Jam Circle Pre-jam by Jim McKay

Weeks on from the Jam Circle weekend, and still amazing footage and edits coming through. Case in point here with Jim Mckay’s Pre jam edit featuring the likes of Jean Francois Boulianne, Pete Brandt, Terry Adams, Omari Cato, Art Thomason, Scott Powell, Sietse van Berkel, Benjamin Hudson, Jean William Prevost and so many more.

Inside the Flatlander’s Mind: Overcoming Riders Block.

Intro/Article: Effraim.
Photos: Bobby Carter, Kai Kuusisto, Alicja Korbinska, Tom Sevisual, Keith Mulligan.

All so often we only see the polished finished article, we turn up as riders at a contest and amazing riding, and flawless runs, or we see a “Must Watch” edit here on Flatmattersonline. What we don’t see is the blood, sweat, tears and psychological games that riders struggle with behind the scenes. I have faced this quite often over my riding career, and when it comes, it tells me “it’s time to switch things up”.
Every rider is different and that is one of multitude of things that we all love about flatland. I found something as simple in concept as learning something with bars forwards or backwards, learn something opposite or sometimes ride a different spot than I normally would. I have this saying in flatland, “learn everything you can, there are no bad tricks to learn, as flatland will catch up and bite you on the ass when you need that trick the most. I wondered about what other riders do to overcome this natural process of riding flatland over the years. ”

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The 2017 Flatmattersonline Year End Award Nominees are…..

Happy New Year everyone! It’s time to announce the nominees for the editorial and reader choice 2017 Flatmattersonline Year end awards, thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. As always it is interesting to see what you the reader of Flatmattersonline thinks compared to my editorial votes. And last not certainly not least congratulations to all the nominees.

Flatmatters!

Effraim Catlow

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York Jam 2017

It’s a big week here on Flatmattersonline with Ninja Spin at the end of the weekend, MOC entries closing, plus the regular daily posts. Kicking off with this nice edit from this weekends 27th York jam featuring Jim Cavanugh, Scott Powell, Stephan Cerra, Freddy Brown, Bryan Huffman, Sunny Singh, Martin Drazil, Jilliepoo & Dezairay, Bill Nitschke, Trevor Watring, Scott Denoncourt, Kevin Washington, Scotty Duszlak, Trey Leeper, Will Danner, Mark Mcgrade and many more…

Landscapes Trailer!

Peep this awesome second trailer for Stewart Munro’s latest video project Landscapes, download yours on the link below!

“Landscapes” is a new full length video showcasing some of the best flatlanders from around the world. Featuring Simon O’Brien, Alex Worden, Yorihisa Shiota, Seppl Pospischil, Viki Gómez, Iwata Tang-meng Hiroki, Masashi Itani, George Manos, Sebastian Grubinger, Noyer Thomas, Brandon Fenton, Paul Chamberlain, Scott Powell and many more !

Link to buy Landscapes $4.99 –

https://gumroad.com/l/bBlK#

York Jam 2016

Freddy Brown’s first time attending the annual York jam, peep this nice edit he put together from the weekend featuring: Zane Weaber, Freddy Brown, Marty Clark, Tony Schneidewind, Craig Gaudet, Bryan Huffman, Indy Armstrong, Kevin Jones, Andrew Sheltraw, Trevor Watring, Isaiah Jordan, Opie Caylor, Scott Powell, Deej Thoro and Bill Nitschke.

Must Watch! Viki Gomez – Intrinsic

Intrinsic from Viki Gomez on Vimeo.

I have been waiting for something like this for a long time, something that digs inside what is flatland, and what can it bring to the individual. Bobby Carter explains a little more, grab a cuppa and enjoy this amazing project!

“After Viki won 2015 BFWC Championship, Viki was asked to make a film with a message for the new generation of riders. The film was shown at the Tokyo Bicycle Film Festival. We only had about 3 weeks to make this film. Martti Kuoppa, Simon O’Brien, Chase Gouin, Chad Degroot, and Scott Powell all scrambled were able to submit footage with their perspectives on flatland. Besides the time crunch, the most challenging and most fun part was digging through the archives of flatland history to pull out some of the best riding put on video from Diversion, Intrikat, Baco, and others from the 1990s to present day. I hope you enjoy the story and the many perspectives on this thing we all love, called flatland!”

Japanese Version!

Intrinsic (Japanese version) from Viki Gomez on Vimeo.

Bobby Carter – Aloha Jam Interview

Intro/Interview: Effraim.
Photographs: Adam Jung & Bobby Carter.

