Stewart Munro shot this video for ESPN with Australia’s Simon O’Brien, that you do not want to miss. In the above video Simon discusses his progression through flatland taking a look at previous video part clips, his recent trip to the Red Bull COB in Japan, and where he’s at right now with his flatland riding. Video by Stewart Munro. I feel like we have been spoilt with dope videos this Christmas!
Category Archives: Interviews
Chad Johnston / Peter Olsen FlatWebTV Interview – 2012
Chad Johnston / Peter Olsen FlatWebTV Interview – 2012 from Everyday Paradise on Vimeo.
Chad J and Peter Olsen dropped two of the best edits of the year, FlatWebTV caught up with both of them to get some insight into what went into making those edits. This is dope, don’t miss this one.
Matthias Dandois & Bart de Jong Interview
Matthias and Bart are currently in Moscow, Russia. For the Russian BMX awards, if you have time, check out this interview, over an hour long!
The Friday Interview: Bizhouse’s Shawn White discusses the Rachet Sprocket!
Intro: Effraim
Interview: Effraim
Photos: Provided by Shawn.
Shawn White has been on the scene for as long as I can remember. Remember the Phil Dolan Bars?… designed by Shawn. He founded Bizhouse was founded in 2001. The Dialyzer Clamp Stem, turned many a head, only four stem bolts and super light. I rode mine for ten years, this stuff lasts! I was amazed! Since then Shawn has kept that independent underground feel to his brand, sporadically dropping a product on the flatland market as if to say I’m still here. Remember the pegs? Moto Sasaki still uses them! The grips that used the same rubber gym rings concept as the pegs, genius! The list goes on, bearingless euro bbs, plastic pegs, the aerospace forks that Chad J was using for years, the dialyser handlebar, Shawn White is a design genius. Flatland and BMX in general needs more creative thinkers “that ride” like him.
More recently, Shawn made the whole BMX World stop and a look at his Rachet Sprocket and go “WTF”, I got hold of Shawn, we fired this interview out over facebook. It might not be what you are expecting, you maybe confused, be warned.
How you doing Shawn? It’s been a while, the sneak peak at your Bizhouse Rachet prototype just dropped? Tell me about it?
Hey E, I just dropped the Dialyser Bar earlier this year! Lol Or was that 2011?
Just making conversation
PD:come now mate you don’t know when it dropped? Bollocks and Cod!
I’m never offended I sleep under a piano in Koln for the worlds!
PD is Phil Dolan.
Yeah i guessed, why you talking as if you were Phil? Let’s get back to your design shawn
Cause he is my mate, and I can rib him, he loves to hear his name! Mate!
PD: Oi Oi White, that’s a bag of rubber bullocks!
You mean bollocks?
Yes Bollocks! Thank you.
Hahah alright Shawn lets crack on…I’m curious about your design, tell me about it..
Ok, it’s the “Ratchet”..
What are you selling here? a chainring and bb as one unit?
Double meaning always.Keep em’ guessing. No, it’s a sprocket,but it’s the “Ratchet”. Helps set the pedals!
An image that fits this interview. The Rachet? Can you make it out?
So I guess the obvious question is, what is the function and purpose of the Rachet?
The “Ratchet” is a solution to a problem I have heard for 2 decades now,,, my pedals move, mine do too! So I made A BB to solve the problem, now here comes the “Ratchet”. A true pedal setter! Just like you know wear your VANS Shoes are, now you know wear your pedals are every time!
Ok. So the video doesnt show the pedals engaged, so it’s kind of hard to see it work in its full capacity.
I know…
This concept obviously is marketed at “BMX” and not flatland as you normally do. Could you see this catching on in flatland too?
I can’t show it all!
You have this patented right?
That was a taste, so you can see what’s coming! It’s Pending…
When can we expect to the rachet in full operation?
I have to wait the year to file the rest of the “Patent” !
Wow ok so theres a risk someone could jump on your design here, with you publishing the video on youtube.
Well I may not sell it, I may show everyone how to make it!
I see. How long have you been testing the rachet sprocket for?
I figure, everyone copies my products, so if I give it out for free, how could you make money off my designs?
PD: Oi Bloke, that sounds Capital punishment
Yes Dolan that’s what it is!
I hear you Shawn, you have had some ground breaking products. I had one of your stems for ten years! Pretty amazing in the modern day! Whats the weight on the Rachet sprocket on this compared to a typical freecoaster?
Thank You E! I saw you win the Worlds Bloke, you beat Dolan, and steingrabber, Jesse, Day, Osicka, Mckinney, Albert. Everyone on KHE! Thomas!
Thank you Shawn! That was a great day for me for sure! This ain’t about me though…
Glad you ask! The weight, Well, front wheel tricks are heavy, and back wheel tricks are light, I wanted to transfer the weight! Put it in the middle, split the weight load!
So you dont have an actual weight?
So my Fork spins are the same as my Megas’! Right now it’s as light as air Hockey!
So I guess what I’m saying, is this is lighter than a freecoaster?
There is more to it, you just can’t see it yet! Yes, you can use a F/C or Cassette hub, not the Pub Dolan.
Hahha if only Phil was here now Shawn
PD: who said Pub? James White, no his a Mounty Mate,He is!
So any date on the final production?
I was shooting for Christmas! But I may not sell it, everyone has it already!
