Category Archives: Articles

Repo: Battle Royal – London

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Repo + Photos: Effraim.


Andy Hale, mid back wheel varial outside the Royal Festival Hall.

Sometimes flatland can take you to some extraordinary places. Take the Battle Royal event in the heart of London at the beginning of August. The event took place at the Royal Festival Hall – South Bank Centre, normally known for its high end art events, exhibitions, book fairs, live performances, music concerts etc. For many years the London flatland scene rode underneath at the legendary South Bank spot that is now ironically in danger of being taken away.

Things change, cultures change, attitudes become more tolerent. Jason Forde at One Wheel Motion worked hard with the organisers at the South Bank to put on an event at a legit venue, as a teaser for something bigger he has in mind.

The event kicked off with a few shows outside the Royal Festival Hall to drum up interest with the general public. The whole South Bank Centre location has had a clean up, the Battle Royal was part of “Festival of the Neigbourhood”.

As we all moved from outside to the main location, te first impression was “wow!”. How did you get this Jason?

To be riding on a floor that is listed, felt a lil’ bit like “we had made it”. Normally flatland can be tossed off to the side, flatland was a big part of the weekends entertainment at the SBC. Jason organised two teams of 4, Jason captain one team, James White the other captain, Jason invited me along to MC the event. I have to admit I was curious as to what Jason was up to, as he kept his cards very close to his chest.


OG South Bank local, James White, no handed gliding switch-b.

Now sometimes you can prejudge an event, I expected maybe ten riders to show up, but there were more like 25-30 riders in attendance which for a 8 man show/battle seemed a lot! The vibe was great, the general public loved the show/jam sessions. The flatlanders were grinning ear to ear at getting to ride such a good floor before and after the shows, me included. And in the end, not a whole lot could be better than that!

The general public decided the voting for who won, with Jason’s team taking both battle wins. The event was a definite success, and a big plus for the UK scene in general. It was great to meet so many new faces I hadn’t met before, and of course old faces as well.

Top marks to Jason and all involved with the event, really look forward to where this event has the potential to go! My apologises for taking so long to get this repo up, it’s been a long busy summer!

King of Concrete Repo!

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Text: Effraim.
Photos: Matthew Dyer, Effraim and Jay Twist.


Yinka had a great first run at KOC earning second place. No handed Lung Spin.


Great to see Josh Briars in Southsea this year, loved this xft side pedal 5 whip to fire hydrant half whopper out!

As with everything I do, I try to put my maximum effort into the project otherwise theres no point. As I approach my 40th birthday, I see my role very different in the flatland scene than even 5 years ago. Everyone knows of course the website has grown into a full time job pretty much. But, much more than that I am trying to put on the most legit contest possible, whilst not losing the roots of what all this about in the first place, “King of Concrete”.
Last year, as I reflected on the event, the only thing I came back to was “King of Concrete” the name has to change. So after a few chats with the OG founders of KOC, my parents Geoff and Jenni Catlow. It was on.
But….. There was no point to just change the name and thats all, that is not enough, it was a cold Decembers day as I rode a wet waitrose car park, it was one of those sessions where you got something on your mind so you go through the paces, but your minds not on the riding. I started brainstorming as the rain poured, it was definitely a moment I was having. “I have to step things up, lets aim for £2000 prize money.
Originally that was all going to be donated by me pretty much, but thankfully EXTREME stepped up!
Over the past few years, Flatland and Park have been the two best events so I wanted to acknowledge that! Split the cash in half, and £1000 per discipline would be a good start!


JFB threw down two dialled runs for third place spot at KOC! Thanks for support JF!


Matti and yours truly, during Expert Flat.


Matti made a big impression last weekend, killer runs. And would have had podium spot if he landed this one!

The King of Concrete philosophy is not about your 1, 2, 2.5 minute run, but the whole package. The sessions in the days running up to contest, the friendships you make, the parties, and of course the riding!
For me, as I now reflect on the event, the only thing that didn’t go to plan was the weather, cloudy and windy which had an effect on some of the runs but that’s out of my control. This summer, has been the best summer I can remember for many years, sods law the sketchy days were the event days. Now its golden sunshine all week.


Beers and flatland discussions, Honest Politician Saturday Night! All a big part of the KOC vibe!


Killer riding from Thomas Noyer all weekend long. One of the highlights of the weekend for sure.

