2020 Issue 50

2020BMXMAG.COM.AU

WIN A UNITED

DINERO FRAME INSIDE

ISSUE 50 MARCH 2014 PEWL AN INDEPTH LOOK AT LIFE IN THE DEEP END AUS $9.95 NZ $12.95 INTO THE ABYSS | JAPAN | INTERVIEWED COCO ZURITA

issue 50 March 2014 Regular 12 eds Letter 14 news & stuff 20 Webbits 40 The Dirt 104 Behind Bars 106 reader Photos 108 new Products 112 wall Paper

Features 42 Freestyle now

Giveaways 16 United dinero frame

Interview with Shaun Jarvis.

46 Industry.au CLint Millar on the Colony Prody frame.

50 A Retrospective 50 issues down!

60 into the Abyss The high country holds a very special spot.

70 Pewls In indepth look at the deep end of Australian pools

80 Japan!

Moshi Moshi, good times in Osaka.

88 CocoZurita We caugth up with Coco while in Aus.

96 Mebourneholiday Will Herrmann loves Melbourne!

TheCrew

nittyGritty

Art/Editorial Direction Matt Holmes Design Matt Holmes, Will Herrmann, Ariel Cruz Contributors Mitch Morison, Tyson Jones-Peni, Steve Morrisey, Mike Vockenson, Lucas Comino, Gorak, Brent Johnstone, Lloyd Dean, Andy Fortini, Will Herrmann, Senrab L Gerg, Dowza, The Swooping Cardinal, Kyle Jacobson, Jack Birtles, Ariel Cruz, Dave Rubinich and a heap more crew who contribute in some way, shape or form to make this mag possible.

Photos Mitch Morison, Brendan Boeck, Tyson Jones, Ariel Cruz, Gorak, Gordon Glockenspiel, James Hornsby, Lloyd Dean, Sport The Library, Richard McGibbon, Bret Trigg, Will Herrmann, Dave Cragg, Jamie Mauri, Senrab L Gerg, John Young, Billy Brooks, Kyle Jacobson, Drew Raison, Leigh G, Dave Rubinich, Jerry Vandervalk, Matt Holmes.

Studio photography & Inspiration Tony Nolan Publishers Holmes & Mike D Dubdubdub 2020bmxmag.com.au Become part of the mag Every issue more crew get themselves involved in the evolution of 2020, 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. Editorial and photographic contributions are more than welcome. Send a stamped self-addressed envelope if requiring return of slides or otherwise. And label it good cause piles of slides, DVD’s and photos with no names or details on ‘em get lost quick. Same goes for emailing or uploading, on that hit up our website for the run down on becoming part of the mag: http://2020bmxmag.com.au/info/contribute

Correspondence and competition entries to

2020bmxmagazine, PO Box 498 Newtown NSW 2042 or email bmxrules@2020bmxmag.com.au * Competitions only open to Australian residents. Sorry world!

Advertising info Advertising rates and info available upon request: sales@2020bmxmag.com.au 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.

2020bmxmagazine is proudly printed in Australia by Offset Alpine Printing www.offsetalpine.com.au Distributed in Australia by Network Services For bike shop sales in Australia hit up 0415 585 243 or email sales@2020bmxmag.com.au Distributed in New Zealand by Netlink Change of address? subs@2020bmxmag.com.au Check out the digital version of 2020 on your iPad now at https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/2020-bmx-magazine/ id574592130?mt=8

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On This Page Ryan Dawson handplanting one wild setup deep in the south NSW coast bush. Photo Mitch Morison

Eds letter 50 issues

The big

Five-o Words Holmes A one off mag back in 1998 has continued to roll out of the collective heads of so many talented people and off the printing press 50 times. I’m quietly amazed, definitely very proud and seriously stoked to have been able to put so much back into something that has given me so much over the years.

Looking back through the issues brings back so many memories. The stories, the photos, the fuck ups, the events and the amazing times, they all make up what 2020 was, is and will be. I’ve always wanted to showcase just how good the crew in this country are at riding bike’s, shooting photos and expressing themselves off the bike in all sorts of wild ways.

This issue takes a retrospective look at where we’ve come from alongside some amazing content from all around this crazy country and even Japan.

I’m so stoked to have been able to take this journey and create something I can look back on and feel real pride in doing. When so many told me it couldn’t be done, making it to 50 is one way of proving many wrong, but moreso proving that when we have a dream, not much can stand in the way.

Dream big, work out how to make it happen and do it. Simple really.

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WIN AN ETNIES X FIT BIKE CO. BIKE S I M P LY P U R C H A S E A N Y E T N I E S I T E M F R O M A N A U T H O R I S E D E T N I E S R E TA I L E R , SEND A COPY OF YOUR RECEIPT TO : ETNIES FIT BIKE COMPETITION 1/ 13 DYMPNA ST. CROMER 2099 AND BE ENTERED TO WIN AN ETNIES X FIT BIKE CO. BIKE ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 31, 2014

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&

News & Stuff dirT And nOTHing else

DANEJJam

The

Photos Brendan Boeck

Hillfire trails played host to the second annual dirt and nothing else Jam in memory of the late, great dane searls.

Thanks to the crew at BackBone BMX, friends, family and a whole bunch of the countries best trail slayers hit up Stromlo Forest Park for the day that plays tribute to Dane. Many a train and many a smile went down.

Collin, Ryan and Angus

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Russell Brindley with Rhysty close behind

News & Stuff dirT And nOTHing else Russell Brindley

Biffin

Tyson

Russell Brindley

15

News & Stuff On THe COver

making his way onto issue 50’s cover and surorunded by arguably the best riders in Australian history is Benn pigot at Five dock.

Ariel Cruz proving you need to wait for the right light!

Photo

spec’s

Shooter: Ariel Cruz Rider: Benn Pigot

Camera: Canon 5D MKIII Shutter: 1/250th

ISO: 400 Aperture: f/5

Lens: EF 7-/200mm f/2.8 Lighting: 3 x random flashes.....

unitedDinerogiveaway united’s Australian distributor stowaway has hooked us up with a slick dinero frame to giveaway to one lucky reader. Has TCu ever done that for you? Highly doubtful. lets hear it for the Aus scene giving back!

United’s Dinero frame is an ultra responsive street frame packed with features like investment cast dropouts that create a stronger, smoother rear end and of course is ridden by the Uniteds Australian team shredder, the one and only Jack Birtles.

To get your hands on this sweet frame, all you’ve got to do is impress Jack, which is pretty easy for some to do and extremely hard to do for others.

We’re looking for a photo that showcases style and versatility, originality and straight up riding goodness.

Jack will pick the winner and we’ll announce it on the 2020 website on the 1st of May 2014 and we’ll up all the shots that are worthy!

Get your photo entry in by the 31st of April to: dinero@2020bmxmag.com.au We’re looking forward to checking out the pics!

Photo Tony Nolan

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- WWW.TRIPLESIX.COM.AU

X-Up Pegs to Hard 360, Dallas TX

SCOTT DITCHBURN

Photo: Tristan Afre

News & Stuff rideOn X rAmpFesT

RideOnxRampfest in what is one of the biggest moves in BmX on these shores, Brisbane’s rideOn has taken on the iconic rampfest park. we caught up with steve morrisey to get the lowdown on the new partnership.

OK, so how and when did this massive deal begin to happen?

So when the original Owner was looking to move on (a year or so ago), I personally looked at the option of taking it on, although the new RideOn Park in Brisbane was about to open a week later and I had a newly born daughter so it was going to be a push on a time scale, plus there was a few things we heard with the original owner that rubbed a bit of the shine off. Fast forward a year and a half, our partner for Rampfest Chris Bierton who runs a slew of events, coaching and comps and who we have worked with and supported with Core for years was in Melbourne. He dropped in to see Sam and Jessie (the guys who we have taken it off) about expanding the Core series into Melbourne.

It just came up in conversation that they were keen to focus more on Fist Handwear, their company and then Chris jumped on the phone to me and proposed the idea after a few trips down and a bunch of work and coordinating now three months later we are here..

Rampfest’s reputation as being the first indoor BMX park makes it a little piece of Australian history. You must be stoked to have the opportunity to keep this going?

We definitely are! And like RideOn in Brisbane, Bmx is our first priority, so it’s kinda nice to have a park with the same ideal in Melbourne. While we have toyed with opening another RideOn at a few locations, this was a rad choice as we could do the shop/park straight away not just the shop..

Is there thoughts on redesigning the park at all, or just leaving it as is?

Our Intention is to redesign some aspects of the park. At first it will be little tweaks and mods and fixing a few things which as you read this should already be done. The second is to expand the outdoor street area and there is an opportunity for trails. But that will rely on time, as to do that right you need to grow it organically with the crew who are regulars. The current setup has proven to be world standard there’s no need to rip it down and start again. Rampfest is an amazing park so some tweaks more than big changes will go a long way..

RideOn has obviously kicking along pretty well for you to consider taking on another park?

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To be straight up, we work our arse off and have always put it all on the line, without crapping on about a tired old story, if every kid decided to buy local then you would see a few more pop up around Australia. Plus more events and jams and support. It’s always been a passion of mine 100%, so i haven’t gotten tired of putting in the face time and the work to do the best I can. I definitely don’t make a killing and my family put everything into our business which can sometimes feel ridiculous but we know this has a great potential to continue to be a stable in the

Melbourne and Ausralian scene. And also a rad Bmx store that crew who live south of Queensland can get to and hook up their ride. Plus having another door down south should cut down shipping time to our online orders.

It seems park riding is still the dominant player in Australian BMX, do you see this as true?

I do. In Australia anyway and this is my reasoning.

For our countries size and population we aren’t a massive urban enviroment, there’s thousands of crew that live in suburbs and towns rather than concrete city jungles. Most towns in Australia have a skatepark but apart from the major CBD’s there isn’t the same amount of street terrain as say the USA or Europe. For this reason I know park will always be a big form of the Australian Bmx scene.

Every trail and street rider out there pretty much started learning to drop in and flying out at the local skatepark then probably decided to search some schools or pick up a shovel and dig, but still probably hit a park every now and then. Also just look at the park riders from here, we have some of, if not the best, so you gotta give credit to the fact that its a dominant force. That said, Brisbane RideOn has a strong street vibe and we sell a ton of street inspired frames, wheels pegs, etc. If its freestyle its cool by me..

Obviously you can’t be in both places at once.

Who have you got onboard to be a part of your now expanding empire?

As mentioned before, Chris Bierton is the man on the ground in Melbourne. He is running the park and shop and I’m racking up some frequent flyer points every few weeks to co-ordinate and work with Chris. He has an amazing work ethic and attention to detail and as far as bringing both parks forward the fit is seamless. Modern day technology plays a massive part compared to 5 or so years ago, you can skype and view anything and everything from security cameras to tills to websites and stock so we know it will be a bit of a setup period but our goal is to have both stores work in sync with each other. So if the Rampfest store doesn’t have the colour Profile hub you’re after, Brisbane might and we can ship it to Melbs or straight to your door. If the Melbourne staff can’t sort the question or problem, then the boys in Brisbane can tag in, it should make the level of service much higher. As for the staff, we have a few solid dudes who ride already working there and one of them is Brett Trigg, who is well know for filming work so expect some rad visuals to come from our doors.

So with two BMX focussed parks, is there thoughts of a series of events to showcase the parks and the riders?

Already in the works! We have a Shadow Coffin jam scheduled in both parks the 22nd of Feb in Brisbane and 1st of March in Melbourne, plus Chris is already aiming to expand the Core series interstate, so

we’re hoping 2014 is the year for some decent events for Bmxers to head to, even if not ride to hang out and roadtrip. I don’t think I am the only one that realises the Australian event scene is in dire need of some love, so if your reading this you should make the effort and get to every event you can be it street or park or dirt, with cash prizes or no prizes. We need crew to get off Vital and TCU and get out there and get involved with BMX in this country, not just wait till the new Overseas comp edit drops, we need to create our own scene.

Beyond simply running events, Chris has been a big player in coaching. Is program along those lines on the cards?

I have run coaching from RideOn park since it opened with Mike Daly. We were the first FBMX accredited coaches in Oz. Chris is next level when it comes to this, he is working on a national rollout for coaches and crew all over the country. It makes so much sense to support this avenue as the grass roots are the next generation of riders that will hold this scene and industry together, so were going to focus on that and push that out through our two parks and into the rest of the country. With a bit of luck and careful planning it will be a great thing for 2014..

Shop wise, will the Rampfest/RideOn location be a full blown shop or just sorting out little bits and pieces for riders needing tubes and cables?

The Rampfest shop is a fully stocked store, from Profile hubs to a rad selection of the best completes, shoes, clothes, parts you name it. There is a good scene that use Rampfest and around Melbourne areas, so everyone has been super psyched on the shop being stocked and full of the gear they want at prices that are right. If you haven’t checked it out in a while, head down and check the shop. Like Brisbane, we get a bunch of crew that come for the shop not just to ride and thats how we see Rampfest x RideOn working as well. We will also be looking at expanding the shop team, so that will be rad to get some interstate blood into RideOn flying the flag.

Will the two parks stay under different names or will you combine the two to RideOn? RideOn Brissy is the same and we will keep Rampfest as the name, it has a lot of heritage and history, but there will be “RideOn Bmx store” in Rampfest. All facebooks and instagrams are the same, and the website for the shop is still www. rideonbmx.com.au and www.rampfest.com.au Any thoughts on Sydney, your old hometown? A park there? If there’s any place that needs a good indoor park it’s here!

You never know! If you can find us a location that isn’t a million dollars in rent then hit me up. I would love to hear from anyone with a look in on location as thats the big hurdle. Would be a good excuse to build some indoor trails and visit friends and family in Sydney….

News & Stuff ediT OF THeyeAr !

The best

Webedits of 2013 www.2020BMXMAG.com.au/?p=7037

2013 was a massive year, especially for Australian BmX. Over the 12 months that was, the level of edits coming our way from local crew was ridiculous. so much so that we figured why not celebrate with our list of the best edits of the year just gone. Think of it as a way to recognise the talent and vision from both the sides of the lens that defined BmX in 2013 on these shores via the internet.

With an assorted crew of 2020 contributors and friends onboard to sift through the hours of edited footage, the selection process was a tough one. Trawling backwards through hundreds of pages on the 2020 site, Focal Point, Diversity, Vimeo and YouTube was a mission. But that is dwarfed by the work put in by those making it. So much effort goes into this new media it’s pretty staggering when you think about it. The hours filming, getting booted from spots, breaking gear, sitting in front of a computer piecing it together, sweating song choice, hard drive malfunctions, let alone the time and sweat put in is ludicrous. Especially when you realise so much of it is done for nothing, and the edit itself, no matter how good it may be is quickly swallowed up in the unstoppable tide of new edits dropping almost every hour.

With a criteria loosely based on the quality of riding, filming, editing, creativity, stick in your memory and popularity, after much debate and back and forth we came up with this list. The results are in no particular order, as we figure making the top ten is achievement enough, and the discussion on the order would still be going on next year..… The Australian edits of 2013 are:

Fit Bike Co Beechy By a whole lotta dudes we figure….

Blackout By Jack Birtles

About time that we got to see something from this dude. I have heard so much about this guy and his riding abilities from many people, so I was pretty excited to watch this, maybe that’s why I remember this. There was some pretty retarded clips in this, the massive wall-ride was so sick and also, the song was pretty sick, not really memorable but accompanied the riding perfectly. Beechy has such a unique wildman style too, I love it. Apparently he has been filming more shit for Gray’s DVD which will be so amazing. Mike V

Had to choose a Birtles edit, he consistently releases amazingly produced edits, something that is lacking in BMX. Isn’t it strange that in BMX (and all action sports) the filmer is also the editor, think about how retarded that would be in bigger production pieces. Anyway, this edit seems like one big mix of awesome riding, party times and general good vibes. Mike V

Downlow Tall shadow By Calvin Kosovich Calvin is a workhorse (although he doesn’t want you to think that) and the dudes over in Perth fucking shred. The concept behind this edit is cool and something that isn’t really done all that much. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to organise and make purely night time riding happen. Dope editing and filming and accompanied by a killer song. Awesome work to everyone involved. Mike V

Division Anton Ayres

By Raphael Jeroma William’s, Nathan Seeley, Jack Birtles, Carraig Troy and Mason Ainsworth I might be getting biased voting in a friend here, But Antons Division vid kills it.

Prove me wrong. Big and tech and tech and big and is doing shit people haven’t done yet, thats always been whats dope. eLC

Anchor BMX vic Bowls Trip By Flagz Loved this. I definitely prefer to watch cutting edge street riding, but the vibe of this edit (moreso a video), is amazing. I think Flagz produced/filmed it which is probably why it’s so good. I loved the raw, country-esque feel created through the lifestyle shots and song choice. Definitely made me want to be on the trip and I remembered this badboy as a result. Mike V

Into the City By Cooper Brownlee Quality filming! Top marks for low light street shooting, awesome time-lapse’s and an ultra crisp and clean feel. A lotta work put in here from concept to post. For free on the line too…. eLC

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Flawless camera work and the best post production from Mr Jirtles. Put this in the mix with crazy partying action and a great crew vibe of friends and you’ve got a memorable vid and not some ring in vid of guys pretending to be mates cause they’re on a team like I see too often. May also contain bush turkey… eLC

Nothings Wrong Old Fashioned By Greg and Flagz The only other contender for this top ten production was their trailer with the fishes. Now I chose this simply cause you can’t fake cool! And this vid is the coolest.

