2020V29

Issue 29 August 2008

Premium

Regular

16 Asylum Seekers

10 Spoken To all the shops that support BMX. 16 The Low Down What’s been going down?

24 Industry.au Rampfests Brett Williams.

44 Reformist Down Underground and the Cube.

98 Behind Bars Remember these faces.

110 Tech 101 How to buy a second hand bike.

112 Beats and Pieces Music, DVD’s and more.

114 New Proddy Hard and soft.

120 Picture this The money shots.

128 Inbox We’ve got mail, winners and more.

130 20 questions Dan Hunt.

One mental riding institution.

36 Destination

Pack your bags for Queenstown, New Zealand.

42 First things first...

Steve McCann.

50 Colony hits the capital

Clint Millar and crew hit up the streets of Canberra.

62 Red BullÕ s Dirt Pipe Build it and they will rip...

72 Mad Skills: Mick Bayzand

Inside the mind of the hard man of Australian BMX.

82 Dirty, Filthy drain Jam Bringing ghetto back to BMX.

92 Small kid, big style Chris Harti interview.

The crew Instigators//Matt Holmes, Mike Daly

2020bmxmagazine is proudly printed in Australia by The Quality Group www.thequalitygroup.com.au

Design//Phil Townsley

Scanning by Europress www.europress.com.au

Creative//Holmes

Contributors//Clint Millar, Steve Morrisey, Steve Gorak Taylor, Caleb Mondon, Cooper Brownlee, Shaun Jarvis, Raine Turnbull, Devin Parker, Mike Davies, James Wade, Ali Finlay, Michael Harris, Brock Beadman, Rob McCann, Sam Orchid, Michael Puniard, Shane Badman, Zac Miner, Polly Cooper, Tom Boorman and Simon O’Brien.

Photos//Nitai Whitehurst, Nic Gascoine, Steve Morrisey, Raine Turnbull, Gorak, Seaton Spratt, Caleb Mondon, Adam Sheedy, Michael Harris, Mike Davies, Sam Orchid, Zack Musarsa, Brock Beadman, James Wade, Simon O’Brien, Kosman and Mark Watson.

Photographic inspiration//Tony Nolan Publishers//Holmes & MikeD

Dubdubdub//2020bmxmag.com.au

Nitty gritty

Distributed in Australia by Gordon&Gotch.

For bikeshop sales in Australia hit up 0415 585 243 or email sales@2020bmxmag.com.au New Zealand distribution is taken care of by Independent Magazine Distributors (IMD) For bike shop sales in New Zealand call 09 5270500 To subscribe in Australia use the subs page in the mag or check out www.isubscribe.com.au For New Zealand online subs go to www.emags.co.nz Change of address? Let us know ASAP! 2020bmxmagazine RRP AUD$8.95 NZD$11.00

All material copyright ©2008 2020bmxmagazine Pty Ltd. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher, but possibly that of the author. So if you’re pissed with something, hassle them or get over it.

Respect yourself and others, when riding and in life, you’re always responsible for your own actions.

Always wear protection regardless of what/where/ when/who you’re riding.

Become part of the mag//Every issue more crew get themselves involved in the evolution of 2020bmxmagazine, making it the riders manual for the whole of Australia and NZ. If you think your scene is going off, let us know with words and photos. We’ve only got one prerequisite; everyone that writes, shoots or does anything for the mag must ride. Editorial and photographic contributions are more than welcome, we even pay for words and photos. Send a stamped self-addressed envelope if requiring return of slides or otherwise. And label it good cause piles of slides, CD’s and photos with no names or details on ‘em get lost quick. If you wanna send 100 RAW files on a disk, please name em! Hit up our website for the run down on contributing.

2020bmxmagazine is published four times a year by 2020bmxmagazine Pty Ltd. We are a 100% Australian rider owned and operated publication, dedicated to documenting the Australian 20inch riding experience since ‘98.

Correspondence and competition entries to// 2020bmxmagazine PO Box 498 Newtown NSW 2042 or email bmxrules@2020bmxmag.com.au Advertising info//Advertising rates and info is available upon request: sales@2020bmxmag.com.au

Harry Watson dropping one to fakie over one of the capitals more infamous (and now deceased) backyard ramps.

PHOTO Raine Turnbull

ISSUE 29

7

SPOKEN WhATS my SCENE?

While the workshop and counter take up most of any shop heads hours, there’s no doubting the reason most are in the bike industry in the first place.

Shop equals scene

PHOTO Daly

Growing up and getting into BMX back in the 80Õ s was cool. And there was nothing cooler than getting your broke arse bike down to the local store to check out what was going on in the greater BMX world.

Be it reading well trashed magazines, checking new catalogs or scoping all the shiny new gear in the cabinets. Plus there was nothing better than squeezing new bikes brake levers on the floor till the cables were hella stretched. Just cause you felt you had to.

The shop was the centre of the universe for me as a grom rider. The shop was where I met up with my crew. The shop was where I talked shit about bikes, riding and life. The shop was where I got a hand rebuilding my shagged out headset with spare parts and somehow avoided the small fee for doing so. The shop was where I got my first (bike shop) job building bikes on the weekends and cleaning the workshop. The shop was where I did my first lay buy (and was a slave to that place for 3 months afterwards). The shop was where I got my first sponno deal, even though it was only 15% off and a t-shirt... The shop was where I met new riders that ended up being lifelong friends. The shop was where mad curb sessions went down out the back when I was finishing up for the day taking cardboard out. And of course the shop was the jump off point for a lot of missions, be it to the next suburbs drainage ditch or later on, interstate road trips to comps. In a lot of ways, our local shop kept our local scene priming.

The scene deal is pretty simple. A good local scene means everyone is psyched.

Riders hang, progress, grow and push each other. Check out any good scene with a few riders and you’ll see a similar rate of progression amongst them, the whole Beenleigh deal is a testament to that. If you don’t have a good local scene, riders eventually drop out. Be it through boredom, meeting girls, getting to the legal drinking age, having to get a job and of course getting a car to enable all the above. It’s just the reality of life. So to me, one of the most central elements of a scene has and will always be, the local bike

10 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

shop. It was like that back in the day, and it hasn’t changed even a little bit to this day.

With more BMX focused shops opening all around the country, it’s a real sign that BMX is on the grow on these shores. And some would say that it’s bigger and more solid than it’s ever been. Which I’d tend to agree with...

So I guess this is a little thumbs up to all those in the bike shop business. A little thanks for the hard yards supporting such a ‘core past time. For being there when shit is broken.

For inspiring crew to get a job, save and get the dope set up. And of course for hooking riders up and even employing some. But far beyond just the shiny bits inside, it brings riders together and makes sure riders have access to what they need, when they need it.

International mail order is always going to be there and might ultimately save you a few dollars if you do make it through customs duty free. But the OS mail order shops sure ain’t going to hook you up on flow, back any local jams or be there to rebuild your wheel on a Saturday morning. And count on them not looking after your (out of the box) bent forks.

On that, your local shop will probably tell you to man up and pay the freight costs back to wherever you got ‘em from, as will the distro’s and the mail order company themselves.

But maybe not that nicely. And when was the last time the OS mail order place selling shit for $2 less helped stop your local trails getting ploughed or start the ball rolling on a new park? I’ve harped on about this stuff before, but that’s because it’s that simple.

Anyways, like I said above, this is just a little thanks to those behind the counters full of the shit that makes this BMX thing possible here in Aus. To those that run a BMX friendly shop, we salute you.

Holmes

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF

Asylum Seekers

Words and Photos by Sam Orchard.

16 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

Finding new spots to ride is always a constant battle, especially in a state such as Tasmania. We aren’t graced with square miles of concrete jungles to explore so we’re often spending our weekends trekking into the more rural areas of the state, of which there are many, in the hope of finding something fun to ride. It’s pretty safe to say that over the years we’ve explored 95% of the state’s educational institutions and public buildings. So finding something new is always exciting and definitely rewarding.

The town is set apart also by its unusual history. It is home to the former Royal Derwent Hospital, the country’s oldest mental institution. The asylum is set out like a miniature village, littered with almost 30 buildings, some dating back to the early 1800’s. It was closed down and abandoned some time in the 90’s. Paperwork, wheelchairs, beds and even padded cells still remain in the buildings. It’s as if it was just neglected and evacuated in one day. The complex would be a jackpot for squatters or the homeless if it wasn’t 35km out of Hobart.

I’d been to New Norfolk before but never thought anything of it. It’s a strange town. One of those odd places where you instantly feel outlawed. Like the locals are holding some sort of secret and really don’t want you around. You can feel their eyes on you at all times as you drive through the lonely streets.

We drove out there not expecting much at all. We were keener to check out two of the schools in the area rather than the asylum itself, although spooky abandoned buildings have always been a secret fetish of mine, especially those with a dark and mysterious history. The entrance to the complex

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF

This section was cordoned off with barbed wire security fences.

Thankfully the wheelchair was already delicately positioned for me beside the access ramp. How handy. Nick Hills.

PHOTO Sam Orchard

was guarded by two big white iron gates. Kind of how I’d imagine The Pearly Gates, only overgrown with weeds and rusted through. Giant oaks and willow trees towered over each side of the road. We parked the cars just inside and ventured in with our rigs. We were in the oldest section of the hospital. At first glance it seemed to be nothing but broken glass and weeds covering the crumbling architecture, but after a bit of initiative and creative thinking, ideas began to form. It turned out to be a very memorable weekend, finishing with Toby Orchard hitting his head pretty hard in a mistimed bench hop which resulted in two days of memory loss and a lot of repeated questions. “You got any gum?” “No Toby. You already asked me that 49 times…”

Maybe next time you’re complaining about your city’s lack of spots or skate parks, look outside the square a little. Snoop around where you usually wouldn’t snoop around. Who knows what you’ll find.

Willow Court, Nurse’s Quarters.

PHOTO Sam Orchard

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

17

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF Josh Stead killing it on UK soil.

PHOTO (c)rutgerpauw.com/Red Bull Photofiles

Empire of Dirt

While last year may have been a mud fest, the 2008 Empire of Dirt went down in prime summer weather.

Corey Bohan conquered one of the most innovative BMX courses ever constructed. Mixing the MTB influenced slopestyle course with dirt jumps, wooden spines, rails and dirt pipe sections, the Empire of Dirt set up was definitely something special. Over 5000 heads gathered to witness some kickarse riding on the 400m long dirt and wood course down in the lush fields of Devon. While 40 invited riders unleashed their brand of riding, it came down to Corey Bohan narrowly edging out Gary Young for the number one spot. While Dane Searls grabbed third place just over event creator and Devon-local hero Kye Forte. Seems Red Bull are on a mission creating awesome new takes on BMX. All power to them.

On the cover Rider: Mick Bayzand

Sponsor: Colony, Strictly BMX

Photographer: Nick Gascoine Location: Canberra

Camera: Hasselbald Lens: 38mm

Settings: 200th/sec @ F4.5 Lighting: Multiple flashes The shot: Mick hit this up with

multiple tricks. All dialed. Check his mad rail bombing skills in a full interview further into the mag.

Events calendar You want to know what comps are coming up?

Round 2 of the 2008 CORE Series has just been confirmed to take place on the 23rd of August at Deagon Skate Park and the final for the series will be at Kuraby Skate Park on the 18th and 19th of October. Check out www.myspace.com/CORE_Series for more info.

Also in Queensland, the King of Dirt will be back again in 2008, presented by Moreton Bay Regional Council and CORE Operations. This year the event will be pushed back till the last weekend of November, the 29th and 30th, and will be at the same location as last year, only with the jumps being bigger and better. Check www.myspace.com/kingofdirtbmx for info.

FBMX are running the next chapter in the Spinal Disorder mini ramp series. This one will be at the Melbourne show on the 27th of September. Check the ad elsewhere in this issue or www.freestylebmx.org.au for more info, it’s going to be a big one.

The Melbourne North Western League skate and BMX Series is back this year with 10 comps to qualify you for the finals at Kensington in December. The dates are: Gisborne Sat 6th Sept, Diamond Creek Sat 13th Sept, Melton Sat 20th Sept, Northcote Sun 5th Oct, Epping Sat 18th Oct, Hoppers Crossing Sat 26th Oct, Greenvale Sat 8th Nov, Greensborough Sat 15th Nov, Deer Park Sat 29th Nov, Yarraville Sat 6th Dec, BMX Final Kensington Sat 14th Dec. Check www.skatepark.ymca.org.au for more info.

Identity BMX Clothing are holding a comp at Kiama skatepark on the 4th of October. There’s under 15’s, under 18’s, an open class, female class, best trick and a high jump comp.

Heaps of prizes giveaways and raffle’s.

Hit up www.myspace.com/identitybmxclothingco

18

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF

Sausage fest

IÕ ll be the first to say thanks to Ted from Mannum for hooking up the name on this one, because it pretty much made the flyer and everything went from there. This was one of AdelaideÕ s most hyped jams in recent memory and I guess it lived up to said hype. Story by James Wade On the day I rocked up early. God knows why, I think it’s because Beachy and myself were bored of sitting on the couch hungover. So anyway, I got there, waiting for some food.

Eventually Jase rocked up in the Vannette (what kind of a name is Vannette, by the way?) and smashed out some sausages. Personally I was stoked that we managed to co-ordinate getting a barbeque and sausages to the jam... that kind of thing is far beyond my own planning skills. Stubbs and I went halvies in a slab of draught to keep the crowd happy and well lubricated... Ok, I just threw up a little bit.

So anyway, the day was a blast. We had a few non serious competitions that are becoming more and more cliché for the average... long jump, highest hop... you know. The clincher of the day, in my opinion, was the high jump over the pizza hip. Stubbs, CMBMX, and Dishonour put down $50 each for the highest air. And you know what happened, a bunch of guys went ridiculously high. Mega props to Stubbs for thinking up the idea and putting down some hard earned dollars, it was definitely one of the day’s highlights. Jesse Bull won the comp, but it was pretty close between him, Rudd and Mozzy.

As the day wound down we cranked out another sausage sizzle, drank some beers and had a bit of a puff... Best way to end a great day. Thanks to everyone that came along, everyone that helped out with organising (Stubbs, Wheatie, Mozzie, Beachy, etc) and the days sponsors... CMBMX, Dishonour and Stowaway. Cheech mang!

Jesse easily taking the highest air of the day...

PHOTO James Wade

NZÕ s shop Revolution First of all tell us a little bit about yourselves?

Revolution is owned by Nathan Cadman and Sam Minnell. Nate has been riding for 5 years and Sam for 6, but Nate took an unplanned hiatus for a couple of years after being hit head on by a drunk driver. We are just a couple of riders who got sick of not being able to locate any decent BMX products in New Zealand that weren’t overpriced.

Revolution is the first real BMX dedicated shop in NZ, what gave you guys the idea to start the shop?

We had been travelling around a bit overseas, through Australia and the USA, and stopped through stores like Strictly BMX and Anchor in Melbourne. We also checked out the OG skatepark and store in Reno, Nevada among a few others. We thought that this is what NZ needs to be able to grow the scene and get some decent parts rolling round the country.

Can you give us a little bit of insight about Revolution?

We’re based in Christchurch. It’s a simple store, with a clean and easy layout, more of a hangout than a store really. We stock products from all the major suppliers in Australasia, including Kickassbmx, Triplesix, Stowaway and SR cycles. We have tried to cover the entire range of BMX so that people can get everything they want in NZ and don’t have to resort to mail order. The goals for the future of our store as we grow is to put something back into NZ BMX and help grow the scene, by running and supporting events round the country.

Interview & photos by Mike Davies big mail order companies, but also try and offer a better service and warranties that are recognized in the country.

Do you think that because there is finally a BMX shop in NZ, the market will change and riders will start to buy locally over mail order?

I think that eventually the market will change and people will see that all these products are available in NZ. You don’t have to wait a week or so to get them, and the service and support is local, so people will start seeing the benefit in buying locally.

What would you say the hardest part about owning Revolution is?

The hardest part in owning Revolution would definitely be the hours of work we have put in, working 7 days a week and not being able to ride as much anymore.

The focus product of Revolution is BMX, are there other products that you stock?

We stock some skate products, some fixed gear products and clothing, but the main focus is definitely BMX! We all know that BMX is a super tough industry, what would you say keeps you guys motivated?

It can be a super tough industry but what keeps us motivated is the fact that we love to ride and see people amped when they get their new rides built up.

The NZ BMX market is pretty small, what gave you guys the motivation to be the first to start a BMX shop?

Revolution must have been a tough project to get going, did you have any support or input from anyone other than yourselves?

The motivation and enthusiasm came from just doing something that we love! It’s not really work and we felt that we could make a difference and help NZ BMX as well as do something for a job that we find fun.

Actually the only support we really got was from Sam’s mother, everybody else was a little reserved on what we wanted to do until they actually saw the completed shop. So the input, ideas and support were really only just from us.

It seems like a lot of riders around NZ buy off shore from overseas mail order and so on, do you feel that mail order companies are a threat to Revolution?

Any last words or anyone you would like to thank?

A lot of people do buy from overseas, it is a constant battle and one that we have to deal with everyday. They are a threat but we try to make our prices as close as we can to the

20

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

Yeah thanks to everybody who has bought from us and supported us, it has been rad, also our shopfitter Glen, for pulling a miracle and getting our store open on time. Sam’s mum for all the support through the start up. I think that is that. Support your local stores!

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF Tom from Hell on Wheels personal lunch run Quad.

PHOTO Tony Nolan

Quad Loop what?

ItÕ s been 20+ years since this legendary frame was last produced. But if youÕ ve got a hankering for some old school flavour rejigged for the now, youÕ re in luck. SEÕ s legendary race/freestyle frame the Quadangle is available again.