The philosophy seems to be shining bright through the riders, this year the likes of Mark Kuhlmann, James White, Johann Chan, Mark Cunners, Trevor Oleniuk, Joe Cicman, Thomas Noyer all made the trip early to session and soak up the southsea vibes.
The sessions and atmosphere all week leading up to the event were amazing. The itch to ride, even though I was so busy all summer to focus properly on riding was killing me. I kept saying to myself, this is about the bigger picture, forget me. This was almost a daily discussion amongst everyone, all I can say is I am most definitely feeling the love. One of the chats with Joe Cicman, Trevor Oleniuk, Mark Cunners, and Mark Kuhlmann was one of the most moving moments of the weekend hands down. To me, hearing such positive comments makes all the effort and sacrifice well worth it. Thanks guys!

I will be announcing dates for next year pretty soon!

Flatmatters!

Effraim Catlow

Dominik Nekolny – The Flatmatters Interview

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* Stickied for today – Saturday July 20th. Updates below Dom’s interview.

Intro: Effraim
Interview: Effraim + Reader Questions
Photos: Kelly Baldwin, Magdalena Stankova, Ronny Englemann.

As I walked into the flatland tent at the BMX Worlds, I looked across the area and saw Dominik Nekolny mid xft whiplashes. My eyes were of course firmly drawn, the link continued with 360 bar flip to halfpacker pivot out to xft opposite carved halfhiker xft whiplashes to no handed guillotine. You could have heard a pin drop.

The rise of Dominik Nekolny to the top I would imagine has been a long hard struggle, and a lonely one too. For me this guy has gone the extra mile which takes commitment and sacrifice. I’ve heard many a contest pro say in the modern day, Dom is the guy to beat. As the clock ticked away during his worlds final, you could see he knew he had blown the world title. For many second would be amazing,for Dom it’s not. And I admire that, he’s brutally honest and wears his heart on his sleeve.
I realised I didn’t know much about a rider I admire so much. Hey Dom, why no flatmatters interview? Few days later here we are…

Firstly Dom, introduction, so how old are you? Where abouts are you from? And how long riding?
So, my name is Dominik Nekolny. I’m 27 years old and I was born and I live in Prague, Czech Republic – Czech. I have started riding in 2003.
 
What got you into flatland? Was it flatland straight away for you?
I always wanted to ride BMX, since I was a kid. When I saw some BMX in TV, I was always amazed only by a Flatland. So for me it was Flatland straight away – I never care about other ways (disciplines) that much. I used to play a soccer, pretty good actually (but I sucked big time in the beginning), and then I just realized it’s just way to easy sport – so boring for me. So there have started my BMX career.
 
What was your first bike/sponsor?
My first bike was KHE Titus – crazy bike! After some time I tried to do my own frames and parts. First frame I made was really ugly, but the second frame and fork were really nice and best of all functional. Many brands copied my fork. Anyway in 2009, Matti Röse ask me if I would like to join Autum Bikes / Deep BMX. I said I’m not sure, but then I decided to go for it and that was my first Sponsor. Now I’m really proud to be part of Autum Bikes!
 
What’s the first trick you learnt?
The first real trick I learned was maybe Caboose and decade – I loved decades – back in the days I could do triple-decades…I wish I have a back brake again…
 
Can you remember a point where you thought, i’m hooked, this is what I want to do?
Of course! It was just little bit before I quit soccer. I had a new bike and I started to rode like 6-8 hours per day in weekends. That was the time I was like Yeah I’m so gonna ride a lot!


Dom killing it xfted at the Voodoo Jam!

When did you first start competing?
I actually start competing just one year after I started ridding. I just have some few moves, but that what it was about back in the days. Now days people want to look cool at first and then maybe visit the comp…
 
What were your inspirations growing up riding flatland?
In real beginning I never forget that time, when I pass around National Theatre (main flatland spot in Prague – at least it used to be) and there were like 25 people on BMX riding flatland…Every time I saw it from streetcar I was so stoked!
 
When did you first turn pro?
It was the last Berlin City Games organized by Matti Röse in a church. Really, really awesome event. I rode just after Justin Miller perfect run and I sucked 😀
 
Thats interesting. I always thought your work ethic is similar to Justin Miller, pure beast mode, is that a fair comment?
I guess yes – when I do something, I cannot do it just like that…I just cannot give up!
 
