Category Archives: News

The Must Watch edit of April!

Posted on by — Leave comments ↓

Another month just flown by in the world of BMX Flatland! So many amazing riders and edits, the Must Watch feature of FM has become one of the trademarks of the site.

I made the decision to make it harder to get that “Must watch” tag about a month or so ago, one man noticed and understood (James White), its one of those things I can’t win really. Sometimes in the past via feedback from a broad spectrum of riders I have been too easily giving that “Must Watch” tag away. With amazing videos such as Moto’s, Dub’s, and Owen Bohn. I left them at the top of the site for the day, thats my way of saying, “Hey flatland world, this video is awesome, check it out! I’m more thinking unless it is something I think is completely off the charts, and never been done before, edits only will get that tag. It’s great to see hear riders are striving to get that tag, nice to know people are taking notice.
Hope that explains my way of thinking.

With that being said, here is the video I picked out this month as standing out and pushing new ground, particularly the spinning karl on pedal at 1:10, and the two footed backwards steam on the pedals jump to regular steam at 2:44.

Alex Jumelin & Matthias Dandois organising the Fise Contest / 30th May/1st June!

Posted on by — Leave comments ↓

The annual Fise contest in Montpellier, France is fast approaching, huge crowds, and good times in the South of France. Alex Jumelin and Matthias Dandois stepped up again to organise the event and sent in this nice detailed press release about the event!

Hello all!!

Flatland at F.I.S.E is back stronger than ever! Alex Jumelin and Matthias Dandois are taking care of the contest again this year!

It’s the first stop of the BMX Flatland world circuit so we are going to try our hardest to make everything perfect.

There is a new category this year: the Master class!

Schedule:

Wednesday 28th May and Thursday 29th May

Free practice for everyone

Friday 30th May

pro practice from 10 am to 6 pm

19h00 20h40 Qualification BMX Flat Pro

Saturday 31st May

open practice from 10 am to 4 Pm

17:40 20h40 Qualification BMX Amateur + Master

Sunday 1st June

10h40 11h10 Final BMX Am

11h20 11h40 Final BMX Master

13h00 14h00 Final BMX Pro

The flatland area will be located at the same spot than last years, in the middle of the festival!

Run-times:

Pro Qualifications:
One run of 2min 30sec
Am and Master Qualifications:
One run of 2min
Am and Master Finals:
one run of 2min 30 sec
Pro Finals:

Like last year:
12 riders make the cut from qualifications. They will fight for the F.I.S.E title in a one to one battle “Red Bull Circle of Balance” style.

Seeding System:

Round 1:
Battle 1 Q6 vs Q7
Battle 2 Q5 vs Q8
Battle 3 Q4 vs Q9
Battle 4 Q3 vs Q10
Battle 5 Q2 vs Q11
Battle 6 Q1 vs Q12

Each riders has his own clock. and can use his time (2min) the way he wants.
Example: riders A starts his combo. His clock starts. When riders A finishes his combo, he raises his hands. His clock stops while riders B clocks starts. Rider B has to start his combo as quick as possible so he doesn’t waste his time. When rider B is done riding, he raises his hand so his clock stops and riders A clock starts. etc etc.
When there is only 10 sec left on the clock, riders can’t stop their time anymore, and they have to finish their combo before the buzzer. Any tricks not completed after the buzzer will not count.
The decision will be made by the judges with flags (black and red).
The riders who win make it to the semi final. The riders who lose is automatically out.
Same system for the semi-final, but 2min 30 on the clock.

There will be a 3 mens final: Each rider will have two runs of 1 min and a last tricks of 30 sec.

Prize money: 5000€ (6500US$)

1st place: 1700€ (2200 US$)
2nd place: 1000€ (1300 US$)
3rd place: 800€ (1050 US$)
4: 300€ (400 US$)
5: 300€ (400 US$)
6: 300€ (400 US$)
7: 100€ (130 US$)
8: 100€ (130 US$)
9: 100€ (130 US$)
10: 100€ (130 US$)
11: 100€ (130 US$)
12: 100€ (130 US$)

Alex and Matthias really wanted to reward every single riders who make it to the finals.
There will be good prizes for the amateur qualified in the final, (A Go-pro for both of the winner in Amateur and Master) and many more!