Your not giving much away Shawn!
I may give the advice only, Not yet!
But it seems like such a clever idea, and the best ideas are always simple. Do you see this replacing the freecoaster?
Ya know E, the US press will never, even if I paid Cash give me the credit I deserve! I’m always ok with that! One they know already, two the Internet is faster then a printing press anyday!
My only question is why would anyone buy a magazine over the Web?
I was told well ” we put original content in the mag you can’t see on the web”, well this is the second original Design in Two years,,, and only after I released it, I hear from them! lol. It makes me laugh!
FlatMatters and Cream/A.R.T. My overseas Family always show the Love! Thank You!
I don’t think it will replace the freecoaster! But this one may be free! Haha.
PD: Bloody Gates of Stone Hedge and the Avery Circle, do you want the Lords of London to be at Tea Mate?
So as a flatlander, let me ask you
Yes Phil I Do! With Emer Shorts on! Ask!
The freecoaster is the holy grail design wise and it hasn’t been fully solved yet?
I use the K.I.S.S. Theory, Keep it simple stupid!
Well exactly. There must be a simple solution to the freecoaster. Doesn’t it bug you as a flatlander? It’s never really been totally solved. I know it bugs me hahaha
E, did you know I invented the first sealed bearing free coaster for Primo “the Bomb”. I traded that design/ invention for them to pay off my students Loan!
Of course I remember the Bomb Shawn
They gave Fano a pay cut to pay my Loans FANOOOooo..
But I still think the freecoaster hasn’t been solved. It strikes me, that as a flatlander and designer your going round the bike you have forks, bars, stem, grips….
So this is in my alley E!
I did not know if you knew that,,, that is a reference to the Limey US media again!
Flat needs a good seat, & a freecoaster. What’s up with bizhouse, is it full time job?
I’m here to save us all! I love every BMXer! I believe in everyone!
Tell me about your testing process, how long did you test your stem before it dropped?
If ya want to believe in me for you! Follow me on Twitter! @Shawnwhitebmx
haha nice plug
I just made the stem, everyone tested it! Whew!
Wow!, real belief it worked then!which it did
Yep, real talk here E, careful what ya ask!
Let’s get into it!! This is flatmatters, the world wants to know..
Yep, most copied stem yet!
That’s what happens when your a leader, I guess..
I’d love to see a BMXer make a time line of all the copies, regarding BIZHOUSE!
So what you are just giving this rachet idea away?
Ya know like a crazy web chart!
First person to do that gets a “Rachet” or stem or whatever!,Right Dolan?
PD: take him to Bristol for the rusted Pistol,Hey Dolan Kids read this Bloke.
PD, O, Pi Pi Cheery O, Bloke, on the Tele!
You’ve lost me Shawn! Wha’ts next for Bizhouse? You working on any flat stuff?
Well if I give the Rachet away, how could other companies make money from it?
That’s a good way of looking at it
Do you do any work for other bike companies?
New Forks, Street Stem. And one more thing. I do work for every bike Co. It’s just been a secret.
I never know if you are joking or not?!
Like I said, why would I ask for credit when I get no Love anyway.
That’s true. Let’s start wrapping this up…
Where can people get Bizhouse product from? What’s your website?
We all know that the bigger fish in the pond with the most money says, Don’t give Shawn White coverage Wa Boo Hoo, and they have to listen, it always works that way! But they can’t stop the Internet! Hahaha….
Thanks Bill Gates!
http://www.Bizhouse.com
Fight the system! We can Win!
Photo Credit: 23 Mag.com.
To date, what design are you most happy with?
My Vision with the “Ratchet” is for every bike to not back pedal for Street/Flat/Park/Mega/Vert to advance.
Design wise, the Dialyser Stem! It was a vision from a Toy, and Ed talking.
Yes that was and is a great piece of design!
I care fully for BMX, I want to see it grow!
Much respect Shawn, thanks for your time!
Let’s get rid of Cars so we can RIDE! Thank You Effraim! For all you Do at Flatmatters! Your a Great Bloke, keep Shredding them E!
Thank you Shawn that means a lot!
If you read this interview and you get one thing from it. I’d like that to be progress so we can all move Forward! Standing still leaves you alone! RIDE till you DIE!
Any Last words Phil?
PD:Yes, did you know I can pedal in a nose wheelie?
Yes I did Phil..
PD: ok that was it Cheers Mate, wear Emer!
Let’s finish this, whats your email for anyone wishing to get in contact about the Rachet, or any other Bizhouse designs?
If anyone would like to pre order. Email me at Bizhouse@bizhouse.com available now.
Catfish BMX Union Interview
Photo credit: Jeremy Pavia.
Great interview up on the BMX Union site with the one and only Catfish. Jeremy Pavia did a great job with this interview, that goes into his job at DK, the move to Barcelona, the culture of BMX, his friend Mad Dog and much more, hit the link already!
http://www.bmxunion.com/blog/interview/through-the-lens-catching-up-with-catfish/#more-41051
The Viki Gomez Interview part 2
Interview: Effraim
Photos: Viki Gomez/Red Bull Content Pool
I feel like I have already done the intro for the interview in part 1 so lets keep this short and sweet and get right into this…
It was great to see a banger ultimately decide a huge contest like the Red Bull COB, how long did it take you to get a link such as the steamroller kickflip to halfpacker ready for a contest?