Street-street riding not park rat street riding. Dudes put in work for this and then put a full vid straight online for free. All sections are spot on cause these dudes weren’t doing the latest and greatest, but were using their heads at spots and doing different shit. And waddayaknow? It’s refreshing. Great choice of tracks that suit and grimy points leave a vibe that can’t be duplicated. Job done! eLC

Etnies x Tora Sumi Benn pigot By John Young Best golden hour vid I’ve seen with great colour and Benn’s massive style for miles at Five Dock. Bit iconic just quietly. Big, fast and big’s usually not my style but tastefully done and it came off perfect, short and sweet. eLC

Afray mixtape 2013 By Jack Birtles and John Young John on colour grade, Jack on film and edit. Anyway, two of the best get together and make a dope vid with good tracks, shot well, the whole nine. Plus it has Raph the bush turkey in it which is always a bonus. eLC (

Jared Carter Fit Bike Co By Scott Greentree This comes to mind as one of my favourite edits of 2013 as its just so badass. Music is fitting, production is nice and simple, plus the riding is bullshit good. Mitch Morison

e m o c l e W y l i m e fa to th

Todd Meyn

Brandon Loupos

SHOP NOW AT FOXHEAD.COM.AU

News & Stuff

Crunching thenumbers

with all the looking back at old issues going on, we figured why not do some counting......

CrunCHing THe numBers

50

5528

DVDs produced, but another one coming real soon...

Printed pages of Australian BMX!

301790

39 Bikes given away.

Dollars in contributor payments (give or take two grand, I didn’t keep a record of issue 1….).

50 issues, but you knew that.

58

4

6

Riders rocked multiple covers.

1240 1235 Posts on the 2020 website.

10423

Riders made the cover.

Likes on Facebook.

Easily the most meaningful number on this page that is such a reflection of life in 2014!

Benn Pigot whipped at 5Dock! Photo Ariel Cruz

Harovintage

Haro is bringing the history of freestyle back to reality with their amazingvintage sport and master series.

www.HAROBIKES.com

The steep curve in the progression of freestyle riding in the early 1980’s gave rise to a relentless flow of radical new inventions. With the release of the Haro Freestyler in 1982, Haro had set the standard for innovation, with a concept that would energize the scene and launch Freestyle BMX into the main stream. But in the spring of 1984, another breakthrough moment in the history of our incredible sport would come to pass.

In the winter of 1983, Bob Haro welcomed a fourteen-year-old, Californian skate park prodigy named Mike Dominguez to his freestyle team. Mike D had risen through the ranks of the Vans team in the early 1980’s. During his first months at Haro, Dominguez met with company head, and designer in chief Bob Haro to discuss an exciting new concept that would help to reinvent and redefine the future of vert riding. That concept would become the Haro Sport; the very first dedicated vertical trick bike. Within a month, Dominguez was seen blasting eight feet plus on an early prototype, known in folklore as the “Single Top tube Sport”. In April/May of ‘84, Haro unveiled the Haro Sport as the Mike Dominguez 84 Haro Sport Mike Dominiguez tribute

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signature model and Mike would become the first marketable athlete in the history of Freestyle BMX. The combination of Mike’s talent, and the vision and creative flair of Bob Haro had delivered a masterpiece. The Haro Sport would become the weapon of choice for the most advanced vert riders on the planet including future Haro stars Ron Wilkerson and Mat Hoffman.

In celebration of this milestone, Haro Bikes is proud to release the 1984 Haro Sport Mike Dominguez tribute bike. Built closely to the specifications that Mike rode back in the day, this bike becomes one of a series of iconic Haro models that will be released through the vintage program that include 24 and 26 inch 84 Master replicas. The Vintage Series Master cruisers available in both 24” and 26” wheel sizes. Legit 80’s detailing includes dropouts, headtube gusset, forks, and original diameter tubing, all made with 100% full chromoly tubing. As a special bonus, Haro has teamed up with Skyway to produce a limited edition Tuff Wheels 24” version complete with exclusive blue anodized flanges. Limited numbers will make it to Australia, so hit up your Haro dealer if you want a little piece of history….

24” 84 Haro Master Vintage

News & Stuff On THe rOAd

Bodhi

Jordy

Alisha

Chris

Tom

Rod

Baz

Jakob

Journey of Strangers

Dan

Words and photos gorak

The riding way crew and few more cats get their tour on....

Kip

It must be about 30 degrees out side and the Sun has some serious bite today. This is amplified by a sharp stinging in my already burnt arm that is currently resting, fat-arming if you like, comfortably on the window sill as I strike up a conversation with a traffic controller. A crew of hard workers are making improvements on the road between Canberra and Australia’s East Coast and the thick smell of fresh, hot tar fills our VY Commodore. With a flick of his wrist, the sign was turned from stop to slow and now we are following a worksite approved escort through the rejuvenated winding path. Our progress has been slowed substantially and it occurs to me that this is the first time such a slow pace has been set on our weekend’s adventure.

FLoyd

Rewind 4 days and I was peeling my eyes open after just an hour’s sleep. I cracked the driver’s door and let the cool, crisp air slap me in the face. My phone read about 5:30am and I could see the Sun was eager to show it’s glorious face and the hills beside our rest stop were calling my name, like Sirens from the islands in the open seas drawing me, with my old faithful Bronica, to the top of the nearest rock covered rise. Reds, blues, purples, golds and all matter of hues came out to play in an ever-changing visual orgasm that had me in full grasp. An enticing dance from Mother Nature herself was now setting the stage and raising the bar for what we could expect on this, our first annual Riding Way Road Trip.

Connor

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Todd Rutherford

The sharp sting that results after a perfect collision of open hands, high above two peoples heads is now becoming a regular occurrence. Excited cheers and laughter are also filling the air like tribes leading into battle only, we’re just arriving at new concrete playgrounds.

Jakob

Todd

News & Stuff On THe rOAd

Kip ‘Chip’ Bundy at Weston Creek

Through the brilliant persuasion from one young man’s mother, it became apparent to me that more people, from all walks of life, needed to be invited along, creating an opportunity for everyone to be involved in the road-trip culture of BMX. As you can imagine, I had my fears that no-one would get along and we’d have arguments and fights the whole trip. I could not have been any more wrong.

Ages spanning more than 30 years and with riders from all different backgrounds meant there was always going to be a different and intriguing view of the places we rode and with the open mind we all seemed to have, everyone got pumped on everyone else.

everyone was tired, sore, sunburnt, bleeding or all of the above and yet spirits were still so very high.

Kip

“ARGH, how do I get this bike off the rack?” Yet again, the number plate, or the straps, or a pedal, or a peg, or something else annoying had grabbed hold of my bike and was struggling with all its might to slow my approach to the fresh new concrete or gravel BMX track. Steep, sharp and curvy concrete sculptures are to some I’m sure, an accident waiting to happen and they’re probably right. The same theory would accompany someone from the conservative general population if they were to stumble upon one of our country’s fine BMX race tracks, all loaded with loose gravel surfaces, steep concrete start ramps and large, rolling mounds of dirt stacked in a way to encourage leaving the safety of the ground and tempting fate in order to jump the often huge distance between two piles of rough looking earth. As I’m sure you know, this is all but excitement builders and for most of the people reading my words here today, is actually creating some sort of itch to put these great 2020 papers down and go ride your bike.

Jordy the sleeper

Todd Rutherford

Even as pure exhaustion was kicking in as our first annual road trip was drawing to an end, we all had enough energy to motivate each other and wipe out any negativity that tried to present its ugly face. Everyone was tired, sore, sunburnt, bleeding or all of the above and yet spirits were still so very high. It was extraordinary just how well we all mixed and worked together for an entire trip. It’s something we will do again. Come out and join us.

We’re pumped to help organize these trips and it’s only made better by your attendance.

Jordy

Search us out and show your interest for the next one. So far, we’re looking at Tasmania... Sounds fricken amazing huh? See you there!

Baz getting his tuck on in Geelong.

Todd Rutherford

Todd Rutherford

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News & Stuff HOme grOwn

Australian born&bred Home grown frames and parts are becoming a reality.

Not content with manufacturing overseas or simply buying from a ditributor, we are seeing the beginnings of an Australian industry building what we ride.

IndustrailTTframe www.INDUSTRAIL.net

A conversation some time back must’ve sparked some creative fire, this frame the result.

Industrail’s Elliot Barber is a master-craftsman when it comes to metal fabrication. So when a conversation about a double top tube frame in reference to a RL20II with modern day geo went down over a brew or two, and the general problematic nature of building such a bike became apparent, he didn’t shy away from the challenge. The result is one seriously beautiful frame that brings modern day spec to an old school icon. While it’s not on the cards for any more of these to make their way into riders hands, Elliot has hand built Hoon 20.75” frames to go right now. Check them out at www.industrail.net

InputBmXhubs www.INPUTBMX.com

The crew at melbourne’s input BmX have been busy over the last months. stepping up their game from sprockets, pegs and stems to something thats been rarely attempted on these shores. Hubs.

At present the front and rear hubs are in the prototype stages but being run by the Input team and a few others. Inside the cassette is a 4 pawl engagement mechanism that at present are using off the shelf pawls, but production models will see Input make those along with the driver and hub body. The only thing not produced in their workshop will be the bearings, which are Japanese NSK numbers which are far superior in both rolling and durability that the Chinese bearings that basically every company in BMX uses, regardless of the hub price. The chromoly axles are gun drilled on InNput’s old WW2 Pratt and Whitney gun drilling machine which was recently restored, then heat treated and black oxidised. Male and female rear axle models will be available along with hub guards to match as well. At the moment only 36 holes are in the pipeline, but there is talk of a small run of 48’s as well. As far as finishes go, expect anodised colours, polished and camo wrap, with different wraps later on. If all testing of the proto’s goes well, you can expect to see them in production by September this year. We’re more than looking forward to getting on a pair!

Check out Input BMX here: http://inputbmx.com And read up on them here: http://2020bmxmag.com.au/?p=6926

26

News & Stuff kgp

KingsghettoPark Story Brutus Photos Gordon G.

sick of your local park or spot? it might be time to build your own spot like south new south wales coast shredder Brutus.

Hey it’s Brutus and I’m back with my new ghetto park the K.G.P the Kings Ghetto Park not because I’m the king of making ghetto parks but because of where I live, Kings Point. When I say new you may have seen the article on my old one which I relocated and redesigned due to disrespectful people ie Arson, ply thiefs and the council planning to build a walk/bike path right next to it. So it was time to start fresh.

So with a rail and a wall ride in hand I set out to build a new park the idea was simple build a quarter to banks either side and work from there. First I needed pallets and there’s something like 40 plus pallets in this park which going to work at 5 in the morning made it easy to “collect” them so as the pallets grew so did the park. The quarter to bank is made from pallets shaped into a rough transition then layered with about a foot of dirt with a ply quarter in the middle while digging this section I managed to dig up a few funnel webs with one walking up my shoe before I noticed it just a bit to close to death for me. From there it was about designing the place to flow, having lines in and out of the quarter/bank section, there is a box in the middle that has a euro on one side and the rail on the other side for the lefties you have the spine to go to and righties have the ledge. Up the other end is the hip to wall ride/mini section the transitions are just pallets at a angle with batons across them to create the transitions then ply on top.

So after a little over a year of shovelling dirt hammering nails and drilling screws I was done with one thing left to do and that’s ride I’ve also added a bmx rope swing and now stage one is done on to trails. I’d like to thank my wife Hayley for all your support an putting up with the dirty socks love you my sponsor Pure Bikes Co for giving us a go, to all those “donated” pallets and my trusty shovel and pick for all the digging. So this is my little oasis in the bush free of little kids and scooters but just watch the snakes funnel webs and scorpions though.

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News & Stuff AmigOs! Kev and someones sister...

Photo James Hornsby

Thankyou

Amigos www.AMIGOSOFHOLMES.com

To have friends come together is always amazing. Close friends, friends you’ve not seen for a while and ones you’ve yet to meet all coming together to help my little battle with rogue cancer cells is a very special feeling.

Heading up to the jam, I was finding it hard to accept the idea of such generosity. Almost as hard as it is to accept you’ve got cancer. So to make it to Jindalee for the Amigos Jam may just be the highlight of my 2013. Meeting new faces, catching up with long lost friends and just basking in the goodness that is a BMX day out was so good.

It’s easy to slip into a negative headspace when the cloud of cancer is forever hanging over your every thought, but a day in the sun watching so many generations of BMX shred together with a smile is more healing than any treatment will ever be.

Treatment is draining, on all fronts, mentally, physically, time itself and of course financially. The costs for treatment keep piling up. Then the time out of work and everyday expenses don’t stop cause I’ve had to.

So for your generosity and empathy, I’ll forever be thankful to all the individuals and companies who have looked out for a friend.

Matt Holmes Damien Kluver launching off the not so good for long jump kicker....

Photo James Hornsby

30 20

News & Stuff TiCks!

Trailswarning Story & photo by Lloyd Dean

There are many things lying in wait at your trails that can cause you serious harm, so what do you think is the most dangerous? Front wheel case to scorpion face-grinder? no, isn’t that a powerviolence band? super sketchy four pegged street guy? no, he’s only a danger to himself. ross river and dengue Fever from mosquitos breeding in the foul, stagnant pond you’ve been using as a water source? Close but no cigar.

Ticks. These parasitic arachnid bastards are the most dangerous thing at the trails.

Before you head out for a dig or ride I am going to give you the information you need to know about them and the danger they pose to your health. Got your paying attention New Era on?

Ticks and potential health problems: Likely to be found in loose leaf litter and tall grass, ticks carry pathogens like bacteria and viruses which, if you are bitten, may transfer from the tick into your body making Necroticism - Descanting The Insalubrious your reality. In other words a tick bite has the potential to cause severe, possibly long-term illness. Given your trails are probably hidden away in the bush amongst said long grass and leaf litter not to mention frequented by wildlife like kangaroos which carry the ticks then you have to acknowledge that you are at risk of tick bites while riding.

There are many tick-borne infections. You may have heard of Lyme Disease, correctly named Borreliosis which is caused by a bacteria named Borrelia. More often than not when someone contracts this disease they also are infected with the other types of pathogen the tick was carrying. Bartonella, Babesia and Mycoplasma among the most common. Damage to the brain, immune system, Central Nervous System, heart, joints, eyes and skin among others may occur. Treatment for these infections is usually Antibiotics but can be complicated so think a year or more before you can ride properly again. I hope you bought that Road Fools box set.

Not nice right? Lets do some prevention.

Prevention While your probably aware of what a typical tick looks like with its large body and small legs you need to be aware that ticks can actually look like very tiny spiders only just visible right up close with your eye. These are nymph or “baby” ticks and are just as dangerous if not more so. Their small size makes them hard to spot so look carefully.

Look for ticks attached to you or your clothes. Ticks inject an anaesthetic when biting so you’re not going to feel anything. Check everywhere on your body. Check your clothes especially the seams.

Your ankles are the first place likely to get bitten. This because ticks crawl onto you from the ground up. Buy some long socks and pull them up grandpa-spec.

You’ll look like Mike Muir and help deter the ticks from going any further when they find no skin to latch onto.

Treat leaf litter, long grass and similar areas with care. Throwing that gravedigger full of leaves at your mates face is mildly amusing but finding a tick embedded in your scalp is not. Cut pathways out with a shovel instead of creating them by repeated foot traffic.

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No sideways foot sweeps to clean the run in. Yes I know everyone has done this a million times but just use a broom instead. An ODI Longneck fits on most brooms so get yours dialled then there’s no excuse.

Insect repellent. Serious stuff containing DEET is available from the chemist. The Tropical Strength Aerogard you’ve been using for mosquitos isn’t going to do shit.

Coverage on your feet and legs is important. Read the instructions thoroughly before you bathe in it. If your super paranoid, Permethrin is available to treat your clothes.

Tweezers. While your at the chemist get some eyebrow tweezers from the cosmetics section or just steal your girlfriends or sisters. These are used to remove the tick. Keep them in your bag. You can also buy specific tick removal tools online, see below for removal how-to.

Unfortunately sometimes all of the above will fail leaving you with a tick attached.

What’s next?

Bitten? What to do.

Important note: Not all ticks carry the pathogens that will make you sick. If you are bitten it does not mean you are going to become seriously ill but you need to be aware of what to look for in case.

Remove and keep the tick. Do not stick your arm in the microwave, burn the tick with a lighter or try to use vaseline to “slip” it out. Do not squeeze the body, the tick will regurgitate its gut contents into you! Remove the tick ASAP using tweezers, as close to the skin as possible, to grab the head and pull. Keep the tick. An old film canister works or a zip lock bag. Take a photo of it. This is so if things turn to shit you can say “look, this is what bit me” and possibly have it tested for pathogens.

Watch for symptoms. Any sort of rash anywhere not just around the area you were bitten. Severe tiredness. Sores on skin. Flu like symptoms. Unexplained pins and needles or a buzzing feeling in limbs. Muscle or nerve twitches. Joint pains. Take photos of any rashes or any other visible symptoms.

See a doctor. If you get any of the above you need to see a doctor ASAP. You will know if something is wrong, if your doctor thinks otherwise trust your gut feeling and go elsewhere. It is not going to cure itself. Immediate, correct treatment is important.

I have given the above advice based on personal experience but I’ll state the obvious and say I am not a doctor! Wanting to remain independent I am hesitant to make recommendations if you need more information or are worried about possible symptoms from a past tick bite, but a quick Australia only Google search for “Lyme Disease” will land you in the right spot.

I hope that if you were oblivious to the dangers of ticks then you have learned something to put into practical use. Stay safe out there and please use your newly gained windfall from avoiding expensive medical treatment to build that custom Trailboss, all black.

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News & Stuff Xup! Andy Buckworth wil be firing hard off the back of the endless Nitro Circus touring. Photo Sport the Library

XupFestival

This years easter’s long weekend see’s what is shaping up to be the biggest bike event of the year.

www.XUPFESTIVAL.com.au

X up is back, now at it’s home in Greenvalleys Mountain Bike Park on the south coast of New South Wales. With building already well underway, the courses are already looking epic. Over the weekend both BMX dirt and freeride MTB events will take place on separate courses tailored to the riding that will be thrown down. The trails they’ve designed for the 2020 BMX dirt comp are amazing for both pro and am riders, so don’t go thinking it’s all about the top guys if you’re thinking about entering!