The original SE Quadangle was created back in ‘79 as Stu Thompson’s signature bike. It was initially named the “STR-1”, short for “Stu Thompson Replica 1”. After some design changes it was given several new nicknames including the Quadangle and Loop Tail Quad. This version would be made from 1979 to 1982 before being updated into a newer non-loop tail design.

The frame would go through a few additional design changes in the following years and a new frame was created in 1984. SE used the newly designed Quadangle to address the rising popularity of the freestyle market by adding frame standers, a coaster brake mount and a steeper head tube. This would be become known as the

Freestyle Quad and was coupled with a new version of its custom Landing Gear fork called Standing Gear, complete with foot platforms on the crown. Sadly, this new version of the frame and fork would only be offered in 1984 and 1985.

From 1985 to 1994 the design remained untouched and by the late 90’s the frame was converted over to alloy from the original steel construction. A move which forever changed the aesthetic of the design. Some would argue, not for the better...

Aside from the limited edition bikes from DC, SE have a limited run of both 20 inch and 24 inch frames available here in Aus. So for a piece of history that keeps on giving, hit up your local bike shop and let ‘em know you’re keen.

Colour your world Ever had an itch to create some real art with your new complete build but couldnÕ t visualize how purple and green would go?

Well, wonder no longer. Strictly have been hard at work building an online bike builder allowing you to custom colour your virtual ride. Hit up their website and follow the links to colour co-ordinated custom bike colouring heaven. And if you’re lucky, company X will have released new anodized parts in that colour this week and Strictly will have ‘em in stock. Get busy sorting your Harald Kueppers colour harmonic inspired ride yo.

Ad while we’re on the Strictly tip, they’re are at it again on the video fornt. Look out for Ermz in Weapon and Ken Hells new club track called “Don’t stop movin”. Ermz also features with Lindsay Brown in a film clip for some random band riding girls bikes. And following that they put Vanshe onto Simon O’brien to feature in a film clip by Vanshe. Plus there will be another 2 clips featuring BMX for bands filming now. Strictly always known for having a tight clothing range now has added laces, sox wallets and a laptop stand? And keep an eye out for a collabaration shoe... Sputnics’ Chris Flagz has starting workin at Strictly. Rumor is Oolski-roc and Gonz (Melburn City Skull Fuckers) have started a new company. No doubt this will be interesting?

22

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF

Industry.au Rampfest

Melbourne is about to experience what might just be AustraliaÕ s finest indoor park very soon. And itÕ s also AustraliaÕ s first BMXÕ er owned and operated park. We catch up with Rampfests creator; Brett Williams to find out a little more.

First up, in a nutshell, what’s Rampfest all about?

Rampfest is now a reality of my dream. A fully indoor skate park that caters for BMX, inline, boarders and scooters. It is a unique park that has been personally built and designed to cater for all users.

Is the setup to cater for all level’s of riders?

What got you motivated to go and build your own indoor park?

I’ve had a passion for riding BMX since I was 12 years old. It played a large part in my life and as I’m getting older my passion for riding still lives on. Remembering to back when I was younger, it was always hard to find a decent place to pull decent tricks. So there was my motivation to build my own indoor park to enjoy and share with everyone else.

Resi’s and foam pits have been in short supply in Australia. Do you think they’ll attract a lot of attention?

The main hype has revolved around the foam pit and the resi. We have had a huge response already so it’s going to be crazy!

It is a huge commitment how did you get the $ together to get it underway?

Thanks to generous in-laws, family, friends and all their support and guidance to make my dream become a reality.

Finding a suitable place must have been a hard task, how long did it take?

Many countless nights of online searching for the right location. 6 months later brought me to where we are today, Braybrook. It was the perfect spot being so close to public transport.

Building an entire park from scratch is a massive job, what’s the process been?

The process started with a get together with the guys from Monster Skate Park in Sydney which gave me insight to the construction of the skate park. I was then left with the task of sourcing all the material needed to get the park started. I remember the first day I walked in there and cut my first piece of wood. It’s been non-stop since then, not long now guys!

From the initial idea, how long has it taken to get this far?

Overall it’s roughly taken just over 12 months to get Rampfest looking the way it does today.

From the sounds of it it’s one of the biggest carpentry jobs I’ve ever seen in Australia.

Who’s been involved with the build?

Myself, volunteers, enthusiasts, BMX’ers, and everyone else that’s helped out.

So what’s the layout consist of at Rampfest?

Rampfest is a fully ply floor indoor park which has a 7m x 5m foam pit. A box jump to quarter resi. A street spine, a vert wall, 10ft quarter, 10ft roll in. It also has a bowled corner with a banked curved wall ride, 6ft tranny with double bank wall, pocket corner wall ride, bank to bank section and a box jump, a double kink rail, double kink grind ledge, 4ft raised mini and heaps more tranny’s on decks. There is also a moveable jersey barrier and heaps more. Check the pics! Rampfest is designed so riders are able to free flow and utilize every aspect of the parks features.

24 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

It caters for all levels, although more so intermediate going onto professional level.

Rampfest will also provide the opportunity and accessibility for beginners to enhance and better their skills.

So, with you being a rider, the park is designed around BMX. That said, will you have skate and other sessions?

The park is designed to cater for all, allocated session times will apply, but I promise that BMX will never have less sessions than skaters. As most other skate parks we know, they’re designed around skate boarding, Rampfest is more designed for BMX, although everyone can utilize the park.

It seems Melbourne (and Australia) has been long overdue for a world class indoor park, why do you think it’s taken so long?

That’s a hard question to answer, either in the past others didn’t have the talent or passion for it, or maybe didn’t think there was a need for it. I really don’t know, but I do know Rampfest will change that!

Over the years there’s been a few parks around the country, most of which went bust through not letting anyone else but skaters in, what’s your take on this?

Everyone is involved in Rampfest, scooters, inline, mountain bikes, BMX, skateboarding. I don’t see why other talented participants out there should be put aside and limited to the use of what we have to offer. As I mentioned before, I’ve built this for everyone to enjoy.

And what kind of session times are you going to have?

The skate park will be open from 9am to 9pm 7 days a week and throughout the day we will be holding 3 blocks of 4 hour sessions, including mixed sessions and other devoted sports sessions.

And the big question, when’s the opening date?

The date has now been set for the 30th of August to the public, although on the 29th we will be holding a VIP night for BMX...

And so the riders of Aus can enjoy the awesome transitions you’ve been constructing, how do they get in touch with you and/or find where you are?

You can log on to Rampfest’s website at rampfest.com.au for all direction and location details, alternatively you could email us or call Rampfest on 03 9311 3998.

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF

G land* jam

*Grafton

With Withtwo twoweeks weeksschool schoolholidays holidaystotopick pickup uptheir theirskills, skills,riders ridersfrom fromNSW NSW Northern NorthernRivers Riverswere wereready readyfor forthe theEastern EasternG-land G-landjam jamheld heldononSunday Sunday 20th 20thJuly JulyininGrafton.

Grafton.

Story Brock Beadman Storyby and photos

by Brock Beadman The comp was a follow up from the Bent Fork Fest held in January this year which was great for Grafton as we hadn’t seen anything like it here for years. After six years without a comp it was great to see how many people came to ride and spectate. So, the July comp was set to be even bigger than the last event. Around 40 riders covering all the ages from 5 to 20 came to compete and close to 150 spectators to watch. People came from all over the Clarence Valley and from as far away as Tamworth and Port Macquarie.

By the time we had the tent, banners and everything set up, it was time to ride. Everyone had warmed up and were shredding. The youngest rider, Hugh Grainger, who is 5 years old, was trying foot jams and heelclickers on the flat, while Jon Kearns was throwing massive tuck no hander flips over the jump box. It was good to see that riders came and signed up for the G-land Jam, so almost everyone with a bike competed.

First up were the ten and unders with Hugh doing his foot jams and Cooper Fuller doing x-ups over the street spine. Next up were the 11 to 14’s with Curtis Hockey doing nice lawn mowers on the four foot quarter and manuals to foot jams. Joe Browning was throwing down tail whips and some 180 turndowns.

With the 15 to 18’s up next in the Jam format things were set to be big and they were. With Ethan Gavenlock throwing out flip turndowns and no handed front jams, this kid went crazy on his bike and got a clean double tailwhip over the hip and first place for his age group. Also in the 15 to 18’s Nick Young was throwing out big superman’s over the jump box and a tailwhip over the double coping spine.

In the opens there was a good level of riding, with huge airs and double tail whips getting thrown down. Jon Kearns took the win with flip no handers and almost landed a 360 backflip, he just couldn’t get the last bit of the 360. Ethan Gavenlock took second with front jams, can jams, whip lashes, a double tail whip over the hip again and huge flip turndowns. That kid looked energetic and wanted to ride more.

TOP//Ethan Gavenlock ABOVE//Jack Gibbson from Port Macquarie PHOTOS Brock Beadman

There were some great prizes on offer with a complete bike from Eastern won by Ethan in the 15 to 18’s. Jon Kearns won a nice Mankind Asadi frame in the opens and Lawson Ney won a Fuse complete bike from Grafton City Cycles, the bike shop that helped get the comp started in Grafton. With the comp over the park filled with riders ready to jam and already planning for the next Grafton comp in January 2009.

Paradise City Australian Tour

Since having finished our tour of Brasil, I was itching to get back in the theatre to tour Australia. To showcase BMX to a different genre of people and overall to just have fun doing something different on my bike.

Story by Simon OÕ Brien It was a ten and a half week tour which started at the Sydney theatre (in the Rocks) for a week of rehearsal. We used this time to get back into the groove of things, change a few scenes and looked at making the show flow together better.

The start of the second week saw us fly to Brisbane where we performed at the Powerhouse on the river for a week. This was a really cool venue and it was great to be in Brisbane to ride and catch up with friends. The third week saw us visiting Darwin first for a few days, it was really warm and humid but very nice. Darwin is a fairly quiet city. I found some really amazing surrounding national parks and waterholes. We then flew on to Alice Springs.

We did good shows here and had big crowds, roughly five hundred a show. There was a decent skate park and a good crew of riders. A mate, Ash Stanton, drove a few of us out to Ayers Rock one night, accidentally hitting four kangaroos on the way... So many out there!

Checking the sunrise on the rock was awesome! It’s a massive rock and moves through so many colours!

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF

We headed to Adelaide for the fourth week which ended up being a lot of fun.

We did great shows at the Festival Centre and spent some time with the local BBoy crew. Week five and six was spent west in Perth. I found the city expensive and staying in the cities King’s Cross equivalent meant something was usually happening. The night life there was pretty hectic with lot’s of tourists. It was also a really nice theatre venue, quite compact. At the end of week five our BBoy Lamaroc injured his knee so he was replaced by Carlo for three weeks, Carlo had performed on So you think you can dance and his sister Demi was runner up in the contest or something. Shaun Jarvis was kind enough to show me around and drive me and the shows skater; Pete out to Wave Rock, that is also an amazing rock! So cool! We then flew to Melbourne for the seventh week. The weather had been great up until then. The North Melbourne Town Hall was a really old venue and the audiences were great. This was a busy week with the shows, chillin’ with riders and an awesome party after the weeks last show which was also the after party for the BGirl world championship, which went on that day in Melbourne. On the eighth week, we drove to Albury for two shows and a couple of days before heading onto Wollongong for three shows. I enjoyed this stop a lot, it was great to be back on the NSW coast. We also did great shows here and the audiences were around five hundred again. We didn’t have to travel far to Sydney for the next stage at ‘Carriage Works’ in Redfern. We were here for two weeks and it was a great time. The audiences weren’t too big as it is a new venue, but a really nice one (heritage listed building). For the final shows, we performed at Casula, another new venue, The Casula Powerhouse. We were only here for a few days and this wrapped up the tour. Good times!

All up, it was great catching up with everyone, meeting new people, traveling Australia, doing something different with my bike and just generally having a great fun trip. Thanks to all the riders who supported the show!

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF Gerldton Brad fast planting in true Voelker fashion.

Manji jam

Canberra is 3800km away from Manjimup by road, but through the wonders of BMX these two locations have a bond...

Story by Shaun Jarvis Manjimup, or as the locals call it “Manji”, is a small town about 300km south of Perth.

About 4000 people call Manjimup home including a bunch of BMX riders. One in particular is named Jon Graham and Jon, like most of us, loves to pedal his bike around.

Manjimup is also the home of an old rampage park made up of crappy semi portable ramps that are not the best to ride. These ramps sprung up all over the state a few years ago with councils seeing it as an easy option to the new ‘youth sports craze’ but it has now left many country riders with shit ramps to ride. A lot of country riders want better skateparks, but councils need to have large budgets to get good parks built, and they don’t always have that money in their budget. Jon wanted to raise awareness of the sub standard park so he gained council approval to host a jam.

Back Bone BMX, located in Canberra, has been open for a few years now. I contacted Rhys at Back Bone to ask why he supported the Manjimup jam. “When we were just starting up it was tough, sometimes we had not made a sale all week, but then the guys in Manjimup would put a large order in and it would kinda save us with getting the weekly sales to keep the shop rolling. Those guys in Manjimup supported Back Bone from the start so it’s only fair to offer them some support back” So with council approval, the support of a shop 3800km away and with Freestyle Now bringing in extra ramps, the jam in Manji was set to go.

“Why go to Manjimup, that park is shit” was what many riders said to me when I told them about the jam. My reply was “it’s not all about the park and how good it is, it’s about supporting a bunch of locals who are trying to do something about that shit park.

It’s about hanging out with riders who live in a small town and don’t normally get the chance to have what the dudes in the city have”. Many riders did trek down for the day though. Some riders came from Perth but the riders who got the most props were from

Geraldton, they had to travel over 700km to get there. Many riders came from the local districts like Nannup, Bridgetown and some from Busselton.

The day was run really casual with DJ Mike spinning some good tracks and the Freestyle Now ramps being put to full use in conjunction with the existing ramps. The day consisted of mini comps on the different ramp configurations being set up during the day. This meant the riders had a variety of stuff to hit up and kept the day fresh. The stand out riders were noted and then at the end of the day each rider received a prize.

Kim from Nannup used his walking stick as a height pole for the jumpers over the jump box. Brad from Busselton boosted the hip set up with some sweet clicked turndowns. Dylan from Geraldton was transferring 180 over the same hip and he also got large props for the no hand foot jam to fakie on the volcano set up. Geraldton Brad hit up the small quarter with some fresh tailwhips. Gumby from Bridgetown was there to show everyone how much fun you can have on your bike and it was good to see Kila stoked to be there too. He really enjoyed the tight mini set up and claimed that to be the most fun of the day. Kila also put in some product for prizes as well. Thanks dude.

Pav had fun and put his bike on the line while trying a 360 flip over the jump box, the end result after a few goes, was a stuffed back hub. Small price to pay for a large trick.

Morgan from Geraldton threw down a barrel roll to pedal grind on the landing ramp. The pedal grind was by accident though but it was still pulled and claimed as the banger of the day. This, along with his other riding antics this scored him a united squad frame for his efforts.

I just got off the phone to Jon and he said that he is planning to run another jam in February or March and will make it an annual event. Thanks to all who made the day great and see ya in Manji next year.

FUEL TV. 24/7 Action Sports Television BMX on FUEL TV in august 10 CoUNT Friday 8th @ 5:55pm: Today’s Best all-round BMX riders.

10 CoUNT Monday 11th @ 5:55pm: Best BMX Park riders.

10 CoUNT Tuesday 12th @ 5:55pm: Today’s Best BMX vert riders.

10 CoUNT Thursday 14th @ 5:55pm: Best in Street BMX riders.

ProPS Friday nights at 8:30pm ACTioN SPorTS ToUr Wendy’s Invitational LIVE and EXCLUSIVE Sunday 23rd @ 6am and Monday 24th @ 6am.

SEPTEMBER

ACTioN SPorTS ToUr: Toyota Challenge - LIVE and EXCLUSIVE. Sunday 14th @ 4.00am and Monday 15th @ 6.00am LG ACTioN SPorTS ChAmPioNShiP Tuesday’s @ 11:30am 10 CoUNT Sunday 28th @ 5:30pm; Today’s best all-round BMX riders.

And remember...

Did someone say LIVE AST? Awesome

www.fueltv.com.au

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF

Welcome to the Ice Age

Canberra in winter time is normally not one for the faint hearted, although on the 7th of June people flocked from around the country to help celebrate my birthday but more importantly to ride and have good time with mates. Weston Creek was the venue, it was a nice day for Canberra and so it made it all the more easy for riders to shred to their hearts content.

Words by Zac Miner I remember looking over and seeing Ben Pigot blasting Weston’s bowls 9 foot and doing all the usual moves with the style and finesse that he is known for, he is seriously untouchable! The Focal Point and Last Chapter crews made the long hall from Melbourne and made full use of the shady slanted wall which I built just days before. Fink defiantly rode hard too and broke it in good. It sucked to see DJ injured, but full credit to the guy rocking up in a bathrobe and with beer in hand.

That was defiantly one the highlights of the day.

With it being the Queens birthday long weekend, it meant that you were able to buy fireworks and blow shit up. This was the sole reason that I was only lucky enough to see Dan Baker for an hour. A small crew made it down from Sydney for a bash, along with the coast kids. Luke Gorecki most defiantly did an old school no hander to another old school no hander in the one air, that was amazing!

The Colony team made it down, with the likes of Millar, Nick Richardson, Mick Bayzand and the Phantom (Liam Fahy-Hampton), which were also there to film a web video and shoot some stills. And of course there was a bunch of Canberra locals that turned up to make it even more of an event.