The floor was super cool, and I know that I can pull this combo in good floor having the right mindset. I really appreciate that the judges understood how hard it is to pull a kick flip, because it’s so special and hard trick! I learnt that from MK, kickflips are hard and require a strong mind, and this day my mind was strong as never before.
Tell me how you go about putting your combinations together, what are some of the things you consider? Like before the Red Bull COB, how did you decide on your combos?
I was practising completely different combos for COB. But the day of the contest I couldn’t pull them together so I decide to change the plan, and go for a kind of tricks where I could feel more relaxed. This way I could be “one” with my bike and be able to control my nerves, enjoy and make the crowd happy.
Besides Red Bull and obviously representing Fenix Bikes, who else is supporting you?
Well, right now I have got a lot of new sponsors, especially after winning the COB! I signed for G Shock Japan (I am sponsored straight from Japan), Arnette Sun glasses (this is a very special/exclusive team with sponsors like Dani Pedrosa, Moto GP rider), Levi´s (amazing Streetwear line of fashion), Orbea bikes (They are going to make true one of my dreams that you will see coming next year around May), Suelo (Now this brand belongs to Jykk Japan and I am sponsored with all the parts also designing new parts) and DCShoes (Being part of the VIP Family of a brand made from riders). Editors note: More on Orbea Bikes soon…
Wow you must get a ton of goodies each month, thats awesome! In my opinion, you are the most stylish rider out there right now, so let me ask you, what is style for you?
Thank you Effraim! I heard that a lot from riders and I am really happy and thankful if its like this! I am just natural with my bike, I follow a natural way of moving according to my feelings and then magic happens! I am pretty transparent person and it shows in every aspect of your life.
Speaking of style, what music are you into?
Any music that is good is welcome. I will always like anything that has beauty and spirit!
How concerned are your sponsors with you being in the public eye with edits, or are they more concerned with you riding shows?
I am lucky enough with my sponsors to be seeing as a BMX Flatland Legend! They know the love and passion I put on my bike, they know I have won a lot of contests, made my own innovative bike company, made my own contest like Flamenco Flatland, and they support me because they trust me, and they like that I come with new ideas all the time.
For me life is about coming with new ideas, not only about tricks, but also about projects and exciting business. I give a lot of advices and ideas to my sponsors, I connect good people together of different business of fashion, music, cinema, festival organizers, bike manufacters, urban culture, shops, etc.
My shows are all about showing Flatland in my own way, they way I feel, the way I love it and always representing it in the right way! I don’t feel like a BMX rider at all, I feel more like an artist on wheels with a business mind, lucky enough to travel, make connections and meet amazing people around the globe! I am very interested in others people life’s who have nothing to do with BMX but with art, music, fashion, culture and business related.
What if any are your practise rituals on a normal day?
Wake up, say thank you for a new day and take this day as it comes! Sometimes are riding days and some others are projects and email days. Some others are days to disconnect and many of them are busy days somewhere in the world riding with my bike. The only ritual is to follow the vibe of the day, so whatever you do will be the right decision and then you can take the most of it!
Does that change leading up to a big contest such as the Red Bull COB?
Yeah definitely! I can easily say that I have nothing else to proof in contests terms. But I will always be competitive. I have won a lot different contests in the past but this contests is definitely the best ever and any rider´s dream! I have won it three times and every time I realise I am so stoked.
It makes me realise that your life can become magic if you really wish it with love and passion for what you do! Realizing this makes me understand that I have a powerful tool in my hands! And now I know I can use this magic power in everything I wish to do in my life!
The COB win in japan marks ten years at the top of the sport for you, it’s crazy now to think of you as a veteran, but a veteran who is pushing new styles and concepts, so do you have any words of advice to the older generation of riders out there that maybe think they are to old to compete?
I realized that Flatland is like wine! It just gets better with age, and as any good wine it needs to be kept in the right conditions. So I just have been taking a lot of care of my self in health terms because I just wanted to ride so life gave me all the ways and opportunities to keep on riding! I never got old in my heart, therefore I never lost the passion and love to ride and as long as you feel as happy as the first time you ever rode then nothing will change! Only your experience will makes you more mature and wise so you will ride even better. This is my philosophy of riding.
After japan I heard you took your brakes off, what made you decide that? Have you accomplished all you want to contest wise, onto new challenges?
Riding with brakes the way I ride it feels for some reason much harder than ride with no brakes! Links with brakes are all about waiting for the right momentum to make the link in the exactly right moment, and it’s very limited time to react properly. I have been lately feeling claustrophobic about being locked in this momentum so I decided to scape from it and find in brakeless riding the freedom to choose the momentum to make the link.
Tell me about the “freestyle concept” Viki? I noticed you change up your combos all the time. How does that work in regard to contest preparation?
In order to freestyle you need to have a lot of tricks, and for that you need to practise a lot of tricks. So everyday I make sure I make at least some tricks of every style possible out there. During warm up and then it comes the “conceptual” combos. I mean, for example kickflip is a concept, so I try to make a combo with 2 or 3 different kickflips mixed. Then whiplash is another concept. I try to mix forward and backward whiplashes. Then XF is another concept, and like this over and over all the time with many more concepts. At the end Freestyle happens when you can improvise and mix these concepts. It takes time to get this level, but my priority is to be a complete rider with a lot of variety of tricks and styles.