It’s a big honor for us to announce that Mr ALEXIS DESOLNEUX will be the head judges this year, strong rider with a long experience he was for Matthias and Alex the number 1 choice to make sure that the 1st stop of the 2014 world circuit will be at his best also in term of ranking .

We’re finalizing the other judges. There will be 4 judges for all class qualif and final and 5 judges with flag for the pro final .

The pro flatland final will be live on the FISE web cast and live on the french TV channel MCS extreme.

Registration fees is gonna be 50 euro for pro and 20 euro for master and amateur .

There is still plenty of hotel available around the city of Montpellier so hurry to booked a room before the prices gets to bad .

You can fly from all over the world to MARSEILLE airport and then take a train or you can take a 2 h train from PARIS.
Montpellier main train station is only a few block from the FISE.

We hope to see you all in FRANCE to celebrate BMX at his best in one of the most crowed comps of the year .

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to send us an e-mail (alexjumelin@yahoo.fr) or (dandois.matthias@gmail.com)

You can find even more details and register on the FISE website: http://www.fise.fr/fr/ or the FISE app available on your smartphone!”

THANKS TO ALL AND SEE YOU IN A FEW WEEKS TO PARTY AND RIDE HARD.

Alex Jumelin/Matthias Dandois.

Chauvel Brothers Interview – Astrolabe Contest

Posted on by — 5 Comments ↓

Intro/Interview: Johann Chan.
Marked Photos: Maxime Cassagne /Unmarked Photos: Johann Chan.



Yannick Chauvel.


Jean-Michel Chauvel.

We first met the brothers Yannick and Jean-Michel Chauvel at King of Concrete. Two brothers from France who have for many years, repeatedly treked across the channel to shred the contest.
They occasionally mentioned an event which they organised in Noireau, France, and if their event matched their riding devotion, we knew it would be worth checking out.

So when Keelan Phillips and James White asked me if I wanted to jump in their car, and visit the comp, I had to take it.

On arrival we were pleased to see an organized and genuine home grown style of contest. A high level of riding, a healthy class of young shredders, a nice undercover riding venue, a decent floor space, above the norm catering, good tunes and a most importantly – a good overall atmosphere. One where arriving riders, come and shake the hand of every rider before even stepping on their bike.

We caught up with Jean-Michel Chauvel on some of the workings behind Astolabe.

You manage to keep the costs low for all the riders and spectators, Is it difficult to finance the contest?
We do a few shows to make money. There is competitor registration which is ascending with categories. Also young riders parent’s make some cake’s we sell, there is also the barbecue.


Whiteski.


Romain Dodelier, Hang Nothing with a twist.

How is there such a healthy scene of great young riders?
We have a formal club here for the young riders. We can use a gymasium 2 hours a week which keeps a connection between riders.
My brother and I give advice to young riders. It’s not like foot ball training…. we want each rider to have their own free style. We just push them and give them advice or answer their questions.
then for the young riders parents it’s not too much underground and then they not afraid.

So this is the 4th Astrolabe contest?
Yes it was the Astrolabe 4…. but we also organised 3 contests between 86 & 88 with French riders. At that time our father was the president of the club.

Where does the name come from?
Astrolabe is the name of Amiral Dumont d’Urville’s ship. A great sailor who discovered the Adelie earth in the Antarctic continent.


The future generation.


The return of Aude Cassagne!

Who organises the contest?
My brother is in charge of relations with riders and local authorities, my sister is in charge of catering, and I’m in charge of the floor.

You both still compete at the contest, is it difficult to ride and organise the comp at the same time?
We can both do the contest and supervise the event, because every thing is well prepared and we have help from parents of the young riders.
This year we had 2 DJs. An old friend from riding “DJ Larco” and my son Charlie Mess who did his first public mix.

Any final Thanks?
Thanks to my wife local shop “tant qu’il y aura des hommes” DC Shoes France, and Freegun France for presents to the am categories.


Joris Bretganolles.


Keelan Phillips.

Amateur
Gabriel Gallon
Rouchdi Aroua
Tom Lepesteur

Expert
Aude Cassange
Valentin Flad
Nicolas Delangle

Master
Yannick Chauvel
William Herve
Renaud Meloni

Pro
Dez Maarsen
Keelan Phillps
Stephan Fabien