Back Bone BMX Bikes At The Basin The Edge Cycles Beyond Bikes Camden Discount Cycles Bikes In Byron Bike Trax BMX Mafia Hawkesbury Cycles Hell on Wheels JR Cycles Kidsons Cycles Lifecycles Monster Skatepark Morgan Street Cycles Rainbow Cycles The Push Bike Factory Tippo’s Cycles South Side BMX Warzone Bikes Spokes NT The Broken Spoke Ultimate Ride Ipswich Cycles Certified Action Sports Corry Cycles Crossley Cycles Cycle Scene For the riders For the riders Ride On 99 Bikes The Grind Totally Spoked Bernie Jones Cycles CM BMX Hittin’ the street Ramp 2 Ramp Anchor BMX Bears Bikes Bears Bikes Pakenham BMX MAD Connections BMX Crossover Cycle Diavolo Cycles Greensborough Cycles Logans Cycles Pau’ls Cycles Push N Pedal Cycles Swan Hill Bikes and Trikes Crank N Cycles Georges Bike Shop KD Cycles

30 ISSUE 28 APRIL 2008

Shop 6 Fisher Square, Fisher Shop 5/10 Paradise Beach Rd, Sanctuary Point 39/41 Pacific Hwy, West Gosford 10/335 Hillsborough Road, Warners Bay 184 Argyle Street, Camden 145 Byron Street, Inverell 47 Vincent Street, Cessnock 242 Victoria Road, Gladesville 6 West Market St, Richmond 463 King Street, Newtown 22 Scarba Street, Coffs harbour 107 Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga 2/20 Riley Street, Penrith Grand Parade, Sydney Olympic Park 53A Morgan Street, Wagga Wagga 3/24 Isles Drive, North Boambee Valley 2/11 Mill Road, Campbelltown 67 Meroo Street, Bomaderry 3/41 Deering Street, Ulladulla 43 East Parade, Sutherland 4/5c Georgina Cres, Yarrawonga 10 Gap Road, Alice Springs Shop 2, 2 Ghan Road, Alice Springs 233B Brisbane Street, Ipswich 2 / 47 Shields Street, Cairns 118A Sydney Street, Mackay 51 Cambridge Pde, Manly Shop 9, Helensvale Plaza, Helensvale 2/2 Central Court, Browns Plains 652 Ipswitch Road, Annerley 140 Boundary Street, West End 2930 Logan Rd, Underwood 3/42 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin 239 Brisbane Street, Ipswich 239 Diagonal Road, Warradale 598 Regency Road, Broadview 49B Bridge Street, Murray Bridge Shop 5 Chaffey Colonades, Renmark 75 Johnston Street, Collingwood 62 High Street, Cranbourne Shop 45 Pakenham Plaza, Pakenham 116 Boronia Road, Boronia 5A High Street, Eaglehawk 118 Graham Street, Wonthaggi 36 Chute Street, Diamond Creek 167 Para Road, Greensborough 55 Percy Street, Portland Shop 16, Eltham Mall, Eltham 384 Raymond Street, Sale 73 McCallum Street, Swan Hill 35-37 Steere Street, Collie 8/511 Wanneroo Road, Balcatta 9 Kent Street, Rockingham

02 6288 5186 02 4443 3777 02 4321 1566 02 4950 4616 02 4655 7408 02 6721 5999 02 4990 1271 02 9879 7000 02 4578 1314 02 9519 2312 02 6652 4962 02 6921 4474 02 4721 0500 1300 720 611 02 6921 6629 02 6651 5943 02 4625 4537 02 4422 1009 0405 074 843 02 9545 2979 08 8931 3111 08 8953 8744 08 8953 7297 07 3281 6985 07 4041 4098 07 4944 1157 07 3393 3470 07 5529 9533 07 3809 0222 07 3843 5981 0410 464 130 07 3341 7444 07 5598 4445 07 3202 4208 08 8296 9652 08 8261 4339 08 8531 2266 08 8586 6556 03 9495 6338 03 5996 7924 03 5941 2998 03 9762 5210 03 5446 1110 03 5672 2270 03 9438 6969 03 9435 0833 03 5523 3056 03 9439 1481 03 5143 1233 03 5033 2032 08 9734 1471 08 9344 2393 08 9529 1655

Thomas Glew throwing a little X factor//Micheal harris ISSUE 25 JUNE 007

33

Everyone rode awesome and with most things BMX, the majority of people were wasted by 5 o’clock. Thank you to everyone that made the trip to make my birthday special.

Happy Birthday Zac! PHOTO Nic Gascoine

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

33

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF Civic fence slap for the crew.

PHOTO Morrisey

The long haul

As I sit in a chair after getting surgery done to my hip, I have a lot of time to waste. I have been riding since I was 12 years old and I think back to what it was like then compared to now. I have seen the older generation that I looked up to so much when I started, either move away from BMX all together or focus on staying a part of the lifestyle of what this sport is all about.

Story by Puni Some have started families and have kids and cut their lawn for enjoyment, some have moved on to big paying jobs and buy expensive clothes and drive fancy cars.

A couple have made it big in the world of professional riding and some who just can’t physically ride any more due to injuries or getting old and their body cannot take the abuse. Then there are the ones who start a BMX shop, clothing company, bike company or magazine etc.

The one thing I have noticed from my knowledge and seeing all of the above happen to people around me, is that the ones that have moved on and don’t ride anymore just don’t seem as happy or regret stopping riding in the first place and find it very hard to get back into the sport. The ones who can’t ride due to injuries or are just too old always think back to the good times they had on their bike and you can see the enjoyment that they got out of it because they are smiling while talking or thinking about it. The ones who have stayed a part of riding in one way or another, have smiles on their faces, good friends around them and seem to be happy with what they are doing to support the industry, which they respect and love so much.

So I think about what riding means to me as I face a few of the above demons myself. I am 27 years old and have been riding and abusing my body for about 15 years now. I have had 2 major operations to my left knee, which has had me limping for about 6 years and I face another operation in the next 6 months. I also have just had a hip operation, which I am recovering from while writing this. As you get older, there are different things that you face or become pretty important and sometimes riding has to take a back seat in some situations. I am engaged to my girlfriend of 5 years, we rent a house just like everybody else, I have lawns to cut, dogs to feed, food to cook, bills to pay, along with everything else that is involved with life. With doctors telling me to give up riding and move on and the fact that I am getting older and my body is definitely not the same as the 18 year olds out there killing it, I still refuse to give away the passion for riding and the lifestyle that comes with it. Sure I am moving on in life, want to succeed, make more money and buy nice things, but the fact is that

34 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

none of those things can replace the feeling or satisfaction that I get from riding my bike. I have met the best people and made the closest friendships due to riding and have seen things that I would have never seen if I didn’t ride.

There is nothing like waking up on a beautiful day, calling your friends to meet up somewhere, go riding and experience being outdoors learning new things and just enjoying yourself with others who do it for the same reason. Whether it be riding your local skate park just for a chilled out session to relax and have fun, riding nice trails in the middle of some forest somewhere with only your closest mates around and just flowing through the sets, riding street, searching and finding something you have never rode before, or riding at a comp and pushing yourself and your limits to the fullest and achieving something you didn’t think you could do. All of this is done with smiles on faces and pure joy for what all of us love to do so much.

When you have been riding for what seems a long time, you find yourself starting to slow down in terms of pushing yourself and putting your body on the line, but for me, I have found more passion than ever for riding. I respect it so much more and want to ride more then ever now knowing that I may not be able to much longer. In some cases, you may not be able to keep up with all the insane tricks these days, but to me none of that matters anymore. I live for just the pure enjoyment of how my bike makes me feel. When I’m riding nothing else matters in the world, there are no bills to pay, no lawns to mow, no cleaning up, no job to go to and nothing to stress about. All that matters is the freedom I have at that very moment.

BMX has been a part of my life for 15 years now and all I know is one thing, it’s been the best 15 years so far and there is still a lot more I have to give for the sport.

I know there’s a lot more it has to offer me and the great people involved with riding as well.

So I will recover from surgery and get back on my bike and enjoy every moment it has to give, till the day I cannot physically ride anymore, but I know that riding will always be a part of who I have become and the path that is before me.

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF Devin Parker picking the hell out of one well abandoned mini.

PHOTO Raine Turnbull

Destination: Queenstown

Thinking of jetting to somewhere different for a while? Words by Devin Parker

In 1862 Thomas Arthur kicked off a huge gold rush, when he discovered large amounts of gold in the Shotover river located in the lower South Island of New Zealand. It turned out to be one of the richest gold bearing rivers in the world and eventually led to the establishment of Queenstown (a town fit for the Queen).

Today Queenstown is the centre of tourism in NZ with Bungy jumping, Jet boating, Ski fields and 24/7 nightlife line the edges of Lake Wakatipu and its huge mountain views. Now amongst all the tourists and adventure is a small group of BMX riders. A fun loving bunch that do their best to enjoy everything that Qtown has to offer. With a newly completed skatepark, dirt jumps on Gorge Road, skateparks at Arrowtown and Wanaka within an hours drive, there is plenty to keep us busy. Dan, Kris and Brett Frew have built (with the help of some dedicated people) an awesome place to escape the tourist resort to chill and have fun. Located 1 and a half hours south of Qtown with big motorcross jumps, 50 track and BMX dirt jumps, an indoor (woolshed) skatepark and foam pit, plus being under lights for late night sessions, many a weekend is spent down there.

The number of riders fluctuates on a monthly basis as Qtown is a holiday destination many riders travel through but some, amazed by the lifestyle stay longer than planned and become apart of the family. It’s the humor of riders like Brad Greenslade and the motivation to ride of Brett Frew and Ricky Stewart that makes living in Qtwn so much fun.

I don’t know why but there is always someone injured here... Whether its biking, snowboarding or stumbling out of a taxi! Queenstown is like an alternative reality where everyone is on holiday and there is no such thing as weekends, because everyday is lived like a weekend here.

36

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF

Indestructible?

Everyone who rides has had their fair share of injuries, unfortunately most of us will inevitably break a bone. Out of the 206 bones in our body one of them seems to be a fairly common one to break amongst riders, the scaphoid.

Story by Michael Harris The scaphoid is a little bone about the size of a peanut shell within the wrist joint.

It’s basically a ball bearing joint holding your hand to your arm. Because this bone is inside the wrist joint and covered with muscles and tendons, if you break it the muscles do a pretty good job of hiding the pain and it just feels like a sprained wrist… And so begin the problems.

If you are one of the lucky ones, the bone will heal up no problems, it might even heal up properly without you ever knowing you have broken it.

The next group of lucky people are the ones who break it and end up in a cast for 6 weeks, it sucks but it could always be worse. After spending more than a month going insane with your arm in plaster you would expect that everything has healed up fine.

For most people everything goes to plan and it’s smiles all round, but this little bone often causes one problem after another.

For some reason the scaphoid has a backwards blood flow so if it’s broken one half isn’t going to get any blood and that’s going to cause avascular necrosis.

Big medical words aside, avascular necrosis means that the bone dies from not getting any blood, it dries out, crumbles and destroys your wrist.

After 6 weeks in a cast this is the last thing you want to hear and the next words out of the doctor’s mouth are usually ‘we have to operate’. This will require taking a bone graft and filling the break with fresh bone then putting a screw right through the middle of the whole thing to hold it together and restore normal function to the bone and wrist.

Breaking my scaphoid was a 10 month pain in the arse (or wrist as the case may be) from the first pain in my wrist to hopping back on the bike. For some of my friends it has been 6 weeks in a cast with no problems and even one mate who shattered his instantly, along with dislocating his wrist and crushing his carpal tunnel nerve which obviously needed immediate surgery.

The lesson here is that if you think you have sprained your wrist and it’s still not better 5 weeks later… something is obviously wrong and you should get it checked out and save yourself a world of frustration.

WA Trails Finally there are some new trails being set up in WA. Where? Down in Pingelly about 150km from Perth.

Chris Jones has got it together and with some help built some large piles of dirt. Yeah it’s a bit far to travel to hit up but it’s worth the trip. With the sets at about 6ft tall and a nice rollin off a water tank he’s got ‘em at about 25ft for the first set, 22ft second and the last a 19ft step up. It’s hard in west oz if you’re a trail rider as there aren’t many trails to really hit up. Chris has been talking about this set up over the last year and now it’s a reality. Other locals are ripping ‘em up and he’s keen for any other riders to hook up and ride ‘em as well. This is what Western Australia needs right now as trails seem to have died off lately but here’s hoping for a great resurrection.

38

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

THE LOWDOWN NEWS & STUFF Josh Stricker getting to know our Eucalyptus varieties.

PHOTO Gorak

S&M downunder I think the best way is to get Johnnie Walker to tell the story...

“Born on the first morning of the Australian S&M tour, I quickly became part of the team as they filmed parts for ‘The Best BMX Video Ever!’ Josh was the father who found me and took me on board to show me the true ways of life! He is one crazy pop! Every night of the trip he’d show me how to enjoy myself. During the days, the long days, he made me stay at the apartment to wash the dishes and tidy the place up while he and the rest of the team, including Matt Beringer, Cameron Wood and Jordan (filming), would venture outside into the Melbourne city jungle to jump down stairs, over libraries and all over town! They’d come home in the evening and tell me tales of rocking up late to almost every store appearance and splitting legs open, to 3 fingered tour guides and countless bars! There were stories of old skate parks under threat of demolition and dirt lips that aimed straight up a tree! I heard that whilst out with some locals they hunted down a kangaroo, but only managed to get a glimpse. “Not to worry” they told me, as the “people we all met on the trip made up for it!”

Johnnie Walker is a porcelain doll found on Josh’s journey back to the apartment one morning. He saw many things and we’re all proud of what he put up with!

Thanks to the boys at S&M for making the effort to find Australia, all the stores that put up with us and to Elite Cycle Imports for helping them pay for it and for letting me join in!

Candy apples?

Sputnic have released their latest signature frame creation in the Devils favourite shade...

Well, if not the Devil’s number one colour then at least Johnny Devlin, as it’s his signature frame. 4130 Sanko chromoly tubing with double butted down tube and chain stays. Short 20.3” through to 20.6” and 21” are available, they run a 75° head tube and weigh in at a respectable 2.11 kg for the 20.6”. You do the math on the conversion to pounds, although I’ve gone and done lengths in inches. They do their Playback cranks in a matching Translucent Blood Red as well, so get yourself co-ordinated through the crew at Abyss distribution.

PHOTO Tony Nolan

40

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

THE LOWDOWN FIRST THINGS FIRST

First things...

Steve McCann

First Pro you saw ride?

This might sound funny but.. When I was like 10 or 11, I remember sneaking down to the BMX track one night to watch part of the racing. And there was this guy riding, (who I had no idea at the time who it was) who did a 360 over the doubles into the corner. So anyway years later I’m on Mongoose, talking to Fuzzy Hall who tells me he rode Lalor BMX track and it was him who 360’d that jump into the corner... Pretty funny hey.

First comp?

That would have to be at The Shed, which at the time was the only indoor park in Melbourne.

First Pro comp?

I guess that would have been the 99 X Games on the Gold Coast. That was such an awesome week.

Barspinner Ryan was there and Taj and then I broke my collar bone... That wasn’t so awesome.

First trip OS? Was in 2000, and I was only there for about 3 months till I got broke off again..

First photo in a mag?

First US Mag photo was in BMX plus. And it was a flip from the racing worlds inside the Glasshouse in Melbourne. I finished second behind Todd Lyons at that contest.

First trick?

Was the no footer for me... And I can still do them.. hahhahah First bike?

Was a Diamond back Viper, that bike was killed on a daily basis.

First injury?

Was my collar bone.. and it was in New York City of all places...

First car?

Was a VS Commodore. But the first car I drove around before the VS was a Gemini wagon.

First sponsor?

Strictly BMX, Mark rules!

First BMX paycheck?

That was Oakley. But I had gotten paid for demo’s, I’m not sure if that counts. First BMX company pay check was from Mongoose.

First job?

It was a paper round, which didn’t last long at all...

First road trip?

Was to Adelaide, for a dirt jumping contest. Where I meet Kym Grosser and Mick Bayzand.

Steve has been on a mission as of late and reckons he’s riding better than ever. Living at Woodward and riding daily with the likes of Bestwick and Kagy will do that to you! A big third in Vert and a 720 attempt over a 70 foot gap at the recent Xgames is a testament to that.

PHOTO Kosman

42

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

First BMX vid you saw?

Head first!

First time you realised BMX was the shit?

It was probably when I jumped off a gutter for the first time, back when I was real young.

REFORMIST FLAT YO!

Down Underground

BMX is really healthy in Australia right now. We have rider run jams, small comps, large comps and events, along with Australian riders and companies making their way throughout the world. Words by Shaun Jarvis One discipline of BMX seems to go a bit unnoticed to the average young “im just getting into the sport, what do I do” rider. Other forms of BMX are hard, but with flatland, the level of frustration and discipline in the riding can be very intimidating to many riders. Most young riders turn up to the skatepark with their mates, follow the crew to the streets and trails and then maybe go to a council run comp and then they are hooked. But how does a new rider get into flatland. Where do they start? There is nothing at a grass roots level promoting flatland nation wide. Well that’s all about to change. Down Underground will be a national competition series run to help expose riders to competitions and plant the seed for flatland to have a steady growth.

Down Underground will be hosted in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane over the sunshine months. The organizing crew is Paul Chamberlain, Ali Finlay, Shaun Jarvis and Todd Halford, along with a yet to be named rider in Brisbane. Each of these riders will be responsible for the comp in their state to ensure the local scene is active and conscious of the growth. “It’s only polite. I wouldn’t go into my neighbour’s yard and have a barbecue.

