THE 2025 FLATMATTERSONLINE YEAR END AWARDS: NOMINEES ANNOUNCED!

Featured

It’s time to announce the nominees for the 2025 Flatmattersonline Year end awards, massive thanks to everyone who took the time to vote. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated, Winners will be announced next Sunday.

Effraim.

EDITORIAL CHOICE:

RIDER OF YEAR:

Yu Shoji

Yu Katagiri

James White

Jigen Omotehara

Takatora Hishikawa

MUST WATCH OF YEAR:

Yu Shoji: Welcome to far east

James White: In control

Dez Maarsen: Riding days

Akihiko Takahashi: Rewind

Cory Fester: Under the Radar

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION:

James White

Cory Fester

Chris Young

Akihiko Takahashi

Jimalog

BREAKTHROUGH RIDER OF THE YEAR:

Ren Oshima

Jigen Omotehara

Takatora Hishikawa

Chiaki Todaka

Carin Hommura

BRAND OF THE YEAR:

Nous BMX

Heresy BMX

Flatland Assassins

IGI

Far East Cycles

——————————–

READER CHOICE:

RIDER OF THE YEAR:

Yu Katagiri

Varo Hernandez

James White

Yu Shoji

Takatora Hishikawa

EDIT OF THE YEAR:

James White: In control

Yu Shoji: Welcome to far east

Cory Fester: Under the radar

Akihiko Takahashi: Rewind

Owen Bohn: Dubyard

FEMALE RIDER OF THE YEAR:

Carin Hommura

Veronika Kacar

Anna Mondics

Chiaki Todaka

Sona Yoshimura

LINE OF THE YEAR:

Cory Fester: Last trick under the radar

Yu Shoji: Last line welcome to far east

Takatora Hishikawa: No run Saga run

Akihiko Takahashi: Ender on Rewind video

Yu Katagiri: Full bikeflip line from Fise Sakai finals

CONTEST RUN OF THE YEAR:

Yu Shoji Fise Montpellier

Yu Katagiri UCI worlds final

Yu Katagiri Fise Sakai

Anna Mondics Sportzone C1 final

Yohei Uchino X Games final

Must Watch: Matsudo Year End 2025

The annual Matsudo Jam took place on the 6th December, last year. This feels like an annual tradition at this point, the year doesn’t start until we see Jimalog’s annual Matsudo jam getting dropped.

This jam round, Akihiko Takahashi, Yu Shoji, Takahiro Ikeda, Shinichiro Hara, Masashi Itani,
Varo Hernandez, and Anatole Rahain throw down their latest moves.

Already two must watch edits this year, thank you Jimalog for contributing to the flatland culture once again!

Must Watch: Jigen Omotehara 2026 / New Season

We don’t even get a day into 2026, and already a Must Watch edit?! Heresy’s Jigen Omotehara is one of the new generation in Japan making waves, with unique riding style and trick selection as he gets ready for the New Season.

The x-ft half hiker pivot to half packer line at 2:17 is next level, magical pivotry skills going here that I have never seen before and had me hitting the rewind several times to understand what he did.
Loved Jigen’s right hand half packer turbines backwards half packer pivot to backwards switch foot Karl line at 2:45. So smooth and so tech!

And the ender at 3:56 is another NBD, opposite whiplash to full turbine switch foot pedal 5 turbine ending backwards switch foot pedal 5 jump to regular side steam, too good.

Nice jazzy hip hop vibes fit Jigen’s style really well, starting the year with a Must watch. 2026 is going to be a good one!!

Brett Downs: 2025 BMX

Happy New Year everyone!!

As we start the new year, many riders are sharing their riding highlights throughout 2025! The first one I have come across, is this great one from Plywood Hood and all around shredder, Brett Downs! Love the little quirky details in Brett’s riding, and this is a great start to the new year here on Flatmattersonline!

Danny Nghieu: Relentless Change

Ok, I definitely spoke far too quickly. Danny Nghieu just dropped a full part on Christmas Day full of creative ideas that I really enjoyed and I’m sure you will do to, I first became aware of Dan’s riding on IG. This year he’s already thrown in a FM exclusive on IG to get the exclusives rolling again, and come through with this amazing part. Keep at it Dan!

Here’s what Dan had to say:

This video represents some of the different kinds of riding I did in 2025. Most of it was filmed between April and December.
I rode the same bike frame throughout but pretty much changed every other part at some point. It was fun to experiment with different setups, putting on brakes, switching between freecoaster and cassette, and even going pegless for a few months just because I was lazy.

Off the bike, 2025 was an intense year. Coming into it, my wife and I were devastated by the loss of our old dog. We had also just adopted a puppy. I had been diagnosed with a cognitive disorder that was wreaking havoc on my personal life. I managed to passed the Professional Engineering exam in July on the first attempt, a huge milestone for my career. Relationships and friends came and went, but amidst the relentless changes, BMX has somehow remained steadfast.

To be honest, it is difficult to sort out the words that can accurately describe the hate, love, pain and suffering that goes on behind the riding. Despite the turmoil and pain, I am grateful. Looking back, I smile at the progression of my riding and the ideas that I’ve come up with.

I hope you enjoy this video. Please share it and show it to your friends and family.

I hope that somehow the magic of BMX freestyle shines through and inspires you or someone you know to ride their bike in a creative way.

Freestyle for Life

Special thanks to my wife for her unwavering support.

Thanks,