James White and the boys met up for a birthday get together at the legendary South Bank in London. Feel good vibes in full flow here, loved this!
Tag Archives: Johann Chan
Editorial: Flatmattersonline is 12 Years Strong!
Text: Effraim.
Photos: Effraim, Bart de Jong.
Good morning everyone!
Friday 27th November marks a special day, today I celebrate twelve years of running the Flatmattersonline website!
In 2008 I said to myself after plenty of conversations and prompting from Sam Foakes on our trip to Japan (see yesterdays TBT) “let’s make a place where Flatlander’s can “document their riding, share it and naturally progress!”.”
The meaning of FM…
The name “flatmatters” originally had two meanings, the obvious, flat is important, the second, discussing topics flatland related, this became more meaningful when Mark Noble at Ride UK asked to start a flatmatters page in his magazine.
My parents competition, King of Concrete helped indirectly come up with the name, when other contests across the globe were dripping flatland. Flatland very much mattered at King of Concrete, there was a big contest floor to ride, prize money etc. I helped design a Flatland Matters tee to giveaway to everyone who rode the contest back in 2000 era, great times!
The original concept of starting Flatmattersonline pretty much runs true 12 years on. I wanted an independent place for Flatlander’s to be able to look at fresh content everyday, and help inspire their session that day. I thought if I am looking for something else on the net, than perhaps other people are too.
Interestingly enough, when I started FM back in 2008, video platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo were pretty fresh so not a lot of people were using them, and I was relying heavily on original content which eleven years on is something I am going back to and am more inspired by. So between October/November 2008 was spent writing articles to et ready for the 27th November launch.
From the initial generic blogspot days, to a full website FM that has seen many changes over the past 12 years. I really do have to pinch myself when I think about how many posts, and also how much time I must have spent putting content together for you the viewer at home.
Long Beach Transit Edit
Long Beach Transit Edit from emer bmx on Vimeo.
Johann Chan and friends made it over to California recently for the S&M 30th anniversary bash.
Here’s what Johann had to say about this one: “Featuring one of my favourite new school riders Benedict Zartost, Diversion film maker legend Bobby Carter, Huntington Beach legend Gabe Weed & Carpark moonie legend Rich Slezak.
The video was all made in transit, using Splice on my iPhone 5 with additional graphics using Aftereffects, all compiled on the train on the way to work!”
Repo: UK Flatland Championships
Text: Effraim.
Photos: Matti Hemmings.
Nothing but good vibes this past weekend at the UK Flatland Championships in Birmingham. I made the trip up by train on the Friday, with just one change at Southampton, the train is on the doorstep to the Birmingham NEC venue.
When I arrived Matti was already dialled in with banners set up, PA ready, just the floor to clean again, and judging sheets to organise which I was one of my jobs to do. I’m still injured so I watched as Matti, TGM Maz and Chris Brook enjoyed an empty floor. Mario wanted to arrive early and get used to the fast floor, and even learnt a nice new line, flail boomerang to hang 5, looking forward to seeing how he develops that move. in the future. Chris coasted no footed manuals across the floor with ease and Matti who was suffering with a bad back was working on stemrollers.
UK Flatland BMX Championships Wheels and Fins
As I look forward to heading to Round 2 of the UK Flat Champs at the Birmingham NEC this weekend, I just came across this nice raw edit of the AM’s from the Wheels and Fins Festival featuring Yinka Thomas, TGM Maz, Remus Simion, Johann Chan, and Trevor Lacey.
1WM – No Days Off
Out and about in Londo, good vibes from the big smoke with Johann Chan, Phil Dolan,
Jason Forde and Steve Green. Enjoy!
UK Flatland Championships – Wheels And Fins Festival
Nice lil edit by Yinka Thomas from this weekends Wheels and Finns Festival, Round 1 of the UK Flatland Championships featuring the likes of Dominik Nekolny, Lee Musselwhite, James White, Alex Jumelin, Jason Forde, Steve Green, Andy Hale, Trevor Lacey, Johann Chan, Remuis Simion, and Amos Burke! Good times in Joss Bay, Kent, roll on next weekend for Round 2 at the Cycle Show at the NEC!!
Wheels & Finns Festival Day 3
What an epic weekend over at the Wheels and Finns Festival in Joss Bay, Kent. After two days at the event, most of the hard work was done. We woke up to blue skies, and with the festival being so close to the beach, meant only one thing. Chilled breakfast on the beach, before the day really got started!
A day in the Flatlife – TGM
Jason Forde just started a new youtube channel, Flatlife. And kicked things off with Iñigo Arroyo Gutierrez’s leaving jam at the Green Mile in West Norwood, London. Webisode style with Phil Dolan, Steve Green, Iñigo Arroyo Gutierrez, Jason Forde, TGM Maz, Remus Simion, Johann Chan, Keelan Phillips, and Vlad Shcherbakov.
Repo: iBMXff World Championships NASS
Text: Effraim.
Photography: Effraim and Ged McConville.
Like everyone when the iBMXff World Championships were announced a few months back, I thought “Where the hell is Flatland?”, there were various trains of thoughts from most of the flatland community, but it seemed summed up with “it’s not the worlds without flatland”, emails went back and forth. If I am being honest, I didn’t think Flatland would be included with budgets and all….
Takahiro Ikeda, Xft no handed straddle time machine on his way to a huge second place.