From this moment on it will always be promoted from a grass roots level. We will create an atmosphere where riders of all abilities are equally important.” says Paul Chamberlain.

The series will be primarily an amateur competition as not many riders in oz are at a world class pro level. All riders will be accommodated though with the inclusion of a

beginner and expert class. The competitions will naturally be small to start with but as the saying goes “if you build it they will come”. By being responsive to the riders needs it will enable the series to grow with the riders. Each comp will be run the way the local organizer wants it to be. This way each comp will seem different, but will have the same outcome.

Competitions breed fast progression. If you want to go well in a comp you need to have your game on. This is prevalent in many parts of the world such as in Europe, where riders tend to progress more quickly as there are many competitions for riders to go to.

In Australia, we only have the BMX Games. The Down Underground series will not only encourage new riders but will also help push existing riders to excel in new tricks and promote fast progression “If we take charge of the events it places us in a prime position for moving forward.” Ali Finlay The dates of the series are yet to be confirmed but Perth will host round one in “the wild west” in November. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will follow. To get more information about the series log onto www.flatlandaustralia.com The Down Underground series hopes to eventually progress to a stage where it will entice riders from over the world to attend, so that riders of all importance will be able to gather together and share the one common bond that unites us all, having fun on our bikes.

Keep an eye on the pages of 2020 for coverage of all the comps this year.

Shaun getting busy far from this 80’s moves Miami namesake when not getting more than a little proactive in promoting the flat experience.

44 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

PHOTO Digital Shutterspeed

REFORMIST FLAT YO!

Gleaming the Cube was one of the best 80’s movies by far. Come 2008, Shane is doing his own gleaming.

PHOTO Nitai

Gleaming the Cube

Well, maybe just some questions with Shane Badman about his new signature ride.

The Cube is Colony’s first flatland offering, are you stoked to be the inspiration/rider behind the Cube?

Absolutely! When Clint and I first talked about coming onto the team and the possibilities that could happen from that I was stoked! It was great to know that Colony really wanted to offer something to the flatland world and that I could support them in some way to achieve that. Flatland has been the main focus in my life for so long, it kind of seemed surreal that it was Clint I used to hit up for trick ideas when I first started at 14 and now I ride on the Colony team!

So what does a good flatland frame require according to Shane Badman?

The key thing for me was function. I really wanted to ride something that I could feel had the right amounts of room, suitable geometry, a sensible weight and could take punishment. We also felt it was important that we keep the basic shape of a traditional BMX frame while we refined it to our preferences.

Run us through the vital specifications, angles, tt and cs lengths, weight.

74.5 HT, 72.0 ST, 18.0 and 18.85 TT, 13.0 CS, weight as tested 1,716 grams or 3.9lbs, full post heat treated, Colonized CrMo tubing, internal headset, spanish BB, removable brake mounts and hardware, 10mm drop outs with 14mm cutting lines and lifetime warranty to original owner against breakage.

The frame shape, is it based around your riding or specific styles?

The shape is based loosely around my riding style, but also helps to give the rider the maximum amount of room possible when moving over the top tube or under the down tube. I do a lot of jumping switches, so having the extra room not only makes things a little easier, but also gives you more options for other moves. It’s also very well balanced from front to rear giving it excellent stability, something that helps if you run front brakes, rear brakes or no brakes at all!

Do you see some flatland frame designs going too far from the traditional BMX idea?

Each to their own, but I’d have to say yes. I still like my bike to at least look like a BMX even though we may not generally ride it like one! I see that a lot of companies are really pushing the design concept, but sacrificing frame quality and strength to achieve this. I don’t think it’s right selling a frame that’s only going to last a few months before it breaks.

How long has the Cube been in the development stage?

Colony and I started talking about the idea just under a year ago. I put some thoughts and drawings down on paper and working with their design team, the Cube gradually evolved. I had a fairly clear idea of what I wanted, but didn’t know too much about the other side of the process so it was a good learning curve for me. From there Clint quickly arranged a prototype batch and got one sent over to me for testing when I was living in England. I’m still riding that original prototype now with zero problems I’m proud to say!

46 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

What does the process involve? Prototypes, riding, re-proto?

The process with Colony is clinical. The guys know exactly what to do and how to go about it from a production angle, we just had to work together to develop the concept.

In my head I had a fairly clear idea of what I was looking for and it was just a case of working together towards the final product. After the design team had constructed the drawings and we were all in agreement, the plans were sent off to Taiwan for production of the prototypes. Having it arrive a month or so later on my doorstep was an awesome moment and I can remember putting it together and taking it out for the first ride. Literally it was exactly what we’d designed and expected so it was good, there were no surprises!

How far removed is the original proto to the finished product?

With Colony always working on new technologies, innovation and manufacturing techniques, Clint and I looked at ways that we could include that into the frame for the final product. We decided to redesign the dropouts slightly, utilizing a new production method that makes the connection points seamless and as much out of the way as possible. Other than that, the production model will resemble my current ride.

Where did you look for inspiration?

I like the way a traditional BMX frame looks. We agreed to keep it along those lines but still making it as functional as possible, reflecting how advanced flatland today has become.

I know you’re tough on bikes being that your riding is at mach 5, does that mean people can expect the Cube to be one tough mother?

Definitely… After being burnt over the years by other products that just don’t last, we were determined to create something that would take punishment, but not necessarily look or feel like a tank. Clint knew about the problems I’d had in the past with breaking frames and parts so it was reassuring to know that Colony had some very unique ways of manufacturing that improved overall strength and rigidity, but didn’t detract from the frame’s strength. As an example, the frame uses specific tubing, is fully post heat-treated with excellent welds and connection points and comes with a Lifetime Warranty to the original owner!

And colour options? What’s the deal?

The Cube will be available in an impressive collection of colours including lighter black (which is a kind of black electroplate), white, grey, tangerine, fluro yellow and bloody black.

And when can the flat crew get their hands on one?

August 2008 is the initial release with batch number 2 due in October 2008, all available through your favourite BMX shop.

Daniel Donges Smoking the Pipe

photo by

Nic Gascoine

Metalhead

seatÊ clampÊ andÊ cutÊ outÊ seatÊ tube,Ê internalÊ ChromolyÊ topÊ andÊ downÊ tubes,Ê EasternÊ fullÊ chromolyÊ fork,Ê 8Ó Ê bars,Ê integratedÊ LiteÊ 25TÊ sprocket,Ê RearÊ 36Ê holeÊ doubleÊ wallÊ headsetÊ &Ê SpanishÊ BB,Ê EasternÊ 3pcÊ heatÊ treatedÊ RaptorÊ cranks,Ê MedusaÊ LB9-IIÊ BirectionalÊ 9Ê toothÊ hub,Ê removableÊ rime,Ê ,Ê EasternÊ PinnerÊ seat,Ê EasternÊ grips,Ê pegsÊ andÊ ChokerÊ stem,Ê EasternÊ detanglerÊ tabs,Ê 20.5Ó Ê TT.Ê Colour:Ê RedÊ orÊ Black

CHECK THESE EASTERN DEALERS OUT FOR ALL YOUR EASTERN 20INCH NEEDS...

AustrAliAn cApitAl territory

BAck Bone BMX 02 6288 5186 MAl-Adjusted Bicycle eXchAnge 02 6230 0169

new south wAles

Belrose cycles 02 9452 5105 BMX MAfiA 02 9879 7000 ABc liverpool 02 9821 1372 wArzone 02 9545 2979 erinA Bike worX 02 4365 2208 toukley world of Bikes 02 4397 3054 Beyond Bikes 02 4954 2943 drift Bike style 02 4926 1066 kevin BArtlett cycles 02 6765 2414 Bikes in Byron 02 6721 5999 Bourkes Bicycle center 02 6552 1251 keMpsey Bike shop 02 6562 2144 grAhAM seers cyclery 02 6583 2333 ventouX cycles 02 6651 3355 grAfton city cycles 02 6642 7890 woodseys wheels 02 6654 1217 Byron BAy Bicycles 02 6685 6067 illAwArrA cycle center 02 4284 3434 Bikes At the BAsin 02 4443 3777 direct Bikes 02 4422 9000 phAntoM cycles 02 4683 1262 kidsons cycles 02 6921 4474 lifecycles 02 4721 0500 Bike Minded 02 4757 4607 windsor cycles 02 4577 3209 insAne cycles 02 6351 3171 winning edge cycles 02 6332 4025 pAt kinselA Motorcycles 02 6862 1800

QueenslAnd

Ashgrove cycles 07 3366 0379 for the riders 07 3892 5356 Bikes And BeAns 07 5568 7332 the pedAl shoppe 07 5537 2722 clevelAnd supercycle 07 3286 3597 totAlly spoked 07 3202 4208 Bikeline 07 4638 2242 BuMs on Bikes 07 3205 4578 MorAyfield roAd super cycles 07 5499 3655

BeerwAh cycles 07 5494 0111 cAirns Bicycle works 07 4033 0377 the pedAl shoppe 07 5537 2722

south AustrAliA

stAndish cycles kleMzig 08 8261 1696 stAndish cycles sAlisBury 08 8285 1144 gAwler cycles 08 8522 2343 AdelAide hills Bicycles 08 8398 2077 dAktAri Bikes And sport 08 8724 8013 rAMp 2 rAMp 08 8586 6556

tAsMAniA

treAdlies 03 6229 4052 geArd’s cycles 03 6344 9154 derrico AutoMotive And cycles 03 6424 3121

victoriA

ted’s cycles footscrAy 03 9687 1013 ted’s cycles werriBee 03 9749 8688 glenroy cycles 03 9306 9651 whittleseA Bike shop 03 9401 3938 BMX MAd 03 9762 5210 suBito cycles 03 9772 6141 seAlys cycles frAnkston 03 9770 5500 strictly BMX 03 9686 3466 degrAndi cycle And sport 03 5221 5099 hendry cycles 03 5255 1627 denhAM cycles 03 9747 0088 hodgson cycles And hoBBies 03 5023 6041 Bendigo cycles 03 5441 3532 seyMour cycles 03 5792 3845 wArrens sport And recreAtion 03 5968 3729 MAllArd cycles 03 5176 5711 Bicycle pAssion 03 5155 3033 ride on Bikes 03 5952 2533 seAlys cycles Mornington 03 5975 2444 crossover cycle And outdoor 03 5672 2270

DISTRIBUTED BY DIRT WORKS AUSTRALIA 02 9679 8400 WWW.DIRTWORKS.COM.AU

western AustAliA

guildford cycles 08 9279 5613 port kennedy cycles 08 9524 6774 deMpster sporting 08 9071 1823 Bike force gerAldton 08 9921 32790

RIDE WITH US

50

ISSUE 29

Liam launching one kick arse gap over to drop.

Funnily enough the first photo of the trip....

er nberra in the cold, wint Ca to rs X’e BM y an m so ciding to hold a event that brings members; Zac Miner de of it. r It’s usually only an ACT we ne tly gh sli ’s ra er Canb p out months. But with one of y BMX got behind it and decided to make a tri lon fore he headed Co be d y, Bayzan ck Mi to by Jam for his birthda od go y sa to am video and Namely to film a web te e. da for a change of scen over to Vancouver, Cana c Gascoine Story and photos by Ni ISSUE 29

51

Millar the rail dawg...

As per usual, with most things BMX that come to Canberra, the meeting point was Backbone BMX. The team showed up with Millar and Richo driving down from Brisbane to meet Liam Fahy-Hampton and Mick Bayzand at the airport to get the trip under way.

After the usual ‘hey, what up’s’ and ‘naryouritemate’s’ things were good to go.

With no real plan in mind for spots but with a web video to be filmed in the long weekend ahead, we headed out to Belconnen to get some of what hasn’t been done out there. First trick, first spot, Liam looked at a wheelchair down ramp to rail hop, to an eight foot drop to flat. This spot is pretty wacky with a downhill run in and it levels out only a bike length before the rail. Basically you have to hop off the downhill slope over something that is stem high on one side and massive on the other. On his second attempt, Liam bailed and threw his bike down like a basket ball and immediately fucked his brand new back wheel, blowing out ten spokes and giving it one ma’fucker of a flat spot. As all good team managers do, Millar offered his own wheel to get the clip clocked. After eyeing it up one last time, Liam got the clip done and managed to only loosen a few of Millar’s back spokes.

The next spot was only about twenty meters away, with a rail that Liam suggested Mick should do. This rail (in Belco) has always been looked at and always deemed to be too fast and to big for anyone to go down it. With a few feeler runs down the rail, Micky locked it in and took it all the way to the bottom. Perfect. The trip was starting to look very promising with two banging clips done and dusted and more than two and half days left for filming. After fucking around in Belconnen and getting some lines filmed which included Millar doing a double peg down a reasonable rail, we headed back to Backbone to get Liam a new wheel and chill for the rest of the afternoon.

After finally getting everyone together and getting warm by watching Miner clock a clip next to where we were getting breakfast, we decided to hit a new street spot.

52

ISSUE 29

New being the operative word. For one, it’s stupidly rare to have a new spot in Canberra and two, there were like five possible clips in a ten-meter radius. The spot had been scoped the night before and shit was called, all of which was pretty hectic when looking at it fresh in the morning. But seeing as Miner was feeling limber after his first clip, he just went balls out and chopped wood at this gap to Ruben wall ride off a grass nipple.

Three attempts at chopping, committing and launching saw him find out that the run in he just took was slightly wrong. Zac would just fly at the wall with limbs off and run straight into it... But Miner prevailed. Just after getting it done, some guy rolled up in a budget sports car and tried to tell us that we were wrecking the fake grass. But after a little bit of stanching by Richo the guy knew he had nothing and jumped back into his car and left us be with the fake grass.

With street being the only thing anyone really wanted filmed on the trip, we headed off on a short trip into the University. After putting down the camera and jumping on the only bike with two brakes, Millar eyed up his first ever crooked grind on a ‘real’ rail.

With two of Australia’s top street riders knocking about in the background shouting out pointers, Millar got it done. Millar is pro!

It was getting cold and the weather was looking like it was about to turn shitier than it was already, so we decided to look at one of Canberra most well known rails. Now when I turned up to the rail, I only thought about it being possibly a hang-toother or an ice pick kind of set up. After setting up for a still of Mick doing a hanger down it, Liam rolled up from the bottom and called out a rail up to hop the stairs sideways to fakie rail to 180 out. It’s pretty normal for this kind of shit to happen when riding with Liam, but it’s still sick to see it everytime. Then it came to Mick tooth hanging the rail.

Now I already had all my stuff set up, but I had dropped my pocket wizard, which is the thing that set my flashes off. And as soon as I dropped it, I knew it would probably be

Injured or not, Richo rules.

ISSUE 29

53

54

ISSUE 29

Liam bringing a new train of thought to rideable terrain.

Rail to rail and a bailed flair?

screwed. The first try went down and of course, the flashes didn’t fire. So then feeling like a complete douchebag, I asked Mick if he could do it again. Second try Mick did it again, perfectly. And again, there was no flash. After yelling and screaming at myself for a minute I changed my plan, changed my shit up, then I asked Mick for a third and final time to hang tooth the rail in more or less pitch black conditions. There is nothing worse than being the photographer that asks the rider to ‘do it one more time’. Sometimes it’s unavoidable and I really appreciate Mick for sticking with it and dealing with a hack such as myself. After all that, we called it and headed back for food and chilling.

On our third day, everyone woke up and dragged their sorry arses out of bed and headed off to Miners Jam at Weston Creek. And it seemed like a lot of the lower east coast had turned up to knock about and ride one of Australia’s best parks. The park was fun as usual but we decided we would try and get some stuff done in the local area and join the Jam later in the afternoon for the final session.

The first spot we hit up was the school that both Liam and myself attended for year 11 and 12. It’s a crazy set up with a large fall onto stairs going in an opposite direction if you were to fall over the left hand side. One hit and we were done, Mick bombed it with an ice pick and we were off to our next spot.

We all piled back into the cars and headed two minutes down the road to another rail. ‘This rail sucks’ were the words I heard Liam immediately mumble out of his man sized mouth as we looked at what could be done. Kenny was all set to film (in his knee and shin pads) and Millar was all official, being the bouncer at the road to stop Mick from getting killed by a car going by. With all the crew in place, Mick gave the rail a few goes while Liam was trying to do something of another nature on the rail. Two tries in, Liam got thrown off badly in an opposite double peg and rolled his already complete shagged ankle. This sucked and was pretty much the end of the trip for Liam. Micky took one or two slams on the rail while trying to do double peg to second stage icepicks and one slam due to Millar tackling him at the side of the road while coming out hot.

ISSUE 29

55

Zac Miner threading the needle to wall...

Anyways, another photo was done and another clip got clocked, so we headed back to Weston to catch the arse end of the jam. With the riding all but done and with most people having started the after party, the crew headed out for dinner and the big birthday celebrations for Zac Miner’s 21st birthday.

As expected, the next morning saw everyone pretty rough. So we took it easy, heading out for an afternoon street ride to finish up the web video. After a massive night of watching people drink cigarette butts out of ash trays and other disgusting shit, Mick was still keen to get more clips and finish up the video. He proceeded to do this with a series of over tricks on the double kink rail everyone and their Mum has ridden. The banger of his barrage of over tricks being a hop over double peg to second stage hung over tooth which was very hung and very nose heavy.

After celebrating his birthday hard, Miner maned up and proceeded to try and over double peg stall the edge of a two and half story building. Complete with a death drop on his non peg side. This was no joke. There was no doubt that if Zac were to fall off the roof, he would have blown both ankles and knees, if not more.

