Category Archives: Exclusives

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…

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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!

Episode 79: Flatmattersonline Exclusive with Effraim Catlow

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After two weeks filming/editing the awards last Sunday I went out for a session right after presenting the Flatmattersonline Year End awards and had a feel good session where everything on the bike felt good.
I had a new idea whilst I was enjoying the session, and as I got nearer to hitting the line I decided to put the phone down and capture it and hopefully get the FM exclusives rolling again.
I have been messing with forward ankle buster variations for a while now, and happy to tick this Fire hydrant turbine to forwards ankle buster rebate off the list. Some good motivation for me now I have some more free time after the awards.

Let’s get these exclusives rolling again, next exclusive drops on Wednesday.

To Document, Share and Progress!

The Flatmattersonline Year End Award Winners 2021 Are…….

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It’s time to announce the winners of the 2021 Flatmattersonline Year End Awards, as well as show some love to the nominees….

It’s a labour of love putting this together, after two weeks filming, capturing, and editing, the show is finally is done!

If you are unfamiliar with the awards, there are 5 categories in both editorial and reader choice. I made a few changes this year, adding Female Rider of the Year + Brand of the Year to the awards.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote, and congratulations to all the winners and nominees, tune into the Year end awards show to find out who won in each category!

Grab a Cuppa and I Hope you enjoy the show!

Flatmatters / Effraim Catlow.

The 2021 Flatmattersonline Year End Awards Nominees Are…..

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Hello everyone!

It is time to announce the nominees for the 2021 Flatmattersonline Awards. Congratulations to all the nominees in both editorial and reader categories. Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote, we had a late surge of votes this year.

Flatmatters!

Effraim Catlow

EDITORIAL CHOICE NOMINEES ARE….

RIDER OF THE YEAR.

Yohei Uchino.

Kio Hayakawa.

Matthias Dandois.

Viki Gomez.

Terry Adams.

MUST WATCH EDIT OF THE YEAR.

Matt Wilhelm Until We Ride Again.

Viki Gomez Rise 3.

Heresy Mix tape.

Sean Fontenot Escapes.

James White System Overload.

BREAKTHROUGH RIDER OF THE YEAR.

Takato Moriya.

Ren Oshima.

Julian Baran.

Dan Hennig.

Varo Hernandez.

BRAND OF THE YEAR.

Nous BMX.

Heresy BMX.

IGI BMX.

Colony BMX.

Viking BMX.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION.

To be announced Sunday 30th January.

READER CHOICE NOMINEES ARE…..

RIDER OF THE YEAR.

Matt Wilhelm.

Kio Hayakawa.

Viki Gomez.

Pete Olsen.

Varo Hernandez.

EDIT OF THE YEAR.

Matt Wilhelm Until We Ride Again.

Heresy Mixtape.

Sean Fontenot Escapes.

Viki Gomez Rise 3.

Moto Sasaki Jam.

FEMALE RIDER OF THE YEAR.

Erin Donato.

Leticia Moda.

Irina Sadovnik.

Louise Seigneur.

CONTEST RUN OF THE YEAR.

Joris Bretagnolles Battle in the Rockies qualifying

Kio Hayakawa UFL Round 3.

Hiroya Morizaki Jeep Real Games.

Kio Hayakawa Never off Battle.

Yu Shoji Jeep Real Games.

LINE OF THE YEAR.

Yu Shoji Jeep Real Games First Trick.

Pete Olsen Upside Down Walkover.

Yu Katagiri 360 Bikeflip Chimera Games Final.

Kio Hayakawa – Our BMX Nora Cup ender.

Hiroya Morizaki Real Jeep Games Final.

Winners announced: Sunday 30th January.