This has been truly awesome. Any final words of thanks, shootouts etc Viki?
I want to thank you Effraim for this interview and congratulate you for the daily work on Flatmattersonline.com!
I want to thank from my family, friends, and specially the big support from my girlfriend Alexa who has changed my life into a dream during the last 3 years! She has been and is my best friend, manager, supporter and lover!
And last but not least I want to thank all my sponsors for supporting and believing in me! Red Bull, Orbea, G Shock, Arnette, Levis, DC and Suelo! Also the new spanish ageny called “Step family” company for helping me to grow much more in Spain! Thanks Red Bull international for all the great trips and invitations worldwide! Thank you all the riders for the support and nice words on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! You all give me the motivation to keep on!
Let’s finish off this interview with some questions from you all at home, (these are the questions Viki answered..)
Reader questions:
Navid asked :
How long are you planning to ride flatland? (personal riding, not competition nor progressing, just riding)
I have a deal with Jesse Puente who is about 8 years older than me. Whenever he stops I will take his age as a refference to stop. But honestly, do you think JP will ever stop riding?
Uzumaki asked:
What is the name of the reggae song you rode at, at your qualification run rebeljam?
Ask Michael Sommer, he was the Dj. I just asked him for a Reggae song.
Sven asked:
Do you think much about the future? What are you going to do for a living when flatland won’t pay the bills? Any plans like Terry Adams to invest in houses and live from the rent, etc? It´s cool to live the BMX dream, but what comes after that?
Flatland is not paying me money wise only, it s giving me everyday opportunities to travel all over the world, design bikes, being a marketing and team manager, make conexions, come up with ideas and concepts. And the most important nowadays: Lifestyle! Giving me knowledge everyday to learn a lot about the business of entertaiment and marketing. So my philosophy is to keep learning and progressing. I know life will show me the way as always! Nothing comes after the BMX dream. Life is a dream and I just keep on living.
2) Why did you move to Luxembourg? Girlfriend? Do you have any plans to go back to Spain? Do you ride alone in Luxembourg? Do you have an indoor spot? You know the winter can be harder there than in Malaga.
I moved because I have been following my girlfriend during her studies the last 3 years in Stockholm, London, Madrid and now Luxembourg. It has changed my point of view in life and I am very open to live anywhere new and exciting in the future! It helped me to become more sophisticated and cosmopolitan.
For me Winter and cold has become a positive thing. I appreciate the good weather, and when is bad weather I stay positive and patient. I have an indoor spot where I ride alone, so I am very lucky! I love the feeling to be able to ride when is super cold outside. It’s a nice feeling that I never experienced before.
Pugloaf asked:
Longest break you took from riding? Any tips for pivot tricks?
I think one month is the longest break I took, and it was because I got injured in my ankle. I am addicted to ride so if I stop it s because something had happened.
Regarding the pivoting, just put your feet/foot in the top of the pegs and feel the flow.
Adam D asked:
When you picture links/tricks in your head, is it from a side point of view like your watching a video, or over top of your bike like what you would see while your actually riding?
When I invent a new trick or link it’s from the same point of view as what I see when I ride. But when I want to practise freestyle in my mind I see it from outside like watching a video.
Julien Politi asked:
Do you ”practice”, or do you just ride? I mean is there any precise riding pattern that you stick to to maintain this high level, or do you just freestyle without planning anything?
I practise basic routines everyday of whiplash, XF combos, kickflips, backwheel, spin both sides and then I go for the tricks I am practising at that moment. Freestyle comes only sometimes and it’s amazing when it happens!
Byke asked:
Who designed what with KGB?
I mostly took care of all the designs, accounts, orders and legal paperwork since Martti took care of the whole marketing campaign, relations and web page.
And why did you decide to go separate ways?
Well, KGB was our university, and we really learnt how to manage a freelance job. It was a time to move on progress, and KGB wasn’t the answer for our demands so we decided to move on and find new ways. To establish a bike company might take at least 20 years to have a respectable name in the industry. Despite this, we made some noise in the industry and had an amazing funny time! I encourage people to try their own thing, you will never loose even if your profit is zero. You will win knowledge and life surely will payback with money in the future. Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to risk, because at the end you will profit more than you can imagine right now.
If you missed part 1:
https://www.flatmattersonline.com/the-friday-interview-viki-gomez-part-1
Year End FlatWebTV Awards Show
Year End FlatWebTV-H.264 for Video Podcasting from Everyday Paradise on Vimeo.
In this final episode of 2012, FlatWebTV shows some love in the 2nd Annual FWTV Awards Show. Five different categories are awarded and each winner has a chance to say thanks. We also giveaway some Freegun gear and go behind the scenes of Fat Tony’s flatland calendar. Thanks very much for watching.
*Thank you to Justin Hoey and Anthony Buglio for the lifetime achievement award! Very psyched! About to check out the show and see who else won awards this year!
2012 Highlights: Rider/Industry perspective (Part 2)
Intro/Interviews: Effraim
As I began reviewing the year, and realising just how many good videos/contests/interviews/scene edits there have been. It hit me that in addition to my review it would be cool to get the opinions of some of the riders/and industry heads that have made these highlights happen. Theres a real sense of things are on the up this year, read on for part 2 of this 2012 Highlights article.