56

ISSUE 29

In the same building complex, Liam eyed up a massive wall ride down a 12 stair and gave it one good crack but managed to manual loop off the wall, falling eight feet... The landing once again focused on his ankle, screwing it even more.

After packing up and moving onto the next spot, Richo clocked his photo for the trip after battling with injury the entire trip. It sucked that Richo had to take it easy, but no one held it against him. Everyone was just happy to have him around, especially knowing that he was going in after the trip to get himself fixed up.

With all involved having to run off and catch flights home, we all said our ‘good byes’, ‘see ya’s’ and ‘naryouritemate’s’ and the trip ended on a good note. Even better with everyone walking away more or less unscathed. A massive thank you goes out from me to Clint Millar for making the trip flow so well and also for getting the team and some of my best friends together to create something which Australian BMX needs more of! Oh and thanks to Miner for being born. Just so there was a reason for the team to come together!

58

ISSUE 29

The first of many rails from Mick Bayzand this issue...

60

ISSUE 29

Scott Greentree sizing up the supersize pipe. To say it was big is the years biggest understatement....

PHOTO Mark Watson

ISSUE 29

63

Fusing together the worlds of snowboard super pipe and dirt jumping that only BMX can bring to the table, a huge dirt half pipe was envisaged to bring out a new generation of all-round 20 inch rippers not content with he status quo of dirt events in their current form. While the initial concept was for a pure dirt vert half pipe, it soon became apparent that the majority of dirt riders would simply spin out at such a creation and all the big time vert riders would find it all too bumpy, let alone a nightmare to build. So again, the team put their heads together to make the dream become a reality.

A small crew flew to Perth to build a trial pipe, utilizing 4 shipping containers and a truckload of dirt. The results proved the concept would work, with a select few West Australian riders making full use of the pipes hips, extensions and subs.

Fast forward six years and the dirt pipes evolution was complete thanks to a lot of thinking outside the square. Carved from the fertile soil of the Victorian snow fields, the huge pipe made it’s way straight down into one of the most serene valleys you can imagine. Running 120 meters in length, it’s intimidating 4 meter high walls bristled with wall rides, hips, step downs and street inspired extensions. In a nutshell, the pipe was by far the most ambitious dirt project to ever be undertaken, let alone pulled off so well on a first attempt.

The sheer size of the project brought with it a truckload of challenges to overcome. Pulling together a crew able tackle the task was the first step. It went along the lines of some Hollywood action movie about the end of the world. Find the best excavator driver on earth plus a dedicated group of trail diggers and all should pan out fine. The assembled crew were then heaped with the massive build job. Immediately they had to rethink available trains of thought in terms of digging. This wasn’t three doubles in a row, we’re talking 120 meters of packed and sculpted transitions, lips and landings.

All smooth enough to keep speed and manicured to perfection to allow consistent airs without ridiculous amounts of maintenance necessary. What resulted was nothing less than awe inspiring, with highway building technology being brought in and some completely new ways in using them coming about in order to create the dirt master piece unfolding before them. Not that this happened in a few days. Try 3 months plus of excavating, compacting and building up the walls into a rough shape before the final vert and lip shaping began. That in itself was another two weeks of intense work by all involved. Add to this a huge roll in tower, massive curved wall ride and you have yourself one hell of a creation. To stand at the top of the pipe was to witness easily the most impressive dirt creation intended for BMX ever seen on this planet.

64

ISSUE 29

ABOVE//Vince Byron was one of the few riders airing out of the first vert section.

PHOTO Nick Gascoine BELOW//The grand canyon.

PHOTO Nick Gascoine RIGHT//There weren't too many times over the weekend that you didn't see Daniel Donges boosting higher than previously thought possible.

PHOTO Nick Gascoine

Every rider sighting the pipe upon arrival had very similar reactions. Pretty much insert your choice of expletive next to any riders head and you’re pretty much on the money. From the top seeds like Corey Bohan and Sergio Layos all the way through to the Australian pros and newcomers alike, the reaction was the same.

The pipe looked as though it had been a permanent resident from the early days of the earth itself. The 40 or so invited riders set to drop in represented a cross section of BMX riding from these shores and beyond. Not just BMX dirt specialists, but ramp and street riders alike. In a mix that was aimed at bringing vastly different riding styles and ways of attacking the massive walls of the DirtPipe.

Come Fridays first practice session, there were a few having second thoughts on even trying to ride the pipe. Although it didn’t take long till Clint ‘The Colonel’ Bensley dropped in with barely a look over the whole pipe and flowed effortlessly all the way to the bottom. All while many were checking and wondering how to tackle individual hits. A run consisted of up to 11 hits, hipping, stepping up, stepping way down, wall riding and carving your way to the bottom. A far cry from the traditional dirt jump set up and definitely raising the bar for every riders skills, stamina and consistency. With Colonel upping the ante, any one about to moan about it all being too gnarly were shaken back to reality and got down to business.

Man up or go home being the vibe from then on. Everyone got their heads around the hip to hip concept pretty quickly with only a few riders straight jumping to death or taking out walls early on. While 9 degrees doesn’t sound like much of a slope, put a massive pipe on a hill with that inclination and you have a recipe for speed. Simply bombing down the guts of the pipe had you struggling to stop at the bottom, easily clocking over 60 km/h.

ISSUE 29

65

Once you added that kind of acceleration to the air gained from a kicker, it was obvious early on that there was absolutely no problems maintaining speed, even with a cased or overshot landing. So the sound of squealing brakes was a constant, echoing through the valley for the rest of the weekend.

Riders were split into two groups, each group with a two hour session to make their presence known to the judges in order to qualify them for the 10 rider final jam. Judging criteria was based around use of all elements of the pipe. Add to this style, height and of course big moves. With that fresh in the riders minds, it didn’t take long for the intensity to ramp up. While Corey Bohan was out of contention after a big fall late in day 2 practice, there was no shortage of talent in attendance. This left the podium wide open to all for the taking. Judging on the massive variety of styles and innovative lines would have been a nightmare, yet 10 riders shone above and beyond the rest of the field to make the final 45 minute jam. The jam format for the whole day gave the event an amazing vibe, plus allowed riders to nail some solid runs before throwing down big tricks (or going down in a blaze of glory) as the time ticked down.

66

ISSUE 29

ABOVE//Clint Bensley ripped all weekend and was one of the few hitting the killer curved wall at the bottom.

PHOTO Nick Gascoine

Spanish BMX legend, Sergio Layos immediately laid down his signature style on the pipe, tweaking look backs and whips alongside local rider Cam Pianta, who’s no handed front flip blew minds, especially considering the hip it was done over. But simply nailing the odd big trick was not going to be enough, something that Daniel Campbell took to heart. Stepping up far beyond his age and experience, Daniel slid into the event at the last minute and put down killer runs that included multiple flip lines and a big double whip on the last step up. Another young gun on a rapid rise to BMX superstardom, Jaie Toohey took a massive crash mid way through the final putting him out of podium contention. A real shame as the young Central Coast ripper rode his guts out all weekend with some of the most extended variations of the weekend, his old school no hander to look backs were huge and his boosting ability was ridiculous. All in attendance took note, Jaie taking the Judges Choice award and AUD$500 for his efforts. Vince Byron stepped out of his mini, park and vert world to tackle the pipe and had everyone pumped on his no handers out of the first vert section. A massive feat considering most carved under the lip. Add to this superman seat grab bar spins and a host of other big variations and you have yet another all round rider to watch out for in the future.

ABOVE//Dan Campbell scored a last minute invite and proved his skills by making the final with some solid riding above and beyond what anyone expected.

PHOTO Mark Watson BELOW//Sergio on the long walk back up the pipe.

PHOTO Mark Watson

Sydney’s Brendan Jones brought his high speed style and guns blazing approach all the way to a well deserved 3rd place. With the likes of flip turndowns and huge tailwhips, Brendan made full use of the course, including the almost untouched curved wall ride at the bottom of the pipe. To see Brendan cranking into that and boosting out was awesome considering most weren’t able to even make it onto the wall. One hundred percent course usage and unstoppable energy saw Clint ‘the Colonel’ Bensley take a big second place on the podium. His versatility and big transition skills were stamped all over the Dirt Pipe, with not a hit left untouched by the now regular comp ‘giant killer’.

ISSUE 29

67

Style, flow, consistency and general pipe ruling by Rusty on route to a big win. So good to see the judges rewarding the total riding package above single bangers.

PHOTO Nick Gascoine

68

ISSUE 29

Ultimately, there could be only one Dirt Pipe ruler. And that was the one and only Russell Brindley. Rusty brought his 5th Dan vegan powers to the pipe with easily the smoothest and biggest airs of the weekend, flowing the monster dirt walls with seemingly effortless ease. Add to this the deal that his black denim didn’t once get a speck of dirt on it and you’ll get the idea that he is dialed when it comes to dirt. With combinations of turndowns, no handers and stretched no foot cans, Russell proved to all who witnessed that pure style will always reign supreme in the dirt stakes. This schooling of pipe with text book trail style was rewarded with a cool AUD$5000, easily the biggest result for a rider not known for even entering comps on a regular basis.

The Dirt Pipe concept, while controversial at first, was more than proven as the next level of BMX dirt course design. Add to this riding that showcased a new generation of Australian superstars and you have one hugely successful weekend that was nothing short of a blast for all involved. To watch the progression within three days was staggering and this can only lead to the rise and rise of Australian BMX talent. Plans are already brewing for a bigger and gnarlier event next year to step it up once again. A massive thanks go out to all involved, especially Mitch and his family for hosting the gig, the innovative crew at Red Bull, the pipe diggers, all the riders and of course the incredible hospitality of all in Mt Beauty. The Dirt Pipe was as revolutionary as it was visionary, and without a doubt continued the amazing evolution of BMX both in Australia and abroad.

ABOVE//Sergio Layos back in Australian airspace in his typical stylecat form. It's always a pleasure to see Sergio ride, whatever the terrain.

PHOTO Nick Gascoine BELOW//Jaie Toohey rode his heart out all weekend, throwing big style and tricks at altitude. His big crash come half way through the finals was the only thing keeping him off the podium.

PHOTO Mark Watson

ISSUE 29

69

Ben Pigot didn't ride the comp itself, but managed to fire out some solid runs in the practice day. Lets just say he would've been a contender had he dropped in under the judged scenario.

PHOTO Mark Watson

70

ISSUE 29

M

A

D

S K I L L S

MICK

B AY Z A N D You grew up in Adelaide. Where abouts in the so called city of Churches was that?

I spent my younger years in Salisbury, then moved to Elizabeth. The north side baby.

And so when did you get the urge to start killing it on a BMX? I was born with the urge! I started BMX racing when I was two and a half years old. Did that for years, got a bit tired of it and just wanted to jump stuff. I started thrashing around on dunga bikes, building jumps, then met Kym and the rest of the crew and that’s when it all really started.

Who was the crew you rode with way back then?

The crew was big! Kym Grosser, Russell Tranter, Terry Durham, Damien Daniels, Craig Johns, Arron Rankin, Troy Errington, Dunger, Jimmy Joley, Jon (Muzza) Murray, Glen Sterry, Ross Richter, Jessie Carlson, Jeremy Beard, Pelican and Kenny Raggett (even though he wasn’t from SA, he was still part of the crew). A big shout out to all these boys! If it wasn’t for them I might not be where I am today. They were the good old days. We always had the maddest sessions together. Word up boys.

You and Grosser seem to always be riding together, what’s the story?

Since way back in the day, we always rode the same spots and wanted to learn the same tricks. So we kinda teamed up and went on a mission to destroy everything! We just work well together. He’s a righty and I’m a lefty, so any park we go to or any street spot we hit, between us we have always got something. Plus we don’t have to fight over the same clips.

It was always pretty cool to have all you guys rock up to a comp in SA and kick arse. What were some best comps you can remember from back then?

Definitely the Cross keys comp at the BMX track, because it was the first dirt comp I ever entered and I won it. The Dingley Dell comp where Jessie Carlson was trying flip bar spins way back in the day, when flips were still gnarly (and years before Nyquist did ‘em). Plus all Zoli’s Volatile Visions comps were sick! Zoli was the king, he made BMX in South Australia. The Port Gawler comps were always a good time. Oh, and who can forget Jessie’s Big Gay Bikes comp. What a tripper!

The scene back there then was pretty killer, especially dirt. What was up with Adelaide back then?

Oh yeah, it was killer. Adelaide had an awesome dirt scene back in the day. We had heaps of different jumps going in the North and the boys down South had some amazing jumps too. Adelaide was definitely known for its dirt, especially with Zoli having so many Volatile dirt comps. It was a good time to be alive.

Where were the spots that got you stoked back in the day in SA? The Gawler step up. That was the best jump in the world. We learnt everything on that jump. We would go there every weekend, throw a bit of dirt on the landing to soften it up a bit and then go nuts. Some serious stuff went down on that jump and I definitely had some of the best times of my life there. Also SK8FX. That place was so cool. It was an indoor roller skating rink with a skate park and the owner Bo was a chiller.

He would always let us ride for free, let us ride when it was shut, let us stay late and have night sessions.

Everyone was always there hanging out, getting wasted and having mad sessions. He even let some people live there and he’d throw some crazy parties too. But sadly both those places are now gone... R.I.P.

Double the kink, double the fun...

PHOTO Nick Gascoine

72

ISSUE 29

ISSUE 29

73

So when did you make the move to the streets from dirt?

I never really switched over to street. I have always had a passion for both. I ride more street these days cause there’s not too much dirt around anymore. Street’s so exiting, you never know what’s around the corner. I love finding or seeing new spots, it gets me so amped and rails give me such a rush. Once you do one, you just want to do more and more! I’ve been filming lots of sections plus web vids and street makes the best clips. I will always be a dirt rider though and it’s something I have been working on lately. I want to start entering dirt comps again and riding crazy trails.

I can only remember you riding brakeless, even back in the SA days. Have you always been brakeless? How come?

I have always been brakeless, all the way back from day one. It’s not a fashion statement for me, it’s how I ride and always will. I guess it’s because brakes were shit back then anyway and our wheels were always buckled. I hated having a lever in the way squashing your fingers and cutting your thumb up all the time. You don’t need them and it makes riding more challenging and interesting without them. Brakes are way overrated. You can do pretty much everything without them anyway.

What do you think of every kid coming up riding brakeless and getting sketchy in packed parks?

Well I don’t want to talk shit on kids, but to be brakeless you need to have bike control. Don’t just do it because it’s cool. Learn to ride first, then take them off and try to learn all your old tricks without brakes.

So Melbourne? When and why did you move over there?

I moved to Melbourne about 7 years ago. We used to do road trips there pretty often for comps, to just hang out and ride new spots. We always had a good time down there. Then Marc from Strictly kept saying we should move to Melbourne. There were lots more demos and sponsorship opportunities there and at the time Adelaide was quieting down a bit. In the end there’s not many opportunities in Adelaide being a smaller city. Anyway, Kym Grosser and I packed up and off we went. Turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done.

You seemed to go off in Melbourne, you dug it there yeah?

Melbourne is awesome. I have met so many amazing people there that will be my friends for life, like family. I also met the love of my life there, so Melbourne is a very special place to me.

It’s my home away from home.

You’re now chillin’ in Vancouver, why Canada?

Well, just like every other kid out there I wanted to travel the States, but it’s so hard to get a working visa other there. So seeing as Kym has headed to Canada a few times and rides for Macneil (which is a Canadian company), Jay said he should move over there as it would help his career and Macniel could do more for him over there. Kym decided he was going to move to Canada and a few other friends back in Melbs were off on their own adventures, so I decided I didn’t have much holding me in Melbourne. Kym and I always talked about going overseas together and that if I went, I would go and live out one of my dreams to travel and see the world.

Who knows what might happen. So here I am kickin’ back, riding my bike, loving life!

Where abouts are you living there and who with?

I’m just floating around at the moment. I have stayed with Jay Miron and Wade Lajaer and whoever else will have me. Soon Kym, Wade and I are probably going to get a house together, so that will be sick. I have to say a big thanks to everyone here who has let me stay or helped me out in some way. Thanks guys, you Canadians are all right with me. Aaaaaeeeeee.

What’s the place like? Have you got your local bars all sussed or what?

I don’t really know the place that well yet and I am moving around a lot. But when we go out, Wade and the rest of the boys have got it all sorted. It’s pretty sweet. There are some cool places like the Hurricane and stuff that are chillin’.

M 74

ISSUE 29

A

D

PHOTO Nick Gascoine

ISSUE 29

75

76

ISSUE 29

I

c a n ’ t I Commitment.

PHOTO Nitai

78

ISSUE 29

r I d e p a s t a n d n o l o v e e v e r a b o u

Brisbane’s infamous parklands rail.

PHOTO Nitai

What’s the local riding crew like?

Amazing! Even the kids here that aren’t sponsored are sick. It’s a big park scene though now Enn’s has moved away, but that’s cool. They’re all boosters that go so high over here and the parks aren’t small either. I think it’s something in the water? Or maybe it’s the weed smelling air? Maybe that’s what it is, all the locals are super chill and easy to get along with.

What’s been the hardest thing about moving OS? Definitely the hardest thing is leaving my old life behind. All my friends and family. It must be hard for Mum and Dad, it was bad enough when I was in Melbourne. At least then they could come down once in a while or call me. Now I am a long way from home, so that’s really hard. Also, I threw out or gave away everything I owned to come here. Now all I have is a bike and some clothes, that’s it.

You hooking up with those fine BC ladies or what?

No not yet, but damn there are some fine looking ladies here!

I hear Van has better homegrown than Adelaide? True?

I can’t really help you with that one, but everywhere we go here you can smell it.

Everywhere! Kym does recommend it though, haha!

You working over there or just living the riding dream?