Quite often because of your job, you fly in for a contest and fly out, that must be crazy hard on your mind, body and soul. How do you get around this?
It doesn’t seem like that, but it really is hard. I mean traveling is so nice but also very tiring. Recently I was told, that maybe some people doesn’t like when I come just for a contest and then go home just after it. I was told maybe it could cause some underrating as well… So I would like to be clear about this – I do this kind of thing, cause I don’t have big energy drink behind my ass who pays my life and I have to care about my living by myself. So when I want to go to contest, I’m trying to make it as short as I can to not waste my time I could spend working on my own projects which pay my life. Even I really love traveling to contest, hanging out with my good friends overseas I just have to do it like that – so please try to understand this. I mean I want to support people who’s doing good contest by I’m going for these contest like I was in Osaka for less than 24 hours!


BMX Show EU Team.
 
That’s crazy! I have to ask, as I asked Viki Gomez in a recent interview, for me I see bits of Viki and Justin Miller in your riding. How much influence did those guys have on your riding?
Viki was really big inspiration for me. Everybody knows that, he knows that, even he didn’t like it, I didn’t like it, I guess it has to be like that. From the beginning I loved technical riding and that’s what Justin stand for – and that’s you can see similarities as well. I needed to build up my base on what I really like – technical tricks. But nowadays I think I totally went for my own path. I mean I still do Martti’s pivot, but I’m doing it in my own way and I do Justin’s kick flip and that’s it – really working hard on myself and my own lines and style. And this year I will do some big improvements! No brake! Just kidding-HA-you wish! Never putting down my lovely brake. 😉
 
It’s no secret it takes a lot of dedication, blood, sweat and tears to get to the top. What preparations do you go throughout to get ready for a big contest Dom?
Yeah you are right – for example I was preparing for 4 weeks of hard practice before BMX World and then you can see…even that was pointless. I think it’s about more than just a practice and preparation. I think it’s about a luck as well. And because I have no luck I have to prepare even more. That’s what I will do next…
 
Likewise how do you select what combos to use at a contest?
As you know I’m not kind of video-guy. All the links I ever learned they were prepared for contests… So that’s why I’m not doing videos – for me it’s like that – you really learned whatever trick/link only if you can pull it in the contest.
 
When do you say to yourself, a combo is contest ready?
It’s hard to say, that last combo I was a stupid idiot and tried 3 time in my final run – it should have been contest ready 😀 But obviously that combo was lazy that day 😀 But seriously for me it’s about feeling. If you feel your safe in this combo you can pull it in show for example on a really shitty ground – it should be contest ready.
 
How do you break up your practise sessions to cater for consistency at contests, & progressing?
I guess I progress the best when I’m pissed. I’m pissed right now about myself so there’s gonna be some progression before I step up to consistency again.
 
Who do you ride for Dom?
I ride for Autum Bikes, Rubena a.s., 55DSL, G-SHOCK, DVS.
 
What are your plans for 2013 Dom? Are you entering the World Circuit?
I’m not sure. I participated at first stop – Voodoo, but I finished weirdly so now I don’t know if there’s point to continue. And we have sweet contest in Czech same date as Vigo so I really don’t know. Anyway really want to g-g-g-gooo to Phillyyyyyyy!, but not sure about that as well. Anyway there’s gonna be a lot of contest yet…
 
What’s motivating you to progress?
My failure…
 
Who are your favourite riders?
Of course Michi Steingraber for killer “switch”, Justin Miller for being the best, Matti Röse was killing it as well, Alex Jumelin for doing his thing.
 
Do you ride with anyone?
Almost most of the time I ride alone. Just one for week or two weeks I ride with my friends Patrik Ras and Michal Kupec.
 
Readers questions:

Alex Jumelin: what is your real job????
Most of the people heard my cover story job as a CAD designer – but it was long time ago I was doing that…now days…you really don’t wanna know…
 
Omari Hashim Cato: why always white rims!?!?!?!?!
Nice question! Cause I just love it J I mean, I can always change color of the frame, bars and fork and rest keep white so it fits a lot of colors and cause white rims brake the best.
 
Federico Rodriguez: At what age do you have your first tattoo?
I was 18 so 9 years ago.

Why you dont use tight jeans?
Cause they‘re gay? No, just kidding – it’s just not my thing and it doesn’t fit me…

Why you dont ride backwheel at contest?
1.      Good question!
2.      Don’t take the answers personally! I’m answering to all the people who asking me same questions.
3.      I really don’t have fun with back wheel – why should I ride something I don’t have fun with? To keep the trend? I don’t think so…
4.      I stand for the reason you cannot be as good on both wheel as you would be if you ride only one wheel – it same with everything – you cannot be as good flat/street rider as you would be only as a street or flat rider. Yeah you can say you will lose variety but that’s tax for that. I could do timemachine in the contest to show I can do some stupid backwheel trick, but for what? 2002 Martti didn’t do any backwheel combo in his run – can you say he has no variety? 😉
 
Dez Maarsen: What’s is your favorite liqueur?
Every non- liqueur drink 😉
 
Omari Hashim Cato: When’s the last time you did that crazy x foot steam kickflip to wheelchair that u debuted at Fight with flight. will it make a return??
Good question! Actually it will – very soon!
 
