Category Archives: News

Lisias Tabarelli wins Originality # 1 Contest: KHE BIKES

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Originality # 1 Contest: KHE BIKES “Lisias Tabarelli” from Lisias Tabarelli on Vimeo.

Lisias just won Jesse’s new Premium Lager frame! Here’s what Jesse had to say about the decision: “I had a difficult time on the judging of these hardcore riders, all of them had some originality that I was impressed by so I just wanted to say that all these riders will be doing really good things in the future, and I want to give all who participated in this contest big respect! Lisias really had the most original trick (the ‘two feet on the handle bar’ trick) that I have seen in a very long time so he got the title Originality#1.”

Lisias will receive the frame this weekend at the Worlds in Koln! Congrats!!!

Joe Cicman Interview – Round 3 AM Flat Hype!

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Interview: Steve Lapsley
Photos: Joe Cicman.


Photo: Jim McKay

In 2010 I had the honor of meeting Joe Cicman in Toronto at a stop on the 1st year of the Am Flatland Circuit. I got to know him a little more at the finals that year in Dayton, Ohio and have considered him a good friend ever since. Joe’s passion for life and riding are unmatched in my book. Now with the 3rd year of the Am Flatland Circuit in full swing Joe has joined the #AMFLT crew and assisted on everything from the web page to posting “almost” live unedited raw contest run footage to the AMFLT YouTube page. With Round 3: Anarchy In Anderson less than a month away, I caught up with Joe for some Q&A. Enjoy.

You won last years Am Flatland Circuit in the Expert Class. Now with the combination of Experts and Masters, have you noticed a difference in competition this year?
Yes. The difference is that what worked for me last year isn’t working for me this year and I’ve had to sit down and re-consider my strategy. Let me put it this way: of the 3 Masters guys who beat me in Buffalo’s round 5 last year, 2 have turned pro – and one of them I beat at that contest turned pro at Voodoo. I’m really glad I pulled the Mat Hoffman-style “win-one-class-then-move-up-at-the-same-contest” move at the finals in 2011. I needed the confidence going into this year. Another difference is that I’m facing the “consistency vs. progression” question and the consequences are very real and affecting me. I took my old run’s consistency as far as it could take me, and now the fertile ground is progression and finding a new set of bangers to contend with these really incredible riders.

Round 3 is coming up soon and with a “Best 3 scores count” point system for the circuit, each round is important. Is the pressure on?
The pressure’s always there, what makes or breaks you is how to respond to it. I’ve changed the way I think about contests and what I want to get out of them. Last year, it was all about coming back from my 20 year hiatus from competitions and re-learning how to prepare. This year, it’s more about experiencing and enjoying the community and the spirit – and then finding a balance between that and becoming a better rider.

You have been a mainstay in allevents over the last few years. What do these events mean to you?
This is a great question and I’m glad you asked it. These events are a nexus of talent that ends up producing things that other forums can’t and so it adds something enriching to the community. Jams, sessions with your local crew, road trips, casual or fully produced web edits all enrich the community as well. None of them is negligible; they all nourish the community and each feeds off the others’ contributions. But back to what these events mean to me – the events and their preparation (as well as the days following) are story-makers. I’ve gotten so many awesome experiences from these events and have so many stories and have met so many awesome people. I’m really grateful and really appreciative. Is that hard?

What are you most looking forward to seeing at Round 3? Any rider in particular?
Yes, a few. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Mark Kuhlmann does. He’s weighing a run for the AM title against his rep as a pro rider and the cash pay-out. With a *subject to change* pro purse of $1500 USD, he could walk home with like $6000 CAN. I’m also keeping my eyes focused on Prasheel and Alex. I know Josh Hansen is going to be there, and @bry_huff_purple – and the Chicago crew as well. Ron and Todd brought me to tears in Joplin, those guys are so funny. I’m hoping to score free drinks from women who want me to introduce them to our TV buddy Matt Wilhelm. And I’m looking forward to seeing my road-trip bruva R. Todd Carter come back from that broken hand. #dontCallItAComeBack. I’m praying that Jimmy Kibbons makes it out. I hope Dane makes the trek and brings Jody Temple and The Duke. Joel Schallhorn should be there too. I think Mike Smick should drive out. Rad Dad and Kelly Baldwin. I’d like to thank my producer Easy D and all the people at Foot Jam Productions (I love y’all). [shut-up music plays]

