Tag Archives: Dave Mirra

Classic Monday’s: Balancing Act

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Last week we featured Alexis Desolneux’s amazing part from the Intrikat “Flatsphere” DVD, this week its a full video: Mark Eaton’s master piece “Balancing Act” that dropped in May, 1997. This is a video that showcases all forms of BMX, and with Eaton’s editing skills this doesn’t get old at all. For the purposes of Classic Monday’s I will just stick to the flatland standouts…

There’s so much flatland, from the intro that kicks in at 00:37, Leif Valin section at 6:07 (look out for the fire hydrant to pedal ice cream at 6:20), that was a move that was ahead of the time for sure. Kevin Jones section at 11:51 showcases all different styles of flatland riding, fixie, roller coaster and regular front and back brake, cross handed hang ten step to steam (this might be unnoticed, go back and watch this one, never seen it done like this), and my favourite move from the Jone’s section double whiplash to switch handed steam bar flip to forwards tomahawk (this move like most of Kevin’s career was widely copied).

The standout section flatland wise has to be the Chase Gouin part (17:26), for many of us this was the first time we saw brakeless riding. We saw tricks that normally would require brakes performed in Chase’s aggressive style, Eaton captured not only Chase’s amazing riding but the hardwork and frustrations that is all to familiar to us all. The “No excuses” Alice in Chain track fits Chase’s riding perfectly, and it’s something Mark Eaton seemed to capture over the history of Dorkin’ videos again and again.
It’s a timeless action for sure, if I had to highlight anything though it’s during the last section jamming to Social Distortion, (23:19) brakeless g-strings to backwards Karl backwards cliff, and the following dump truck pivot x-ft ice cream to the pedal x-ft body varial inside opposite caboose was groundbreaking for the time and hugely influential for the direction modern day flatland has gone.
Eaton’s editing skills really shine bright in this one, certified classic that makes me want to spend the whole day watching the Dorkin’ box set, but it’s time to go ride!

Old School Sundays with Dennis McCoy

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On June 11th, Dennis McCoy and Dave Mirra R.I.P. were indicted into the BMX hall of fane. It only makes sense to dedicate this weeks OSS to the man himself, DMC! Check out his run above from the 1987 ABA Nationals in Old Westbury, NY jamming to Run DMC.

You can also check out his speech from the BMX Hall of Fame ceremony below:

iBMXff Flatland World Championships – NASS July 8/10th!!

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Amazing news finally official today, after going back and forth with the organisers for a few months. Flatland is now a big part of the IBMXFF Worlds this year in the UK, proud to be involved along with James White. Read on for the official press release and book your tickets to Nass, it’s going to go off!

NASS and the iBMXff are really excited to announce that flatland is coming to the Worlds. With the BMX Freestyle World Championships being hosted in the UK for the first time since 1988, it was always essential that flatland was included. The iBMXff flatland world championships will be hosted at NASS on a brand new specially built outdoor stage. Here you can witness an array of the best international flatland BMXers performing tricks that have formed the basis for much of freestyle BMX.

Flatland is the start of it all. From riders rebelling against BMX racing and doing their first ‘curb endos’, to inspiring modern day BMX freestyle legends like Mat Hoffman and Dave Mirra. Without flatland, BMX would not be where it is today. Therefore, with such a strong heritage and influence on BMX it is easy to see why NASS and the iBMXff have worked tirelessly to ensure that we will be able to crown the world flatland champion.

The flatland championships will be run by top UK flatland BMX pro, James White, and Effraim Catlow, former flatland world champion (1994) and founder and editor of flatland BMX site, Flatmatters. We asked Effraim what it means to see the world flatland championships coming to the UK:

The World’s best flatland riders will do battle for the honour to be crowned the “2016 World Champion” this year at Nass. We are proud to bring the World Championships back to the UK for the first time since the 80’s. Who can deliver on the day and handle the pressure that has seen many a great rider crumble in the past? It’s sure to be one of the most amazing events in recent years, and it’s on home turf! Make sure you are there to watch it unfold! Flatmatters!

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See you there!