At the moment just kickin’ back enjoying my holiday, living the BMX dream. But I will have to get some part-time work cause I intend to travel as much as I can while I am here on the other side of the world. That costs money and I have to pay for food and rent somehow as it is. I’m not that big time. Well not yet anyway...

Every time I see a web clip you’re throwing down big shit but always taking a few hard beforehand. How do you get motivated to get back up?

You have to get back up! There’s no point laying on the ground crying about it. You don’t film clips that way. For me, once I say I am going to do something, I want to get it done! If I crash, I just get up quick while the adrenalin is still pumping and I am still focussed, I have to get it done. If I am at home sore, but have some clips to show for it, it’s all worth it for me. But if I am at home sore, with no clip to show for it, I’m pissed! So if you crash, get up, get it done and the pain is never as bad.

How many bits/bones/things you busted riding?

a

r a I t d o I r y t h I n u t t h e

l t g m

I’ve smashed my ankle to pieces and had surgery on it. The other one’s pretty much the same. I have bruised my heels and rolled my ankles so many times. My shins look like a cheese grater convention. My back is a mess. I have a constant swellbow, it looks like I have a golf ball in it. Smashed fingers. Knocked myself senseless too many times.

Thousands of cuts, grazes and bruises. Pulled muscles in my shoulders. I have a broken schaphoid at the moment which is a bone in my wrist. Being a street rider I’m always injured to some extent. I can’t remember the last time my body felt normal.

How many big hits did you have shooting for this interview?

Well my wrist is still pretty much fucked, so I didn’t get to do some of the big things I wanted, but still had some big slams. I corked my thigh on a kinker in Melbourne and couldn’t walk for two weeks. That was intense. And then in Canberra I shot the rest of the photos. I left there so sore, but no real worries. Just some clips and photos.

So is it all aboot rails for you?

Not really. I want to get into different street stuff, but I just can’t ride past a rail and not do it. I just love everything about them. The whole process of getting them done. What a rush. But I do think they are the reason I feel like I am 50...

ISSUE 29

79

M

A

D

S K I L L S What’s your deal, comps or clocking footage?

If you were on an island and could only have one thing, what would it be, dirt, tranny or rails?

Clocking footy for sho’ bro. That’s where it’s at for me. I get my best riding done out on missions. It gets me amped way more than a skate park or a comp ever could.

Comps make me nervous. Clocking footy is always chill. But I do dig comps to hang out and party with dudes you don’t get to see very often.

I would have to say trails, because you’re not always in the mood to throw yourself down rails! I’d spend most of my time on the island injured if it had rails. And who cares about tranny’s? Trails are so much fun. You can have chill sessions and just flow, or you can have days where you go nuts and throw down hammers! You can always change trails, make ‘em bigger and add more jumps, build hips, its endless! So trails would be the way to go for sure.

Are you stoked on the Colony hook up?

Stoked? Hell yeah! Millar’s the man. He has already done more for me than I ever hoped to get out of a BMX career. It’s definitely the best sponsor situation I’ve ever had.

I’m so glad to be a part of something that means so much to him. I looked up to Millar for years, seeing him at a comp or a demo was always amazing. And now I get to mould him into a street dog! Word up Millar. Thanks for everything mate.

And what would your soundtrack be to that session?

Hip-hop of course! Hill Top Hoods, Art of War, Bliss’n’Esso, Eminem, Cannabis, Wu Tang, Blackalicious, Nas, Necro, Brad Strut, Chopper, I could go on for ever. Any sick hip-hop will do.

You getting signature parts or what?

Give me three riders that have left the biggest impressions on you?

Yeah, the dream is finally coming true. I have a signature bar coming out soon under the name Teddy Bars. Clint and I are working on a signature frame at the moment for release in the 2009 range. And of course it’ll be called the Teddy, so kids be on the lookout for it. You will love it! Trust me, haha.

Kym Grosser. We have just been riding together for so long and learnt everything together. We really pushed each other. Van Homan. He was a big influence in my street riding. He brought street riding to what it is today. Without him, we would all be still jumping down 3 stairs and doing manuals. He just made me look at ridiculous things in a whole new light. Third would have to be everyone I have ever gone riding with, cause if it wasn’t for riding with so many great friends, I probably wouldn’t be riding today. Yeah boys.

Stoked to be on an Australian brand?

For sure! I’m stoked to be riding for an Australian company. It seems every other kid wants to be like some American rider, but look who’s killing it over there. Australians. So I’m glad to be helping Aussie’s get more noticed. There are some sick riders in Australia.

You just don’t hear about them as much over here.

One thing I’ve been meaning to ask, what’s with the nickname Teddy?

Alright... I got the nickname Teddy a long time ago, back in my racing days when I was about 3 years old. It all came about because I had this little brown teddy bear that I would take everywhere, even to the track and never put it down. Even when I was at the starting gate, Mum or Dad would have to rip it out of my hands before the race. I believe it was Jessie Carlson that started calling me Teddy, it just stuck. Everyone in the whole racing community knew me as Teddy, even the commentator would call me it during a race. When I stopped racing it sort of died off. But when I got into jumping, my new friends would come around and Mum would get the old photo albums out and show them pictures of me with my teddy and tell them all the stories. So then they started calling me Teddy. Then more and more people found out and it just stuck again.

I don’t mind though, I like it. It brings back good memories and that’s why I’m calling my signature parts Teddy, because that’s where it all started for me. The beginning of all this craziness. There’s a lot of history and good times behind that name.

What’s your ideal day?

My ideal day would be something like this; Sleep in. Wake up next to a beautiful girl.

Shower, eat breakfast with her. Already have some crazy riding mission planned. Meet up with the boys. Have an awesome ride and everyone films some epic clips. Go back to my house or one of the boys places, start drinking, watch the footage, have a BBQ. Then all go out on the town and run amuck. Come back home with my girl and do it all again the next day. Yeah.

80

ISSUE 29

What’s in store for the future? Continue travelling or settle down?

Well I definitely want to travel heaps while I am over here and see as much as I can.

And ride as hard as I can! I think I have a few good years left in me yet although my body does feel like shit. Who knows, I might meet the right girl and settle down? I do want to experience that part of life. I think it would be amazing, but I would always want to be a part of BMX in some way.

Is there anything in general about BMX you wanna say?

Slow down before you all die! Shit’s getting crazy these days.

Lastly, any thanks?

First of all, I would like to thank my parents. I know you would like me to be at home more instead of off on my bike everywhere! So thanks for supporting me and letting me do this, it means a lot to me. Don’t worry, it won’t be forever, you will have me back one day! Clint Millar from Colony. What a legend. You have made all the time and effort I have put into BMX so worth it. I can’t thank you enough. Chris from Triple Six, another legend. Thanks heaps to Marc from Strictly BMX. He has been there for me for so long, helping me on and off the bike. Champion! Matt Coplon from Profile, thanks for putting me on the team. Raph from Blank Clothing has given me some fresh clothes. Darren from Vans for hooking me up with free kicks. And of course one of my best friends in the world, Cooper Brownlee from Focal Point. He’s always there for me, helps me with everything. If I need to get a photo or clips or anything, he will come pick me up, take me to his spots, shoot photos, film, send emails to sponsors, send photos, do bike checks, anything! And always such a pleasure to ride with. He does so much for BMX out of his own pocket, I wish there were more people like you. And all the crew from Melbourne and South Australia, you guys rock and I’ll see you all soon. Peace...

Chris Courtenay big no hander in the Ghetto PHOTO Morrisey

82

ISSUE 29

While it was a miserable summer, the weather finally dried up in Brisbane. That motivation had both myself and Matt from Tempered wanting to hold our next ghetto-esque drain jam. This eventually led to the combining of forces and the Filthy Drains Jam was born.

Tempered bikes had run a similar jam in December last year at another suitably ghetto drain which went down like a treat, but both of us had bigger ideas to make it better. This basically revolved around lots of sketchy ramps that may have needed to be sticky taped together after the first talks. After many days and nights of seemingly endless pallet missions, wood acquisitions (via various dubious methods) and the harsh realisation that making a concrete quarter is much harder than it seems, we had a pretty decent set up.

The day was supposed to kick off around ten in the morn, but when we got there there were over 50 crew hitting it up, so the action got underway early for some, whilst the drinking got underway for others at the same time! The idea was to have a list of ghetto challenges and cross them off as people did them, or at least took them on. Some involved the likes of biggest air and the usual deal, while some involved launching death gaps and absolutely stupid shit, like look-alike contests. So from about 11am shit went nuts, and over the course of the day well over a hundred people turned up with a good amount of them actually riding.

One of the days main lines was the huge ghetto quarter. Chris Courtenay blasted the absolute shit out of it and must have topped out at around the 8 foot mark with stretched no-handers and whips. This kid owned that ramp on the day, so he won that challenge hands down.

Chris Edgar was also killing the beast and flaired, whip’d and lip tricked the quarter all day, so big props to him. I think he scored some pedals, cause he was riding hard all day on haggard as all hell pedals. Now you might be thinking that all this trickery seems pretty normal these days, but the run up to the quarter involved carving up a slippery bank then aiming for a rickety, makeshift bridge that had holes in it over the actual water part of the drain. If you made that, you then flat out cranked to the spongy quarter that had more and more holes blown in it as the day went on! It must also be mentioned that this not so easy to ride quarter fell over with suitable coercion at the end of the day (thanks Daffles).

There was a ghetto pallet halfpipe / wallride setup underneath the train bridge which entertained everyone all day. Nick K from T-bar owned that and actually left tyre marks on the underside of the bridge, you could say he couldn’t possibly go any higher. Matt Lawton from Tempered was doing the highest Ruben wall rides off it and little Alex Hiam was throwing whips and riding it all dialled like a pro. Tiny won a shit load of stickers for pedalling his 16” bike above a mark I set for him, so props to the little man for stepping up!

The riding on the banked hip was unbelievable to say the least. Josh Clark from Toowoomba pretty much destroyed the thing with whips, superseats and backies all off the ghetto bridge run in’s and flat banks. That dude owned it! Like I mentioned earlier, you probably think a wedge hip ain’t nothing special, the run in was carved out of bush before heading across sketchy bridges and then once landed, you had to aim for another 2 foot wide bridge or else go in the drink! This made for some funny stuff, especially for anyone running their ride brakeless.

Alex Haim, whip under the bridge PHOTO Nitai

ISSUE 29

83

Tempered bikes’ Matt Lawton helped run the jam and also ran some nice “Ruben” wallrides PHOTO Morrisey

84

ISSUE 29

Chris Edgar, superman on a truly ghetto set up PHOTO Morrisey

The drain had a couple of natural set ups (sub rails etc) and Macca owned most of them along with the RideOn wall ride. No jam is complete without a long jump and longest 180 contest, especially if it’s off the sketchiest kicker possible. Chris C took the long jump title using his racer skills to the fullest and while most people were getting ejected rolling backwards way too quick, Gareth Headfield took the title with the largest and cleanest 180 of the day. Punisher Go! (Youtube that one...)

For some reason, the big ghetto box jump didn’t get sessioned until it was dark and I’m pretty sure Jerry V did the biggest floating whip ever seen. Josh Clarke threw a no handed backie and just coming short of the title, one of the Mackellar kids did a tuck to barspin in pretty much complete darkness. Mind you there was a ramp on fire at the end of the landing. So if you got all squirelly thanks to not being able to see, then you might have been in trouble.

Aside from all the craziness, there was a huge turn out over the whole day, with travelling man Abbs drunker than most. The mic / speaker phone went crazy all day with people getting cheered, jeered and heckled continuously, but all in good fun! As fate would have it, it wasn’t all fun and games on the day and a few people went down hard. Raph J Williams was absolutely killing the place as the drains are a bit of a local for him. But a huge 180 transfer over an entire ramp to mid air eject left him with a very badly broken leg which lead to an ambulance assisted ride to the hospital, which wasn’t so cool. Gumby from Gladstone took one for the crew after lining up the train bridge drop for like half an hour, but instead he took on the water gap utilising the same sketchy kicker from the long jump. He took a weird line to it and didn’t have quite the pace needed so he landed short, basically onto a concrete uphill landing which broke his ankle instantly. Get well to both those cats and cheers for the efforts on the day.

86

ISSUE 29

We never print crashes in 2020?

Gumby with a gap to ankle destruction.

PHOTO Nitai

50 88

ISSUE 28 29

With the daylight fading and in true BMX form, any and all not so permanent wooden structures got set on fire. To my total surprise there were no cops and no fights, just a lot of crew getting stoked on BMX. Many people need to be thanked for their help and support on the day and for the event. Tempered Bikes for making it happen and RideOn BMX Shop for helping them make it all happen. Mankind Bikes and Kickassbmx for the support as well as Animal Bike Co and Stowaway for the prizes and giveaways. Props go to Cropthorn clothing as well as Emancipate clothing and this here magazine.

Big thanks go to Matt Lawton, Macca, Jerry V, Garreth, Denis, Byron, Raph, Dan, Nate, justy, Steph, Abbz, Daffles, Scooba Steve and anyone else who lifted a hammer or acquired a bit of wood to help with the day’s festivities. And of course to everyone who plain and simply turned up on the day, cheers! Hit www.temperedbikes.com.au or www.rideonbmx.com.au for an edit on the day in case you haven’t seen it yet. Plans are already underway for the next one and if this was anything to go off I would get your arse along, cause we have got some crazy shit planned!

Gumby contemplating.

PHOTO Morrisey

90

ISSUE 29

92

ISSUE 29

ISSUE 29

93

CHRIS HARTI

Interview by Raine Turnbull

Name, Age and hometown?

Chris Harti, 16 years old. Canberra.

How did you first get into BMX? I started racing when I was nine or ten then I quit that when I was like 13 and started riding dirt jumps and the skate park and liked it way better! Eventually started trying tricks...

What is your First memory of BMX? When I was like 4 or 5 my dad used to take me to these two dirt doubles that you could just roll over, just near my house on my 16 inch. Good times.

Ok, so you recently went to Vegas to ride and hang out with Cam white, TJ Lavin and the crew. Tell us what that experience was like?

Yeah it was the best time of my life! I got to meet heaps of new people and ride the sickest trails at TJ Lavinís house. And I got to see and experience a lot of crazy things like cheap as hell Maccas, the biggest fake tities ever and pokies everywhere! Even in servo’s and the airport! In’n’out burger, best food ever! But I pretty much just rode TJ’s house everyday when it wasn’t windy. I learnt a lot about riding trails and just learning all my tricks over dirt, it was a really good experience for me. I stayed at Cam’s house with Michelle and Dane Searls. Had some shredding times with them! Thanks heaps Cam for letting me stay with ya!

Back home what are some of you favorite spots to ride?

Well my number 1 favorite spot to ride would have to be Cam Whites house because his jumps are massive and so much fun! Also Gunners skate park, but I’m so over that place, I just wanna ride trails haha!

What’s so good about trails?

You get to do what you want, you don’t get snaked and this might sound a bit weird but I just think that it feels more natural riding trails than it is riding a skate park. Just the speed, height, berms, rollers are super fun and flyin past trees is the best! Also having roo’s chillin right near you when your riding is pretty cool too.

How did you get from riding Gunners all day to hitting massive jumps like the ones at Cam’sJam? I don’t really know ay? It’s probably from racing or something. But me and my mates have always had a decent set of dirt jumps. That said, the jumps at Cams house are seriously the most chill jumps ever, they may look big and scary but all you got to do is roll in and hold on for the ride! That’s what I do anyway...

Are you more into making things look good while you ride or getting tricks done at all costs? Or does it go both ways?

Definitely swing both ways I reckon, pretty much everything I do I try and make it look good, but I also actually do tricks too, not just taybos and flickouts.

What’s the best feeling trick in BMX? Big, floaty, slow 3’s over massive jumps, backies (not fly outs, at the trails!) and massive moto whips too!

Do you have any sponsors?

Yeah, by the best bike shop ever, BackBoneBMX and Triple Six distro, they hook me up with complete bikes and recently with a sick frame and some other cool stuff, thanks heaps Rhys from BackBone and all the fellas at Triple Six! Also Lav’s Lab, Tj hooks me up with shirts and stuff, top bloke he is! Tj’s new album comes out soon, be sure to check it out!

How did that (your sponsors) come about?

The BackBone and Triple Six sponsors came about when Triple Six were looking for a young rider to ride WeThePeople complete bikes for them, so Rhys from BackBone put in a good word for me, so thanks heaps Rhys! The Lavs Lab sponno came along when I went to Cams house for an arvo sesh with Slayer, Caesar Flores and Cam (I cant remember who else) earlier this year way before his jam and I guess I was ridding good that arvo and at the end of the session Caesar hooked me up with a couple of shirts and stickers and stuff, then Cam said “your on the team mate.” Stoked! Cheers mate!

What music you into?

I’m into heaps of music, I pretty much listen to anything that sounds good. Like Parkway Drive, Deez Nutz, The Sounds, Rise Against, MGMT, Lavs Lab, Aussie hip hop, stuff like that.

94

ISSUE 29

Big Belconnen gap PHOTO Raine Turnbull ISSUE ISSUE29 28

47 95

Weston Creek spine invert... with style PHOTO Raine Turnbull

How often do you ride your bike?

Every day now because my school is next to a skate park! Yew!

How do you stay motivated to ride all the time?

I don’t know? I just always am, cause it’s like all I do. I have no life! Trails get me really pumped to ride.

What riders do you look up to?

Cam White for sure. Every time I ride with him at his house or even at Gunners Skate Park he just shreds and is super cool. Cheers mate for letting me stay in Vegas!

Who are your favorite peeps to ride with?