Are you feeling any added pressure knowing that your mentor and metaGuru Danny Sirkin will be there judging you?
Danny Sirkin is always judging me, so there’s no incremental pressure. I’m actually feeling very good about it because Danny calls it like he sees it. A metaGuru always sees clear truth. A metaGuru is not blinded by nepotism. As far as pressure, I’d say that there’s a great deal of pent-up excitement with him coming; he’s been busy and hasn’t read the recent posts on his SuperFan site (by which I am sponsored) since well before Voodoo. He’ll get his first taste all at once at the pre-jam. If I may divert and tell a story: In late 2010, the DannySirkinSuperFan.blogspot.com site embarked on an eCommerce initiative whereby they started listing for sale items that appeared in the pictures. There was a post with a picture by Bill Keaggy of Danny doing an old-school messiah in a unique way – no knees on the bars, and instead pinching the seat with his ass. The page listed a pink hat, a tank top, and a Thigh Master. Danny called me a day later while I was riding at The TerraDome and for about 2 minutes straight repeated himself slowly “I’m going. To shove. My fist. In your […]” After a while I calmed him down, but my eyes were all teared up and my stomach ached from laughing. To this day, I get the feeling that he didn’t entirely accept my marginally sincere apology.

You switched from front and back brakes to brakeless after VooDoo jam. Is that hard?
It was hard. You’d think that all it was was just moving my hands differently but there’s more than that. Since about a year ago, my brakes were urking me. I only tapped them twice in my run. Then when I started jumping from crack to backyard, I only tapped them once to get out of the lard yard. But I kept them on like Linus and the security blanket as suggested in Fully-Verfied. After my run at Voodoo I knew I had to switch things up in a major way if I wanted to break out of my mindset. So, I went home and took them off. I was also riding with a crack in my frame and going gentle to make it last. So, all told: I’m riding Primo Comets, brakeless, on a Jungle Rider, and have my bars a bit forward…I think I’m going to buy new shoes too. Angie wants to advise on my outfits as well – the yoga pants didn’t really throw sparks. (Oh well, this is why we try things – to find the next better idea).

You are one of the most fun/well liked riders on the circuit. Do you feel pressured by Pralex to outdo them in the fun & hijinx category?
Thank you for saying that. It makes me feel good. Pressure to out-Pralex Pralex? Well, to tell you the truth, when I saw those guys at the finals in Dayton in 2010 I was like “These. Dudes. Rule.” and I did, in fact, so some soul-searching to figure out how to even hang with their level of hijinx. They can’t be topped, man. They’re on a pedestal. The #pralexInvitational shirts that Todd Carter and I collaborated on was a way of giving back and saying “thanks for all you guys do.” And to be honest, everyone benefits when dudes get zany and throw their hats in the ring with Pralex. It’s so funny. But let’s be clear – The Reverse Katrina is the gold standard of antics. I laugh every time I even think about that.

You have put a lot of effort and time in helping with the Am Flatland Circuit over the past two years. This year you are doing even more with supplying www.youtube.com/AMFLT with full contest coverage. How important do you feel the circuit and the coverage it gets is to flatland in North America?
The view counts on that channel went bananas after Toronto and they popped again before and after JoMo. There are a lot of people subscribing and giving the riders props in comments. Full Disclosure: This idea came directly from some TJ Perry feedback and he was right – the supply of contest footage had become balkanized. So, now we’ve got one source for circuit footage which respects the investment sponsors make when they support the production of the event. On a non-commercial front, I think it’s a great way for us to see guys like Kevin Gallien. That kid’s story (as told by the look on his face) is emblematic of what the sport of flatland does for riders’ lives. For people just starting to explore what flatland’s all about, this channel tells a compelling story of what it has to offer. My hope is that we can start doing tutorials on this site and running clinics at the contests using demo bikes from the pro’s (or local) sponsors.