With $5000 up for grabs in BMX alone, the competition is going to be fierce and word has it Andy Buckworth and Jaie Toohey are already locked in. The whole weekend is non stop action with downhill racing, MTB slopestyle, dual slalom, best trick, and a heap more side events. With a pump track in the camp ground and more to ride off the main courses plus a Saturday night that see’s a music festival headlined by hip hop crew Jackie Onasis, it’s an event not to miss. We’re pretty stoked about this whole deal and so stoked to be a part of it. Make sure you get yourself packed and down to Greenvalleys for the party, we need more independent events like this!

Last years Xup set up was massive and looks to be dwarfed by this years event. Photo Richard McGibbon

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NEWS & Stuff kAlgOOrlie pT 2

Kalgoorlie A Story By: Andy Fortini

Part 2: The arrival.

OUR INTREPID CREW HEAD INTO THE WILD WEST TO SHOWCASE BMX IN KALGOORLIE, OF COURSE IT GETS WEIRD AND WILD WITH KIM BLLODSON IN CHARGE....

After checking into the hotel and dragging the behemoth of a PA into the safety of the hotel room is was time to get stuck into the food budget the bossman had hooked us up with. $200 each goes a long way when you split cartons between you. The bottle shop was only a short pedal down the road.

After a day of sitting cramped in Gemima restrained by a seatbelt, the body was relieved to finally put my feet on pedals. The blood got pumping, curbs were jibbed and a carton of Melbourne Bitter purchased. Good start. Food was next on the agenda. while sitting around the hotel room we decided convenience should triumph over quality on this occasion. we wandered on foot back up the street to the pub adjacent to the bottle shop we had already visited a half hour earlier. It was buffet night and we stuck out like the resident skimpy bar maids cellulite in the desolate tavern. We were to find out later that this particular bar, The Star and Garter, was regarded by most residents as the seediest establishment in town. Naturally we had been drawn there twice in our first hour in town. The buffet was awkward, the waitress wasted no energy making us feel welcome but it didn’t fuss any of us. We needed food, they had food. After the bland yet satisfying meal we migrate to the slightly less awkward area surrounding the main bar to admire the imported talent. I am in no way against the augmentation of breast but i feel like a certain level of subtlety and common sense is mandatory in the the decision about size and placement of implants. The breast on tonights skimpy had me speechless, they stuck out 6 inches in front of the hastily applied fake tan on her chest. Personal taste is such a subjective thing, credit where credit is due i thought.

I may not have been a fan of her gravity defying DD sized mammarys but it certainly was a sight to see. i spent some time pondering what i had seen as i watched two drunk, middle aged kiwi men fall helplessly amongst the pool tables. Long shifts and fast drinking aren’t a coherent mix i thought as i took a swig of ice marinated with Jack Daniels and cola served by our new scandalously clad friend.

Everyone has different limits and everyone need to be well aware of their own. If you find yourself using a thrashed out pool table as a crutch to remain vertical you may have well overstepped that mark.

Our escape from the Star and Garter was hastily executed as soon as we finished the second round of drinks. a group of young maori miners tried to make idle conversation on our way out, we paid them no mind and headed back to the hotel where we had organised to meet up with an old room mate of Bloodson’s. Paddy was a good human. i had met him briefly once before and had fond memories of a good night. he had been living in kalgoorlie for a few years and had acquired us some essential supplies. Another visitor was due also. The bossman had lined up a few of the Kalgoorlie locals to ride with us in the demos. Over the past few years I have gotten to know a few of the Kalgoorlie locals. They were a wild bunch. All of them possessed a powerful individual identity to the extent they where almost caricatures of themselves.

They stood out as vital exceptions to the norms of Kalgoorlie.

It’s a refreshing notion in these parched lands. People who are themselves, actual people. Cozza is a strange dude. I can appreciate that. He’s always down to have a good time. it wasn’t long after we return to the hotel room that our guests, both locals who had no idea who each other were, arrived in quick succession. Paddy wandered into our room in a daze. “They actually let you stay here Kim?” he asked while peering through ginger dreadlocks, inspecting the room.

He’d lived with Bloodson years ago. They would spend hours digging and shaping the dirt in the backyard to create a fun size set of trails. A backyard that would be a wet dream to any 15 year old Bmx rat. Old habits die hard and within the few hours since we had checked in the room already smelt of unwashed feet. Reprieve was due. as soon Paddy opened

36

his back pack the whole atmosphere of the room changed.

A sweet, pungent aroma wafted through the room bringing happiness as it shot straight up the olfactory nerve and soaked into the frontal lobes of all those present.

Our trio still had a desire for discretion. We decided to roll up and then proceeded outside to check the ramps were still on the back of the truck. It would provide us with cover to hide from the sight of the other occupants staying here.

As we closed the hotel room door behind us and ventured into the warm Kalgoorlie night, Gemima came into sight.

She stood there shining in the moonlight like some kind of joyful apparition. Crowded around with the ramps hiding us from sight I was relieved that someone remember to bring a lighter. Upon returning a long conversation broke out flowing from one topic to the next with the fluidity any good conversation possesses.

By the time the first of us awoke from our slumber the next day we were already late. One by one we made use of the hotel room facilities. It wasn’t until Pinelli got into the bathroom that we learnt the taps in the shower where attached backwards. After fucking around with it for a while I had just assumed there was no hot water. It was definitely time for coffee. We climbed into the cab of the truck and made ready for our departure. I sat in the passenger seat for an awkward moment as I waited, anticipating Gemima’s engine turning over as it jumps to life. Nothing happened.

Fuck. ‘The truck won’t start’ murmured Bloodson his voice filled with equal parts confusion and terror. The silence was broken with laughter, ‘oh, that’s the hotel room key’. It wasn’t long after the key episode that we realised no one had reception and therefore no way to contact the Kalgoorlie dudes who where to be riding the demos with us. As we peeled into the Kalgoorlie street we picked our brains on how we could get hold of them. There was no reason to fret.

Less then a hundred meters down the down road we see Cozza walking down the street, ice coffee in hand. Don’t rush we tell him, we have essentials to acquire before we could even consider facing the trials this day would bring.

In a flash of masterful driving Bloodson navigates us to the main strip and parks Gemima’s bulk effortlessly across the road from the first coffee joint we found. I was a half dozen steps from the truck before I realised I was struggling.

The curb provided just enough of an obstacle and with a misplaced step my ankle folded. Luckily some kind of self preservation auto pilot was still operating. My body instinctively relieved the weight my ankle was bearing in an effective attempt to prevent injury. To any Kalgoorlie local I must have looked like the most inebriated attempt of walking imaginable. Regardless, caffeine relief was one awkward steep closer. As we walked through the doors of the cafe i was amazed by the amount of fly’s. They seemed to have carved themselves out a nice ecosystem amongst the lattes and skinny machiatos. The fly screens over the windows failed miserably at their intended task. Instead they did a remarkable job of trapping the pests in the cafe to continuously frustrate us until the last of our beverages were ready. Luckily the wait wasn’t too long and the coffee wasn’t terrible, that was enough to satisfy us and on our way we went.

The show grounds where a short trip from the main strip but the trip was extended each time we arrived at the wrong entrance only to be turned away. Each disappointment meant a time consuming 3 point turn to get Gemima pointing in the correct direction. When we finally made it to the correct entrance we were met by a strange creature. He was troll-like in appearance but especially in attitude. English might have been his native tongue but this cretin made a great struggle of it. His parents could have discarded him at birth but instead they named him Jeff.

NEWS & Stuff kAlgOOrlie pT 2

A Super abrasive creature with no time to spare for out-of-towners. Regardless of the hassles Jeff subjected us to we where now here and no one but us had realised we were late.

We drove to the predetermined space and began to set up.

A dead battery in the drill was an inconvenient start but quickly the pieces came together. The back of the truck was to be the chamber, the plywood the crooked barrel. one by one we would fire off the back of Gemima’s flat tray, hop the 6 inches into the bank place at the rear then pedal full speed down the crooked plywood runway and into the 6 foot kicker to be sent into the Kalgoorlie sky. Quickly it was realised we’d fucked up. Our fenced off area was too small.

The box was set quite far back to have enough run up to hit it with the appropriate speed. There wasn’t really enough space to hook a left after landing to avoid the feeble attempt at fencing. I didn’t really pay it too much attention, I consider myself sub par at the box jump game, I was struggling enough getting enough speed anyway. I’d worry about it if I make it that far. The day was slow and hot. Throughout the day only a handful of spectators stop by to watch. Between the demos we retreated to the shade under the ramp. It was the only shade nearby and provided the perfect cover to indulge in a few adult pleasures. Once the last show was complete we packed up in record time. With heavy looking rain clouds rolling in we retired to the air condition and weed of our hotel room.

Pinelli suggested we perhaps go for the quality option for dinner so we made the walk to lemon grass Thai. 20 minutes spent wandering lost through the damp Kalgoorlie streets reached an end when Bloodson realised he was reading the map on his phone upside down. The three of us pulled up a table outside that would be far enough away from the other patrons to be in peace yet close enough for shelter from this dismal weather. The food was devoured amongst the beers and Bloodson hid around the corner to burn a post meal Winfield blue.

Walking back to the room was a maze of dodging puddles below and rain above. We braved the weather long enough to look for hose, an essential component for something to be constructed back at the room. Looking for hose in Kalgoorlie has a funny ring to it. The search was fruitful and the night burnt on. Around midnight it struck me that country tv ads are crazy. This is further compounded by the fact that it is the same 10 ads on repeat. Before I could share my thoughts Bloodson broke the silence. “As team manager I am letting you guys know we can now smoke in the room” he announced before ripping the freshly constructed bong directly under the fire alarm.

When we awoke the next day we were already late again.

The sun was high above when we departed for the show grounds. By the time we arrived our motley crew had totally missed the first demo of the day. It wasn’t a big deal though, everyone else was late as well. with no spectators and no Kalgoorlie riders in sight the final day was off to a flying start. At least the Kalgoorlie sky was looking favourable.

I always found the sky here impressive. a vast blue stretch in every direction with nothing significant to block your view. Reprieve from the blistering sun came in the form of sporadic clouds. These clouds look like the promised rain but to no avail they would drift on and the sun would leap back out from behind the temporary cover. Occasionally throughout the weekend a contraption refered to as the Aerochute would growl overhead as it lurched it way above the festivities below.

Between the demos I headed into town with Pinelli to find a chemist for his neck sore. The hole appeared to be stubborn and was starting to freak him out somewhat. It had appeared on his neck after a recent trip to Thailand and with paranoid theories of flesh eating bacteria floating

about we thought it best to find some antiseptic and clean it out. We pedalled into the center of town through dusty streets. while I waited on the corner as Pinelli browsed the chemist I amused myself by watching the Kalgoorlie creatures go about their business. This town was just big enough to get lost in but just small enough that if you keep wandering around you’ll get where you are going. Eventually we made it back to the show grounds, accomplished another demo then departed with Bloodson to scope a look at the Superpit. The Superpit is a gigantic mining structure deep enough to create its own weather system. It proved as interesting as any giant hole in the ground would.

The wind died down for the last demo lifting the spirits of all those involved. Half way through the allotted time it was realised that a Caribbean voice was coming down from the sky. Perhaps it was the voice of god u thought, the deity is as likely to have a Caribbean accent as any other. Regardless it sounded like he knows his way around a piña colada. As he attempted to commentate we searched for his vantage point. Eventually the bright sunlight proved too much and we where left wondering what kind of creature the voice was emanating from. Once our duties were done the crew packed up in record time making light work of the ramps and scattered plywood pieces. With Gemima loaded and returned to the hotel parking lot we celebrated the success of the last few days. No catastrophe had befallen us and I was very grateful for that.

Five hours of blissful slumber later the piercing cry of an iPhone alarm shattered the peace. No time was wasted as we collected ourselves just enough to start the 700ish kilometer drive back to Perth. My body felt like an empty shell, a feeling I’m sure was shared by the other two. We stopped under the golden arches for some sustenance when the universe revealed to our group one of it’s little secrets.

While standing in line scanning the menu for something that didn’t once run around a paddock we meet the Caribbean announcer from the show. A scornful Caribbean man who’s incredibly egotistical nature left me uncomfortable as I observed his interactions with his female companion.

How could such a jovial voice belong to such an arrogant creature? I thought it best not to trouble myself with the mystery instead taking another mouthful of my shitty coffee.

We made moves and got back on the road heading west towards the coast and home. While stopping for a moment to relieve ourselves someone spotted a Dragonfly caught on Gemima’s grill. In an attempt to free the exquisite arthropod it was accidentally flicked off straight into an agitated mass of ants. The dragonfly was devoured as we watched in awe of the brutality of the insect world. We climbed back into the cab and continued on our way.

Bradly’s voice cuts through the smoke as the sounds of Sublime filled the cab. I’m not going back. The song struck a nerve; the themes seem oh so fitting in regards to our adventure that was drawing to a close as we hurtled westward. Bradly penned the lyrics about trying to get clean. A few months later Bradley died of an overdose. As far as I can remember humans enjoy pushing their luck. The three of us certainly do and certainly did over the last four days. The thing about pushing your luck is you never know just how far it’ll go. The consequences can be devastating if the unfortunate goes but a step too far. Bradly found his limit the hard way. The dragonfly also took the chance and was devoured alive as a reward. The consequences are in plain view but often curiosity wins. We got outta Kalgoorlie untouched as we drove back west towards to coast and home listening to Bradley serenade us. We are yet to hear anything about any extra charges for cleaning/smoking in truck/room.

Maybe the devil takes care of his own or perhaps it is the cosmo was keeping an eye on us. Either way, thank you.

37

News & Stuff THe Filming Curse

TheFilmingCurse Words Tyson Jones-peni Photo Brendon Boeck Filming BMX. The camera comes out and often it never feels like you can do what you probably just did before the lens was pointed at you – what I call the ‘Filming Curse’. Here’s one instance that the Filming Curse was in full effect, plus it was Christmas time, so you get it in ‘Night before christmas’ slash poem form.

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News & Stuff THe Filming Curse

‘Twas the night of the Chrissy party, down at Weston Creek park,

The wind I was riding through did suddenly drop,

Riders riding and drinking and making funny remarks.

And out into the flatbottom I began to pop.

I got some good runs in the bowl, had fun catching air,

At fourteen foot up flat ground’s not a good sight,

Did a 270 table, one done without care.

Landing smooth is my thing, landing flat gives a fright.

My friends cheered and clapped, said it was ‘real good’,

My thoughts make me nervous; the big moment of truth,

B-Dog grabbed the camera and said ‘film it, we should.’

A crash, or an injury, just for video proof.

I could tell he was serious by the glint in his eyes,

My tires hit the ground with a monstrous THWACK!

We’re filming a video, it should come as no surprise.

My limbs all stay on; my frame doesn’t crack,

So I nodded, shrugged shoulders, some words were exchanged,

But my head jolts down with speed and precision,

But towards this 270 table, my feelings had changed.

And connects with my crossbar for an almighty collision.

I’d just done it spot on, like a bullseye at a firing range,

I throw my head upwards from the force of the thud,

But something about this one felt forced and felt strange.

And out of my face comes a fountain of blood.

But nevertheless, I was keen to give it a go,

My hands clasp my face, blood is steadily streamin’,

Even though a shitty crosswind did begin to blow.

I start running around like my name’s Cathy Freeman.

‘May as well start here’ I thought, no clips in the bag,

Rhysty shouts:

Not like Jack O’Reilly with 10 clips already (sick brag).

‘Quit dancin’! Quit Prancin’! Quit Twitchin’! Quit Bitchin’!

‘Film the best 270 table ever’ was all I kept thinkin’,

Come sit over here and we’ll see what needs fixin’.’

This was the Christmas party, I would’ve been better off drinkin’.

Inspecting the mess, he says ‘Dude, you need stitches’,

Thoughts of how fast, how clicked and how high it must be,

‘F**king Hell!’ I say, ‘Goddamn! Sons of bitches!’

Whereas the one I did before, in my mind I was free.

Raine offers a lift, so to the hospital we fly,

Maybe a few regular 270s will clear the ol’ head,

‘Spewing’ I say, as I wave the Christmas party goodbye.

That’s what I need B-Dog, now I’m ready to shred.

A few months have passed, stitches have healed in the noggin,

This time I drop in and charge at the hip;

Even filmed a few clips, maybe one a toboggan.

I got a 270 to blast and a table to rip.

I used to see the camera come out and think there’s nothing worse,

I carve the bowl corner and I take off the lip,

But there is...

Oh shit! Oh no! I tighten my grip.

It’s thinking there’s such a thing as the filming curse.

39

News & Stuff THe dirT

FoxdoesMelbourne www.FOXHEAD.com/au

moomba this year is set to bring BmX to the forefront with the legendary riverside park hosting clinics and a comp on sunday march 9th.

Fox are stepping up their involvement in a big way with riders Todd Meyn, Brandfon Loupos, Luke Parker, Dave McComb and Jack Love getting their skills in the mix. The Sunday will see the crew get their park session on around Melbourne to meet and ride with riders, giveaway a pile of Fox and Monster gear and sign the odd autograph. Starting at 9am at The Shed, they’ll be hitting up Knox, Junction, Rampfest and finishing off with a sunset session at St Kilda park. Hit up www. foxhead.com/au for the times and follow em on Facebook for more details. Expect a banging edit from Bret Trigg!

Todd Meyn will be getitng busy on the Fox Melbs tour! Photo Bret Trigg

NightfallBikeco www.nigHTFAllBikeCO.bigcartel.com

Hailing from far north queensland, when not digging epic trails, nightfall have been quietly going about their business producing some quality frames and parts.

While it’s only made it’s way down south occasionally, 2014 looks to be the year they step their game up with a bigger range including their Terror frame, stem, bars, sprockets, seats and more. So in the meantime till your LBS gets stocking em, hit up their webstore www.nightfallbikeco.bigcartel. com I know we’re digging their slick bottle opener….

downUnderground A few weekends ago the flat ground festival that is down underground steamrolled into town, on a scorching hot day near Bondi good times were in abundance.