This powerful edit Matt dropped on September 26th illustrates what he’s talking about below perfectly! Go watch it again!
Matt Wilhelm: I think the highlight of the year for me was just continuing to push myself and ride for fun. I’m kinda done with that whole contest thing, which I’ve been doing at the Pro level since 1999. For me it’s just all about pushing myself, and this was a great year for that. Plus all my nagging injuries have magically disappeared. For me the best feeling is just having an empty parking lot, dialed bike, and good health.
George Manos: The highlight of this year regarding flatland should be for me the Red Bull “Circle of Balance” contest.You might think it’s an obvious choice since I participated in this, but my answer still would be the same even if I didn’t have anything to do with it. Through the years this particular event was presented as the most prestigious among others ,focusing exclusively on flatland and showing the proper treatment and respect to all the effort the riders put in their craft. After some years of absence it was back this time, all the hype built until its execution made it highly anticipated and in the end paid off for the riders and spectators all over the world.As a rider even in my craziest dreams I never thought I would have a real possibility to witness this from so close-let alone ride in it-and to be a part of it ,and feel the energy and tension,the excitement and fun in setting a spectacular show like this was like a wonder and an experience that i will be happy to remember not only for this year but also for years to come.
Chad J, backwards carved pedal 5 at the LBC Underground. Photo by Jeff Z.
Chad Johnston: Agreed, 2012 has been great year! The highlight for me isn’t just one moment, it’s all of them combined. After having to be off my bike for six weeks this last Spring I wasn’t sure I’d even get any productive riding done. After a short time I was back to where I was before, and soon after I was progressing and filming things that were in my head during my down time. Being able to ride and progress on a regular basis and capture some of it on film motivates me to continue and makes this another great year for me! Thanks to everyone that has given support!
Prasheel Gopal: 2012 has been an unreal year; I think any year I can manage to attend every major North American event with Alex and Mark is an amazing year. I love attending and supporting all the circuit events, and seeing so many friends so often, I’m left with many long lasting memories.
The one trip that was a bit more unplanned/unexpected at the beginning of the year for me was my trip to England for King of Southsea. I have developed an obsession with British culture, so I knew I’s going to have a great time before I went, but the contest, the scene, the people, and everything else was just so much more fun than I could have really expected. Not to mention, winning a contest for your first time will obviously be an unforgettable memory (even if I couldn’t have my #pralex teammates there with me).
Undoubtedly, another one of my favourite things about this past year is some how getting my photo alongside my two best friends on the back of the 2013 flatland calendar! And not just that, but to see how supportive and excited others were to see us on there made it feel that much better. Despite not having any financial support and doing so many trips for so long, it feels great that we have communal support, and that Fat Tony wanted to include us.
Jean-Francois Boulianne: For me 2012 have been full of surprise. First, i would say getting hook up by Odyssey/Flatware, then the whole season wich was full of travel and contest. and at last filming a video with Sevisual was a blast. I also wanna thanks everyone that help me out!!!!
Viki Gomez: For me the best highlight of the year has been winning the Red Bull COB for the third time! It made me realized that I have won the contest every flatland rider dreams of! And being the one living the dream gives me a lot of strenght and motivation to keep on riding hard and progressing!
Pete Brandt: I think that the best things for my riding in 2012 was progression. There is a few tricks that are in some recent edits http://vimeo.com/53250654 also I received a lifetime achievement award that was featured on the ESPN site special thanks to Brian Tunney. It was quite an honor to have acknowledgements and show the history of flatland that I had part in. I’ve never been one to rely on what I have done and contributed to flatland but it is nice to know that people remember and continue to document the history.
It was quite a year for web edits and a special thanks to flatmatters for all the support. Peace and respect and flatland still lives in a progressive state in 2013 and to the future.
Dane Beardsley: Best part about this year has been having good sessions with people from all over the place.
Voodoo Jam 2012 from jim mckay on Vimeo.
The Voodoo Jam always delivers good times, this edit got Lisias really pumped up this year, watch it and see why!
Lísias Tabarelli: First, a fantastic edition Of Jim Mackay, that has done a great job, hard to do, a detail: ALONE – image and editing. This video have a great quality, diversity of riders and a great contest: https://vimeo.com/45403543
The second video, I’m with my editing, that I did out of BMX Masters –12, that I call ”Euro Treino”
Europe was my first international trip, where I improved my clinical look about Flatland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOxW8SINYIA
This video I show a great diversity of brazilian riders, and big brazilian friends.
2012 was a very nice year to me, especially because I won the Competition Original Trick of KHE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqqeP2pTmbQ and arrive on stage at the BMX Masters recognized by a hidden talent.
I’m not very good where in I do, but I try keep the style, deviating of problems with sport on the planet.
I love what I do, my job. Flatland family is a hidden talent, gradually unraveled.Thanks.
Mark Kuhlmann: This year has been the best year yet for me riding wise. I wasn’t sure how the year would turn out at the beginning of 2012 because I had a lot going on and wasn’t sure how much time I could commit to my bike. My wife and I had just bought our first house and we took on the task of gutting and completely redoing the basement without any prior renovation experience That took up a lot of time. Just as we finished that at the end of summer, I took a new job and due to its new location we sold our house and are currently waiting to move into our new house (with even more work needed!!!)