Thanks for all you do on the circuit Joe! Any final words?
You’re quite welcome. And thank you for all your passion and effort to keep the ball rolling. I’d like to send a shout-out to Jm McKay for being a helluva video producer, the Newport Beach crew, the One Love Crew, the OG / ATX crew, the crew down in Orlando, the Canadia crew (Western and Eastern), the New York / tri-state crew, York (for making all of this for us), @bry_huff_purple and Fox Kinsman of the North Carolina crew, the guys from Chicago (aka Chi-town Hustlaz), my Columbus crew (Andy Johnson, Scott Nagy, Phil Brunet, Wes Borne, Joel Schallhorn, and by proxy Todd Carter), the whole of continental Europe, the Boston crew, China Krys Darrington, Pralex, Effraim and FlatmattersOnLine for tying so many of us together, the Chenga crew, and Danny Sirkin and the homies at Solon Bicycle, and “it’s so obvious that it falls into the background – Steve and the Lapsley clan for quite frankly making this happen”. A special thanks to Angie for being a super-supportive and amazing partner. “If you believe in yourself, you will know how to ride a bike. If you don’t, then you just keep practicing. You will get the hang of it I know it.”

http://dannysirkinsuperfan.blogspot.co.uk/

Review: Encounter Issue 3!

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Review: Effraim

Issue 3 of Encounter has been out a few weeks now. And every issue is getting better and better, this might well be in terms of flatland content, the best flatland magazine out right now! Takio Kenata gets the cover shot, so rad flatland is on the cover!

Editor, Yasuyuki Takeo writes in this months editorial he did not intend a theme to run through each issue, but for this issue, “living as a professional” became the accidental theme. The situation has changed in japan, and riders as old as 30 are able to make a living off BMX.

So what’s in this issue then flatland related?

Okinawa Road trip – Yasu flew down to Okinawa to enjoy the picturesque beaches, and of course cover the lifestyle and riding of the Okinawa locals, with some great photos of two emerging names on the japanese scene, Fumiya Kanna and Takuya Higa.

The highlight of this issue is one of the best interviews I have ever read with Yohei Uchino that covers 8 pages with great photographs and layout. Yasu did an amazing story to tell Ucchie’s story coming up as a pro rider… I’ll cover this as best I can for all of you, as I found it fascinating for all of you that don’t manage to get hold of the magazine. This may read as an article in it’s own right.

Yasu writes for the intro…
“The “spaceark league” was one of the biggest local contests held in Kobe by local bike shop “Spaceark” a while back. I clearly remembered a young rider who rode fast with technical moves on the front wheel looking so confident one would even be mistaken for arrogance. He was Yohei Uchino aka Ucchie.
10 years on, Ucchie now lives as the second generation of Japanese Pros and is also considered one of the top 5 Flatland riders in the world. Encounter asked how he found his way to live as a professional and achieving to be “ing” one of the best.”

The interview begins talking about his past as a mogul skier, and swimmer. “It wasn’t fun when we played sports such as basketball or soccer as some of us were already top level in these fields. We decided to start something none of us had ever tried. I once happened to find information to a skateboarding contest but it turned out actually to be a BMX jam.”

Ucchie goes to discuss that 2 years later once he had the BMX bug, a local pro rider Aki Kotani, said to him “You are talented, You could be number 1 in the world if you get serious about riding”, this piece of advise and motivation changed Ucchie’s life, and he began to put more and more time into flatland riding.

After Ucchie graduated high school, he moved out of home. And moved in with Sharlee (the crazy KOG announcer), for a few months he observed how other Pro riders (Hiroshi Uehara, Takashi Ito, Akira Okamura and Kotaro Tanaka made their living. He eventually decided that Kotaro’s lifestyle fit his way of life and what he wanted to do the best. For a while he worked for Kotaro voluntarily for about a year, at this time Kotaro started his own brand “Nidd” and hooked Uccie and Yasushi Tanabe onto the team.
He got his real first break when Takashi Ito was unavailable to do a show, and Kotaro asked Ucchie to fill in the empty spot. Ucchie recalls “soon after, Kotaro and I were doing shows regularly together as Takashi moved out to Okinawa. We had about 300 shows a year, sometimes up to 6 shows a day for different clients during hectic times. At that moment, I had just turned Pro at KOG but didn’t have any good results. I hardly made a living, only surviving through shows.”