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Under the ever enthusiastic eye of Freestyle Now founder Shaun Jarvis the event was a blast. With the countries top flatlanders in attendance the comp went off. The win went to S&M and Hell On Wheels superstar Paul Chamberlain with some fluid links and textbook British humor. Check this video Will Herrmann put together.... http://2020bmxmag.com.au/?p=6936

Freestyle Now sHAun JArvis

Before it’s too late shaunJarvis An interview with

By paul Camberlain

it’s hot outside. we’ve taken refuge in a garage. The dictaphone is out. my subject waves his hands, gesturing wildly as he searches for the right turn of phrase.

A sentence shoots forth like a thumb onto the highway, only to be left hanging by a juggernaut of words that careen past enthusiastically on the way to everywhere fast.

He’s like an excited hairdresser who has been given free creative control over a phantom head that floats in front of his sleeveless flanno; All the time discussing the limitless possibilities as his hands frame the ears. He’s got huge hands. Does that signify anything at all? Is it even worth writing? A bandana frames a face that carries a lifetime of sunshine and story. A daily clean shave sits in stark contrast to a blue bandana that lays siege to a battle-weary regiment of brown hair in decline.

I’m looking at Shaun Jarvis, the one rider in the universe who only wears camo 3/4 length pants.

He’s trying to explain something as best as he can, but everybody present knows that he’ll explain all of these things differently every time, because he’s freestyle. At the end of the interview, he’ll ask me if I thought he missed anything. He won’t have, because he’s very thorough in his own uniquely haphazard manner. He’s a great person. He’s always been there for friends and family, and he’s never stopped riding since 1982. The year I was born. That’s 32 years behind bars. His mantra is, as it was back then: “Freestyle now before it’s too late!”. Not a bad way to live, at his age.

TheOld

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I grew up in a small town outside of Perth, which is now in suburbia. A town called Quinns Rocks. It was a small town of 460 houses. The reason that I know it was 460, is that I used to deliver the weekly newspaper on my own to all them houses. Crate taped to the front. I’d stack the papers in, stack some around my body and some in a backpack. Mum would drop a bundle on the next corner, and I’d do the same again.

32 years man. I started racing in ’81. The first magazine I got was a July ’81 issue of BMX Plus bought from a sports shop in a shopping mall. I raced from ‘81 to ‘86. I was an average racer. Nothing special. I won a couple of trophies. I had a gate out the front of my house. I had to practice. I had to do weights. My mum and dad took me around a lot to the races. I remember wanting a new numberplate, an RL numberplate, and mum said to me “Will it make you go faster?”, and I said “No, but it’ll make me look better.”. She got it for me.

We did, endos, and one-handed endos in the pits between races. The freestyle was always there.

Everything was all sort of intertwined. I did kickturns in the driveway.

When I saw pictures of Bob Haro, in the magazines, I knew that was what I wanted to do. That was what I wanted. I wanted to be a freestyle rider, doing what I’m doing. Exactly what I’m doing now is what I wanted to do when I was 15. When I was at, the Australian Titles ’84 I met him. Bob Haro. One of my biggest idols. He’s the guy that put me where I am today. He spoke to me for hours, talking to some kid from the wrong side of the world and his energy and passion rubbed off on me.

When I moved from that town into suburbia I would ride street and jump curbs and stuff like that.

There was a little quarter pipe down the road from our new place, and that’s where we would ride.

Shaun and Todd Triebler at Freemantle speed classic, 1987.

Shaun Jarvis number 350 Byford Australian titles, 1983.

Freestyle Now sHAun JArvis

I got my first proper freestyle bike, which was a Redline RL22 A, in April ’86. And then this word came out: “Ah there’s this guy, he’s coming down, he wants to start a TRICK TEAM.”. So I went and tried out.

I was on the Redline Trickteam. I got onto that and I was like “What bike am I going to take riding? The racing bike or the freestyle bike?”. The Freestyle one! I did two shows for Redline. Look at the photo of me doing a tabletop. That was in ’86. One of our shows at Whiteman Park. A tram stopped halfway between the quarters in the middle of the show, and we were stuck on top of the ramp.

Shaun on the backyard quater pipe, 1986.

Todd Triebler and Shaun Jarvis at Bruce Rock show, 1989

Shaun, Brad Dyer, Georg Molnar

I left the Redline thing, and my friend George was like “We should start our own trick team up!”, because trick teams were the big thing back in ’86 and there were trick teams everywhere. You’d see them all in the magazines “This trick team, that trick team, blah, blah, blah.”.

Then Brad came into the mix, and Brad, was from, America!

Brad was this cool guy from California. He was the show guy.

He rode different to us.

now.

There isn’t a higher moment. my highest moment hasn’t happened yet.

Freestyle now.

Shaun, Whiteman Park Redline Trick Team show August, 1986.

He’d always say stuff like “I was so psyched on doing that trick, I was clapping with my feet!”.

I think, originally, it was all part of showing off. There was a lot of showmanship back then.

That was late ’86, the start of Freestyle Now. The only group photo we got was of us in March ’87.

We’re crouched down in a line, posing next to our bikes. I met my ex-wife that day.

The main purpose of starting Freestyle Now was to show people what BMX freestyle was all about.

Or what we did was about. Like, we wanted to show people that what we did was awesome and we wanted them to appreciate it. There wasn’t many riders around man. We had to do it or nobody else would have.

The name, ‘freestyle’, comes as a free expression of yourself. You can do whatever you want to.

Now is my highest moment. Now. This moment. Ask me that tomorrow and I bet you, I’ll say “Now!”.

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Freestyle Now sHAun JArvis Backward gut lever in BruceRock,1989.

i did shows on my own until ’97. i recorded my own voice onto the show tape. when i pushed the play button it was like i was on the microphone talking...

Shaun, solo flatland show Geraldton fair. October 1995.

When he came over, I couldn’t go and ride straightaway, because I had to do the gardening, but that’s another story. We rode together for a while and then I invited him to come down to Denmark to do a demo. That was Jason Parker, who saw us at the Whiteman Park show when he was 6. That show put BMX into his life. He was looking at an old photo of mine and remembered the tram stopping between the ramps.

So I had a partner again. It was me and Jay. I was watching community TV one night and I saw this guy doing this real shit job on this hot rod cruising kind of show, and I went “Fuck it, I’m going to do that. Let’s do a BMX show.”. So I rang up Jason and said “Hey Jay do you want to do a BMX show for TV?”, and he’s like “Sure.”. I said “Righty-o, let’s do it!”.

I’d never, ever, used a computer, until that day. We had to produce a show every month, and we had to go out and film stuff, and get it going. And that was, sort of, like, early 2000.

I think we started filming in early 2000, and the first episode went to air mid 2001. I couldn’t get people to advertise in the break, and that was part of the deal. It all cost me a lot of money that I didn’t have.

This is when things started to fall apart for Shaun.

Rolling out to Whiteman Park for the Redline trick team show August, 1986.

TheMid Brad left Australia and went back to America. He didn’t approve of the relationship I was in with the girl I’d met at the show that day. He left, on bad terms. He went back to America and quit riding.

I spoke to him a few months ago. It’d been about 25 years since I’d spoken to him. Anyway, that coincided with the end of the first wave of BMX. We had a few other guys on the team doing shows for a while, but gradually they just all bailed off. In December ’89, in Perth, we’d have comps and there were maybe 15 riders. Come February ’91, we had two riders.

I managed to get another rider. Steve Clohessy. He was in. Steve was a really good rider man. I loved watching him ride. Anyway, we had to do a show out in Calaberan. 300km out. Out in the wheat belt. I rock up to his house, his mum answers the door, “Steve didn’t come home last night, I don’t know where he is.”. I mean, this is before social media, before mobile phones, before the whole crap. And I’m like, “Ok, well, I, guess, I, just go and do it on my own then.” So I drove 300km out to Calaberan to do a couple of shows on my own. And from there I was like, “There’s no other riders, what do I do?”. The primary target of Freestyle Now was to promote freestyle. Therefore, if I’d stopped doing that, then who would be left to promote freestyle riding? That was my mentality.

I did shows on my own until ’97. I recorded my own voice onto the show tape. When I pushed the play button it was like I was on the microphone talking... That’s what had to be done, you know. It was a way to put a show together. That’s me in the photos doing a no-handed cherry picker with a helmet on in a park.

When I was going it alone in the early 90s I had to do half hour shows, so I split them into 3 sections.

I recorded my voice onto a tape, so that when I was riding it would say things like “Hey! Give Shaun Jarvis a round of applause.”, and people would just clap and cheer because that’s what they were told to do. Sometimes I’d be right in the middle of a trick, and I’d be like, “Sick!”, and the voice would come on, and I would land the trick and it would say ‘please give him a round of applause’, and I’d be stoked! Perfect timing! I did what I had to do.

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In ’97 I started bringing in Graveyard products. I tried to bring in Eastern bikes, but the thing went bad because I was just some guy who didn’t really have any money. Yeah, so I did Graveyard, Camacura and a few other flatland products. This young kid named Jason Parker saw an ad I’d placed in Freewheel magazine and tried to track me down. The phone number in the magazine was wrong, so he called an old man and asked him if he had any ‘graveyard products’. The guy went crazy! Anyway, the kid managed to track me down through phone calls to bike shops. I told him to come over and ride.

Brad Dyer at Mullaloo Primary School. December 1986.

TheNew Freestyle Now sHAun JArvis

I ask Shaun to tell me what happened in his life between 2000 and 2006, the year that I met him. He sits in silence for a long time before he answers the question. Head in his hands. His dark wayfarers hide his sunken eyes, but I can tell he’s sad because his body gives that much away. It’s a difficult time for him to revisit.

That’s a pretty dark time. Umm, I was in a bad relationship. The lady I was with, the mother of my children... Yeah, she was really... Controlling through mental games. And, I was kind of, in, a very, bad, domestic... Yeah, I was a victim of domestic violence, but not physical violence, but mental violence. It’s a... A long, hard, thing to - A very hard thing for someone to try and contemplate. Why do you stay there when someone demoralizes you a point that when you want to leave? I attempted suicide once. I was admitted to a mental institute. When the doctors told me, “There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s just the relationship you’re in.”. The best advice I got was when the police officer came to our house and said “What are you doing here mate? You’re wasting your time. You’re not doing anyone any service here. You want to leave. That’s the best thing you should do”. But I had three young kids. They kept me there.

In 2003, I plucked up enough courage and vacated there. When I left I managed to pack my car, full of my stuff, with my bike, some clothes, and my videos. I didn’t want all my magazines to get destroyed so I locked them in the shed, and I took the key.

The guy at community protection said that it’s best that I take control and do what needs to be done, because I was always contacting them and saying my kids weren’t being looked after properly.

At one stage, my middle daughter, had to be removed from the house in handcuffs because her mum threatened to stab her in the heart with a knife. Eventually, it was just, like, I’m doing this. Let’s do this. And, I managed to get custody of all three kids. At that time I had to record everything that took place. And, I mean, I, I had death threats given to me by her, and things like that. One time I opened the front door, I felt two bullets hit me in the chest. I actually felt them hit me twice. And I just stood at the front door for a bit, like, “What the fuck just happened?”. Nothing happened. It was all stress and mind games. I was broken.

When I got custody of my kids 10 years ago, that’s when Freestyle Now became my job. When my life changed. I was a full-time single dad with three young kids, and the business that I was running as a painter couldn’t operate, because I didn’t have time. I had to start making Freestyle Now bigger. I never stopped doing Freestyle Now, but at that time I managed to push a lot of my energy into it and then make it what I wanted.

They’ll always be a place for our shows. There’s no way the people at our shows would even contemplate searching for BMX on the internet to find out what it was. The bulk of the people that come up to say thanks at the end, or come in to have photos and autographs with us, BMX isn’t even on their radar.

To me, it’s not all about me. I like my riding, I like people to appreciate what I do. That’s cool.

But, if I can’t put what I grabbed from Bob Haro when I was young, and push that into someone else and they can’t have that same feeling, then it’s all meaningless. It’s the possibility that my energy can rub off on someone else and they can know that they can achieve stuff.

Mutated forkstand by Shaun Photo Matt Reed

I don’t have any set plans. I just wanted to do stuff. And that’s what I do now. I think that I can still ride up until I’m about 60. You know. If, it all turned to shit and I couldn’t do it anymore, it would just be like “Ok, that’s it.”. It would kill me though. Look, I don’t know what the future is man.

Where do I fit into the grand scheme of things? I don’t know. I know that the ethos of what I started doing is exactly the same fundamental ethos of what I’m doing now. The promotion of what I believe.

And yeah, it’s my opinion, and that’s it! It’s my opinion and I believe what I’m doing is good. If I didn’t believe, myself, in myself, then I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now.

There’s no difference between BMX now and BMX in the past, but the internet has changed everything man. The internet has changed everything. There are people who possibly lived through another BMX period and think that it was better. They’re the ones who aren’t considering the change. They’re living in the past. I mean for me, I don’t live in the past. I don’t want to be in the past.

I want to be in the future. I don’t care. The past happened. It’s not about reliving what I had, it’s about what I want now. I guess I’m always progressing.

No regrets man. You can’t regret stuff. If you regret something it means that you hate your past.

That’s your past. You have to embrace the past to make sure that you’re going into the future.

Surfing back in the 60s. There was a drought in California. They took their skateboards to the swimming pools that were emptied, right. So there was a skate-surf crossover. Eventually the surfers were bagging out the skaters. It’s a stupid cycle. If you want to make a paper aeroplane and throw it, and that’s making you happy, I’m happy for you. If a kid wants to ride his scooter at the skatepark I’m happy for him, because he’s doing what I did. The same with skaters doing what they want to do. In essence, it’s all the same. If you boil it down to the very point of everything, that scooter kid who’s 12 is the same kid as me when I was 12, riding my bike, doing tricks. Everyone’s on their own journey man. Billy Brooks made me see that vision. I bought Billy some shoes because his shoes were done.

You can’t let a guy ride around in fucked shoes man!

Photo Matt Reed

And if that’s the case man, just buy him a pair of shoes. It’s no big deal. Just a pair of shoes. It’s only money man. Money goes in, money goes out. Who gives a fuck about money? Money is nothing. If I could, I would love to give people more time. Time’s the most important thing man! Yeah look I do Freestyle Now, we do stunt shoes, we do competitions, we do coaching clinics. All that stuff. I get paid, and I pay the guys who come and do work for us.

They get money, and I don’t get much from it at all, but fuck, I don’t care. It doesn’t matter.

Today, I don’t know those riders who are on the internet or at the Dew Tours. It’s hard for me to say. I respect Russell Brindley.

The guy’s just awesome, you know. Look, I respect everyone that rides because everyone needs to be respected. That’s something that doesn’t happen in today’s society. Respect. People go “Yeah I respect that dude man!”. They don’t respect the person. They just like their tricks. Respect is something that’s lacking.

Trophies are an important part of the experience. You win a prize. In a couple of months it’s gone. I can look back and go “I got 2nd place at the Castrol winter racing titles at Malaga BMX track in 1983”.

Trophies make the memories richer and longer-lasting. I wouldn’t be able to recall that day as easily without a trophy in my hand.

I guess I’m just passionate about what I do. BMX is my life. Without BMX, I don’t know, what else I’d do. It sustains me.

Still killing it. Table in Claremont, Feb 2014.

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Industry.au COlOny x prOdy 46

Home is where the heart is. Clint relaxing in the backyard with a casual over-tooth. Photo Holmes

Industry.au COlOny x prOdy

Colony’s

Prody Words matt Holmes Photos matt Holmes and Tony nolan

On a recent trip to queensland, i was lucky enough to spend a day with long time rider and friend Clint millar. Aside kicking back and reminiscing about many an old comp or session, i planned to get a few shots of him in his natural habitat, on his backyard mini ramp. Out came the bike for a session and i could have been back in 1993 at Beenleigh on the old mini/spine minus knee and elbow pads and the full face helmet. Clint’s new platform sporting Colony frame and his riding were as dialled now as i remember back then. so here’s a little history on this very special frame that is making it’s way back into the BmX world.

So Clint, this amazing Colony built Prody frame you’re riding, it’s a remake of a frame you had made around 20 years ago and a far cry from ‘lets jump on the retro bandwagon’. Whats the story?

Yeah with Colony proving itself as Australia’s premiere legitimate brand in the worldwide market place I wanted to celebrate this for our ten year anniversary. I had always thought to do something special like doing a modern Prody frame. I couldn’t wait another 2 years and then when I thought about it, it made more sense to release the Prody frame this year since it would mark 20 years since the original four4 frames were made.

Who was involved in the design and build of the OG model? And when did this all happen?

It was all done during a time when getting a bike that would not fall apart in a month was impossible. This was the early ‘90’s, about 1993. Michael Canfield and I were tired of bikes breaking so we hooked up with G&J Cycles in Capalaba, QLD to make the Prody frame. Mine was the first frame made. It would’ve been made 12 months earlier but I had a car accident and had some big bills to pay for from it. Once they were taken care of, around early in 1994 I threw down the cash to have the frame made. Later that year we had the first frame made and I was so stoked. We originally had the brake mounts on the chain stays but sprocket clearance was an issue so we relocated them to underneath the seat stays. This was all back in the day before the internet and we only had magazines for news from around the world. Come later 1994 we saw news of a new company called Standard Byke Co. Their frames and ours were rather similar, I guess great minds think alike hey?

Finding a frame maker that could understand the ideas you were throwing on the table must have been hard, I mean most builders might tackle a road frame, but the Prody was a lot of pieces of metal!?

Yeah we were lucky enough to hear about Gavin from G&J Cycles. He had made some other small run BMX frames for guys like the infamous Fakie. It worked out pretty easy.