The Aloha Jam is fast approaching on the paradise island of Hawaii! I got hold of Bobby Carter to catch up with him about the jam, the lifestyle, and generally talk all things Hawaii, read on…

Yo Bobby, The Aloha jam is fast approaching, firstly tell me about the concept of the Aloha jam?
Aloha Jam is a BMX Holiday. This is a time when people can take a break and not worry about contests, dialing in routines, judges, and all the other drama that comes along with a comp. Aloha Jam takes place in Honolulu and is one day of riding and a second day of planned activity at Hanauma Bay (snorkeling, chilling on the beach, etc.). Relax and have fun with your friends while riding and also sight seeing, partying, etc. Since it’s in Hawaii, riders can bring their non-riding family members or significant others. There’s plenty to do around the island on the day that we session and the second day is a planned non-riding activity in which everyone can participate!


What a view, Bobby Carter enjoying the scenery.

How did the idea come about?
Over the years of traveling to various places to help at contests, I realized the most memorable moments were when we all were just hanging out as friends, exploring the place where we were and sessioning.
Two years ago, when I went to Hawaii, J.Dub, Jesse Puente, and Scott Powell showed up. We had a lot of fun riding with the locals, exploring the island, and hanging out with girls. Some of the best times ever! I wanted to plan an event that wasn’t a contest, but also wasn’t just a jam in a parking lot somewhere. I think there’s a lot of opportunity to get the greater flatland community together and active outside of having a traditional contest. We just have to put our minds to it and think original.


540 varial on the Hawaiian shoreline.

So far who is making the trip to Hawaii?
From the mainland , I know I’ll be out there with Todd Carter, Rich Slezak, Nelson Kuo, and Steven Lapsley, Ucchie is going to try to attend with Kotaro Tanaka, and few more riders from Japan may attend. Many more local riders from Hawaii are attending of course. Ben Crockett from BMX Plus is trying to attend as well.

Your Hawaii edit from that trip you mentioned was absolutely amazing, can you explain the vibe there in words?
I can’t even put the vibe into words. The islands are magical, man! From the pristine nature to the BMX community itself, you have to experience the Aloha Spirit for yourself!


Look at this riding spot! Paradise!

Do you think the Aloha jam will help the scene there?
Definitely, anytime you can get friends together in a positive way it’s going to make the community stronger!
Also, Hawaii is the same distance from Japan as Singapore. I hope in the future, more events can happen in Hawaii and bring the American scene closer to the scenes in Asia!

What is the scene like there, mostly older riders? Or new kids?
Hawaii’s BMX roots go way back. Most of the flatland riders there have been around since the 80s and 90s. There are few newer riders too as far as flatland goes.
They usually get together and session one or two times a week. The street scene there is pretty big with a lot of new school as well as older dudes too. The scene in Hawaii has a much different dynamic than here in Los Angeles. Riders aren’t as spread out as on the mainland so they have an opportunity to become a much tighter community.


Hawaii Chills.

Are you planning an edit again, or lifestream?
I’ll definitely be making an edit. Actually, I’ll be in Hawaii for 2 weeks riding and exploring the island of O’ahu!
So if anyone is around hit me up!

Is there a website to check out information about the Aloha jam?
http://www.alohajam.net/

There’s been plenty of talk about you moving to Hawaii, are you leaving LA for the island life?
I’m still working on my dream……

Any final shouts?
I want to thank Derek Takemoto, Kala Yasuda, Big Ale, Adam Jung, Kiana, and the whole Hawaii BMX scene…. and of course anyone planning to attend!

Time to re-watch this amazing Aloha Flow edit, feel the vibe!

Interested in going? Here are some helpful details.

Event Details:
Dates: Sunday September 21st and Monday the 22nd in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Day 1: Riding and BBQ at Petrie Playground (3 miles from Waikiki)
Day 2: Explore Hanauma Bay (10 miles from Waikiki)

Airport: HNL

Hotels/ Hostels: Most hotels and hostels are in the Waikiki area.
More hotel information is at: http://www.alohajam.net/hotels/

Getting around town: You can pretty much pedal around the Honolulu area, but if you want to explore the rest of the island of O’ahu you’ll have to take a bus or rent a car. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive from the south shore (Waikiki) to the North Shore.
Petrie Playground (jam spot) is located about 3 miles from Waikiki.
Hanauma Bay islocated 10 miles from Waikiki (there’s a bus that goes straight there)

Food and pricing: Once you leave Waikiki by a block or 2 the pricing on food, etc is about the same as in California. Even in Waikiki you can find reasonable places to eat.

Other attractions: Surfing, Manoa Falls, Hiking up Diamond Head Crater, Lanikai Beach (rated one of the best beaches in the world), and tons of other stuff.

Website: http://www.alohajam.net/

Must Watch! Scott Powell – HD test edit

HD test edit-1080 from scott powell on Vimeo.

Scott always brings some different set ups to his edits, and this HD test edit is no different. The pedalling elbow glide to multiple pedalling whiplashes at 00:29 is awesome and no doubt very difficult! Not to mention the pedalling multiple fire hydrant line at 1:12, this edit is a fun watch! Don’t miss this one! Chenga represent!