So your thinking, so what was his big break?
“A TV commercial for UNIQLO. I was luckily chosen from 2000 performers from various fields. I had to attend filming for both on a long term, so I finally quit my job at the swimming school when I worked since I came to Tokyo, living off BMX full time, KOG was then held in KObe for the first time in that year. I have never qualified until then, but I managed to qualify 4th and won by completing my 3 best combos in the finals. I couldn’t even pull those 3 combos often during practise. Subsequently more job offers came after.”

So at this point he was living low in his words. He began to get offered sponsorship contracts, he recalls “Good results are the fundamental requirement for support. But personality is rather more important” said the person who dealt with sponsorship contracts at Puma.

Yasu asks, “We had not seen you after the victory at KOG in 2005”.
He headed to flatground and the world championships in prague, “But I was totally knocked out”, he recalls “he was totally overwhelmed by the atmosphere. I fully recognised that victory was far even if I did my best run”.
Ucchie went back to Tokyo and continued his commitment to the international contest scene, wanting to make his mark. “the obsession with better tricks haunted me though I had already links that are supposed to be good enough in a contest. I switched to the rear wheel in 2005 but contented doing shows with only front wheel tricks. Only a few riders knew of my challenge then and some people even rumoured that “Ucchie had quit” as they barely saw me. In 2007, I moved out to near my riding spot and rode 8 hours a day when I didn’t have shows. There were no memories besides riding in 2007, I didn’t drink, just practised everyday. Actually I wondered if the effort eventually paid off after this”.

Fast forward to 2008, and the first round of the World Circuit in New Orleans, the Voodoo Jam!

“I qualified 8th but the battle tournament was the toughest ever. The first match up was with Hiroya Morisaki, who was crowned the first BMX Flatland World Circuit champion the year before. The next rider in the 2nd heat was Justin Miller, who was one of the best riders at that time and his riding can be described as a machine. The semi final was my first match up with Matthias Dandois, who was invincible then and lastly in the finals I battled the king of consistency and spinning, Matt Wilhelm…. I spent most of the prize money at the party (laughter).
Alain Massabova moved quickly and hooked up Ucchie, this was his first bike sponsor with salary. After his win at Voodoo “I could buy a car and lived a decent life”.

The next question is possibly what we have all wondered, but no one asks “You’ve been hitting all the World Circuit contests, but not the KOG, why?”
“My ideal goal is to become the BFWC champion first before attending all KOG contests…”The value would depend on how you see it. To me the BFWC is like part of my job, where I simply aim for the best results. While the KOG is more emotional, it’s my roots of BMX. I don’t want to get bored competing at KOG. Thats why being a KOG champion is the last goal for me.”

The interview concludes with what he will do after riding and advice for younger riders. I’ve covered this interview as best I can as I truly do think its worth getting this magazine just for this interview, its gripping stuff. And made me realise how little I know about Ucchie, and it’s also a great story, that’s shows the sacrifice he made for many years to be a pro rider.

The next flatland article is all about the “Under 23” contest, which was founded by Ucchie! There are short interviews with the top three, Yuki Ito, Taiko Kaneta, and Takuji Izumi. As well as Koh Yoshida who decided to step down as organiser this year. The layouts and text are more in-depth his issue as the magazine has grown and matured. It kind of reminded me of how Cream was back in its peak.

Under 23 contest gets 4 pages, where Ryuta Iwasaki, writes ann interviews riders about the history of the Under 23 contest. It is now in its 8th year. It began in 2004 with Yohei Uchino then 21 starting the concept to help improve the level of younger riders. Yet another example of pro rider giving back to his scene and helping the next generation come through. Theres a short interview with organiser Koh Yoshida and they discuss his decision to step down this year from organising the contest. He has some great advice/words of wisdom for younger riders toward the end of the interview “I feel that some young riders are passive. Having being part being part of organising contests since I was 18. I’ve felt that certain riders take it for granted events are being run by someone see and they do not really care about what’s going on behind the scene. Edtitors note: I couldn’t agree more!
The article ends with short interviews with the top three on the podium, Yuki Ito, Taiko Kaneta, Takuiji Izumi. This article gave me the same feeling as when I used to read the old Creams. So much good stuff within 4 pages. Great research and information into what goes into an event like this. Really informative article.