At the time though he could only bend certain sized tubing so we were limited with that.

But his workmanship was second to none. So refreshing to see given the time we were in and the badly made frames we had to ride previously.

The sleeving on the seat tube was something pretty damn cool, who came up with that?

Not sure how exactly that came about? But it was a way to tackle the problem of all frames of the time cracking around the seat tube area. Till this day, no Prody frame ever cracked there. The prototype samples did feature this but for production a slimmed down version will exist to keep the theme alive.

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Industry.au COlOny x prOdy

i look back at the prody frame now and almost laugh. i mean if we had the materials and technology that are available now, oh things would be different. The bikes that kids get to ride now are a huge part of the reason riding has come so far and continues to do so.

Those were the days of everything being so overbuilt, thick tube walls, intersected tubes, massive dropouts… Do you think the riding has changed for the better now things are lighter?

Oh yeah, I look back at the Prody frame now and almost laugh. I mean if we had the materials and technology that are available now, oh things would be different. The bikes that kids get to ride now are a huge part of the reason riding has come so far and continues to do so.

Haha, yeah every time I ride the Prody I feel a little special. I love it, I have since then got a set of prototype Hardy Bars. They are our new 4-piece bars to compliment the Prody frames. Gotta love the classic look of gloss black and chrome.

On weight, hows the new one stack up against the old one. And more importantly, hows it sit against say one of your Teddy frames weight wise?

Now you’re onboard one of the frames, will you be rocking a platform forever now?

Have you got decade tail taps or something coming?

The Original Prody was 2.97 kgs or 6.54 lbs and the new one is 2.60 kgs or 5.73 lbs.

A current 2014 Teddy frame weighs in at 2.37 kgs or 5.22 lbs

Yes, I can see no reason now to step back from riding a platform frame. I just love looking down and having one there. I want to build a 19.0” version up for my flatland bike and get back into that for sure. Decade tail taps.... yes, I do want to get them back again. Time will tell!

How much has the geo of your new frame changed since the 90’s?

Yeah it’s changed plenty. Top tubes have grown from 19.5” to 20.6”. The chain stays have shrunk from 14.75” to 13.75” slammed. I kept the stand over height the same as the original which worked out pretty much spot on. The current one is much more adaptive to all terrain and styles of riding for today’s world.

Is the design process the same for you as it was back then?

Haha, not quite. The old frames were made from a crude hand drawing and the new ones are drawn using CAD. But essentially we start with a hand drawing, so in a way it still is rather the same.

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It was pretty cool to see you pull your bike out to ride your backyard mini, I swear I could have been back in the 90’s, your new bike looks identical to your old one if my hazy memory still works! Only thing missing was four piece bars, knee and elbow pads plus a full face!

So come 2014, you’re rereleasing a limited number of Colony Prody frames yeah?

Just how limited are these going to be?

There will only be 100 frames made in this first batch. 21 x 19.0” versions and 79 x 20.6” versions. They will be offered in Gloss Black, Chrome Plate and ED Red. ED Red is basically a form of anodise for CrMo. They will all be numbered 1 of 100 etc.

Depending on how these go, we may offer them as a staple frame within the Colony range. But for now I am just so excited to get this first 100 frames out there. So far, feedback has been amazing. You can expect to see these very limited frames in Australian stores come mid April this year.

The original Prody frame probably had enough material in the drop pouts to make a 2014 frame.... Photo @lavenderandlockphotography

1 Colin Mackay

2 Joe Morris

3 Steve McCann

4 Russel Tranter

5 Corey Bohan

11 Kym Grosser

12 Colin Mackay

13 Ryan Guettler

14 José

15 Luke Fink

21 Josh Stead

21 Subscriber only cover

22 Alex Liiv

23 Clint Millar

24 Simon O’Brien

30 Zac Miner

31 Jaie Toohey

32 Luke Gorecki

33 Mitchell McDonald

34 Beechy

40 Russell Brindley

41 Mike Vockenson

42 Dane Searls

43 Mike McMah, Josh Kathigitis

44 Kyle Baldock

6 Russell Brindley

7 Luke Fink

8 Kym Grosser

9 Adam Hough

10 Lindsay Brown

16 Luke Parslow

17 Stuart Dolley

18 Nick Cooper

19 Corey Bohan

20 20 rad dudes....

25 Nathan Saunders

26 Sam

27 Brendan Hansen

28 Troy Jackson

29 Mick Bayzand

35 Kym Grosser

36 Josh Kathigitis

37 Liam Fahy-Hampton

38 Chris O’Donnell

39 Jay Wilson

45 Ryan Lloyd

46 Dean Anderson

47 Calvin Kosovich

48 Jack Birtles

49 Jason Watts

Retrospective

ISSUE TH

RETROSPECTIVE DIGGING THE SCENE SINCE ‘98

Life on the inside of BMX is filled with its ups and downs, a constant flow of highs and lows help define the industry we call home as temperamental. For a younger rider in todays world things move at an extremely high speed, our digital era compresses all into an easily digestible meal of web clips and message boards. For the older riders, the ones who have seen BMX change, it seems that it’s easier to disengage, to throw in the towel and let riding become confined to a rare Sunday. Sitting across from me is Matt Holmes, the table between us supports bowls of fresh Thai soup delivered by the restaurants enthusiastic waitress, we had planned to conduct a casual interview to accompany the retrospective article for this issue. Holmes had delivered to me a short chronology of 2020 the day before, I tried my best to convert the facts into engaging questions, here is a guy with a story to tell, someone whose roots are planted in the foundations of Australian riding, my soup slowly cooled as the crumpled sheets concealing what I hoped were valid questions were brought out. It’s no secret that the person facing me has had one of the hardest years imaginable, sailing through rough seas and still managing to produce a magazine based around something that you weren’t physically able to do months previous takes real grit.

Holmes has seen it all, from the countless hours spent in the 2020 studio I’m sure I’ve only heard a fraction of the tales, as the magazine reaches its 50th issue I aimed to find something juicy, hoping to make this a piece of hard hitting journalism, the truth is that if you have ever met Holmes you soon realise that what you see is what you get, with his heart on his sleeve and never short of opinion you don’t need to conduct an interview to receive his honest perspective. After a long journey travelled with the magazine and reaching such a landmark for an independent publisher, I was interested to know his thoughts on riding, the media and BMX today.

I’ve gained a lot of friends. I’ve got to meet a lot of people that I look up to. I’ve got to see a lot of people go so far in bmx. I’ve got to see a lot of good things happen in bmx, here in Australia, and around the world.

On a personal level?

That is on a personal level, that’s part of the deal, you meet all these people through riding and the magazine is riding. These riders that I used to meet when I went to comps to ride, that just continued, you see these kids nowadays grow up and become amazing. Case in point, Steve McCann, Ryan Guettler, Andy Buckworth and the list goes on. On the other side, someone will send a photo in, we will print the photo, and they become an amazing photographer, it’s the same with people that write for the, it all continues to progress.

You really see every facet of the magazine and the people involved with it.

It’s been an amazing discovery session for over 15 years, I always end up feeling like ‘holy shit it’s Christmas’. We used to get things sent in envelopes and of course now by email, but it’s still the same vibe when a cool photo comes in and you are like, ‘holy shit, who shot this?’

Content never seems to be a struggle?

It was in the beginning, but now everyone’s got the ability to shoot a photo and send it in, everyone has an opinion because they are used to posting on facebook, yeah content is not an issue to fill the pages, it just depends whether it’s worthy of a mag and it’s what everyone wants to read or not.

The magazine began as a way to expose the Australian scene as you saw it, as things have progressed within riding and media, where do you see the scene and it’s exposure now?

I think Australian riders are getting more exposure than they have ever had, whether it is in a credible environment is the only question I have about it. In that environment at the moment, even if it’s the best Australian edit ever produced, it gets lost in a sea of 50 other edits per day from around the world. I think the mag has had a bit of an archival quality to it, this is what happened, a snapshot of what happened within a 3 month period for the last 16 years. Riders can see where they are at, and the rest of Australia can see where they where at. That said, a magazine only goes out so many times a year with a set amount of copies, in that respect the web is far more powerful.

As though magazines, and the content related to print has always had a stamp of approval ensuring its quality?

I like that! In the beginning, I don’t even think it was as considered, it was just done because I wanted to do it and a few friends wanted to do it too. We slowly learned the ropes, or maybe that there were no ropes to learn. Sure it’s considered, but at the same time I didn’t believe there should be any rules to it, I just think there’s a responsibility to document things well, legitimately and from the right perspective. And maybe, have a good time doing it.

Interview by Will Herrmann

Timeline

52

A simple way to start, as we are working on issue 50, what’s been a highlight of being in the bmx magazine game?

1998

1999

2002

2003

2006

2007

2011

2014

Issue 1 begins in Melbourne

Issue 3 has problems.....

Joint publish with Emap in Sydney

Mike Daly joins in as we go independent once again.

Issue 20 sees us go book bound.

We upsize the mag.

Recycled matte stock and soy inks.

Issue 50!

Retrospective

The original logo that launched issue one came about in one crazy share house in Albert Park, Melbourne. It lasted till issue 20. The zine-come-mag inspired by the good times riding brought to the table.

Early on in the piece, we were getting events rolling, ACT.ONE our first on a large scale with many more to follow that included Spinal Disorder, Slay the rail, House of Hammers and more. We also were integral in the BMX Games, Dirt Pipe, Dirt Jam and many more events.

Talking to Matt about the magazine it’s clear that here’s someone who has a love affair with print, from zines back in the day to extravagant fold out sections gracing news stands, there’s a strong sense that the tangible and real play a big part in making print such a passion. With our food still steaming on the table the conversation turns to the digital age, a topic that I have discussed many times with Holmes and others, it’s a loaded topic, having the capacity to split BMX down the middle. It’s easy to become defined by the digital age, for those with a love of print it raises some interesting points and ultimately pushes us to question the true value of what we create.

Let’s consider web content and how it relates to print then, every web video, or at least the more popular ones inevitably are titled: ‘This rider for that company’ or ‘that company presents this rider’, whereas print has delivered something more journalistic and insightful, are we losing journalism in favour of promotion?

It’s a cut and paste society, a culture of cut and paste where a company may or may not pay for an edit that gets farmed out to every media channel so they can get as many hits or likes as they can.

Things are losing their value?

I don’t think there is that much value to a lot of web clips, at the moment anyway.

Do you think people will begin to react against that? To the point where people will say we have had enough of that and I want this edit to be me for me?

I think a lot of people would be scared about that, they don’t want to get the negative side, no one wants the the unlike do they, thats why there isn’t thumbs down on facebook? It’s this culture of narcissism, where people are almost expected to not like something. In my eyes, everything in the mag is chosen, you chose what you want in there, it’s an independent vehicle, the content isn’t necessarily backed by a company, it’s a rider and a photographer documenting something with an opinion and a passion, they aren’t paid by a company to do that, that’s why I think magazines hold a really good place in the world.

There seems to be a culture of people doing things for free, especially considering the web, there are websites drawing in content, cutting and pasting it to then make money off advertisers, the filmer, editor or rider may never see anything except what is on the comment boards, let alone any real payment, to me that seems wrong.

The amount of work that goes into a web clip, even at a low production level is huge, filming, editing and the cost of the gear to do it, it’s a big expenditure, I think people should get paid. Then the funny thing is, Mike Vockenson brought this up the other day, what other major industry has the filmer being the same dude that edits? Would that happen on Lord of the Rings? It’s not going to fucking happen is it? At the moment the bmx industry doesn’t have big money, we all know that, but I don’t think that should be pushed to the next level to the point where everything is done for free for companies that are making money. I see two sides to it, of what money there is in bmx a lot of it is being wasted because they have to match the money that comes from outside bmx, and thats a big topic in itself. But we need that money, we need the energy drinks and such to pull attention towards bmx and to put the top dollars into bmx, be it riders or events, because it is hard to extract enough money out of bike companies to run events, sponno riders, pay a photographer or advertise in a magazine. So I feel for the web clip makers!

A creative union within riding that sets a minimum for whatever work gets done?

That’s what I thought about early on with the magazine. And that’s why there are set amounts for a cover photo, or a full page photo, that should be the minimum.

You should get more than that if possible, if times are good. Or if it’s for an ad for a company running an ad then it should be higher again. I have tried hard to pull that together, and I am amazed that 15 years on form the first mag, people are paying photographers for ads and paying a designer. It’s taken a while to get that happening, I remember the line, “I am putting an ad in the mag, why should I pay for a photo?” from a now defect distributor. Well it’s because someone has made that photo with a camera that cost so many dollars and got chased out of that spot 50 times…. Taking away the value and doing things for free and expecting things for free can only lower the standard of work.

Floating the smooth Weston hips//Daniel Hunt//GP

Situated next to a crazy lake, picturesque is the word, and freezing was the temperature. Still the local groms were already out in force, obviously way too young to have regular Friday nights out. By the time beats were rocking and setup was done, the park was basically one huge snake session. The big lines were being hit up, and new styles worked the park for all it was worth. Funnily enough, 2 hours behind schedule was the situation, mainly due to the sessionʼs intensity, and the instigating bodies werenʼt too fazed about that being fairly heavily involved in riding that was setting the tone for the weekend. Five Canberra riders, Michael Puniyard (aka Puni), Dave James, Hunt, Pete Majoinen and Russell Brindley (Rusty) rule Tuggeranong, and their styles had everyone watching, big and tech, nuff said, for now.

What went down were three classes, two runs, one rule. Jnrs, Am and Pro classes, and ride the skate park how you want for two one minute runs at each park, the rule, well there are no rules, but unless you rode with a smile, scores would be adjusted accordingly.

act.one CanberraEasterLongWeekend.

the 20inch experience 56 2020bmxmagazine

Simon OʼBrien=Control//GP

IF I COULD GET TOGETHER EVERY IDEA, PLAN, SCHEME, SCAM EVER TALKED UP IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT AND HAVE THEM ALL COME TO FRUITION. WELL, LETʼS JUST SAY, THERE WOULD BE SO MANY CREW OUT THERE RULING THIS CRAZY WORLD. LUCKILY ONE SUCH IDEA OF HOLDING A COMP OVER TWO DAYS AND THREE PARKS MADE IT PAST THE EMBRYONIC STAGE AND BECAME A FULL BLOWN REALITY. PUT TWO LIKE MINDED RIDERS TOGETHER EN ROUTE FROM ULLADULLA TO SYDNEY, AND CRAZY TALK IS TALKED.

So, with a plan in hand, the scheme was devised, and come the 01 Easter break, act.one was held. The plan was simple: bringing together the 20inch community for 2 days of riding, inspiration and good times. And without the hyped media circus who figure they can just take without giving a thing back.

Idealistic, yes, and a necessity in Australia to ensure that real freestyle riding, is represented the way it is lived.

Four weeks later, the same crew plus what turned out to be around a hundred riders came together for what turned out to be by far, the best ever freestyle bmx competition in Australia. Period.

SATURDAY//TUGGERS AT DAWN

Come Saturday morning, all doubts of the weekends events melted away in blazing sun. Driving into Tuggeranong at 8 in the am saw the park in all itʼs glory.

JUNIOR BURGER//Itʼs not hard to say too much about the skills possessed by the one and only Stevie Cardona. 13 years old. Already Jnr Asian Xgames champion, he set to throwing tech styles and big air into his Tuggeranong runs. A rundown of exact tricks reads like any pro run later in the day. Barspin Xups, Suicide no handers, the rail, fufanus and 360s. Stevieʼs only issue was he was wondering if he should go Pro, for now pro time will come soon enough for Stevie, thatʼs for sure.

Riding daily with the already mentioned Canberra rulers, will make sure of that.

Daniel rocked up from Griffith to show some miniramp styles and gutsy drops and handrail attemps. These two 13 yr olds stuck out at all 3 parks, all the other jnrs only hit up 1 park each, even though it cost the same?

I RIDE THEREFORE I AM//Such a big class, Am that is. And in a few words, Iʼll make the claim that in a year or two we are going to have the most intense pro class if these guys keep riding and progressing the way itʼs looking. Standouts were: Marcus Rowsell brought true street flavour from the high country. Massive fakie kickflips, and even bigger 180 bomb drops into bowls got Marcus more than a few stoked cheers for his runs. Vert X mini ripper Cheyne Jones went 360 and huge over the spine, and seriously hit hard on the non bouncy concrete. Damien B rocked 2020bmxmagazine

the 20inch experience

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Maybe people should all learn the cost of paper!

Yeah, paper costs a lot…. Maybe that is one good thing about the downturn of print, it might save some trees. I have always considered that side of what we do, 2020 prints on an Australian sustainable forest and recycled paper stock with soy based inks. Doing everything we can, the print industry was pretty awful when it came to the environment a few years back.

The Digital conversation continues, Holmes is undeniably passionate, every statement seems born from a strict set of ethics that have helped carve out a place as a truly independent publisher. I remember my first encounter with the magazine, as an outsider I was under the impression that 2020 came from the buzzing work desks of a multi national. As time passed I have been privileged to get to know the inner workings of 2020, see the late nights of deadlines and the excitement surrounding the perfect image, it’s not what I had previously imagined. 50 issues is a great achievement for any publication, but for a publication that has stood staunchly by its ethics and followed its own path and rules 50 stands as a milestone, proving that it’s possible to go it alone and succeed.

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Retrospective

Road Warriors was our road trip plus a few events tour that we pulled a full length VHS production from. It premiered the night 2020 issue 4 came out. Copies were dubbed to NTSC for the US and Japanese markets.

ISSUE TH

Early issues saw new names like Steve McCann, Luke Parslow, Ryan Guettler, Corey Bohan, Colin Mackay, Luke FInk, Kym Grsser and more make the pages in their early days before heading to the overseas to take on the world.

RETROSPECTIVE DIGGING THE SCENE SINCE ‘98

Is the magazine what you wanted it to be in the beginning? Did you know what you wanted it to be?