Scott O’Brien: Favorite punk band?
Oh you know me! Kid Dynamite, H2O, New Found Glory, Rancid, Till We Drop and many more!

Back to it…

You mentioned energy drink support, you recently turned down Monster, can you explain why?
Actually its not recently. The information is recent 🙂 Sure no big deal 🙂 It’s simple – I turned down Monster cause they offered me “funny” money – that was first reason. And second, more important reason was that I wanted to show them I have my price – if they want me to support me and I should do a promotion to them, they should support me in a proper way. I will go to contests anyway, I don’t need to be their clown for few bucks. And this is what people should be think about. If every second rider accept silly deal just for wear a stupid hat then he’s destroying whole market – why would company pay to someone twice bigger money if they can get some guy wears 10 meters size logo on his head for 10 times smaller money, right?

Everyone knows you work a 40 hour job a week, plus riding at the highest level, would you like to just ride flatland full time or do you enjoy to do something different in your life?
If I have to be honest, I`m not sure if I could handle just riding. I would be still doing something very different besides riding anyway. I love riding with whole my heart but I guess I need to stay busy all day long, even I still bitching about that 😀

I’m curious about your new tyre and I saw your stem at the Worlds, tell me about the process of getting your own tyre, and also the stem, what are the measurements? Where can riders get these parts from?
Your right – The BMXWorlds was the first official selling point for my new tire. I think people are still little skeptic and I think they don’t like to change tires 😀 I hated that as well when I was looking for the right one but I can tell you try them and you will be surprised. I’m not saying that cause their mine, I was scared what new tire will be like – but the final result is better than I could have imagined. Now I’m testing my stem. Theres gonna be some little changes, but it’s almost done and it’s gonna be available very soon. All my products you can find on my webstore: http://DOMshop.dominiknekolny.com – there are all the informations and stock info. Also tires are already available in Germany in http://bloodyshins.com shop and their gonna be available worldwide very very soon. I also ship worldwide so don’t hesitate and order 🙂


Dom signing autographs at a lecture, see below for more on this subject..

You run a drugs free program over there in Prague, what does that involve Dom in more detail?
True, true. I’m really proud I have finally starter this project. I visits school and do motivation lectures with little BMX Show. The lecture is cca 45 min long and contains several topics. I’m riding about 2-3 minutes in whole lecture so its about talking, not riding. The major idea is to motivate kids to do their thing. To show them them if they will have some dream they can reach it! I think the project is very successful and I’m working to make it better and better every lecture.

You mentioned brakes, tell me about your brake set up Dom?
I love my brake setup 😛 I ride double front brake fooooooooor…I don’t know for how long exactly…maybe since 2006-7? Actually I use only one brake and the other one I use for like one or two tricks 😀 but i so don’t like my bike with only one lever 😀 So for me it would be no brake or both brakes. You guys know what option 😉


Mid steam 3 pivot to halfpacker at the BMX Worlds!

Of course we all know you just missed out on the World Championship title in the last 35 seconds of your run, that is hard to take. But for sure, you are taking the sport to new levels in terms of difficulty in your runs, what is your practice method to be so consistent?
Could I be even more stupid? Trying some shit 3 times? I almost killed myself…never been that pissed before on myself…but what can I say, it happened and now I have to deal with it. I would like to share that with you, but Im not sure if I actually want 🙂 But one thing is for sure…you cannot reach it with “freestyle”.

What’s your advice to the kids who look up to you, and want to compete at a high level in flatland?
Im not sure if somebody is looking up to me but if they do, theres something for sure I want to tell you. Don’t practice for sponsors, don’t practice for fame, followers or energy drinks. Practice for yourself and because you wanna ride your bike. How I said…I paid my travels many years by myself to visit contest I wanted to compete and I will again if I will need to. If you do it for any reasons above, better stop…

Any final words Dom?
Sure. I would like to thank all my sponsors: Autum Bikes, 55DSL, G-Shock, Rubena a.s. and Nikon who support me and most important care about what Im doing. I wanna thank you to Matti Röse, Thomas Hirsch, Jirka Simanek, Martin Rychna, Jirka Simanek, Christian Hecht, Magdalena Stankova. Then of course to my family, all my friends and people who supports me. And if there are any fans, I thank you as well cause you guys are my engine!

