All photos: Fat Tony.

Pro finals about to go down!

Dom, mid steam jump switch.

Dominik Nekolny Wins 2012 Flatland Voodoo Jam in New Orleans

After a two-year hiatus the Flatland Voodoo Jam returned to Generations Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana. Just as expected, both the floor and balcony were filled to capacity and the energy was at an all-time high as more than 50 riders from eight different countries competed in the Veteran, Amateur, and Pro classes of what was no doubt the most anticipated flatland event on North American soil this year.

With event organizer and industry icon Scott O’Brien on the mic, and former BMX rider and local DJ MKULTRAsound on the turntables, the nightclub atmosphere came to life and gave both the riders and spectators a New Orleans experience they will never forget.

In the Amateur class, Canada’s Mark Kuhlman of Team Pralex fame took his first big win at an international event and earned him the chance to ride again in the pro class where he held his own, put together his best run of the night, and finished in a respectable 12th place.

Am Podium. Check them trophies!!!

The Pro class was stacked with talented riders, and with a one-run qualifying format, just making it into the ten-man finals was a feat in and of itself. Of the ten who moved on to the finals, the top five rode for a third time and went head-to-head in a battle-style super finals of sorts to fight for those coveted spots on the podium. When the dust settled, Dominik Nekolny out of the Czech Republic took the top spot with the U.S.’ Matt Wilhelm and event co-organizer and local hero Terry Adams rounding out the top three.

The 2012 Flatland Voodoo Jam is sponsored by: Red Bull, Dan’s Comp, Flatland Fuel, Freegun Underwear, Raising Cane’s, Deco, 430 Clothing, Diversion TV, Odyssey, Flatware, Fiksd Apparel, Neue Creative, and Purple Monkey.

voodoojam.com

Veteran Final Results
1. Pedro Medina
2. Mike Smick
3. Mark Dandridge
4. Ramon Lopez Colon
5. Brian Gavagan
6. Robert Porter
7. Brad Wright
8. Lee Edwards
9. Tim Neff
10. David Larocca
11. Damian Bacci
12. John Simmons
13. Mark Mundt
14. Jeremy Jones

Amateur Final Results
1. Mark Kuhlmann
2. Dax Wolford
3. Kelly Baldwin
4. Todd Gully
5. Omari Coto
6. Diego Tejada
7. Ron Monis
8. Rennace Tomko
9. Alex Poirier
10. Bryan Huffman
(Top 10 competed in finals.)
11. Prasheel Gopal
12. Alan Young
13. Johnny Tamayo
14. Juan Caldera
15. Trevor Oleniuk
16. Joe Cicman
17. John Yull
18. Chris Anderson
19. Steve Jordan
20. Edward Jodie
21. Todd Carter
22. Sean Watkins
23. Sean Maher
24. Jim Cavanavah

Pro Final Results
1. Dominik Nekolny
2. Matt Wilhelm
3. Terry Adams
4. Alex Jumelin
5. Jean-Francois Boulianne
6. Waldemar Fatkin
7. Naoto Tamaru
8. Dane Beardsley
9. Jorge Vasquez
10. Art Thomason
11. Stephan Kornely
12. Mark Kulhmann
13. James McGraw
14. Bo Wade
15. Aaron Frost
16. Eric Wright

What do skateboarding and innovation have in common? Why is this on Flatmatters?? Well for more reasons than you might think…. A successful entrepreneur and innovator, Rodney Mullen is widely considered the most influential street skater in history, inventing most of the tricks used today. There are so many similarities to what he is saying in this talk to flatland riding, he continues to skate, innovate, and design some 30 years after he won his first world championship at the age of 11. How long will it be until a flatlander gives a talk like this? Well worth a watch.

Darin Wright from The One Love crew hit me up with news on their scene, hook ups, sessions, if you have interesting news like this, please send it in…

“Well it’s been a while since the last posting, so Im gonna get ya’ll caught up. First up, the OneLoveCrew is now sponsored by PrimoBMX. Eric(sales guru & fellow hiphopjunkie) @ John(TM) have been looking out for the crew since day one. We are really stoked on being part of a company that has been a big part in BMX history. Look for our welcome edit filmed by Shayne K. coming soon.
Second up, Shayne K. has officially started a new NorCal BMX house. Current tennets include Steve “Muscle” Hearn and Dave “NipsyHustle” Debuono. A killer backyard with a palm tree, multiple rack system for all the whips , and an ill ass fire pit, these guys just went from ashy to classy.

Dylan Worsley, backwards kickflip to crackpacker, photo by Kerry Gatt.

Third up, almost two weeks ago, the crew went out to Walnut Creek to ride with Kerry Gatt, Ed Benoit, and Dylan Worsley. To say the least, this was an epic session. Sorry folks there was no filming went down at this session. After the session Kerry took us out to one of the local pubs for a few pitcher of brew. While out on the patio, Andrew Arroyo stopped by. I thought he was a myth, but no he was there in the flesh. He still rides and occasionally stops for sleep out in Napa in his VW.”

Voodoo trophies, how sick are these!!! Photo by Terry Adams.

Here are the full results from the 2012 Voodoo jam, thanks to Scott O’Brien for sending these in!

Pro Class
1- Dominik Nekolny
2- Matt Wilhelm
3- Terry Adams
4- Alex Jumelin
5- J.F. Boulianne
6- Waldemar Fatkin
7- Naoto Tamaro
8- Dane Beardsley
9- Jocago Vasques
10- Art Thomason

11- Stephan Kornely
12- Mark Kuhlmann
13- James McGraw
14- Bo Wade
15- Aaron Frost
16- Eric Wright

Amateur Class

1- Mark Kuhlmann
2- Dax Wolford
3- Kelly Baldwin
4- Todd Gully
5- Omari Cato
6- Diego Tejada
7- Ron Monis
8- Rennace Tomko
9- Alex Poirier
10- Bryan Huffman

11- Prasheel Gopal
12- Alan Young
13- Johnny Tamayo
14- Juan Caldera
15- Trevor Oleniuk
16- Joe Cicman
17- John Yull
18- Chris Anderson
19- Steve Jordan
20- Edward Jolie
21- Todd Carter
22- Sean Watkins
23- Sean Maher
24- Jim Cavanuagh

Veteran Class

1-Pedro A Medina
2- Mike Svnick
3- Mark Dandridge
4- Ramon Lopez Colon
5- Brian Yellow Gavagan
6- Robert Porter
7- Brad Wright
8- Huck Edwards
9- Tim Neff
10- David Larocca

11- Damian Bacci
12- John Simpson
13- Mark Mundt
14- Jeremy Jones