Not really, I mean I had a plan to make issue one, it didn’t go much beyond that. I read magazines, I grew up on magazines, I guess I grew up on Freestyle and Go, they were my bmx references, but I also read a lot of other mags, skate mags, snowboard mags, music, everything, the magazine was a link to a culture before the internet. The European bmx mags were influential in a lot of ways as they were scenes outside the US which being in Australia I could relate to, mags like Ride UK, Dig when that first started, early Digs were amazing.

I think about Ride UK now and then, from the late 90’s when I really got into it and to now and you see the shift from it being something rider owned and run to becoming something more ad and money based, In a lot of ways 2020 comes from the ethics of back in the day and seemed to avoid a lot of the bullshit?

It’s easy, I didn’t sell out to a big multi-national, so I don’t have to pander to anyone, a boss or an ad sales guy who sold his soul for an ad.

There has been opportunity to sell out?

For a little while, after issue 3 didn’t come out, I ended up coming to Sydney and working for the UK media company Emap. I worked on their titles and they helped me with 2020. Somehow I didn’t become them, they didn’t own 2020, I did what I wanted with the mag. I could have sold too them, but it didn’t feel right.

There was another time when a mag company wanted to buy into 2020, they approached Mike, and he had only just become part of the mag, it was at a trade show, I overheard the conversation, it was hilarious, they had other bike mags sure, but with possibly the most shit production quality I’d ever seen, it just wasn’t going to happen. As if I’d be able to have someone tell me how to make my mag?

Did you work on other mags before 2020?

Issue 39 dcshoes

Cover Cover

4

Stowaway United

Unit

6

eds letter

16

files to print 25//02//2011

Colony

5

Stowaway United 15

14

Colony

Fly?

3

2

17

18

Contents

Unit

7

8

Triple Six Fly

TripleSix WTP

20

19

Colony

Contents

9

10

013 Jeds mega

Triple Six Fly

TripleSix Subrosa

21

Colony

11

013 giveaway + OTC 22

Strictly

12

Pac Brands Haro 23

Strictly

10

13

013 Giants of Dirt

TripleSix Forgotten

8

25

24

Giveaways

Haro X Rated (shoot on silver)

013 Tempered Drains Syd...

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First up some details: where are you from, age etc!

I’m from Hoppers Crossing, Melbourne Australia, I’m 18yrs old, and I love to ride.

Where have you been since you left Australia?

California, Cleveland, New York, San Diego, Venice Beach, Huntington Beach, Oceanside.

When you started riding, was getting to the US always a goal?

013

How has it been stepping into the world of the top level of riders?

20Q’s

It’s been a lot different than I thought, I was really nervous at the start, you just have to remember to have fun too. You know, you want to ride better, your at a different level and your riding improves because you are with top level riders.

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013 Brodie B jam trent for pics?

013 Livewire Jam

BMX Militia Volume

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41

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31

013 sth eastern series + rampant clothing

013 Xrated +

Triple Six TSC

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44

013 Animal tour

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013 top 5’s

Mongoose

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Oceania SE Racing rpt

Radio

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35

46

013 Flood relief

TripleSix Eclat

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013 DBC interview

013 the dirt (random news)

Zoo York

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50

013 xave regular

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Armourdillo

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013 Inked up: Deaan Manson 54

ECI Fit

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TripleSix Salt

Hard work! I had a job for about two years and I saved all I could, comp money and any demos I could get, then sponsor ship came along from Haro and the help and interest from Steve Paraskevas in my style of riding. They’ve been excellent, they

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28

Strictly Cult

Triple Six Tempered

GT

47

Pac Brands Premium

6

37

013 mixtape brad simms 48

TripleSix?

6

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Have contests left you sweating it out thinking about riding against the best in the world?

When I’m riding with all the guys at the top level, you want your

What did it take for you to get over to the US?

27

gave me a deal with a contract which was tickets to the US, I was stoked.

013 pro bike check gary young

Strictly The Set

Yeah I had to to learn how to make it all happen. I made a few zines when I was younger, as time progressed I shot more photos and rode with more crew as I travelled. I just started getting the shits that if BMX ever got any coverage in a newspaper or magazine it was average as all hell. There was a bmx newspaper for a little while, BMX National, 99% race, back page ramps and flatland, but that in itself was a compromise in my eyes. A photo turns up in a bigger sports mag or paper and it’s cropped really badly or shot a the wrong time, and you would look at it and go, “well I didn’t even pull that.” It wasn’t a credible environment and made what I loved look terrible, so I started shooting more, eventually had a photo published somewhere and yeah it got cropped badly, I was like ‘what are you doing?” on the phone to them. Anyway, that was the incentive to get a mag going, do it legitimately, and do it from the riders perspective. So it wasn’t long until I worked my way into a job that got my foot in the door at a small publishing house in 97. Basically blagged my way in with not much experience while I was working as a cycle messenger on a delivery, luckily I had enough enthusiasm to blind the employer to my lacking skills and learn everything I could.

013 EveryDay is a..

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57

Backbone

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Backbone

013 Lost Boys 60

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013 Lost Boys

5.3

That sounds like the start of a lot of companies.

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32 2020bmxmag.com.au 013 Lost Boys 62

Eastern

63

64

Dirt Pipe

74

Dirt Pipe

75

Macca Interview

Strewth trip

98

99

100

Time to ride...

Time to ride...

110

111

112

ECI 2

Jay Wilson

122

Behind Bars

Felt

New Products softgoods

Monster

Little Black Bike

Cams Jam 125

Reader photos

137

Reader photos

Behind Bars

Letters

Hell on Wheels

81

NYRM

Next Issue....

2020 dealers 159

160

149

95

Time to ride...

Time to ride...

Time to ride...

106

107

108

109

104

Jay Wilson

Cams Jam

Jay Wilson

129

Beats and Pieces DVD’s

Framed

Jay Wilson

Behind Bars Mike McMah

142

Jay Wilson

97

Jay Wilson

120

Behind Bars Mike McMah

Behind Bars

132

New Products

143

Framed

Strewth trip

96

131

New Products

Framed

Strewth trip

119

130

Rampant

141

140

MainlyBMX

BikeCorp Maxxis

118

ABD

Cams Jam

128

Connections

105

117

116

151

150

Subscriptions Haro!

161

nike6.0

162

153

152

666 Almond

nike6.0

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4

94

Time to ride...

Sanction

Xrated rpt 146 158

148 OBC

147

146

Strewth trip

93

144

Oceania Duo rpt

164

154

advertising editorial total

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Jay Wilson

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3

Behind Bars

2

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Kickass Proper

5

145

Crossley Framed

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67.3 967 164

That ethos, that mentality, specially in the 90’s was defining everything. Bmx had been at it’s low point, you had riders starting up their own companies and taking on the big corporate guys, I mean there wasn’t even any there by that time, big players that is, they needed to carry it forward. I knew that Ride Bmx started kinda from the collapse of Go and BMX Action, Brad Mcdonald just went and started a mag, I thought “fuck yeah I could do that.”

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New Products

FP

Bike Exchange rpt

3

85

Time to ride...

Dishonour

Every Day is a Saturday

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83

Macca Interview

Macca Interview

Macca Interview

Macca Interview 82

4

73

92

139

138

Hell on Wheels

72

71

Time to ride...

127

126

Amity

69

Every Day is a Saturday

115

Cams Jam

70

68

Dirt Pipe

Dirt Pipe

Dirt Pipe

Pilgrim 103

Dishonour

Dirt Pipe

Ride On

91

114

Helensvale

Helensvale

80

Strewth trip

102

101

113

Behind Bars

136

135

134

Cams Jam

124

123

90

Strewth trip

Demolition

79

Macca Interview

Macca Interview 89

Time to ride...

67

78

Macca Interview

Strewth trip

DK

Dirt Pipe

Dirt Pipe

77

88

013 Ron Bonner interview 66

Dirt Pipe

Macca Interview

Strewth trip

013 Ron Bonner interview 65

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87

86

013 Ron Bonner interview

Oceania Cinema rpt 157

4

6

Here we are 50 issues later, 50 issues man, that’s wild.

Over the years there must have been a lot of bullshit, looking back it hasn’t seemed to have shown through in the mag you seem to sidestepped a lot of the crap?

I always try to stay out of the crap and too much pointless shit talk, I have been lucky, I moved around the country quite a bit when I was younger, and travelled around every day I could pretty much. You end up knowing so many people from different scenes, you are far less judgmental than if you lived in one place and had the “screw those dudes they’re not the same as me” mentality, whereas I kind of thrived on all the different scenes, I got to open my eyes a lot more through traveling when I was young, I hated all the bullshit and issues, just seems small minded and pointless. Keep my head and the mag positive. Simple.

There is more bullshit now compared to then?

Back then it wasn’t as bad, not that it’s bad now really, but early 90’s Bmx in Australia, I am not saying every rider knew each other, but things were pretty tight, just seeing a new rider was kinda exciting as there wasn’t that many!

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I find it easy to forget that 2020 and Holmes are one and the same thing, the magazine is his, created to present a scene that he is passionate about, it depicts an unwavering pride in a scene he has helped develop over the years. This pride in the riding scene is akin to a pride in Australia, not to be confused with the type of pride typified by a southern cross tattoo or plastic flag, it’s a pride in the abstract, the individuals that create scenes, the positive and proactive. The more we talk the more it is clear that from day one it’s been the effort of the magazine to highlight what is truly positive about the Australian scene and give back whatever it can.

Retrospective

Photography makes a magazine. Over the years the level of shots has been incredible thanks to some of the most talented photographers in the world. Many of them had their first shot printed in 2020.

Magazine layout holds the photos and words together.

With no rules and a zine background, the pages have been a reflection of the riding it portrayed.

Did you ever resent the idea that to make it within BMX you needed to be in America?

Again, that was one of the incentives or motivations for me to start 2020. I had travelled this country at a young age, met so many amazing riders. I got to ride with all these riders who I thought were as good as anyone I saw in magazines or videos back then. And when I got to travel overseas, it’s like, holy crap, Australian riders are as good. We know that these days, but back then you didn’t know as much. It got to the point where I thought if we had a mag here, we could build a bigger scene here and maybe you don’t need to go to America. That said, if BMX freestyle started in Huntington beach then you are going to want to go there aren’t you? That’s always going to be a natural calling sure, but to make heroes out of the people riding here on these shores would prove you don’t always have to look overseas. I remember talking to Luke Fink, he got the shits with it, he was like “I am not going to the US.” Of course he becomes world champ at a comp in Europe, but he didn’t want to go to America. Reality is if you want to make big dollars in BMX and make a living from riding your bike, then you are going to have to go, you are not going to do it in Australia, thats just how it is, that is purely because of our population.

You have always paid contributors fairly and run a tight ship in that respect, where does that come from, what’s your perspective on it?

I got burned giving photos to someone else early on, you get promised you will get paid and you don’t for whatever reason. I just saw it as taking the piss out of something that had value, something I worked hard to make happen. I ended up working with some big magazine companies and learned how they worked, how to do somethings and how not to do others, so I wanted 2020 to be the good side of the coin. And because I know most of the people that contribute to 2020 well, you don’t want to burn them, you can’t, well I can’t. If you set a value on something, it’s part of a big cycle, a scene. The magazine is there, it documents the scene, riders get their photos in the pages, they get a chance at sponsorship, photographers get a chance to sell a photo, buy some more camera gear or at least buy some more film or a memory card, riders that get sponsored might make it into an ad in the mag, a graphic designer might get paid to make the ad.

It’s this cycle that in my optimistic head figured would be frickin’ awesome to get started. You are never going to make much money out of contributing to a BMX mag, writing, design or photo wise, but we have tried to set that out in a black and white way, where a lot of people maybe haven’t. Publishing is usually a very cut throat, greedy industry.

HE WAS RIDING BEFORE IT WAS A POPULAR THING TO DO AND HAS THE SKILLS ON ANY TERRAIN BUT HE CHOOSES TO FOCUS ON STREET. HE HAS TRAVELLED FROM “THE REAL B-TOWN” ALL THE WAY TO NYC AND EARNED THE FRIENDSHIP AND RESPECT OF SOME OF THE BEST STREET RIDERS IN THE WORLD. THIS IS A TRUE TESTAMENT TO HIS TALENT AS A RIDER AND AS A PERSON. HE LIVES A DISCIPLINED LIFE AND FOLLOWS A NOBLE PATH BUT HE REALLY NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS REALITY TV ADDICTION TO BECOME THE COMPLETE PACKAGE...

photo essay V1

BY JAMIE MAHON

HOMETOWN: BERRIDALE CURRENT LOCATION: SOMEWHERE ON THE EAST COAST OF AUST. Where did you grow up?

I evolved in the town of Berridale, NSW. Population is less that 1000 souls.

Where are your favourite locations to ride, both home and away?

Home: Canberra, Brisbane, Wharf Seven RIP. Away: NYC (Union Square), Jersey, East Canada was amazing too.

What are the advantages both riding and lifestyle of living away from a major city?

Riding equals using all your surroundings. I think this helps open different eyes when you make it out to cities as well. I’ve seen many good spots ridden past by guys in the cities. Lifestyle... This is the only part that affected me somewhat. Missing out on hardcore shows. Vegan/vegetarian restaurants and even just the vibe of city living, but on the other hand I appreciate these luxuries even more so now.

Friendships that I’ve made I know that, no matter what our personal differences in lifestyle may be, will always stand.

How do you think growing up in a place with much smaller range of riding spots has influenced your style?

Looking back I can definitely see that not only the spots we had dictated my riding, but I was heavily influence by some people who weren’t your ordinary role models. A mixture of these made me the mess I am today!!

PARK FREE

What seems to be the attitude towards your town/scene from riders when you tell them where you are from?

You really need to be aware of what you are saying or going to say. Words have a great effect on some people and it may not always be positive. At the very least you should be able to back up what you have to say.

In your own words, give a quick description of both your town and the scene?

Times have changed. The young kids are the bosses now.

Ben, myself and a few others have all relocated but the park in Cooma seems to be getting well used!

How long can you see yourself staying where you are?

The plan is to be overseas by Christmas, in search of my vegan princess! In the meantime relaxing with rancho (Smiley) and Russ… gambling as well….

Any last words?

People should take a step back form looking at all the problems in BMX and redirect their attention to changing themselves as individuals. Once we all accomplish this, then maybe everything will seem much less complicated and all the shit can get left behind and we can concentrate on riding.

This issue was supposed to be a street only gig. No parks, no ramps, just found obstacles and the way they are ridden.

Do you find it hard to stay motivated and enthused about riding at home with the limited parks, spots and riders compared to big cities?

I’ve become quite spoilt or fussy in with what I ride these days, this isn’t a good thing but I’m not going to lie!! If we are riding and I don’t like a spot then you’ll find me sitting out. This doesn’t just apply for Cooma or Jindabyne, pretty much my stupid rule for everywhere.

With the sudden burst of comps around the country and overseas, we decided that there was too much to miss by sticking to the ‘No Park’ theme throughout. So yeah, an apology is due for that. However, in order to keep calm, avoid riots and the like, we’ve put together some of the best street riding photos from around the country. Theres some familiar faces and some new to check out and possibly motivate you to maybe hit up that strange object you saw a few weeks back. Everything is rideable to some extent, and if all the shiny new parks were suddenly gone, then I’m sure we’d all be looking at the places we live in differently.

Theres something about this shot that has you thinking about square pegs in round holes. Regardless of childhood flashbacks, this Brisbane wall gap to squeeze through sign post that was bent just right to ride gets slapped by Jamie//Nitai

Dug out bank to bunker assault.

No animals were harmed in this over ice activity//Beardo

48 2020bmxmag.com.au

You have never done wrong by anyone I have ever heard of!

2020bmxmag.com.au

TECH KNOWLEDGE A HEALTHY YANG?

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2020bmxmag.com.au

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TECH KNOWLEDGE A HEALTHY YANG?

Seatpost Yang

It’s been claimed 2020 is part of a big publishing company that should be paying quadruple the amounts we do, but I’ve kept everything to the scale of the industry we’re in. I hope that I haven’t burned anyone, probably wouldn’t sleep again if I did.

After a very relaxing acupuncture session with Dr. Yin my Chinese Medical Practitioner, I spoke with him about health and sport. Story by Leif Nielsen Illustration by Greg Turra I especially asked about my sport, BMX, and from there he asked to see my equipment. After a brief and confusing discourse where I insisted that I was not that kind of girl and my ‘equipment’ was not for same-sex display, the penny dropped, he meant my bike! ‘Oh sure, it’s just outside.’ I said, so I showed him.

He looked carefully at it and did a bit of visualizing, he shook his head and gave several ‘tut tut’ noises from his mouth. He said that it [my bike] had “Not Good Yang” as he pointed to the saddle, “Bad Yang” he clarified. I then looked at my saddle thinking ‘well symbolically it looks somewhat phallic and upright, then I thought that he mixed a bit too much Yin in his coffee this morning, but no, he insisted that my saddle was not good for my Yang. On hearing this I was confused as to how, so I offered a gesture of confusion. “Come, see”, he replied and took me to his office behind the healing booths.

He pointed straight to a poster of a naked Chinese man. “Whoa!”

I said, that’s a bit too much Yang for me, to which Dr. Yin smiled and said, “No, this you.” I laughed at that comment. He thinks I’m a Chinese man with sloppy Yang but I figured he was about to learn me something so I settled and gestured to go on, which he did. He drew a picture of a BMX saddle and offered it up to the poster around the groin area and pointed out all the pressure points that were there.

He also explained about all the muscles nerves and veins that supply my gonads and phallus (man parts), then he tilted the saddle front upwards and showed how it cut off circulation while pressure was applied. Quite simply, while seated on the raised saddle I was doing daily damage to my pro-creational, sorry recreational organs. My Yang! doc then quietly said “Bad for Yang.” to which I carefully agreed.