It has been a challenge to fit riding in on a somewhat consistent level but I still managed to hit all the stops on the #AMFLT circuit and the Voodoo Jam with the encouragement of my wife and the support of my #pralex brothers Prasheel and Alex. I’m so glad we could go to all these events because we made so many great memories (Perogies in Toronto, the City Museum in St Louis on our way to Jomo, the photo shoot in New Orleans, just having a great time riding in Anderson and partying at night, and all the ups and downs that came with going to Texas). I was finally able to shake off my nerves at a contest and ended up doing well a few times. The highlight of the contest year was definitely winning expert in Voodoo Jam. I won’t ever forget standing there in shock and disbelief that it was happening while watching Prasheel jump up and down.
On a personal riding level, I’ve just recently met some riding goals with tricks that I’ve always wanted to do when I started riding like whoppers and some new crossfooted tricks. It feels great to have finally reached a point where I can do them. Time to set some new goals and push on in 2013.
Whether it be a new trick, or a new memory, 2012 set the bar high and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Quite a year for Bert, not only having one of the best parts of the year in my opinion, but also invited to the Red Bull COB and battling Matthias Dandois. I got goosebumps watching this again this morning. Read on to see what Bert has to say!
Bert Ribul: I want to start off by saying that 2012 has been a great year for flatland and the best year for me so far riding wise and personal life. It started off by me posting my winter video and you guys gave me soo many good reviews and got me really pumped up. Thanks!!
Then in July i went to Germany with the the Finnish guys to the BMX WORLDS, although the event was rained out and most of the events got canceled, we still had a really great time there and luckily flatland was the only event that wasn’t rained out. I qualified at 6th and ended up getting 12th place and we had great sessions with everybody and met soo many new people, again thanks for the great times there!
Then in september one of my dreams came true, I got the opportunity to travel to Japan for Red Bull Circle Of Balance. That was just simply amazing and I wish I could visit Japan in the near future again. RB COB was the highlight for flatland in general this year!
too many great things happened there, I would have to write another article about that hehe. The biggest thanks goes to Red Bull and all the organizers and all the great people I met there and made this trip happen. That was the trip of my life.
after Japan i went to Spain with Aleksi Ritsilä for the rebel jam. it was a great event as well, Spain is like paradise, we seriously didnt want to come back from there, at one point we even gave up getting to the airport at 5 in the morning 😀 Spain is definitely a place i would love to come back! It was like a really great vacation at the end of the year, and again thanks to everybody that was there and made it happen. It was a lot of fun!
Those were the 3 highlights for me this year besides many smaller trips and demos, but those 3 really stand out and I’ll never forget them. Now that the year is ending i’m struggling with winter spots again, and riding quite abit of street aswell, because of the lack of winterspots here. Just take as much fun as i can out of bmx in general and practicing alot for the next year which promises to be even better, because i have some big projects coming up which i cant talk about just yet.
Thanks to Flatmatters for giving me the chance to write this small article.Have fun!
Pat Schoolen: Moto Sasaki at Jomopro. I never tire of watching Moto’s fluid, original and crazy hard riding.
The Friday Interview – Viki Gomez! (Part 1)
Intro/Interview:Effraim.
Photos: Provided by Viki Gomez.
Who better to cap off this first 4 years anniversary week than Viki Gomez!
Chances are like me you watched in awe as the Red Bull Circle of Balance contest unfolded. What became apparent to me as the battles progressed, was the level of control, focus, adaptability and machine like quality Viki Gomez possesses.
To win the worlds biggest flatland contest 3 times passing over a ten year time period is a huge achievement, that might never ever be done again.
As I sat at the top of the bleachers trying to take as much of the event in as possible, what I couldn’t help notice, was how calm Viki was during the whole contest. The level of focus he showed during the tense battles was very inspiring.
You could sense a few riders quite rightly were just stoked to be invited and enjoying the moment, whereas Viki maintained “gameface” throughout the event. It was fitting that a bomb trick will be remembered for winning his 3rd Red Bull COB title, it was a moment I won’t forget in a hurry. I think flatland needed that! Viki demonstrated truly what it takes to win at the highest level.
As well being a contest machine, Viki is of course an artist, delivering ground breaking video parts, that have been inspirational for years, there aren’t too many riders that have truly excelled in both.
Without further a due, I’m really excited to bring the first part of this Viki Gomez interview, as I say “enjoy!”…
Basic introduction, your real name is Jorge right? How old are you? How long riding? Where are you from? Etc..
My name is Jorge Gomez. Nick name Viki from the famous cartoons Viki the Viking! I started riding 17 years ago when I was a smaller teenager with long hair and the looks of Viki. I am from Madrid, Spain. I am 31 years old, and I have been professional for 12 years and visited 50 countries so far until today. Here are my most memorable contest results since 2001:
2 times European X games champion (2001-2002)
3 times King of Ground Gold medallist in Japan (2001-2004-2006)
Braun Cruzer Tour champion of 5 contest out of 7 and tour champion (Contest like Flatground, King of Concrete, Ninja Spin, etc)
2005 Metro Jam Champion in Canada
Bmx Flatland World circuit champion (2010)
Red Bull Flamenco Flatland champion (2011)
3 times Red Bull Circle of Balance Champion (2002-2007-2012)
I love my bike and I love riding and freestyling!