Thanks Dom, amazing catching up with you!

T13 Flatland Jam Repo by Pete Hollinger

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Text: Pete Hollinger.
Photos: 2nd Shooter Photography.


Mizo, one wheel motion represent!

It had been almost ten years since the last official gathering of Ireland ‘s flatlanders, so to say the jam at T13 last weekend was long overdue would be an understatement.
I arrived at T13 skatepark early with my good friend Johnny Gordon (who some might remember won c-group at Level Vibes back in 2002) and was surprised to find a freshly built flatland platfom especially for the jam.
Not long after, local rider Aran Gillan arrived, chauffeured to the event by Northern Ireland flatland legend Dino Jeffers.


The judges putting in work.


Alex Neuma Encinas Garcon, guillotine style karl on way to second place at T13.

So practise got underway with Aran, Dino and Johnny defacing the new wooden surface with figure-eight tyre marks.
However about ten minutes into the session, disaster struck when Mr.Gordon tore the crotch well and truly out of his trousers. While he probably could have continued to ride we all decided that there were too many children around and it would be best if he took his seat on the judging panel a couple of hours early.
Arans younger brother Daniel was next to arrive straight from physio and immediately ignored the flatland platform, rolling hitchhiker combos the entire length of the skatepark.


Aran Gillan killed it all day! Rocket hang 5 steez.

By three o’clock when the jam was officially due to start, there were a total of four riders in attendance and with two of those supposed to be judging it looked like the final battle would be decided very easily…. Gillan vs Gillan.
Then at the last minute, Mizo, like a knight in shining armour came through the door with 5 other riders in tow.
That meant a total of eight riders would battle it out for an all expenses paid trip to the Worlds in July. Unbelievable. I hadn’t witnessed eight flatlanders together in Northern Ireland for at least ten years, it’s truly was a rare sight.
With everyone registered, the battles were drawn and the jam kicked off.

The youngest rider of the day, Mikolaj Penar, was up first and busted some old school moves much to Dino’s delight.

Gauthier Saint was looking good in practice trying some of the hardest switches of the day but unfortunately couldn’t nail them during his runs.

Super stylish Nrike Gascón turbined megaspins and steamrollers like there was no tomorrow.

Alex Neuma Encinas Garcon all the way from Spain came out all guns blazing right from the off, no holds barred. Long technical switch-foot steam combos mixed up with some fast fire hydrant whips for good measure. Definitely one of the most consistent riders of the day.

Mizo cranked up the difficultly with smooth whiplash combos and his signature crackpacker jump to backyard.

Aran Gillan kept his links short and sweet with all sorts of nose manual and time machine variations.

Local rider and Aran’s brother, Daniel Gillan coped well considering he isn’t used to riding in such a small are, landing a few nice hitchhiker to backwards hitchhiker juggler combos.

Lucas Santos was busting out some smooth brakeless links including a nice turbine hang5 to hang nothing.

In the end though it was Alex and Aran who battled it out for first place. Alex continuing his long switch foot combos while Aran muscled his bike into long nose manuals, pedal hand-5’s and even a hang-5 standing on the back peg.
The two styles were so different it was extremely difficult to judge.


Your top two, Alex (left) and Aran getting the winners shot with Pete Hollinger.

Only separated by a handful of points, it could have went either way but the judges decided Aran had done enough to take the win so look out for him at the Worlds this year in Cologne.

I had a fantastic time, great riding, old friends, new faces and plenty of banter – at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about.

Special thanks go out to Matt Gillespie, Dino Jeffers, everyone at T13, Belfast BMX, DJ Koncept and 2nd Shooter Photography.

Top 5’s with Trevor Meyer!

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Intro: Effraim
Photo credit:Billy Gawrych.

Many good memories riding and competing against contest machine Trevor Meyer back in the X Trials/X Games era, and of course TM is still out there killing it at the age of 41! One of the biggest bag of tricks I have ever seen to this day, the man is highly skilled and of course very talented. Trevor is on a busy schedule out in Portland doing flatland shows right now, so kept this short and sweet!

Riders of all time: Everyone has something to contribute to flatland.