I thanked doc Yin for the session and lesson and rode off home. The whole way (when I was seated) I could feel my saddle pushing up against my groin between my ass and my Yang. This is exactly what he was talking about back at his clinic, squishing the muscles and cutting off blood flow. I got paranoid and moved my ass to the side a bit so I was resting on my Glutes (Butt Muscle) so it would keep the flow going. I also started thinking of my girlfriend who is quite fond of my Yang and I of her Yin, I’d like to have a healthy Yang for years to come I thought, so I knew exactly what I had to do.

As soon as I arrived home, I went straight for the toolkit and moved my saddle so that the main resting part of my body was my Glutes (Arse) and not all the cabling that supplied my Yang. It changed my riding style just slightly as I felt that the saddle was pushing me forward, but I got used to that, and I know for sure that when I get home to my girlfriend my Yang will be at its best and in that, I will have all the encouragement I need to keep on freestyling.

It has to be said that 2020 comes across as pretty slick, as if it does come from a larger publishing house.

I wanted the magazine to look as professional as any other magazine out there and have it’s own identity, that’s always been my goal. That just came down to learning how to do it and the time I spent working on other magazines taught me a lot. But with that knowledge, I wanted to keep it as pure and bmx as it could be, so there are not many rules to it in reality. It’s this pretty amazing collection of extremely talented crew who all mess around with cameras, macs, pens and bmx. We’re so far from a professional mag in the creation process it’s not funny, the punk rock, zine, diy ethos is in full effect, bmx wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our conversation at this point was flowing, as is the way when you engage with someone who is truly passionate about a subject and their passion is matched by knowledge. Holmes is opinionated, everyone should be if they care about something, Holmes cares about BMX, I have been engaged in many conversations with him that lead to learning something new. It has to be said that I have found some topics confronting, and on other occasions been surprised with his candor, but again I believe this to be a trait of someone who is truly passionate. The rigid question sheet was soon abandoned, without structure to guide the conversation we casually discussed the young Holmes or at least tried to, soon though we found ourselves back on a topic of contention, the web clip reared its head once again.

Zac Miner telling it how it is.

ALL PHOTOS Cooper Brownlee

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Slay the

In the past 30 years there have been six outstanding BMX freestyle riders in my book. Bob Haro, Eddie Fiola, Mat Hoffman, Dave Mirra, Jamie Bestwick and Ryan Guettler. When I say outstanding I mean just that.

Rail

They have the entire package. Great rider, fantastic personality, very driven, amazingly focused. Basically a marketing companies ideal sportsman. To achieve this you have to have the entire package. It seems to be every five or so years someone just stands out from the crowd. I have seen it, I have lived it.

Now I am privileged to say I believe I have found the next thing in BMX freestyle. Jaie Toohey! This kid has it all, height, style, originality, consistency and to finish it off he has all the most difficult tricks out there under his belt already. Jaie has an amazing personality, he is fun, caring and very considerate of others. So anyway, enough about me lets meet the real Mr Jaie Toohey!

Bringing the streets into Melbournes nightlife.

“So we’re going to put a rail in Revolver and have a jam...” This was the line that received more than a few questions along the lines of ‘how are you going to fit that into Revolver?’ The whole Revolver BMX jam idea had been floating around for at least the last 12 years or so after a certain blurry evening that lead to the myth of a mini ramp being located on the 3rd floor. This myth seemed to perpetuate itself long enough for Melbourne shredder Liam Fahy-Hampton (now Revolver employee) to spark the idea to the management a few months back. So with a few calls, and a few weekends in hand, the Revolver Slay the Ramps (or rail?) soiree came together to ensure BMX was still burning bright in the cold, wet Melbourne winter.

Intro by John Scottish Buultjens Interview by Holmes

180 crooks to 180 out. Macca schooling Revolver in the art of rail//Nick GascoiNe

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Alright, so as a young Matt Holmes who did you look up to in Bmx? From a early age I guess the original dudes, RL Osborne, Craig Grasso, McCoy, Moliterno, a lot of the riders that were coming out of the corporate stages of uniforms and onto the streets instead of the 1/4 pipes, Brad Blanchard, Vic Murphy, James Shepperd, all these creative riders trying new stuff. Then when I got to Melbourne for the first time, I met some incredible dudes over there at my first comp at Nunawading, Tammy Storer, Trevor King, Dave Scott, Lindsay Brown, Brett Stumpy Mason. I looked up to them and that was when I started to realise that I looked up to them more than I looked up to the guys in America.

How about riders today or even riding today, what gets you stoked?

The last thing that got me stoked was the Ruben Waves edit, hearing him talk about the park he designed in his home town and then riding it was pretty epic, that go me stoked. Seeing riders doing more than just riding, thats one thing that has lacked forever in BMX, there is no shortage of good riding or riders especially come 2014, but its showing the creative side and the personality of people, well, I still think thats lacking, but there’s crew coming up.

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Retrospective

ISSUE

The stencil 2020 logo dropped on issue 20, a pretty apt time to change it up. While it ran with BMX Mag underneath it for nine issues, it’s been 2020 ever since.

TH

We’ve brought new faces and some of the biggest faces to the pages of the mag, we’ve also travelled to some incredible places both here and overseas and been part of some amazing projects.

RETROSPECTIVE DIGGING THE SCENE SINCE ‘98

Some people are marketable and some aren’t I suppose.

o ther Growing up riding BMX I have found that no matter how old you are, there always seems to be some kid that’s younger than you and better than you. Even when I was 15, I remember looking in magazines and seeing photos of a mini Chase Hawk and thinking “what the hell! He is younger than me, how can he be so good!”

And the older you get, the worse it gets. Every time I go down to the skate park now it seems like there’s another kid that’s on a progression binge, learning tricks like a maniac and making the older riders look retarded. Shit, maybe I’m just old and bitter. But it is interesting watching the natural evolution of our sport, the younger guys taking what’s been done and putting a new spin on things. Whether it be spinning 3’s twice as high and upside-down, or making flairs as normal as tail taps, you can always rely on the younger riders to push the envelope. With that in mind here are three mini interviews with some young riders who have been turning heads lately.

Photo

story

by

Raine

Ryan Guettler

For sure, and I think some people don’t believe that they can show anything bar their riding.

of

Tu r n b u l l

Has media become so instant that if a rider drops off even for a short while their popularity and even product sales drops?

Dedicating his life to BMX, Ryan Guettler has become one of the most recognizable names on the international BMX scene. From dirt and park riding that has upped the ante in every regard, his comp results are only outstripped by his coverage. But there is another side to Ryan, whose photographic skills have been evolving possibly even faster than his riding. Here’s a taste of what he’s been shooting and a few words from the other side of the lens…

What got you into the whole taking photos deal?

I got into it just from sitting on the deck watching my friends ride. Seeing a lot of amazing tricks go down and thinking, “that would be a cool photo.” I started off real cheap buying those disposable Kodak cameras and then over time I’ve picked up nicer equipment.

Did you do any training or study in photography?

With some people yes and some people no. Partly I think it depends on if you can get your hands on stuff, there is no point putting out a web edit if there is no stock on the shelves to sell.

I’ve never done any courses but from riding and having BMX photographers around it was easier to ask questions about stuff I didn’t know. Biggest influence and contributor for me was Colin Mackay. We started getting into it about the same time. We figured stuff out together and helped each other out.

Has being pro given you the spare time to get stoked on shooting?

Definitely. I’ve been given an awesome opportunity to travel all over the world with my bike. I always take my camera and if I get any free time I love to walk around the cities shooting different stuff.

So how important is being a rider in terms of getting a good photo?

I think that being a rider you definitely get an eye for a good photo. It helps because you already know where to stand and where the most clicked positions are. If a rider wants a shot of a 180 on a gap, a photographer that doesn’t ride wouldn’t know where to stand and would most likely miss the shot.

Are you going to be telling some crew how to shoot if they are doing it all wrong?

If it were some random magazine that is trying to shoot riding for the first time then I’d help them out. I would advise them on where to stand but be out of the way. But if it was someone trying to get a different angle or trying something new with their flashes that I didn’t think would work... I’d still go along with it just to see the outcome.

With so many photographers shooting you, did you ever get pissed that shots weren’t as good as you thought they should be?

No. I feel that the better I got, the more professional the photographers got. When I was slowly getting a name for myself, random websites would want photos but I would still be psyched on those photos. Now, the bigger magazines that I shoot for have the biggest photographers in BMX and they never make a BMX photo look bad.

Do you find shooting pics similar to riding in a way, say in terms of progression?

They are similar because it is endless. A photo can look any way you want it to the more you work on it, same with a trick. You can keep working on it until you are happy with the way it looks. The more you do both the better they become.

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Thats a wild quote, “there is no point putting out a web edit if there is no stock.”

But that’s the mentality that many companies have, I have seen it in some form or another for years, ‘I don’t want to run an ad in the mag for my company as there is nothing to sell until christmas’, that’s the answer in itself. It’s business, don’t forget it!

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

When is an edit entertainment or advertisement?

FOR WHAT?

A PHOTO?

i

FiJ !

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

A PHOTO?

i

FiJ !

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ISSUE 28

A web edit from a company is an advertisement, it’s to sell something. An edit from a un-sponsored kid is creative output.

Riding BMX in Fiji was something I never thought I’d be doing. Surfing yes... But BMX?

FOR WHAT?

Red bull put together some insane locations for myself and Cory Martinez to come and session. First spot was a 5ft quarter pipe at the base of a waterfall. When I arrived and actually laid eyes on the set up I couldn’t believe what, and where I was about to ride. Having a ramp built over water and to have the sounds of a huge waterfall smashing down was so sick. It was a one of time project and location and the pictures were amazing.

Tabletop mountain and the post was another killer spot. It felt like we were on top of the world, we had a 360 degree view of Fiji. On our first visit the sunset didn’t quite work out for us, so we decided we would head inland to a local village and experience some real culture. We did the real deal, sat inside the hut, shoes off, and did a proper Karva ceremony. It’s something I’m glad I did and got to be a part of. It felt like the kinda place you would go and pay to see such a view and here we were sessioning on ramps and a stall post haha.

The tree jump was also a lot of fun and a nightmare at the same time. Since Fiji is so tropical we were dealing with wind and rain every day. The rain soaked the dirt completely and made the run up impossible. We ended up having to lay sheets of ply down just to get speed. It was set up a stone’s throw from the ocean and the backgrounds at every spot were like no other. At the end of the day we got a few good shots and were happy with the way it turned out.

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

The wallride set up was a pretty sweet spot. Yet again we were dealing with wind, so we were looking for a few good shots and then to call it a day. Martinez ended up ice pick stalling the top while I carved the wall under him. On one of the runs I wanted to get as close as possible so when he was stalled I carved right up under his bike and we got the shot! I was really stoked on the picture. During this shoot we had local kids ride up on horseback and watch everything we did… They were stoked on BMX.

When was the last time you saw a web edit that wasn’t an ad?

All up we spent 12 days in Fiji. It’s really well known for its world class surf breaks and when we had a few days off we got to go out with our local tour guide and well respected local Ian Mullar and witness them first hand. It was so much fun. We also had two Red bull jet skies and got to mess around with some tow surfing and all sorts of madness. The entire trip was a life experience and I would love to head back sometime soon. Corey Bohan

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A lot on the 2020 site aren’t, riders filming in Australia, they’re not sponsored, and I get stoked on them. Thats where the talent is coming up, learning the ropes.

It reminds you of your time traveling between scenes?

For sure, it’s the same thing. It’s like ‘zine making. It’s learning to publish yourself with the internet and filming with a phone and uploading it, it’s fucking incredible when you think about it. And you are using the system, the same system that the biggest companies in the world are using to disperse your output, subversive and punk as all fuck.

A lot more content and subsequently a lot of mediocre content, like you said, homogenised?

Yeah, it is homogenised, not as much cream floating to the top either in someways. I think that is through the people calling the shots on the websites saying whats cool and whats not, this means only a certain style of edit will get done, and the same tricks get done for fear of negative comments for something out of left field.

Where would you like to see bmx media go?

Hopefully a lot more people could get paid for their efforts! Not that you should get paid for cutting and pasting a 50 word description of an edit that wasn’t even watched till the end, but those that create original content. I also think people within positions of influence in bmx media need to take that seriously, I think you need to go through the ranks to figure out how it works before you can just start defining things. Or maybe just push the positive. I don’t mean criticism isn’t warranted in Bmx, but the negative headspace of some in bmx media is not a shining light for our industry.

The system is constantly changing, everyone seems to do everything, thinking about magazines maybe their inherent difficulty and cost means the content is better because you have to work a bit harder for it?

Yeah I think magazines have something that the internet is never going to have, can you remember your first web edit you ever saw? The first one you ever saw, did it define you generation, did it define your memories? Maybe kids these days do remember their first web edit, I highly doubt it, but I am sure you can remember the first magazine you bought or the first VHS or DVD you got, you will remember that forever, you probably still have it. I remember the first bmx mag I got and the first video, its a fairly large moment in my life and look what it did to me.

I remember Jed Mildon doing the triple flip and thinking how wild that was, but soon being consumed by something else a minute later, yet I hold Dave Mirra doing the double flip years ago in higher stead.

It’s funny, the irony of it all. The magazine is now a bit of a dinosaur of the industrial era. We are now wading into the digital era, and the jurassic 2020 comes once every 3 months, anything thats in there is out of date, so we always have to make sure the mags content is timeless, it’s not about who came first, or who did what, it’s about inside knowledge and insights into things you would never get unless you read the magazine. And that magazine can sit on a shelf for access later, to kick back and reminisce. A web edit on the other hand is instantaneous, it’s the latest thing that happened, but is it forgotten about the quickest? A beautiful little irony right there.

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My initial reaction to Holmes’ perspective of the digital age was that he harbored a little too much cynicism, too quick to write some things off, letting the conversation flow allowed for his true passions to show. It would be too easy to pigeonhole certain perspectives as overtly cynical, but in this case what’s obvious is the reaction of a person hell bent on preserving what is good and true in a fragile scene, a scene they have played a pivotal role in forming. Like the actions of a concerned parent acting with best interests at heart, Holmes sees the structure of media, he knows it intimately, it’s no surprise then that the exploitation of creativity can leave a sour taste.

Retrospective

Film has been a staple of the magazine since issue one.

Even in today’s digital age, 2020 has scanned images within the pages. The feel and texture is something that will define magazines forever.

Above and beyond it all Holmes is a person that believes in BMX, believes that it’s a sum of its parts, parts that each hold their own value and importance. Making a magazine is no easy task, making a magazine that has spanned a generation is even more difficult, it’s his obvious passion for all that is BMX that has made it possible.

M

A

D

S K I L L S MICK

This last 12 months has been crazy for you, its no secret there have been health nightmares and other shit, but through it all there have been three issues of the mag released, how has the year affected your thoughts on magazine life and bmx in general?

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?

I think I want to go ride my bike as much as I want to document it, that’s the biggest thing I have come to realise. Only lately, being so smashed up by treatment has made both a struggle and I’ve had to back off a little.

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

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Over the years have you ever missed out on riding or other opportunities due to the mag?

I have had to make a lot of choices on a lot of occasions whether I would be riding or shooting photos, writing or worrying about making a magazine. I did make a choice to back off on the riding to make a mag in the beginning, but at the same time it wasn’t that I was doing the mag for money or riding for money. I did realise that if I rode everyday for the next ten years “what am I going have out of it?” My take was that if I started making a mag at least I would be learning new skills, I never planned on making any money out of 2020, but I would have skills to go get a job within the publishing industry, I thought that might be a good idea since I had already spent a good few years riding my bike before 2020 started.

I see Bmx as growing, or at least becoming more popular in the mainstream, what it was and is seems to be different, to me it’s roots are planted in subculture, punk music and the ideal relating to that, do you think that as things continue to expand that riding will lose its values? I mean there is talk of bmx freestyle in the olympics..

I don’t want to see freestyle bmx in the olympics. The olympics needs bmx, bmx doesn’t need the olympics in any way shape or form. The olympics just want massive dollars from massive corporations and do this by selling the talent of the riders. Their black ban on the sponsors that support the riders to get where they are at the olympics is straight up fucked. Then there’s who’s in charge, look at snowboarding, it’s run by skiers at the olympics, what snowboarder would want that? Of course some will say that it’ll be good for bmx, but we’ll have to wait and see I guess. Maybe a young dude at school is going to pull a girlfriend quicker if he rides, that’s the only positive I can see.

Inevitably as it grows to that level do you see it losing something?

Of course, with more people doing it, there is always going to be a more mainstream feel to it, but you are always going to have your groups within it that define whats going on. Who calls the shots in bmx right now? It’s a really small amount of people I think. Who are the people who define what happens in bmx at the moment? Is Moeller in the mix there, Ron Bonner? Is Adam22 a player or is it the big companies?

Who are the real deal makers, the few that determine whats going on?

It could be the people pumping out shit and making people want to buy it?

For sure, but it’s not the big companies, thats what I am trying to say, it’s not the biggest corporate companies, it’s the the smaller players that are going to define whats going on, whether you like it or not. Whatever big websites there are, there are always two sides to the coin, two polar opposite websites that draw all the traffic in the world, there doesn’t seem to be too much in between, which kind of sucks, the more independent publishing the better I say!

Big Salad – Up-rail to suicide

Thats the beauty of the web.

Ultimately, there is always going to be the dirty underbelly of BMX having it’s say, here and overseas, and that will keep bmx grounded and on track. I don’t think that part of bmx is ever going to go away, and it can speak a lot louder now thanks to the web. I can only get ten thousand mags out every three months but now you can get out to that many people in no time via the web, whether that click or like means anything though, well that remains to be seen.