Of course Viki you are world renown as one of the best flatlanders of all time, I recall the first time I met you at the Madrid Worlds in 1999, you entered Masterclass right away. Spain is not famous for its flatland scene, what got you into flatland?
Well, when I started to ride there were a huge amount of flatland riders in Retiro Park, the biggest park in Madrid City. I had a BMX but not prepared for freestyle and one day I crossed this park and I saw around 20 riders riding together, flirting with the chicks, having fun,etc…from that moment I realised that this was the coolest thing I wanted to do in my life! And I went for it!
I kind of forced the riders to admit me in the crew! Hahaha Nowadays most of them are my best friends and we laugh a lot remembering the way I wanted to become friends with them! First thing I said was: “Do you have pegs to sell?” I was a 14 years old kid with super long hair and the cap and they said I looked like “Viki the Viking” (German cartoons famous in Spain) and since that day they called me Viki! In this park I rode for 6 years and it has been the best teenager time of my life!
We didn’t only ride, we were trouble makers, but always with good and positive humour! We were a big family and I believe we still are somehow! even if life separated us due to age duties like work, family,etc These guys will forever be in my heart, and these memories are still the reasons why I keep riding! I met for once and for all the real spirit of freestyle, and I will stick to it all my life!
That’s interesting, is this the big public riding spot in the KGB video that you talk of? It’s interesting to me what you said abut family, as I remember you were always with Nathan, Martti and Phil in “The X trials days”, kind of like a mini family almost.
You are one of the few riders out there that can juggle the professional riders life of travelling, shows, commercial projects, and yet still progress in a hardcore way, delivering banging edits with new tricks/variations, how hard is it to juggle this lifestyle?
I realised that the more busy you are the best your brain works. Therefore the imagination level that you need to put into flatland gets higher and your riding level increases as well. I remember when I was 23 and I only was riding all day long, my life felt empty and thats why I started KGB, just to keep myself busy and keep learning things in different ways. After riding ideas were coming nonstop! Everything is all about the mindset that you have. If your brain is on fire, your imagination and body will be on fire as well. So how I keep myself fit is working on new projects, brain storming and using riding as a therapy to free and/or increase my mind! At the end, I am a business man where I am the boss, the employee and the product! And by loving what I do life pays back with beautiful opportunities!
Do you progress when your on the road touring? You of course travel a lot, I saw recently Dubai, England, and Maldives, Japan, and I’m sure that’s not all…
New tricks come anytime and unexpected. Sometimes riding and sometimes in your mind. I remember talking with Akira Okamura about one of his signature tricks and he told me, “I was in the toilet and suddenly: Booom!!! This trick idea came to my mind!” Laughs!!! I realised then that I wasn’t the only one having these moments!
What are the benefits of this lifestyle in your opinion?
Everything is a benefit. And specially the way I travel! I am always with locals and this way you can experience their culture and learn from it. Therefore you progress a lot as a person and this is what we are here for. To become better people and progress! I have been in 50 countries in the last 14 years and I have learnt a lot about the world. I stopped believing about nations, countries, borders and frontiers. I believe more in the different cultures of the human race, the different visions and at the end we are all in the same planet which make us very alike to each other! And I can see that the world is getting better, I don’t watch the depressing news and I judge by my experience and everyone nowadays just want to have a good life. I think thanks to the internet people realised that love is the best way to live!
You blew up on the scene in 2000, I recall the Worlds in Koln 2000, so many fresh tricks with savvy style! You’ve been a heavy hitter since then, at what point did you realise flatland would become a job for you?
Actually since day one I got my first real BMX freestyle bike my dream became true! I knew from that day that it will never matter how hard it will be, I will always ride! I have been very lucky ,my bike saved my life in many aspects and I think that by being grateful every single day, life is bringing me more opportunities to keep on riding! All is about Karma! When I do shows I feel that people get happy, exited, kids smile, and I am so thankful to have the chance to make this happen! And with this Karma riding life just goes on!
For as long as I can remember you have always had brakes? What is your opinion about brakes, no brakes?
Well, I think brakes are mandatory to learn basics and be original making different switches. At least in the beginning. Being original is the most important thing in Flatland! This sport should be call “Originality on bike” then many people will understand what is this game all about. I went deep searching for new ways of progression! I had many masters like Martti, Nathan, Phil who taught me how important is to go your own way and I found myself using the brakes in order to find this freedom and be someone original and respected out there.
But right now, I reached a new level where I feel free with no brakes and thanks to all the basics I have learnt, I can explore into new levels and this feeling makes me really happy! Flatland is infinity, so searching is the way, but not the final form. So don’t worry about brakes or no brakes. You better worry about searching new unexplored ways. Don’t count your life with seconds, minutes, hours, days or years…better count it with the actions that you have done! For me every new original trick that I have done is an action, and this is the way I count my life in Flatland!
In my opinion the KGB dvd captured some of the best riding of all time from yourself and Martti. What’s your fondest memory from filming for that dvd, and also that time period hanging out with MK a lot?
I think everyone can feel that our philosophy in riding is about going deep in progression and show that Flatland is infinity! This DVD has this feeling and also KGB was all about it! This part of my life has been my university in business and definition of progression!
And what better and funnier than having MK as a classmate? We learnt a lot, we lost a lot but at the end we WON A LOT because we learnt big lessons! Now we are prepared in life to achieve any dream we want and having these lessons learnt is the most precious treasure you can ever wish!