Each issue of encounter, has some kind of “Theme and answers” article, ad this issue asks the question “The moment you decided to live on BMX, with one page issue dedicated to the likes of Hironao Doko, Takashi Ito, Susumu Moroioka, Motoaki Tanaka, and Fat Tony. Takashi’s story of joint York, as York started AresBykes stood out the most for me, and his realisation as York and Takashi got better results hitting up the X trials circuit they could live a professional, very much echo’ing what Ucchie was saying earlier, less the personality statement.

Yuta Yoshida covers the G Shock Real Toughness event in Toyko, with nice photos of Dominik Nekolny, Kotaro Tanaka, Ucchie (yes Ucchie has so much coverage this issue!)….

Flip one page and its another banging interview, this time Taiko Kaneta is the subject matter. And a very interesting interviewee at that.

Yasu writes: “Can I help you? It was 2005 at the KOG in Fukushima, a skinny young boy amongst 3 kids asked during preparation of the contest. The boy with unclouded eyes worked silently, his names was Taiko Kaneta. A couple of years later, Taiko moved out to Tokyo to study Buddhism in college and began bringing out his talent at contests. taking advantage of his dynamic rear moves, he was quickly recognised as one of the top riders at the KOG.
One day, I heard a rumour that Takio had to quit riding. He is the eldest brother and is supposed to work at his parents temple after graduating from college. Once he started training, he won’t be able to ride or even communicate with the outside world for 1 or 2 years.”.

The interview naturally focusses on what Taiko will do in the future, possibly changing his path in life “It is basically heredity and the eldest brother generally takes over.” His family expect a lot of him as the eldest brother, something that has troubled him. He went to India to go and see the birth place of Buddhism, and was a wake call to him. They discuss death, dealing with the March earthquake, its pretty heartfelt stuff.

Yasi changes the subject to riding, and his last contest competing, the Under 23 contest….
“I aimed for victory as I had never won at contest. I was in good shape, but I ended up in 2nd. Everybody cheered me on the most just as in KOG, so I am totally contented with the result. I’m in the happiest moment of my BMX life.

They go to discuss KOG, and he says he can’t compete with top pros such as Viki Gomez, Ucchie, and Matthias Dandois “I don’t think about living off BMX, these pros fully dedicate their lives. Although I gave up on victory, I still try to impress people. I don’t save myself for good results. I always try new and hard tricks as I would for a video”.
They discuss this latest edit, his hometown scene in Sendai, growing up with KOG pro rider Masatoshi Karino, and finish the the interview with advice to riders from his generation “Once you progress enough to control your bike, it is still fun riding alone although theres something missing for me. You should be more active to participate in whatever opportunities are round you, jams, contests, or just riding with everybody. Looking back now that I would have to leave riding for a while, I often reminisce the time I spent with everyone like that.”.

Great words to close a fascinating interview. Which closes the flatland related content for Issue 3 of Encounter. Which really is taking off where Cream left us I feel. Japan as we all know is the heartbeat of flatland riding, this magazine reflects that, and reflects it really well and in a mature way. Looking towards the bigger picture, these riders and their scene seem to get it. And this one reason why flatland is so big there. Big respect. If you like printed magazines as much as me, you will try your best to get ahold of this, it truly is worth the effort.

Top marks, if there is such a thing.

Available from:

http://fingerprintdistribution.bigcartel.com/

York Jam 2012 by Erik Otto

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York Jam 2012 from Erik Otto on Vimeo.

Like I said yesterday about Jim McKay’s videography, the same rings true of Erik Otto’s work. Erik is always on hand to capture the best riding, I don’t know about you, but whenever I watch a York jam edit I am always hoping for some Kevin Jones footage, which has yet to happen. But.. check out the riding of Bryan Huffman, TJ Perry, Nao Yoshida and many more, good vibes in York, PA!