All of my mates from Gunners Alex, Samon, Scottie, Matt, Spud, Arthur, Josh, the twins and all the riders in Canberra pretty much. Cam and all them fella’s too.

What do you like doing when you are not on your bike?

Mmmm maybe wishing I was on it? I like to spend heaps of money at once, definitely myspace and msn, get loose, hang out with mates, and thats my life!

If you didn’t ride, what would you do?

Be the fattest person ever, cause my parents own a fish’n’chip shop in Florey, so I’d probably eat there everyday and play Xbox all day as well. I never really play any other sports, but I do play Guitar Hero, I’d probably be pro at that haha.

What do you want to achieve in BMX? I want to achieve heaps of things! If I could just ride and not need to have a job, that would be the best. So yeah, that’s what I want to achieve, be good enough to not have a job, yew! But I just want to keep having fun cause that’s what its all about!

So are you psyched to travel more with your BMX? Maybe go pro one day hitting up the Dew Tour?

I’m so stoked I got to go to the states and ride. I’ve never traveled past Sydney to go ride, so it was a big step to go all the way to the US. Maybe one day I’ll go to the Dew Tour an stuff, but for now I just wanna do my own thing and have fun, dig gnarly jumps and stuff.

Thank you?

One hella dipped 360 during a late arvo Gunghalin session.

PHOTO Raine Turnbull

96

ISSUE 29

I’d like to thank my Mum and Dad for their support over the years I’ve been riding. They have taken me everywhere I need to go and even sent me to Vegas to ride! Best parents ever! Also Rhys from BackBone BMX and Triple Six for hooking me up with the sickest bikes ever! And Cam and Michelle for letting me stay with them in Vegas! Cheers mate!

And yeah pretty much all the people that I ride with and anyone who has given me lifts anywhere!

BEHIND BARS BMX 4 LIFE

98

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

BEHIND BARS BMX 4 LIFE

Ben Clissold Resides Noosa, QLD Words & Photo by Nitai

Born 6th December 1985 Occupation Bike shop Salesman / Student I have known Ben for a while now. We met at our local skate park in Noosa back around 1999-2000. I wasn’t the best if friends with Ben back then but since he finished school travelled throughout Europe for 2 years and then moved down to Brisbane; Ben has become a great friend of mine and an even better rider. Defiantly not the some kid who I met 8 yrs or so ago, Currently Ben works at a Bike shop selling bikes and at the same time is studying to be Nurse in the emergency ward, which I really respect. If you ever have the chance to hang with Ben, make sure you bring plenty of red wine!

Why are you an indie scene whore?

Coz the music’s good and the girls are gorgeous + well up for hanging round dirty clothed kids with good hair, kind of like BMX riders I guess, ha!

What’s with your red wine clean skin addiction? Is it because it’s cheap or because you want to be an indie kid?

I’m trying to stay healthy by loading up on the antioxidants… Ha-ha yeah coz it’s cheap and I’m an alcoholic, think I’m going to crack open another!

How did travelling through Europe change your life?

Without sounding cliché it really opened up my head to different or alternative ways of living, I guess my point of view used to be get a wife, work the career, where as now I want to have fun and experience as much as I can!

Who do you like to ride with that pushes you?

My two favourite kids to ride with at the moment are Karl and Byron, those kids defiantly push me and are a laugh to ride with and with out a doubt Brenno when ever I get the chance to ride with that kid!

When you going to get that hair cut?

Ha-ha now you hooked me up with where you get your hair done, maybe 2moz!

Thanks?

Defs NItai for the questions and making me look good with your mad photography skills, 2020 for the opportunity to be in your mag, thanks to Rahda who’s up for a ride where ever and when ever and shout outs to Mum and Dad!

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

99

BEHIND BARS BMX 4 LIFE

Marnold How old are you Marnold?

I am 17 years old but 18 in September.. yeaha!

How many years have you been riding?

I have been riding since year 7 which is about 5 years…

What has been your favourite memory from riding so far?

There are a couple of favourite memories, one would be getting asked to ride for focal point. Another would be meeting Liam Fahy Hampton cause I love him, grinding down my first handrail in Templestowe, never forget that shit.

You haven’t always lived in Ringwood, where else have you lived?

Well before Ringwood I lived in Bayswater for about a year and Ferntree Gully for about 6 months before that. Before Ferntree I lived in Albury Wodonga for 5 years and before that I lived in Deniliquin for 4 years and before that I lived in Lakes Entrance. I have lived in so many towns it’s fucked.

Resides Melbourne, Victoria Interview & Photos by Cooper Brownlee Your local park has had its fair share of interesting situations occur, care to share one of the weirdest ones you have seen?

One would have to be sitting at the park one Friday and we heard this yelling in the car park, we turn around to see this couple going off at each other, it went something like… The girl would yell at the guy so he would walk off then he would come back and he would yell at her, then she would walk off and this went on for hours, we thought this was awesome. Then after the two drug fucked retards had finished their Jerry Springer moment they came to the park and started having a go at skaters, it was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time..

You have had some bad luck with injuries the past year, care to tell us about them?

Well early last year I was riding Ringwood and decided to do a barspin air but it didn’t turn out so well.

I fell from about 11-12 foot to the bottom of Ringwood bowl with a peg through my shin, that cost me about 9 stiches to the open gash… Then in February last year, like a month after I did my shin, I tried to oppo crooks a rail in Croydon and fell on my knee cap putting a 3cm crack in it, which sucked ass.

Then just recently in February this year, we were filming in Warrigal and I went for a barspin down a (small) set of stairs. I snapped my right thumb and ending up having two titanium rods surgically put in, its still not 100%.

You don’t go to school, so what do you do for a job?

Nah man fuck school Haha. I am a 2nd year fabricator and my work is pretty cruisey so it’s good.

Thanks?

I would like to thank my mum and her fiancé, my dad and my sisters. Also I would love to thank Cooper for giving me the opportunity to ride with a great bunch of guys, also the boys from Wodonga, I love you always. I would also love to thank everyone I have ridden with over the years, we have had great fun and I hope we have many fun times in the years to come.

100

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

BEHIND BARS BMX 4 LIFE

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

101

BEHIND BARS BMX 4 LIFE Weston Creek. Rather large air.

PHOTO Nick Gascoine

Richie Resides Canberra, ACT Words by Dan G

Weston Creek is a breeding ground for scummy kids. And for the multitude that have come and gone over the years, only one really rates a mention. On first impression, Richie (real name irrelevant) seemed like a decent, mild mannered kid. The more he rode with our crew however, the more his ghetto side became apparent. Every time I see him he has a new story about some crazy shit that happened to him. And every story he tells is accented by his rat like laugh. From wearing stolen women’s underwear, to intentionally passing out to impress the ladies, Rich is quickly approaching the status of local legend. And quite frankly, we couldn’t be prouder.

102 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

BEHIND BARS BMX 4 LIFE I hate submitting city skate photos unless there is a jam on, but I guess this was an exception. This gap is rather preposterous to downside whip

Dave Vandenberg

Resides Adelaide Words & Photo by James Wade I ride with Daniel most days and, like a lot of people these days, he’s pretty good.

What I do have to say is that he can be salty when he wants to, but then other days he’s pretty funny and has that sense of humour switch flicked on, or something like that. I don’t think he’s done a backie yet. Once he wouldn’t hit on some really ugly girls when we were out at South Kensington so I made him eat gravel.

104 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

WINTER SUCKS SALE

AUSTRALIA FREE FREIGHT UNTILL 18/10/08 Because Brendan Jones said so? MOST AREAS OF AUSTRALIA

Listed items in this add are in stock!

Odyssey Race fork $175 Volume ’81 frame $425 Fit Hawk frame $440 S&M LTF $615 Metal Howler frame $549 Fly rims $119 S&M Slam XLT bars white $119 S&M Grand Slams $109 Demolition P.A. bars $109 Odyssey Lumber Jack bars $99 Volume Genisis fork $175 Odyssey Elementary V2 $85

Macneil Bibi frame $440 Demolition F40 stem $89 Fly 2.5 Cranks $279 Odyssey Wombolts $279 Wtp supreme sprocket $85 Animal stem $99 Standard stem $89 Primo Balance s/b pedals $60 Animal s/b pedals $109 KHE folding tyres $79.95 Left Right DVD $25 Odyssey Evolver $45

Completes

Fit s3 frame $599

08 Colony Bloody Oath complete $1649 08 Fit Flow Trail $855 08 Fit Team Trail $669 08 Kink Apex $999 08 Eastern Jane $719 08 HB Mantra PL1 $999

02 9879 7000

We look after our own...

Opening Hours: Tues, Wed, Friday 11-6, Thurs 11-7, Sat 11-4

242 Victoria Road Gladesville NSW

BEHIND BARS BMX 4 LIFE Barspin 180 at 12 years old. Right.

PHOTO Nitai

Alex Hiam

Resides Canberra Words by Clint Millar

I first heard whispers about 12 months ago of this amazing kid getting around Brisbane killing the parks. It wasn’t until a session out at Kuraby that I had the pleasure to first see him ride in person. I was totally blown away. This kid could ride.

The talent that he has is beyond comprehension. When I spoke with him I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that he is also one the nicest kids you will ever meet. He has a head on his shoulders that is more mature than some 18 year olds out there. It was then, that I knew he would be going places and I wanted to help him on his way.

When do you turn 13?

Who do you ride with mostly?

August 21st 2008!

Chris Coutenay, Micky, Ange, Lanky, Jono, Timmy, Joshua Lacoste, Millar, Mitch Brown, Flick, Macca and everyone.

How long have you been riding for?

You’re pretty lucky with the support you have been getting from various companies. Who helps you out?

Two and a bit years now.

Crossley Cycles help me out a lot. Colony BMX has helped me out lots as well! They both take very good care of me.

How did you get into riding?

What do you think of the attitude of many kids out there who are all about being sponno’d?

Playing Dave Mirra!

I guess I was just in the right place at the right time. I was never really looking for a sponsor, it’s all just for fun. I reckon if you ask or look for a sponsor that is just stupid. Riding is for fun.

You started high school this year. How is that going?

High school is fun but the work is gay! School is never fun when teachers are there.

How often do you ride during an average week?

Depends when I get home from school. Sometimes I’ll be lucky and ride everyday!

What’s the farthest place away your bike has taken you?

Sydney for BMX Games 2008.

106

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

Any aspirations for your riding in the years to come?

I want to go to Woodward with my best mates and travel everywhere for riding! I want a backyard ramp one day as well! And to meet all the mad riders out there in the world.

Now it’s time for the thanks...

Thanks so much Crossley Cycles, Richard and Miklav, you guys have helped me out so much. Colony BMX, Clint Millar thank you so much you are always trying to help me and thanks for everything. Mum and Dad for buying me everything. All my mad friends!

BEHIND BARS BMX 4 LIFE

Blake Dowd Resides Sydney Words and photo by Caleb

If you’ve ever been to Clarendon skatepark in western Sydney, you’ve probably seen a promising young shredder named Blake Dowd. If you know him, you’ll also know that his dedication borders on the abnormal, but it’s definitely an obsession made evident in a massive bag of tricks built-up over just a few years of riding. His older brothers only managed to bully him into taking it up 3 years ago, so after he placed 6th in Am Park at this years BMX Games, it’s pretty safe to assume that he’s only getting started. Keep an eye out for this guy riding under his own banner, Plethora BMX.

108

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

TECH KNOWLEDGE BUYING 2ND HAND Thanks to Pete for his sweet 80’s FSX. And no, it ain’t for sale...

PHOTO Holmes

Buying second hand...

YouÕ re in need of a new ride. But the 2008 completes built up how you want are just that bit too much for your wallet. Then you hear that a guy is selling last years for half the price of the new one. Sounds like a good deal right? Well to help you make a good decision, weÕ ll run you through the ins and outs of buying a second hand bike...

Going into the second hand bike market should be accompanied by a truckload of skepticism, only coming second to knowing as much as you can about bikes, or at least the bike in question...

So, this second hand bike that’s going for a steal, is it all it’s cracked up to be?

a no go too. A freshly painted frame can be a tricky one, fresh paint (especially powder coating) can hide cracks and possibly old serial numbers, IE it could be stolen... Stickers placed over join areas may be hiding something too. Get your inspector hat on yo.

Well, first up, the two most important questions to ask are; is the bike stolen? And if not; why is the bike up for sale? Stacks of bikes get stolen every day in Australia by people that deserve their teeth kicked in. So you wanna be careful that you’re not buying something that was stolen yesterday. Aside the fact that you can be charged with receiving stolen goods by the police, there’s many a tale of someone buying a stolen bike without knowing it only to find it gets taken back by the rightful owner. Along with losing their cash, they lose the bike and possibly score a beat down, even though they thought it was legit... While the easiest way to make sure your not buying stolen goods is to only deal with people you know (like stay in touch with your local sponno’d rider, he might update his ride lots), this is not always possible. That said, it’s pretty easy to spot the sketchy dudes. Does the seller look like they’ve ever ridden a BMX? If they reckon they bought the bike in the first place, where did it come from and do they know enough about it? Receipts are a good thing! A check to where the serial number should be only to find a filed groove should be a dead giveaway.

Buckled wheels and missing or broken spokes are pretty easy to spot. Spin the wheels, you’ll suss it pretty quick. While spokes are cheap and truing ain’t hard if you’re patient, rims that are buckled to hell and have dinged sidewalls are more expensive. Replacing rims start at around $80 plus building it. Since we’re looking at wheels, suss if the hubs are sealed or loose ball. Again, spinning the wheel will give you an indication of if there’s an issue in the rolling department.

If you’re confident that it’s not stolen, then why is it being sold? Did the seller just get a shiny new ride or simply spot a crack in the frame that he’s now selling you with a sticker over the top?

Of course, remember the seller is keen to sell and will probably tell you anything to offload it. So take it all with a grain of salt.

While the main parts of the bike (frame, forks, bars) are crucial in the imminent inspection, it gets a little harder once you come down to the smaller components. It becomes a balance between the cost of replacing bits over the saving you’ll make buying a cheaper second hand ride. While we can’t tell you the answer to that, we can point you in the right direction on a few things to think about.

Make sure the bike/frame is what you want. This is pretty simple. If you want a longer bike than your shagged out bike you got for your 10th birthday, then look for a longer top tubed bike...

Regardless of what the seller tells you, measure stuff if you’re wondering! If it’s sounding like the goods, then it’s time to get up close and personal. The number one thing to look for is bends, dents and cracks in the frame. The same goes for the forks, bars and cranks. Check all the welds closely. Especially around the headtube, bottom bracket, seat post/seatstay joins and the rear dropouts. If you spot any, the bike has had a hard life. Bends, cracks or dents mean a very limited lifespan under you... If the bike is shiny but is full of the above, the best bet is to avoid it! Rust on the frame can be an issue too. Simply scratching it with your finger nail to see how deep it is will let you know how far gone the frame is. If there’s rust around an exposed weld, it’s starting to look like

110 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

Bearings in the bottom bracket and headset need similar inspections. A tightspot or crunchy feel can mean many things, mainly along the lines of crushed bearings or worse, a bent crank spindle or fork steerer... But if it’s just the bearings, they’re a cheap replacement.

A rusty or worn chain, cassette, freewheel or chainring are replaceable. Maybe cost anything that needs replacing on the bike and keep that in mind when talking price on the second hand bike. Brakes and cables (if there is any) are a pretty cheap fix if you know what you’re doing. Tyres are an easy one. Worn tyres get more punctures. New tyres don’t cost much. I’ll leave this one up to you...

You can use the problems and need to replace some items as bargaining power when it comes to the ‘make an offer’ time. So if the heart and soul of the bike look good with a few wrinkles around the edges, it could be the go. Use your head and don’t buy impulsively, money doesn’t grow on trees. Well it never did for me.

Finding a second hand ride isn’t hard these days. Your LBS may have the odd second hand bike on consignment for a rider, so they’re a good place to start. If only to get an idea of prices and how a bike is meant to look! Of course typing ‘second hand BMX in your area’ into a internet search engine will probably get you a result. As will eBay and The Trading Post along with other websites. If you’re buying online from somewhere like eBay, then be extra careful to check stuff like the sellers rating and read through some of the comments from other buyers. Also try using an online payment system instead of your credit card, that way you have some guarantee that you will actually get what you have paid for. While you’re searching online, get an idea of the going price of similar rides to what you’re after. Newspapers and cycle magazines might have the odd classified section too. A little searching might just find an auction house that may sell end-of-line bikes and re-sell bikes found by the police that haven’t been claimed.

Anyways, buying second hand bikes and parts can save you a bunch of cash if you know what your looking for and has always been a big part of many riders early BMX experiences. Go into it armed with all the knowledge you can and you’ll come out on top. Good luck.

Beats & Pieces GIG’s, DVD’s AND CD’s

Better late than never?

Smashing Pumpkins 27 of March 2008

the last time the Pumpkins were in australia, it was 1998 and they had just released their 4th album. after the bands final show at the turn of the millennium all hope of ever seeing them play live went out the window.

Fast forward to late 2006 when front man for the pumpkins Billy Corgan announced he wanted to reform his band and write new material. Suddenly there was hope that one day I would get the chance to see them play live. A new album was out in 2007 as well as a world tour, the first stop in Australia was a solo show at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney which I was excited to be a part of. Dead on 8pm, the house lights went out and it was non stop for 2 and a half hours. From the opening song through to the encore it was an amazing night. The set list included songs from every album, new and old, big hits, underrated masterpieces and even a Britney Spears and Buffalo Springfield cover worked into one of their own songs. Top that off with a 25 minute version of a song from the new album and a solo acoustic set. I felt like I should have paid more than $99 for a ticket. I’ll have to say I’m a massive fan of the Smashing Pumpkins so this review might be a little biased but regardless it was an amazing night I’ll remember for years to come. Hopefully it won’t be another 10 years before we see them back here. Michael Harris.

