Category Archives: News

THE 2025 FLATMATTERSONLINE YEAR END AWARDS: NOMINEES ANNOUNCED!

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

Effraim.

EDITORIAL CHOICE:

RIDER OF YEAR:

Yu Shoji

Yu Katagiri

James White

Jigen Omotehara

Takatora Hishikawa

MUST WATCH OF YEAR:

Yu Shoji: Welcome to far east

James White: In control

Dez Maarsen: Riding days

Akihiko Takahashi: Rewind

Cory Fester: Under the Radar

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION:

James White

Cory Fester

Chris Young

Akihiko Takahashi

Jimalog

BREAKTHROUGH RIDER OF THE YEAR:

Ren Oshima

Jigen Omotehara

Takatora Hishikawa

Chiaki Todaka

Carin Hommura

BRAND OF THE YEAR:

Nous BMX

Heresy BMX

Flatland Assassins

IGI

Far East Cycles

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READER CHOICE:

RIDER OF THE YEAR:

Yu Katagiri

Varo Hernandez

James White

Yu Shoji

Takatora Hishikawa

EDIT OF THE YEAR:

James White: In control

Yu Shoji: Welcome to far east

Cory Fester: Under the radar

Akihiko Takahashi: Rewind

Owen Bohn: Dubyard

FEMALE RIDER OF THE YEAR:

Carin Hommura

Veronika Kacar

Anna Mondics

Chiaki Todaka

Sona Yoshimura

LINE OF THE YEAR:

Cory Fester: Last trick under the radar

Yu Shoji: Last line welcome to far east

Takatora Hishikawa: No run Saga run

Akihiko Takahashi: Ender on Rewind video

Yu Katagiri: Full bikeflip line from Fise Sakai finals

CONTEST RUN OF THE YEAR:

Yu Shoji Fise Montpellier

Yu Katagiri UCI worlds final

Yu Katagiri Fise Sakai

Anna Mondics Sportzone C1 final

Yohei Uchino X Games final

Must Watch: Matsudo Year End 2025

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

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

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

Must Watch: Jigen Omotehara 2026 / New Season

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

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

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

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

Must Watch: Cory Fester / Under the Radar

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What a month for flatland video parts, and it continues right here with a beautiful concept. Cory Fester last released video was his “16 days” part, and today Monday 22nd December marks 16 years.

At 21 minutes long filmed between 2009-2025 there is a lot to take in here, it’s fully time to grab a cuppa and enjoy Cory go all in and get the dream combos on his list.(check the end of the video!)
If you know Cory, he does not mess around, and besides the obvious hammers that are going to have everyone talking.

I loved some of the subtles, the backwards tea kettle turbine to forwards at 8:45, the genius of the can-can ride in to backwards half packer at 10:18.
The double hanglider lines, into hang 5 at 10:33 and hitchhiker at 17:15.
And the last section that starts at 17:00, the opposite flail body varial to backwards half packer at 20:34!

Big respect Cory, this is one hell of a project! Let’s talk about this one!!

Must Watch: Akihiko Takahashi / Rewind 25 years Riding

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Must Watch season continues with this absolute belter from Japanese flatland lifer, Akihiko Takahashi who celebrates 25 years of riding.
If you don’t already this guy is one of the best in the backwards game, there are some mindmelters packed into 5:59, which is definitely a contender for the hardest stuff done this year.

Dope Ammo 665 1/2 // Not Quite Evil // 1992

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So good to see this classic video in good quality, worth sitting down and grabbing a cuppa and enjoying Dope Ammo 665 1/2 with great parts from the likes of Chase Gouin, Jesse Puente, Pete Brandt, Kevin Jones, Andrew Arroyo, Gabe Weed, and many more.
Thank you Snakebite BMX for uploading this!

Must Watch: Austin Luberda / Some Things Never Change

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It is funny how somethings work out, yesterday I was having a conversation about flatland in the USA. And we talked about Austin Luberda, and I wondered what he was up to, having seen a little glimpse of him at the Aggro Jam in St Louis that I posted yesterday.

This morning I got my answer, Austin and his wife have been busy welcoming a new born baby into the world in September. Congratulations to you both.

Today we have this amazing new edit from Austin, with a couple of new moves he has been dreaming about, I especially loved the development of his signature can-can style pedal junkyard move at (1:07, 1:50, 4:23 and the ender around 4:50), that you can leads to other moves like the multiple opposite forward pedal g-roll turbines jump to pedal time machine at 2:48.

Throw in the opposite backwards spin stubble duck at 3:18, with that smooth flow state Austin is renowned for. Some things never change, and long may that continue!
Loved the old footage of Austin shredding his GT back in the day mixed in with the modern day, great feel to this edit, editing on point, music fits, camera work, it’s all here!

It’s officially “Must Watch season”, loving this, thank you Austin!