It is time to get into the winners of the 2024 Flatmattersonline Year End Awards. We had a record number of people voting this year, as well as some good suggestions for how the awards should be announced for next year. Congratulations to all the winners, and also everyone who was nominated.
I will be in touch with the winners soon for their contact details to send the medals out!!
Flatmatters!
READER CHOICE RIDER OF YEAR + CONTEST RUN OF THE YEAR + LINE OF THE YEAR + EDITORIAL CHOICE RIDER OF THE YEAR
YU KATAGIRI.
Yu Katagiri won the reader choice by a fair margin it’s fair to say. With around 60% voting for Yu, and you can see why.
He got my vote much like my vote for Nora Cup, because he’s pushing the sport and dropping brand new tricks and taking risks in his contest runs which is pushing the sport at the highest level.
This might not win contests all the time, but does win respect and he’s setting a standard now which is so promising for the future.
Not to mention when he does get it right, it’s something to experience in real life. Hence why many of you voted for his winning run at the Japanese championships in November! Jaw dropping perfection in signature snappy Yu Katagiri style.
And you can’t forget Yu dropping the no footed backwards spin levitating and jumping through to switch foot ice cream on the opposite side on Jimalog’s Umikaze edit, this move sent shock waves through the flatland scene. I haven’t seen a trick like that for years, this levitating line broke new ground, and physics for sure. Well deserved Line of the year!!
Congrats Yu for winning four awards in 2024, the future is so bright for Yu!
READER CHOICE FEMALE RIDER OF THE YEAR.
VERONIKA KADAR.
READER CHOICE EDIT OF THE YEAR.
IGI LOS ANDINOS.
Reader choice edit of the Year was closely contested, as you might expect! Coming out on top was the IGI Los Andinos edit that dropped earlier in the year. Top notch riding from the likes of Benjamin Hudson and Owen Bohn, and the lifestyle journey between the two riders country to country made this a really different watch in many ways, it told a story and wasn’t only about tricks. Interesting also in the modern social media age, you voted for a video that was longer than average. Are we seeing a difference in trend now?
Congrats IGI, Owen Bohn and Benjamin Hudson for the award!
EDITORIAL CHOICE MUST WATCH EDIT OF THE YEAR.
JAMES WHITE: PIVITSKI.
Putting my Flatmattersonline hat on, this is perhaps the most important award of them all!
The “must watch” tag is something riders chase, and has become an unwritten signature to the site..
James was one of my contenders for Rider of the Year, and also winner of edit of the year with his Pivitski.
Despite producing basically a fresh video part almost every week on Instagram, James manages to keep his part fresh, Years of bike mastery have gone into not only the technique (the back wheel line at 2:23 springs to mind as a standout) but also the ability to wait for the right timing and not rush it, to execute rolling so slowly out of an almost stationary hitchhiker at 3:49.
There are so many details in James’ riding that are second to none; check the ender at 4:37. this is a classic in my mind. Modern day flatland at its best.
I’m a big fan of the multiple angles in this as well as the black and white, which give this a fresh feel compared to his previous edits
Congratulations James, 2024 was a good year for whiteski! If I was giving an award for
Most productive rider, James would win that too. Flat out amazing!
EDITORIAL CHOICE: OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION.
ROB ALTON.
Rob’s impact on women’s flatland the last few years has been growing event by event. And particularly the Hungarian girls who he cha he’s have been on a tear which was reflected in the votes for the female rider of the year in 2024.
This for most part, falls down to one man and his passion, Rob’s vision to start Sportzone and dedicate his time and experience to helping kids in Hungary is paying off!
Anna and Veronika’s contest appearances have been very impressive this year, and now they are consistent heavy hitters in the Women’s class.
Congratulations Rob you deserve this, thanks for all you do!
EDITORIAL CHOICE: BREAKTHROUGH RIDER OF THE YEAR.
DUSTYN ALT.
Photo by Dorian Kautz & Hanna Kautz.
Dustyn has been on the brink for a few years, in 2024 it really felt Dustyn had arrived with the heavy hitters in the pro finals.
Not only that, his presence on the contest floor is something to be experienced. At battleground, Montpellier, and Shanghai. Dustyn had the crowd on their feet and in amazement with his high tempo run, and he came close to finals also in Abu Dhabi.
Dustyn also really markets himself well, and his social media is really impressive and makes him stand out in my opinion.
Congrats Dustyn, can’t wait to see what your future holds.
EDITORIAL CHOICE: BRAND OF THE YEAR.
NOUS BMX.
It’s been a great year for Nous BMX in 2024.
Amazing team: check!
New tyre: check!
Social media updates: check!
Full length video: check!
Nous BMX continues to bring new ideas and top notch quality to their videos showcasing new riders and talent, and product. The future looks bright for Nous, I hope to see even more from them this year. Congratulations Nous BMX, Brand of the Year for 2024.
I look forward to seeing how the team and brand grows!
Salud to all the winners ! I juuuuuust missed the voting deadline , bummed on that….I’m very stoked that the Nous edit , Yu Katagiri ( got that N.O.R.A. Cup too ,for the second time. ) ,Rob Alton , and Dustyn Alt , just to name a few ……that they got some respect and due ! For line of the year I would of voted for Jigen ! Back wheel bonks / saves he improvises just to KEEP his line going LONGER……..THAT stoked me. His 360 and 180 twitches and pressure flips ruled also. His line got me STOKED. Thank you , Effraim !