Riders to ride with:Tom Haugen, Billy Gawrych, John Parker, Robert Castillo, Dale Kirvelay, Will Wolffe.

Spots to ride: My culdasac and whatever city I’m in.

Contest runs you’ve had: 7x continues years in the Hoffman Bicycle stunt series.

Web edits: Trevor Meyer Vimeo.com or You tube.

Places to visit:?

Gadgets:?

Contests:no longer compete, demos only. Proud of 3x X-Game golds.

Websites/blogs: Trevor Meyer Facebook.

Inspirations right now: New trick combos.

Reasons to leave your town/city: No riders.

Playlist: Changes daily!

Albums: None.

Tricks to do daily: variety of front and back wheel combos.

Tricks you cant do, but wish you could (ideal wishlist): cross footed nose wheelie and many more.

Magazines:Bmx Plus!

Movies: none.

Bike Brands: Odyssey, Tree, Orbea, Sickchild, All city Star.

Non bike brands: iD clothing.

Things that piss you off: Don’t ask I’m trying to stay positive!

Related Links:

https://www.flatmattersonline.com/trevor-meyer-easter-egg-roll

https://www.flatmattersonline.com/happy-birthday-trevor-meyer

https://www.flatmattersonline.com/old-school-sundays-part-1-33

Top Fives with Peter Olsen!

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Intro: Effraim.
Photos: Trevor Oleniuk.

As you may or not have noticed I have been stepping up the amount of exclusive content on Flatmatters over the winter months, particularly the interviews which I think have been quite in-depth. On the flip side of that, sometimes I am aware they can be heavy reading and thats not everyones cuppa tea so to speak. So with that train of thought, I was thinking let’s bring back the top 5’s feature, and who better to kick this off with than S&M’s Peter Olsen. Let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks!

Riders of all time:

1-Ross Smith

2-Simon O’Brien

3- Martti Kuoppa

4-Garrett Reeves

5- Ruben Alcantara

Riders to ride with:

1-Trevor Oleniuk

2-Brandon Derbowka

3-Cory Stratychuck

4-Kevin Desautels

5-Cory Fester

Web edits:

1-Rich Forne DIG

2-PALACE – TRES TRILL

3-Akira Okamura – Magic Fruits

4-Garrett Reeves / LOTEK

5-Dylan Reider – Gravis

Places to visit:

1-New Zealand

2-SF

3-Southern Portugal

4-Sweden

5-British Columbia, CAN

Websites/blogs:

1-Flatmattersonline.com

2-Defgrip.net

3-Boiltheocean.wordpress.com

4-google

5-Quartersnacks.com

Inspirations right now:

1-More daylight hours

2-The sun’s warmth

3-My wife

4-My cat

5-My bike

Reasons to leave your town/city:

1-Long and dark winters

2-I’ve been here forever

3-I need a change of scenery

4-There is a world beyond this city

5-Opportunities elsewhere

Current Albums:

1-Shlohmo – Laid Out EP

2-Blue Hawaii – Blooming Summer

3-Flying Lotus – Until the Quiet Comes

4-Spectrals – Extended Play

5-King Tubby – Dub From the Roots

Tricks to do daily:

1-Whiplashes (any kind)

2-Walkarounds

3-360 pivot tricks

4-pivot whiplashes

5-Backwards tricks

Tricks you can’t do, but wish you could (ideal wishlist):

1-Cross footed whiplashes in front of the bars

2-Backward facing rolling walkovers

3-F-truck around the worlds

4-Big Wallrides

5-360 Bunnyhop Whips

Bike Brands:

1-S&M

2-Heresy

3-BSD

4-Terrible One

5-Primo

Non bike brands:

PALACE skateboards

Brixton

Emerica

POLAR skate co

HUF

Things that piss you off:

1-Racism

2-Closed-minded folks

3-Narcissism

4-Impatience

5-Materialism

Flatland DVDS:

1-Blend

2-RUM 97-05

3-Made you Look

4-Connect

5-Background

Non Riding Movies:

1-Samsara

2-Shawshank Redemption

3-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

4-Moonrise Kingdom

5-Bottle Rocket

Gadgets:

1-Ipod Nano

2-Panasonic DVX100b

3-My wicked old computer

4-My old Samsung phone

5-I don’t really like gadgets

Favourite no seat touch combos:

1-Xfooted whiplash 360 pivot to xfooted whip out

2-Xarm switchfoot whiplash to backward hang5 to x arm whip out

3-Xarm whiplash walkaround

4-Turbine Frontyard variations

5-Switch footed firehydrant 360 pivot behind the back to switch foot out

Flatland dislikes:

1-Filler

2-Egos

3-Excess scuffing or pumping

4-Intentionally dropping the back wheel down to the ground in the middle of front wheel combos

5-Changing carve directions in a combo (ie. going clockwise then switching it up and going counter wise in the same link)

*#4 & #5 are generally speaking, but there are exceptions as some dudes that can make both of those look sick

Flatland loves:

1-Solitude

2-Fresh Air

3-Good friendships

4-Rolling

5-Finding out something is possible

Who’s next for a Top 5’s?