The Come Up

DQYDJ 2

If you live your existence on the web, you’d already be so in deep with The Come Up’s web presence I don’t need to say anymore. This DVD was a very anticipated release and came with a fair chunk of hype. Now while I question the usefulness and reality of forums, I’m so down for DVD’s from the heart and soul of BMX rather than the big budget players. In a nutshell, Ben Hittle, JJ Palmere and Garret Reynolds own this DVD. It could be said these guys are leading the new school revolution. Beyond them, it’s 45 minutes long, probably features even more riders than that, along with just as many styles, spots and tricks. A definite time capsule of 2008. Holmes

DQYDJ you could say had a major impact on street riding. Basically defining the future of street as we know it. The follow up to the 2002 classic is just as on point. Bob Scerbo pulls together some epic, raw street (and even trails) footage that features NuJoisey locals Vinnie Sammon, Ralph Sinisi, Mike Osso, Mike Brennan, George Dossantos, Mark Gralla, Jeff Kocsis, Jesse Susicki, Scott Eaton, Bob himself and a heap more. Sure to become another classic. And if you ain’t seen the first one, get to it pronto. It’s like you have to watch Smokey and the Bandit one before you go watching Smokey and the Bandit two. You just wont get the story line... adJ

the come Up

SheÕ s Mature

Isolation

It’s been a while since there’s been a slick as hell, take the piss out of everything hip hop album done with style. Plastic Little seem to play the game just right, balancing between banging beats and flat out satire.

Taking the piss out of shit rap, thugs, themselves and all dosed with a love of girls into porn. Kinda like 2 Live Crew and Dave Chappelle on acid and in their own words ‘not hip hop, they make broke pop, sounds like Korean dance pop’. Holmes

To say these guys have had rocky road to travel is an understatement. But the hard yards and band member shuffling has only made them stronger, in their direction and in their new album. Darker and more menacing than their previous offerings, Isolation packs 10 tracks of straight up, driving hardcore. Nothing more, nothing less. Origami packaging never sounded so tough. adJ

Plastic Little

112 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

Bob scerbo and friends

carpathian

NEW PRODUCTS FRESH IS BEST

New Products PHOTOS Tony Nolan

Superstar Revolte stem www.superstarbmx.com

Afends Hoody www.afends.com

Ogio Monster Bag www.ogio.com

Fit Bike Co FAF folding tyre www.fitbikeco.com

Fly Rim

www.flybikesbmx.com

WeThePeople Helium forks

www.wethepeople.de 114 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

NEW PRODUCTS FRESH IS BEST

Proper Rim

www.properbikeco.com

Fit Bike Co Aitken S3.5

www.fitbikeco.com

Macneil Silencer bars www.macneilbmx.com

Strictly BMX Chain laces www.strictlybmx.com

Protec Ace helmet www.pro-tec.net

Nike Air Mogan Mid

Macneil SL seat

www.macneilbmx.com

www.nike.com/nke6

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

115

NEW PRODUCTS FRESH IS BEST

Afends Leatherme cap

DC Bohan Teamworks Cap

LKI Trucker hat

Zoo York Tshirt

DC Bohan Teamworks Hoody

NCAC Tshirt

Fox T-Rex Jeans

DC Bohan Teamworks shoe

Unit Anarchy Backpack

www.afends.com

www.zooyork.com

www.foxhead.com 116 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

www.dcshoes.com.au

www.dcshoes.com.au

www.dcshoes.com.au

www.loosekidindustries.com.au

www.ncacjeans.com

www.unitriders.com

viNce BYRON tOugH AS NAilS

So follow his lead and get protected!

Freestyle BMX Australia are launching their brand new membership program.

Not only do you get all the benefits of being hooked up with the national sporting body, with all the comps, news and great discounts with FBMXA affiliates, as a member you will receive a limited accident cover while riding and full cover when competing at Freestyle BMX endorsed events. You’ll also get a custom card with your favourite BMX brand.

First 1000 members get a free 2020bmxmag, Hindsight 3 and a FBMXA trucker hat all valued at $40. All for the annual membership cost of $33!

For full details and to sign up log onto:

www.freestylebmx.org

NEW PRODUCTS FRESH IS BEST

Fox New Era cap

TSC Cap

Protec Full Cut Helmet

Afends Tshirt

Animal Upstate Jacket

S&M Tshirt

Nike 6.0 Air Mogan Mid

NCAC Jeans shoe

Vans Whip

www.foxhead.com

www.afends.com

www.nike6.com 118

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

www.theshadowconspiracy.com

www.animalbikes.com

www.ncacjeans.com

www.pro-tec.net

www.sandmbikes.com

www.vans.com

OK. They don’t make widescreen Hasselblads yet.

Even if they did, it’s still not going to show just how burly Luke Gorecki is. Massive whip to flat. Check it one more time. Just to make sure you ain’t bugging...

PHOTO Nick Gascoine

120

ISSUE 29

ISSUE 29

121

Scott Lacey embracing the cold Melbourne winter.

PHOTO Zack Musarsa

122

ISSUE 29

ISSUE 29

123

Brendan Jones stepping up to one hella burly and slippery foot jam at Monster.

PHOTO Seaton Spratt

124

ISSUE 29

Got pop? Nick Hills takes the alternate route down the stairs.

PHOTO Sam Orchard

126

ISSUE 29

Get your inner Hell Stallion happening//Tony nolan

subscribe online at:

www.isubscribe.com.au Of course you can still subscribe through us with the form below!

For NZ subscriptions go to: www.emags.co.nz

Colony BMX and 2020 have teamed up to give you the chance to win Liam Fahy-HamptonÕ s signature Colony frame; the Hell Stallion.

team. In a nutshell, the Colony have upped the ante for 2008, bringing a host of new signature parts out for their ever growing whip bangers. Combining Hell Stallion is the next gen in frame design; long, low, lean and mean for all your nose wheelie and Stallion is available integrated headset and mid BB, a 20.85Ó or 21.25Ó top tube and a steep 75.5¡ head angle, the Hell warranty against brakeless or with mounts. Add to this ColonyÕ s new post heat treating process and you score a lifetime breakage to the original owner. answer the simple question.

To go in the draw to win this slick new frame, simply subscribe to 2020 with the form below and

sub subscribe IÕ m down for the chance to win a Colony Hell Stallion frame so sign me up to a subscription for a years worth of 2020bmxmagazine!

Q. Name three of ColonyÕ s Australian team riders: ________________________________________ __________________________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ One year Australian subscription (4 issues) $A30 delivered to your door! For NZ subscriptions go to: www.emags.co.nz*

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms_________ First N NAMe:__________________________ surNAMe: _______________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________ suburb: ____________________stA stAte stA Ate:_____POstCOde:______ dA dAyti Me PhONe:____________________________________ e-MAil:________________________________________________________________ PAyA yA Able ble tO 2020bmxmagazine 2020bmxmagazine (N (No o cash please!) PO bOX 498 N Ne eWt eW WtOWN NsW sW 2042 s [ ] i eNCl NC Ose A Cheque/ Cheque/MON heque/MONey MONey Order O FOr $30 PAy FO *Please remember 2020bmxmag is published 4 times a year so it can take up to 3 months to receive your first issue *Terms and Conditions 1. Information on how to enter and prizes form part of these conditions of entry. 2. Entry is open to residents of Australia only. 3. Entry is open to people who subscribe between July 19th 2008 and September 19th 2008 4. The competition will be won by the 1st correct answer drawn. 5. This competition is a game of skill. The judgesÕ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6. The winners will receive one Colony Hell Stallion frame valued at $699, not transferable nor redeemable for cash thanks to Colony. 7. The winners will be notified by mail/email or possibly by phone. 8. The competition closes September 19th 2008 with all last mail received on this date. 9. The promoter is 2020bmxmagazine!

INBOX CAN YOU PUT MY PHOTO IN? Brad Taylor, superman seatgrab PHOTO Wayne Cant

Inbox

Email, write, or paint your thoughts to us. ItÕ s simple, address it to: 2020inbox PO Box 498, Newtown, NSW 2042 or send your digital communications to bmxrules@2020bmxmag.com.au Photograpy advice I’m 15 and live in Young, NSW. I have just bought a camera off a mate so I can get into BMX, skate and motocross photography. I was wondering if you could give me some advise on how I could eventually start to make money from my photos? Anyway I hope to hear back from you guys.

Thomas Minehan Shooting pics for a living is a long road to success. That said, it can be done. Now you’ve got your camera, get out there and shoot everything you can. Find out if there’s any part time photography courses you can do locally, or better yet, does your school have it as a subject? Check out TAFE’s and possibly uni if you want to study it more. Read up in your library and on the net, and find photographers you like in books and mags and think about how they shot their pics. Slowly build you gear and get in touch with the mags that print the subjects you wanna shoot. Don’t be afraid to branch out and shoot other things, there aint anyone in Aus surviving on just shooting BMX. Check out our contributor guidelines on our website for more of an idea of what we’re looking for. Good luck on your mission!

New parks I am so excited that more and more skate parks are being built, this is such a good thing that our community of riders young and old have somewhere to ride free of hassle.

Michael Ross Yep, Australia is the lucky country, we’ve got over 1000 parks now. Whoohoo.

Broken...

Riding?

I have a bit of a concern. What happened to the old days I hear about, the days were every rider was family and if you saw another rider he was automatically your friend. BMX has become so big that every rider is judged on how high he can hop or what bike he has. I for one feel that BMX has become a contest. Buy anyway, love the mag guys its sweet, keep it up.

Thanks for the stickers lol. Oh and it would be much appreciated if this went in the new 2020 just to show riders what it used to be like. Peace.

Mitch Waters While we could get old and salty, you know what?

Nothing has changed. You only do it if it’s fun right?

Forget what anyone else says, not everyone want’s to out do every rider that turns up. You’ll find they’ll be the ones riding solo eventually...

The winners is

Local Gumby with the comp winning highest air. Word to Cooper for being the height monitor.

PHOTO Brendan Wray

Local jam I’m a local rider from Swanhill, Victoria. Just wondering if I could get a couple of shots I took from a jam we had not long ago down here put in the zine. I’m not fussed if none make it in or if they all make it. I just thought I’d send them in cause I love taking shots of the thing that keeps me going in life (BMX).

Your zine owns, keep up the sick coverage of what’s going down in the scene down under.

Brendan Wray

Over the last 28 issues weÕ ve given away almost the same number of bikes, a truckload of shoes, t-shirts, bars, hats and an almost endless amount of gear thanks to the many supporters of 2020. You cant say 2020 or all of the advertisers in this mag arenÕ t giving back.

That said, we’ve never given away a bike as dialled, or worth as much as Ryan Guettlers Mirraco Black Pearl Ltd complete. Our recent comp has a winner and his name is Shane Vesper from the nations capital. Congrats on the new ride and thanks to Mirraco for the killer prize!

128 ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

Hi my names April, but everyone calls me Tap. I’m 15 and have been riding for 3 years, on the same bike. That bike has been very tough, and reliable. But now the frame has snapped, the handlebars have been bent so it’s now totally un-usable, and the crank has pretty much taken all it can. I now need a new bike, but my parents refuse to buy me a new one and I have to save up on my own. It’ll take about a year for me to get that much money. What do you suggest I do?

April Metten Everyone has been or will go through this kind of scenario. It’s tough, but might get you motivated to save, work more, study harder all in the attempt to get you back on a bike. It can only make you stronger.

Enter the comp for the Colony frame on page 127. That’s a start!

It goes like this...

DVDÕ s are one of the most important factors in the constant progression of BMX as we know it. And if itÕ s raining outside or you got broke off on some rail, itÕ s the only thing thatÕ ll get you through time off a bike. So we came up with a plan to ensure you can always access and afford the latest and greatest riding DVDÕ s from here and around the world and stay amped on the riding experience! 2020Õ s DVD Direct mail order not only cuts the cost of DVDÕ s but we send Ô em straight to your door! Stoked.

Prices as listed INcluDING free postage in Australia!

INSIGHT RIDE BMX $29.95

GRouNDED ETNIES $49.95

Soul 31 SOUL BMX $20

FlIPSIDE RIDEBMX $29.95

RHYTHM + How To DIRT JuMP

lIVIN IN EXIlE RIDEBMX $29.95

The latest and easily the best Ride video production since Thunder follows Dakota Roche, Chester Blacksmith, Darryl Tocco, Jared Washington, Mike Brennan, and Davey Watson through the making of a video part… Some banger sections and a good vibe make this DVD one for the winter months. Dakota Roche has skills. Serious.

Once again Soul covers the world of BMX. This issue features a Melbourne scene check, Spanish road trip, North Wales scene check, Germany to the Netherlands road trip plus bio’s and coverage from a bunch of comps ranging from the Backyard jam in Sheffield England to a comp in Trutnov in the Czech Republic. All up you get 40 minutes of footage you probably won’t see anywhere else…

Probably the most anticipated DVD of the year, Grounded shows what the Etnies team has been up to since Forward. Featuring all the team riders you would expect including Taj, Joe Rich, Garrett Byrnes, Rooftop, Sergio Layos, Josh Stricker, Jamie Bestwick and Morgan Wade, as well as locations from all over the world, this DVD dosent disapoint. You also get a 50 page book full of stories and art from the team as part of the deal.

Ride’s latest DVD takes 4 hardcore NYC street riders and drops them in Greenville for a look at the protown lifestyle. Featuring big name’s like Dave Mirra, Josh Harrington and Aussie Dave Dillewaard ripping up the million dollar private indoor parks of Greenville, plus some cutting edge street from NYC. This DVD is all about uniting the fringes of BMX. You know the production will be up to Ride’s high standards, check next issue for a full review.

Ride BMX has combined two classic videos onto one DVD. Rhythm is a trails video that takes you all over the United States, including: Indiana, Ithaca, Florida, Iowa City, California, Long Island, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and many other places. How to Dirt Jump is hosted by Fuzzy Hall, and stars T.J. Lavin, Cory Nastazio, Robbie Miranda, and many others teaching you everything you need to know to become a better dirt rider.

Mike “Rooftop” Escamilla, Corey Bohan, Danny Hickerson, Will Love, Kurtis Elwell, Sergio Layos, Scotty Cranmer and Steven Lilly all blow up in the latest Ride BMX DVD. Although BMX continues to be one of the most popular of all the lifestyles, it still remains one of the weakest industries, with lower-paid professional athletes and active persecution by police, parents, security and even other sports. Why, for so little reward, do these riders still push themselves so hard? Where does inspiration come from when you are... Livin in exile

THE coME uP

How To TRANSWORLDBMX $29.95

RIDEBMX $29.95

ThE cOME Up $36.95 This DVD rocks! With full length parts from JJ Palmere, Ben Hittle, Nicky B and Steve Croteau, as well as 2 Come Up team road trips, a Shitluck road trip and sections from The Shadow Conspiracy, Coalition, Profile and Sputnic BMX. All up over an hour of killer content plus lots of bonus material.

Just staring out and want to learn how to grind or need to learn some new tricks cause the local kids getting better than you?

Grab a copy of the How To DVD and learn from a bunch of pro’s that lay it down nice and simple so you can make the steps to BMX ruler in no time!

dvddirect Get your BMX DVD fix with no mess, no fuss. Simply fill in the details below.

For Australian sales please mail a cheque to: 2020bmxmagzine, Po BoX 498, Newtown, NSw 2042 NZ sales: Paypal the $ to dvd@2020bmxmag.com.au and email your details to the same address.

Delivery MAY take uP To 21 DAYS depending on stock.

FIRST NAME _______________________________ SuRNAME ____________________________________________ ADDRESS ___________________________________________________ SuBuRB_____________________________ STATE _____________ PoSTcoDE ________ DAYTIME PHoNE _________________________________________ E-MAIl _______________________________________ [

] I enclose a cheque / money order for $_____________ payable to 2020bmxmagazine Pty ltd (No cash!)

Please tick desired box INSIGHT Soul 31 RHYTHM + DIRT JuMP THE coME uP GRouNDED FlIPSIDE lIVIN IN EXIlE How To

20 Questions DAN HUNT

20 questions Dan Hunt

Questions & Photo by Raine Turnbull

1 Name and D.O.B.?

Daniel Hunt, 1982.

11 Something you could use less of in life is?

Black Lotus, Back Bone Bmx, Stowaway Distribution, United Bikes.

An avocado.

Canberra.

14 What is your biggest fear?

Matt Hoffman on Sports World.

15 Comps or filming/shooting photos?

2 Sponsors?

3 Home town?

4 First memory of BMX?

To not be in control of my days

Filming and photos..

Style!

17 Last time you crashed on a BMX?

Pull it or break your neck style tricks like a double backie, is it really worth it?

18 Favourite place you have ever ridden?

7 Dumbest trick in BMX? 8 Best trick in BMX? The table.

9 Your favourite bike part is?

My Black Lotus sprocket of course, haha!

10 Something you could use more of in life is?

Warm sunny days.

ISSUE 29 AUGUST 2008

13 An excuse you use often is?

Not sure?

5 Where you at in 5 years?

I’ll get back to you in 5 years...

6 Style or tricks?

130

Aching body joints and flat tires.

12 Something good you all ways keep in your fridge?

16 Favourite movie?

Into The Wild

Last time I rode Hush trails

19 What was your first bmx?

First decent bike was a GT performer, Black with tuffs!!!!

20 What do you ride now?

Since I’m fortunate enough to get help from Back bone and Stowaway, I have a really nice United Trinity with a bunch of dialed parts.