The opening Kevin Jones footage is legendary in this compilation from the 1987 AFA Masters, also featuring the likes of Chris Lashua, Dennis McCoy, Maurice Meyer, Dave Nourie, pure old school vibes….
Tag Archives: Kevin Jones
Episode 23: Flatmattersonline Plywood Hoods Exclusive with Brett Downs & James White
YO!!!
Welcome back, it’s time for q Flatmattersonline special exclusive this week brought to you by Plywood Hood Brett Downs and UK Honorary member, James White to celebrate the birthdays this week of Kevin Jones, and Mark Eaton!
After Steffen Peter’s 20th episode, I wanted to reach out to different sections of riders across the board, and also react a little but with what’s currently going on in the flatland world. Hence this Plywoods Hoods special, we can’t thank Kevin and Mark enough for their contribution to flatland, but we can celebrate it and show our respect to the Hoods!
I’ve had a few issues with copyright the last couple of weeks, and it reared it’s ugly head again with James’ chosen track from the Dorkin’ videos. If you experience problems with the track being muted, I have uploaded the link to Vimeo.
Thanks Brett and James for contributing, who’s got episode 24?
Link below if you are having trouble with the Youtube version:
EPISODE 23 FLATMATTERSONLINE EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL FT BRETT DOWNS & JAMES WHITE from FLATMATTERSONLINE on Vimeo.
Classic Monday’s: Balancing Act
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 the Plywood Hoods
Deciding whats’ old school and mid school, goes on and on. This weeks Old School Sundays is dedicated to the game changers, the Plywood Hoods! Peep this show in Lancaster, from 1991. Featuring Kevin Jones, Mark Eaton, Chase Gouin, Chris Young & MC Brett Downs. Grab a cuppa and enjoy this one from the archives! Treats!
The Hoffman Bikes Big Daddy is back!
I don’t get nostalgic about bike parts and frames, but the Hoffman Bikes Big Daddy is one frame I wish I never got rid of. This one holds great memories for me and I am stoked to see the re-release of this classic frame with modern day geometry. Here’s the word from Mat Hoffman…
“It just landed in LA and is on it’s way to headquarters in OKC. It is still about a week out, but I’ve made them available to order now. Kevin Jones signature Big Daddy frame is back with OG look but with modern geometry.
TT 19.75″ or 20.5″
CS 13.4″ to 14.2″
HA 75 degree
SA 70 degree
Bottom Bracket Height: 11.8″
Standover Height: 8″
Integrated headset
Mid-BB shell
CNC Cromo heat-treated dropouts with 14mm slots
Removeable brakes mounts and gyro tabs included
an extra decal kit included. Sneak peak Photos by @motocrossinternational they landed in Japan first. Thanks you.”
The Chase Gouin Space Brothers Podcast
Photo: Jared Souney.
I’ve been waiting for this podcast with Chase Gouin for a while, Kip Williamson and Chip Riggs catch up with the one and only, Chase Gouin. Here’s what the Space Brothers crew had to say, sit down and grab a cuppa and enjoy this episode!
“This time around we sat down with flatland legend Chase Gouin to discuss his early life and getting into BMX, the first time he pulled a decade, meeting Kevin Jones and the Plywood Hoods, moving to York PA, his first Dorkin In York video section, special sessions he had with Kevin Jones, pulling his first quad decade, being the first flatland rider to ever ride brakeless, becoming ambidextrous with certain tricks so he could learn new positions, dealing with severe tendinitis, overcoming near-death situations more than a handful of times, and what he thinks about the current state of modern flatland. So get comfortable, crank up your speakers, and check out this special interview with the legend himself… Chase Gouin.”
Must Listen! Mark Eaton Space Brothers Podcast
Kip Williamson and Chip Riggs catch up with Plywood Hood, Mark Eaton for an absolute Must Listen Space Brothers Podcast!
Mark Eaton, Kevin Jones and the rest of Plywood Hoods paved their own way in Flatland and BMX in general, this podcast uncovers what it was like every time they showed up to a contest all eyes were on them with video cameras aimed in their direction hoping to capture the next ground breaking trick whether that was steamroller, whiplash, hitchhiker, backpacker or many other amazing groundbreaking moves. Even the top pros at the time kept their eyes on Mark, Kevin, and the other Plywood Hoods hoping to see some of their latest tricks and they changed the game forever.
When you get a spare few hours you need to sit down, and really take this in. Thanks Eaton and the rest of the Plywood Hoods for all they have done for flatland. This is pure gold!
*Just a reminder that all of the episodes can be listened to on SoundCloud (above), iTunes, Google Play, & Stitcher Radio by searching “Space Brothers Podcast”.
The return of Hoffman Bikes Big Daddy!
I’ve known about this news for a while, but the official word just broke online from Mat Hoffman himself:
“These are almost in production. Kevin (Jones) rode and went through the prototype and made his corrections. We are being very meticulous to make Kevin stoked and keep it up to his standard. No ETA date yet, but I will post here as soon as I know. Also you’ll notice the tubing is a thinner OD. This was a request form Kevin to make it lighter. Here’s a mock up from the first prototype of what the decals will be too… thanks -Mat”.
Exciting news, whose tempted with this? I know I am…
Catching Up with Bill Neumann
On the last day at Battle in the Rockies, it was awesome to get two riding sessions in with one of my childhood heroes, Bill Neumann. One of the smoothest cats to ever do this flatland thing we all love. On the way back to the McGraw residence, I caught up with Bill to talk about his roots in riding, his consistency, dropping the hitchhiker at the same contest as Kevin Jones, the Riders Brand. We also discuss beating Dennis McCoy back in the day, quitting riding and getting back into it and a whole lot more. Hope you all enjoy this as much as I did interviewing him.
Old School Sundays – Dorkin 1 End Segment
With the 27th anniversary of the York jam yesterday, it only makes sense to dedicate this weeks OSS to the Plywood Hoods. peep the end segment from Dorkin 1 featuring the likes of Kevin Jones, Mark Eaton and more do their thing. Respect!