MK is with no doubt one of my best friends and still the person I look up to riding wise. When you think about it, no human yet had reached his level! And this is amazing! I follow his steps and I am so lucky to have learnt a lot from him. Nowadays we meet in amazing epic places where we just laugh non stop remembering the crazy times we lived, and living even craziest times nowadays!
That is awesome! Tell me something about competing, over the past few years you came back to featuring on the podium after a few years struggling to place well, what changed for you?
After winning COB 2007 I lost my motivation to compete. Also Martti lost it. So weird times came along for us where we saw flatland going so down. We come from X Games times where Flatland was huge! And seeing flatland going into the direction of wooden small floors wasn’t so exiting! So I decided to take a break and keep progressing at home and don’t think about contests! But if you are a Red Bull athlete, you can take a break, but eventually you will need to come back strong to compete. And I am really happy that Red Bull pushed me to comeback! After all I got 3rd place in the BFWC 2009, first place of BFWC 2010, Red Bull Flamenco Flatland 2011 and this year I have won Madrid contest, Fise in Costa Rica, Bike days in Switzerland, Colombia contest and the best that I could ever imagine! Red Bull COB 2012!!! I also want to thank my girlfriend Alexandra for being my main inspiration in life! When you love some one deep it gives you strength! And when someone loves you deep it gives you a lot of courage! She believes sometimes more in me than myself, and it’s really helpful when you are down. I thank and appreciate every moment of my life with her!
Is there such a thing as winning mentality?
The only way to success is when you don’t let your mind to come in between. If you are able to have this mindset in a contest, then you will be very satisfied about your riding! And that’s all what really matters!
So the Red Bull Circle of Balance’s back this year and you already won two of those events, the COB is pretty much the biggest and most prestigious event in flatland, would you agree that your riding seems more favoured towards the battle format style contests rather than the traditional 3 minute run format?
As I said before, everything depends of your mindset. Doesn’t matter the format, the place, the atmosphere…everything is in your mind! Set it free and you will succeed!
Tell me something about the Madrid scene? It seems to be up on the up right now, I feel a lot of positive energy coming out of that scene right now.
Yeah there are a lot of new kids riding and they are like a small family hanging out together. I like the way they support and respect me, taking me as a master for them! They are my friends and super cool guys who just have fun with their bikes and have a lot of passion in riding. Guelo is the captain of the crew, and we became really good friends in the last years! He keeps the scene alive always helping new riders to feel comfortable and motivated!
I’m always curious when your at the top of the sport, and your searching for new ideas, where do you draw your inspiration from?
As I said before, by keeping your mind busy in positive and progressive things in life, your riding will be also reflected by the right mind set! I try to learn something new everyday. Not every time is a new trick, but a new combo, a new feeling, the way you leave the spot happy and motivated looking forward to come back. And I am always feeling lucky to have time and being able to ride! So this way you can get the best out of it! Never take things for granted!
To wrap up Part 1. We can’t have a VIki Gomez interview, and not ask about Dominik Nekolny. Nowadays he’s going more towards his own style of riding, but still does a lot of your “known” old switches. Does it feel strange competing against him?
With Dominik everything has been all about mix feelings. Of course I got surprised the first time I saw him doing many of my signature tricks! My visión of riding is completley different in this sense, but then I realized that he was doing my tricks because they were hard tricks, and he has been the only one capable to make them! I just thought to my self “why someone with so much skills is doing someone else tricks?” But then I realized that he was in a learning process and besides that, I should be happy that someone is following my way, and proving that with these tricks you still can place good in a contest. I am happy to be an inspiration for someone. After the confusing times I got to know him personally, and he is a super nice guy and I always have jokes with him!
Part 2 to follow soon…. Comments anyone?
Related Links:
https://www.flatmattersonline.com/viki-gomez-interview-red-bull-circle-of-balance
https://www.flatmattersonline.com/viki-gomez-flatmatters-exclusive-2
https://www.flatmattersonline.com/new-viki-gomez-orbea-frame
https://www.flatmattersonline.com/must-watch-flatwebtv-red-bull-cob-post-show
Must Watch! Alex Jumelin TCU Interview.
Jim McKay of http://www.thecomeup.com sat down with professional flatland rider, Alex Jumelin to talk about a number of topics including: his move from France to the United States, the current state of Flatland BMX in America and how it differs from the scene in Europe, what’s better: France or America?, his signature line of parts, The Come Up’s recent addition of Flatland to the site, and Alex’s differences with Brian Tunney.
Some of you may have heard about that last bit; a fact that has upset quite a few Flatland riders. During the NORA Cup awards show, Brian made several questionably humorous remarks about Flatland that ruffled many people’s feathers. One person who was offended by these comments was Alex Jumelin. Alex promptly posted his strong dislike for what what said on his blog and on Twitter. Brian reacted by a Twitter post which read: “In an effort to keep Alex jumelin happy, we will no longer be featuring any flatland coverage on @ESPN_BMX”. Since then, no Flatland has been featured on the site. This in my opinion, is a huge loss for everyone involved, and I thought it was only fair to go public with this and to and get Alex’s views on what happened and how it affects our corner of BMX. Alex expressed no hard feelings towards Tunney, yet he feels that this situation was handled inappropriately (Tunney has since claimed he was joking).