Support what..? by TJ Perry

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Support what..?

Let me clear the air and say that up front I know that this is going to ruffle some feathers for a few reasons. One being that it’s me and nobody seems to be able to match my ability to kick up dust and stir the pot. What can I say? It’s a gift. Another more serious reason, and I say this with all due respect to those that hold the opposing viewpoint because many I consider good people and friends of mine, is that the position that I will argue against is something that many people hold very dear. The notion that riders need to get out there and support rider owned or BMX-centric companies runs deep with people all around the world from all walks of life. It appears to run as deep as the piety of those among us who are religious, and it boils the blood no less than some heated political debate between two people of opposing political affiliations. I understand that, and I understand that my views on the subject are on the fringe but I ask that you hear me out regardless of who I am and whether or not you disagree because like most things I say I feel it’s a point that needs to be raised.

Recently The Come Up, an online BMX publication, posted an article about DC shoes abandoning their BMX program and why it shouldn’t strike the BMX community at large as some mortal blow. That much I agree with completely. If DC wants to pack up and leave for business reasons, I say we part ways with some dignity and wish them luck on any and all ventures involving 13 year old mall-rats. I did say some dignity after all.
The points that were made that followed what I mention above though took a turn for a position that I’ve been arguing with people about for the better part of a decade. Adam talked about a few things that are noble in theory but ultimately futile in practice. In case you’re wondering what I mean I’ll provide a quote for context:

“BMX riders need to be proud to support real BMX companies. We need people who are willing to work their asses off to put BMX riding in front of the public through independent events like Simple Session and Texas Toast. Basically BMX riders need to remember to be proud to ride BMX bikes.”

