BMX! He can do it all, flat, park, street, trails, and generally whatever else is thrown in his path. Add in the beautiful Colorado landscape, and Jim McKay on filming/editing duties, you have one awesome trailer! Can’t wait for the full edit!

igi Pegs Review by Percy Marshall

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It was a nice surprise today to see an email in my inbox from Percy Marshall who kindly reviewed Dub’s new igi pegs without me even asking! Percy has some interesting observations on the peg, read on!

Review/Photos: Percy Marshall

My current pegs are just stumps and my foot no longer sticks to them or even lands on them during tricks, so I decided to get a new pair of pegs.

When I first set eyes on the Dublin pegs, I thought it was too good to be true! I mean JUST LOOK AT THEM! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

So I was hooked on the pegs and realized I needed a pair to replace my 2.75″ stumps that don’t do me no good, if even just for the sick looks.

Dub is a great bussinessman making these sick looking pegs; but what I didn’t realize was how much functionally they are!

I no longer have to hammer in my socket through the fresh debris of peg material covering my peg hole. Another advantage is the lack of extra tools required to remove the head for easy access during peg removal.

It’s a socket hole so you’re already using the tool in the first place. Also, the peg doesn’t get sharp ridges on it’s head. I’m no longer finding bits of skin and blood on my peg ends, only the supple smooth rounded mushroom that is a pleasure to grab and functional to hold.

My firsts discovery was that their still pretty light even though there’s a hunk of material (aluminum) on the end of each; I worried about weight being excess because of this design, but that was put to rest when I held them.

The grip tape is fine but I probably don’t need it so it’s ok if it comes off naturally, but I may take it off; I like my peg shaft smooth as butter for foot pivoting and this supple old-man-grey grip tape gives me the heeby jeebees.

The other thing is the nifty little lip I keep finding my hands on. Even without the peg head attached, there is a nice little lip on the outer end of the peg. These details are amazing! TOTALLY SICK!

The heads are reverse threaded so they don’t accidently spin off your peg when you’re taking the head off.

Of course the best part by far is that the peg looks like family jewels!

Thank you brother!

Percy Marshall

Rad Dad’s Return to Riding

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Here is the word from the man himself:

“This is the first time I have filmed in 2014. Prior to this video I have rode maybe 3 times this year for a few minutes. Many people have messaged me wondering if I was still riding. Riding has been a time issue for awhile. I am trying to bring a balance to family life and riding time. I feel great about my riding session. Its been so very long since I have rode my bike and it felt great to make my return to riding. All my basic trick are still there. I need to have a few more sessions just like this and start working on my longer combinations. Keep on Riding!”

Spaceark BMX School – 2014/09/21

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With great flatland workshops like this Spaceark BMX school in Kobe, Japan, it is now wonder you get positive outcomes such as Minato Sato coming through the ranks. Pros interacting, offering advice to the younger generation is invaluable. Look out for a crazy hang ten 360 varial to halfpacker combo from Keisuke Tanigawa around the 1:33 mark.