Category Archives: Exclusives

The Kio Hayakawa Flatmattersonline Year End Award Interview

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Intro/Interview: Effraim.
Photography: Kio Hayakawa & Hikaru Funya.

Kio Hayakawa!! This young talent from Japan is making big waves in the global flatland scene. I met Kio for the first time at the X Games in Chiba, Japan and it was obvious the man is on a mission. Riding more than anyone else at the contest, and so consistent on all his new tricks. It’s kind of daunting to see, and I would imagine even more daunting for his competitors.
There is something wonderfully pure about his riding, and his work ethic. It’s kind of cheesy to say the future is bright for Kio, because he’s already here as is proven by his X-Games gold medal. He kicked the door down, and shouted loud and clear his intentions. His riding does the talking, hammers getting dropped with an amazing consistent ratio.. Let’s get into this interview with two years in a row Flatmattersonline Rider of the Year, and of course X Games Gold Medalist, welcome to the Kio Hayakawa Interview…..

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The Viki Gomez Flatmattersonline Year End Award Interview + Viki’s Must Watch Rise 4 Ever Part!

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Intro/Interview: Effraim.
Photography: Jason Halayko.

Hello everyone,

After a few days break from my back to back trips to Lyon France and straight to Japan for the X Games. It’s time to get back to posting some content for you all at home.
And next up in the Fm year end award winner interviews is Viki Gomez, winner of the editorial choice for edit of the year 2021!
We discuss the award, filming the part, direction changes in Viki’s riding, motivations with contests vs edits, Titanium bikes and his new video part Rise 4 Ever (which you can watch below!

RISE 4 EVER from Viki Gomez on Vimeo.

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X Games Japan Day 3: Contest Day

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Yesterday was a good day for flatland, the return of flatland to the X Games after a 19 year hiatus. They started just like every other so far, you collect the bag with your covid 19 test on your door handle, get the test done.
Daily procedure, it is what it is. Boring part out the way, ready to enjoy the rest of the day.

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X Games Chiba Japan: Day 2

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Day 2 here in beautiful Chiba, Japan and my first full day at the X Games. The first nights sleeping is always so hard, and after waking p at 2am, I managed to fall sleep until 7am.
First things and breakfast was a fun catch up with the X Games organisers, and then caught up with riders, Broc Raiford, Terry Adams, Matthias Dandois, Varo Hernandez and many more.
After a breakfast it was time for the daily covid test, and then over to the venue, which I got a great view from breakfast.( Check the photo.)

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X Games Japan: Day 1

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The stage is set for the return of flatland to the X Games in Japan the home of modern day flatland I think it’s fair to say.

As I went to check in on my journey to Japan, the Japan airlines steward said “we can’t take a French PCR test you have to get it translated before you can board,” after a little bit of back and forth the head steward translated the PCR test. I thought for about an hour that I was going to be unable to make the trip to Japan, thankfully they saw sense and allowed me to check in at London Heathrow, the trip was smooth sailing after that point.
It’s a real honour to be invited to be head judge at a contest I competed in several times.

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Varo Hernandez Interview: The 2021 Flatmattersonline Awards Breakthrough Rider of the Year

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Intro/Interview: Effraim.
Photography: Miguekimage, Linoescuris, UCI, Rafael Black.

It’s time to get into what I hope is the first of many interviews relating to the 2021 Flatmattersonline Year end awards and the winners. First up, we have Editorial Choice Breakthrough Rider of the Year, Varo Hernandez! Let’s get this rolling….

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Jean-Francois Bouilanne: Bmxploration Tour Interview

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Intro/Interview: Effraim.
Photography: Jean-Francois Bouilanne.

Imagine being on the road for months at a time, not knowing where you will sleep, eat, where you will ride, the list goes on? The daily things we take for granted. Jean-Francois Bouilanne is a free spirit, and lives his life to the fullest. I caught up with him recently to talk about this trip across the states. Read on…

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0228.JPG

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Episode 82: Flatmattersonline Exclusive with Renz Viaje

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Hello everyone!

It’s time for Episode 82 of the Flatmattersonline Exclusives and boy is it a good one. I will go as far as saying Renz Viaje just dropped the best clip of the year so far!
This exclusive came about after Renz dropped the bike flip to two footed pedal ice cream catch on his instagram, I hit up Renz and said how about flip in flip out for a FM exclusive.
A couple of days past, and Renz said after three hours trying he got it! Insane!
Renz gave a shout out his his sensai, Yohei Uchino.

Thank you Renz for contributing and raising the level up, this is what its all about. Incredible!

Who’s got episode 83?

Episode 81: Flatmattersonline Exclusive with Rob Alton

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Hello everyone!

It’s time for episode 81 of the Flatmattersonline Exclusives, today we have a nice one from flatland lifer Rob Alton!

Rob comes through with what I guess you would call one and a half hangglider to mccircle double decade out! Double decades are one of the best feeling tricks in the game, when you stomp a good one there’s nothing like that feeling.
Rob has multiple decades on lock, and is doing great things for the flatland scene in Hungary with his Sportzone facility, teaching lots of kids flatland skills.
Later in the year, Rob will hosting the annual Sportzone contest, get there if you can!

Whose got episode 82? Get in touch let’s keep this flowing….

Thanks Rob for contributing…

Episode 80: Flatmattersonline Exclusive with Mickey Gaidos

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Hello everyone!

As promised, it is time for Episode 80 of the Flatmattersonline Exclusives! Today we have a belter from Mickey Gaidos out of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mickey throws down an amazing teakettle jump to spinning hitch line that just keeps building, and ends in a s super dope spinning Circle k to half bar flip Karl out! Filmed at his home riding spot by Terry Adams, I love Mickey’s energy in this when he hollers “Flatmatters”.

Thank you Mickey for contributing and Terry for filming, super dope!!

The clips keep building, and another clip is ready for episode 81 on Sunday… After that I am dry on clips, so if you are at home and wish to feature on the site. Drop me a message and let’s fire these exclusives out to the magic 100!

**Mickey however ignored two rules of the exclusives, there is music from New Order (I’m not making any money out of this YouTube I promise) and the video is filmed Portrait not landscape. Rules are made to be broken I guess, and it’s freestyle!