As I said on the surface this makes total sense and is an admirable sentiment. Put money into the hands of companies that work hard to promote the sport. Look at the list of people and companies that throw their weight behind great events and those are the parts you should be running. There are problems lurking with this position because when put into practice you don’t always get desirable results.
I’ve asked for clarification from a number of different people over the years because it’s roughly the same argument that people put forward year after year when it comes to what we need to do to improve the sport. I’ve never once gotten any clarification outside of vague often cryptic responses and outright dismissal from those I’ve asked. So I’ll pose a few of the questions here and see where it leads us.
First off, while it is great that people should support companies that support the events and riders that get paid to ride for a living, what benefit is it to the consumer if the companies that do all this supporting are completely worthless? Remember power balance? They got nailed with a class action lawsuit for 57 million dollars for claiming that their products had even an iota of scientific research put into them to back up the claim that they enhanced performance. If memory serves there was a period where they were actively involved in supporting contests and maybe even a few riders. Should we just hand our money over to companies that are actively trying to defraud the public?
Maybe that’s an extreme example so I’ll offer a few more, but in the hypothetical so that I don’t step on too many toes. If there is a company that sponsors a major BMX/flatland contest and they make parts that are altogether worthless, why should any consumer invest in their products? Why should people pay for sub-par quality because this company sponsors events? What if there is another company that produces incredibly high quality components but doesn’t invest in say, Texas Toast or Voodoo jam? The company that produces the better parts will fold and the company with the lesser quality product line will thrive.
I’ve been told that because I don’t buy a certain company’s products, I don’t support them. I’ve also been told that because I have no brand loyalty, I don’t support BMX. Why? I think on the whole that makes me a smart consumer that actively goes out of his way to find things that work for him and in the process the companies that make the parts I buy are rewarded with my business. This is how every single business on the planet works at its most fundamental level. You make good products, and the buyers will come provided they know about it.
I got into a discussion/argument about this with Jim Mckay and he could not define what he meant by supporting BMX. I questioned and probed and did my best to figure out what his definition of support was and couldn’t come up with anything. I’ve had the same conversation with other people that lead me through the same dialogue over and over again ending with the other person getting upset and leaving the conversation all together.
If the answer to the question of “what does it mean to support bmx?” is so simple, then why is it so incredibly difficult to get an answer out of the people that espouse such a viewpoint? I wish I could answer that, but I can’t, and the question will remain unanswered until someone eloquent enough comes along and provides an explanation. I highly doubt this will happen, but I remain hopeful even though that may come off as disingenuous to everyone reading.
I do want to support BMX, and I feel like I do in my own way. I ride, I go through parts, and I buy new ones. My buying decisions are based off what I feel my needs are today or what they might be tomorrow. Consumers should have no obligation to keep a company afloat. If a company isn’t making good products, they will go out of business because nobody will buy their parts. That is simply the way of things and no amount of good vibes will ever be able to fix that, or sustain a failing model of business in the long run.
What people need to understand is that the vast majority of what goes on in the business world of BMX is completely out of the consumers hands. Odyssey was a joke of a company until they started putting out products that the market responded to and actively sought out, and now they’re one of the biggest brands in BMX. Nobody that I can think of could possibly touch the diversity of their portfolio, or the overall consistency of their quality. But there are bigger fish than Odyssey, and they’re the ones that determine what events are available for you to go to when you “support” anything.
Flatland was in its death throes after it was dropped from the X-games. We had absolutely nothing, except for an obscure sponsor that was already making waves overseas: Redbull. They supported the BMX worlds and I remember as a new rider what in the hell a Red Bull was and what it was doing on the contest floor. Energy drinks were not a thing then. They sure as hell are now.
Without the support of larger companies like Redbull, and now Monster among a few others, contests post X-games would have dwindled to nothing and we would be in a sorry state of affairs. No flatland company has the capital to hold a contest on the scale of the events that the energy drink companies have backed. That being said, if they dropped out tomorrow out of lack of interest and every bmx rider in the country boycott every energy drink company, they wouldn’t lose a dime. We have no buying power when it comes to markets larger than our own. We rise and fall with the tide, and when it goes in a handful of riders at the top prosper and smaller companies pop up, and when it goes out both of those groups dwindle.
Redbull only sponsors our events because they make money hand over fist and you can’t have Travis Pastrana jump docks in San Francisco every day of the week. The one reason, the ONLY reason, that any of the larger companies take an interest in us is not because anyone there really loves what we do, it’s because they have money to play with and we’re a cute little diversion. We’re nothing to them but a tax shelter. They give us money and then write it off. The benefit being we get a sick contest and oodles of prize money, but it’s a drop in the bucket to them.
So that’s it, if those guys fold and take off we are utterly boned. Maybe someone will take their place, maybe not. The point is that no matter what BMX companies do, the sport will always rely on outside support from sponsors with coffers that dwarf our entire micro-economy. We cannot hold a candle to the wealth that they bring and we will never be able to. This is especially true of flatland. We are completely helpless and by now we should know it.
As helpless as it is a call to arms in support of something that in the end means nothing will only hurt us. People will always support BMX in their own way, or they will just stop riding. If you want to support BMX then simply keep riding. If you are already deeply enough involved to be reading this, or to take an active interest in the comings and goings of our, for lack of a better term, heard of cats, then there is absolutely nothing that you need to be told. You already buy parts. You already spend money. You can make up your own mind as to what company will best suit your needs, and the ones that don’t will either find a different customer or they will fail.
The death of a brand is often seen as a sad state of affairs. I used to see it that way too until I realized that its existence was only being sustained by a minority of people that either threw money at a lost cause (Ie: support BMX!) for no reason, or it didn’t fill anyone’s needs. The people who tell you to support companies are making an emotional plea that in the long run will not keep those companies afloat, and ultimately your dollar will be sucked into the void right before the door closes and they dissipate from our economy. It will have been for naught, and the sport will be worse off because of it.

Think about all that money disappearing into thin air and you will understand why I believe “support BMX” is just about the dumbest most counter-productive sentiment anyone could hold in our sport. That money could have been put to better use by riders choosing the best parts to meet their needs instead of mindlessly wasted on nothing, but that’s where this philosophy can lead you.
The alternative, which Jim hinted at, is that we’re already doing our part by buying what we need. I buy tires because my lot sucks, so that means I support Odyssey. Fair enough, but if that’s true why do we need the sermon about support?
I don’t know. Nobody in the pulpit seems to know either. That’s very telling, and something to be kept in mind when someone makes the assertion that our sport is failing because it doesn’t get enough “support” from BMX riders riding BMX parts when the alternative is not riding at all.

TJ