IN SOME WAYS TRADITIONAL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY LIKE A YOUNG MICHAEL IS MUCH JACKSON. ESPECIALLY JACKSON 5’S SONG ‘EASY AS 123’. IF YOU BREAK IT DOWN, MICHAEL JACKSON WENT FROM BLACK TO WHITE, MUCH LIKE FILM DEVELOPMENT OR PRINTING. CHEMICALS, DRY, PRINT. AND WITH THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS, IT HAS FOLLOWED THE SAME RULES AS THE DEVELOPING AND PRINTING PROCESS. WITH A RIDER TO WORK COLLABORATE OUT A SPOT AND A TRICK, SHOOT THE TRICK AND 88

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EVERYTHING GOING ON AROUND THE SITUATION THEN HEAD TO THE DARKROOM TO PROCESS AND PRINT YOUR IMAGES. IT’S THAT EASY. BUT TO GIVE THE FEATURE A TWIST AND SOME EXTRA LOVE, I HAND PAINTED THE DEVELOPER ON FOR EACH PRINT TO MAKE PARTS OF THE PHOTO LEACHED AND BLEED OUT, WHICH MAKES EVERY PHOTO DIFFERENT. EVERY TIME. MJ SAID IT BEST, IT’S EASY AS 123, SO GET INTO A DARKROOM AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, YOU’LL ENJOY IT........NICK GASCOINE ISSUE 36 89

As riders we have all had our idols and heroes, the ones to look up to and aspire to, Holmes is no different, it’s valuable to remember that those in key positions or at least most, are all riders with similar ideals and motives. Speaking of heroes it’s clear that there are concerns that the segregation of riding into defined disciplines and styles will cease to create legends and icons to truly look up to.

Bmx will always create heroes?

I don’t know if we will have heroes like Hoffman, McCoy, Levan or Taj in a few years, I don’t know if we will have that anymore? I’m looking at riders now, maybe Dennis Enarson? Bmx seems to be so divided up into all these genres now, that someone is the best in this or the best in that, or not even the best, just the coolest, like is Dugan or Hawk better? There are so many people at the same level now are we going to have these heroes again like we did once upon a time?

I don’t know.

Is bmx more or less diverse now?

I think it has a bit less, I think it has been homogenised by some websites dictating what is presented. We’ve talked about that already. You know, I always wanted 2020 to have a broad range of what is going on in Australia Bmx wise, that’s always been a priority.

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Retrospective

ISSUE TH

RETROSPECTIVE DIGGING THE SCENE SINCE ‘98

Always focussed on the Australian scene, the mag took on the big international publications with something they could never touch, local knowledge, talent and a pride in the scene we are part of.

The Hindsight DVD series preceded the web clip era with magazine content on a free DVD mounted to the cover. Issue 3 saw it make it’s debut as a stand alone DVD on the news stand.

It’s success saw the collaboration with Troy Charlesworth on Everyday is a Saturday.

When you think back to the classic Roadfools and how different everyone was there was a lot more personality.

That was the beauty of that era, that’s what defined where everything is at now, you got to chose your favourite character out of a Roadfools, a kid would latch on to one style of riding that a rider portrayed, that’s just gone next level now where some riders won’t ride anything else.

You would latch on, maybe there aren’t anymore superstars?

You are right, it’s because of the sheer number of web clips that are coming out, they are all swallowed up, the best dude in the world can have an edit then the next week you are going to have 20 other kids doing basically the same tricks, it lowers the value, and the kid who made it isn’t getting paid, the rider isn’t getting paid and the originality is soon lost.

2020 is a passion for Holmes, a passion that has weathered many storms and travelled many roads, it’s clear that after more than 15 years making the same mag here is someone embracing the possibilities of a new age within BMX media, a lifetime of experience and knowledge have cemented his ethics and ideas of what’s right, ethics carried forward into all aspects of riding and life. The magazine is a true testament of a scene that one person felt proud enough to present, a clear vision built on solid ideals, 50 issues deep the magazine still depicts a scene to be proud of.

Our interview began to wind down, much less an interview, more an extended chat, I have more than respect for Matt, publishing is tough, the last year has been tough, he forges forward, motivated to make a magazine he is passionate about and formed from a scene he truly cares about.

You still like Bmx? Do I still like Bmx? I do. Like the session last weekend, it was one of the first times I’ve ridden properly since I’ve been sick. Yeah Bmx is still something that’s cool to me and I think in general. I don’t have any thoughts about going out to learn a million new tricks, but I still get the same feeling from it that I always have, going out for a ride and I am happy.

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The Abyss

INTO THE ABYSS

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here’s a photo hanging in the hallway at the bike shop, it’s one of those iconic images, an image that is definitely bmx, grainy and dark it depicts a small figure carving high into the over vert of a rough concrete pipe.

Riding photography has produced countless images that look similar, strange concrete structures photographed by rider explorers, for many this exploration into the unknown is the key reason for bmx. After seeing the photo so often it inevitably lost its edge, I used to stop and study its mysterious curves and contours for clues, over time my trips past the grainy photo brought less interest, it became just another grey blur on the way to the toilet. I hadn’t thought or really seen the photo for many months, it still hung on the wall the same as always, except for a new layer of dust. A single phone call is all it took to re-spark my interest for the photo, a phone call packed with motivation and adventure, plans for a trip into the mountains, a journey to the mythical pipe, the very same pipe that had existed for many only in dreams, random footage and for me, a dusty photo hanging in a hallway.

The Abyss

TwO HAlves OF One HOle A new yeArs AdvenTure ONE INFAMOUS SPOT

Our voyage into the high country was set for new years, those involved in the journey cared little for the city and its customary midnight mania, the prospect of concrete transition, camping and the unknown far outweighed anything offered by sky scrapers and neon lights.

The atmosphere was once in a lifetime, in the grand scale of things it seemed this pipe had only been explored by a privileged few, it was their videos and photos that formed our research material, there was a general idea of where to go and what may unfold, beyond these rough plans and group messages our hopes of riding the beast were placed firmly in the hands of adventure.

Words: Will H Photos: John Young Dave C Billy Brooks Will H

58.Dave C.Into The Abyss 60.Trent.Table At Nine 62.Beech.Slider At Nine 67.Dave C. Up & In

It had been a Melbourne Christmas fuelled with beer and BBQ food, I was ready for some fresh air when my phone f lashed with a call from Dave C, the following conversation offered me no real option other than making it to the mountains for new year, Dave has that skill, convincing me was made easier again by the list of good folk already set to make the journey. My issue was that I was in Melbourne, their convoy was leaving Sydney, I was left to consider the dilemma for about a minute when my phone vibrated from the table and hit the f loor, picking it up I answered to the voice of Cairns, “W hat’s going on geeza? ” Straight away I told him of the new year plan, convinced even easier than myself, Cairns exploded with a list of supplies, times, dates and thoughts, the phone call lasted about two minutes, from what I could decipher we were set to go and it was going to be amazing. I had gone from having a mild Christmas hangover to fully laid out plan in five minutes. Plans continued to snowball, crew from Melbourne joined the trip, more folk from Sydney, a van already on the road would meet us, it seemed the mention of the mythical pipe was enough to get people on the road.

I sat waiting in the shade for Cairns, my packed bag rested against the wall as his sunshine yellow Corolla screeched around the corner letting out shotgun fire as Cairns performed another key banger. A quick mission into the supermarket for batteries to power the in car boom box and we were on the road, with L ola, Cairns’s dog planted on my lap and a stereo probably liberated from the salvos blasting tunes, Melbourne soon disappeared into the rearview mirror.

Our destination was Beechworth to stay the night and pick up Beechy.

The drive was chilled, conversation and music only interrupted now and again by Cairns dropping another key banger and the insane laughter that followed. Before long we pulled onto the dusty track that wound between trees and brush towards Beechy’s family home, we were met by amazing hospitality, food and beers, but strangely no Beechy. We sat talking to Beechy’s mum for about an hour, I had almost forgotten that we had come to pick up her son when a car rolled down the hill and pulled up in a cloud of dust, out rolled Beechy, clearly hangin’ from the night before and an hour late he grinned, rolled a cigarette and began the tale of his night out in town. Formalities out the way we got our shit together and headed for the bowl to ride before food and bed. My gut was filled with fine food and beers as Cairns’ and I rolled out our sleeping pads, we slept out in the clean bush air waiting for tomorrow and the final push to the mountains and the pipe.

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The Abyss Packing Cairns’ Corolla was simple, the vehicle had seen many road trips and was easily prepared for the three of us, our bikes, a small dog, the shovels, brushes, sacks and sheets that may be needed to make the pipe rideable. The day was clear, the blue sky and rolling landscape made for a chilled journey, the odd key banger kept us on our toes, we soon arrived at the last town before the foot of the mountains. Supplies were needed to supplement the veggies and sauces provided by Beechy’s mum. I can’t remember the name of the town, but it was packed with tourists and travellers all looking to enjoy a new years in the bush.

We found the local IGA , it was full of what Beechy lovingly described as Chica’s (beautiful girls in hippy dress), quickly he found out that nearby was a folk festival, we were tempted by the prospect of folk music and beautiful earth babes, it would make a perfect back up plan if the pipe turned into a bust. Our beers, whiskey, my new warm f leece and various other tinned items were loaded up as we waved our goodbyes to the stream of hippy girls, on we drove, gaining altitude by the minute as the mountains loomed around us.

“

30FT in diAmeTer iT gusTed wiTH COOl Air As seeping wATer rAn in A sTreAm dOwn iTs CenTre.

”

The stories of the pipe were shrouded in mystery, one such tale had described a three hour hike to reach the hole, while another spoke of dangerous slopes and mud pitted roads. As Cairns drifted the dust covered Corolla around another bend on the dirt track I couldn’t help but think the tales had been a little over exaggerated, the going wasn’t smooth, but with music at full blast and the cars suspension barely bottoming out the ref lected light of the dams water came into view.

Peering down from the tracks edge the grey transitions were clearly visible a few hundred feet below, scanning the ridge line we saw no other vehicles, we were out here alone, the only thing to do was wait.

Pulling the dusty Corolla up into the shade we lay out, shielded from the mid afternoon sun the boom box continued to play. A n esky full of food and beer in the great outdoors, we lay back without any worries. L ola chased sticks into the dam swimming fearlessly under the gigantic plug hole that concealed the transition below, the afternoon sun dropped, still we waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. Restless and with new found energy I decided to venture down the dam’s rocky backside towards the mouth of the pipe, the hike was steep but straightforward, the sun beat down as I slid the last of the slope and climbed around the concrete wall and into the mouth of the pipe.

Bigger than it looked from above the whole thing ran down hill from the huge inlet pointing up to the sky, 30ft in diameter it gusted with cool air, seeped water ran in a stream down its centre. Each footstep caused a delayed echo, it created a strange off balance sensation, the whole thing sloped but with no point of reference it was hard to tell how much, I stood alone in the pipe, excitement grew in my gut at the prospect of riding the huge transitions. Before long I was joined by an equally excited Beechy, we decided that the thing was fucking amazing and that tomorrow was going to be pretty special as long as we could dam up the water well enough to ride. We climbed out of the pipe and back up the dams rocky slope to find a mellow Cairns ready to set up camp.

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“

iT lOOked As THOugH THe new yeAr wOuld sTArT BACk inside THe mOnsTrOus pipe.

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Camp was made in a nearby clearing close to a small creek, I unrolled my tent and sleeping pad, Cairns and Beech got their mats and swags out and we were set up. The Corolla was a bottomless pit of supplies, venturing off to the creek to have a tramps wash, I returned to find Cairns frantically cranking the handle of a small wooden box, before I could ask, the smell of coffee hit my nostrils, the fire was stoked and a the pot was on, fresh coffee. We circled the fire as the evening set in, still no one else had made it, we had made good time but surely the others weren’t too far behind? Restless and motivated, Cairns fired up the yellow wagon and disappeared down the track to search out the lost vehicles, Beech and I discussed the beautiful chicas of the day, coffee was replaced by beer and we settled in. Only a few minutes had passed when the Corolla appeared with two further vehicles in convoy, somehow Cairns had almost run head on into the other crew, as he lead them triumphantly to camp energy returned to Beech and I as we high fived and hugged the new arrivals to camp. We were now eight strong, Dave, John, Billy, Noni and Trent joined us around the fire, drinking beer and eating smokey food we discussed a plan of attack for the morning.

We woke early, more fresh coffee thanks to Cairns’ magic box, supplies were organised, shovels, bags, sheets and brushes. It took little time for us to be racing down the access track that wound around the valley to the entrance of the pipe, shovels and brushes were strapped to bags and cameras wedged in between water and food. Just as the day before we slid down the dusty slope and f lung the bikes into the pipe followed closely by supplies and eventually the enthusiastic crew was ready to begin the clean up. We needed a Dam, the Corolla once again provided us with a rainbow of long life bags from various supermarkets, a willing chain gang was set up under the red headed leadership of Beechy. He would dig out dirt from the bank an fill the sacks, two at a time they were passed from person to person until they found their home in a pile on top of a plastic sheet with murky water already building up behind. As the dam grew so did the water, a found bucket aided in bailing out the water and carrying it to the drainage hole at the pipes base, this cycle of drainage became everybody’s task, a task that was constant throughout the day.

The water had stopped f lowing, a mix of dust and kitty litter dried out the last of the residue and slime, we had cleared around eighty feet and the pipe was ready. Taking first runs was a strange experience, the transitions in the pipe are huge, pumping becomes a long drawn out motion, committing to a fast roll in meant less time spent pumping and more time up in the over vert. The over vert was where you wanted to be, where the most fun was, but it was also where the drop to f lat was most likely, on many occasions tires would pass up beyond the 9‘o’clock point and drop five feet before meeting transition, these free falls were met by loud shouts and screams that would echo around the pipe doubling their volume.

“

CAirns Fired up THe yellOw wAgOn And disAppeAred dOwn THe TrACk TO seArCH OuT THe lOsT veHiCles.

”

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There’s not a lot to be said about the riding, in many ways it had very little to do with the adventure as a whole other than it offered us a reason to get out there. It’s worth mentioning how wild Beechy really is and how sharp Dave can carve, everyone rode it in their own way, it’s one of those things that feels incredible to do but explaining is too difficult and basically pointless, in the end it’s a feeling that comes from completing the task of damming the pipe and getting there in the first place, and that’s a feeling only those motivated enough to get out amongst it will appreciate.

The day went on, new lines found and heights reached, time passed without recognition, the only reference we had was the constant bailing of the water and the sun dipping behind the towering ridge line. The point came when things were done, the pipe had been ridden and we were finished, out of the four crews planning to meet only two had arrived but that had been enough to have an amazing session. We tidied the pipe unsure whether we would return the next morning satisfied with the days efforts. Climbing the slope back towards camp passed quickly, the summit of the dam promised a swim, campfire food and whiskey to bring in the new year.

Once again we were sat around the fire, talk was of the day, cameras were passed around glowing with images of high carves and near death free fall. As dinner was starting to steam on the fire a car crashed through the bushes, only a day late L ouis Reeves and Toby Orchard poked their heads from the windows of a dust covered Golf. We had written them off, certain that Melbourne had swallowed them up, I had imagined L ouis swimming in a sea of Melbourne Bitter, but here they were loaded with supplies and good times. Midnight rolled around, those left awake said cheers, stoked the fire, chatted shit and eventually rolled into bed, it looked as though the new year would start back inside the pipe.

You can’t ask for more when you wake up to a new year with friends in the middle of the bush, the routine of the previous day was carried out, after coffee and food we broke camp, packing tents and sleeping gear into cars we headed for the pipe. We decided to park on top of the dam and ride from there, as we approached the gate to the access trail we spotted a small van, had out party been busted? Peering down the dam to the pipes mouth sleeping bags and the remains of a nights camp could be seen, were we about to crash another pipe party? Passing the van a bmx could be seen packed into the back, with a fresh excitement we bombed the trail, met at the bottom by the missing crew sprawled out on the f loor, everyone buzzed. In the night they had missed our camp and decided to sleep out next to the pipe itself, this is where we found them, eager to session we climbed back into the hole.

The Dam was quickly reconstructed, the water had bore trenches through its centre, with yesterdays experience it was quickly repaired and the slime dried out, the session was on. Once again the riding crew shredded as others took turns in dedicating time to the bucket.

In no time the new comers had the lines dialled, the riding continued late into the afternoon. Beechy utilised his confidence in the pipe to start throwing in the odd trick here and there, busting a wild upside down slider carve, touching his hand down high up into the pipe, Trent blasted tables, the riding was amazing, but the scene created was better. Once again a point was reached where the riding was done, the pump required soon tires a rider out and everyone reached a point of fatigue at a similar time.

Once again we tidied the pipe, paying extra attention to take extra crap out with us. We climbed the slope back to the dam’s summit, tired and satisfied some dived in the water and swam whilst others fired up stoves for coffee and food. This scene would have been amazing on its own, good folk having a good time, the fact that a hundred feet below buried deep underground there was a concrete pipe that brought us all together just made the whole thing that little bit sweeter.

“ Buried deep undergrOund THere wAs A COnCreTe pipe THAT BrOugHT us All TOgeTHer.

”

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INTO THE ABYSS 68

PRESENTS

WORDS:SENRAB PHOTOS: MAMIE JAURI & BARNES ARTWORK: DOWZA & THE SWOOPING CARDINAL.

MONTAGE CREDIT: JOEL RUGGERIO, ANDI FORTINI, TONY KRAUSE, JAKE MILBURN

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DEAN DICKINSONpot

shots

IN THE PAST YEAR THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF EXPOSURE FOR BONEDETH TEAM RIDER DEAN DICKINSON. A YEAR AGO HE RELEASED A BOOK NAMED ‘YOU WON’T: 100 POOLS BY DEAN DICKINSON’ AND EVER SINCE THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN FOOTAGE, PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS WITH THE BOWL VETERAN. His effort at producing the most official pool book in bmx history has not gone unnoticed. One hundred defines success, akin to a graffiti writer earning immunity upon their 100th train. Dean already has another 60 something pools under his belt since his book was released. A bona-fide pool boss, a title that can only be achieved through complete devotion to ‘the search’ and a style that is timeless.

“In January the Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, granted WA exemption from national environment laws to allow the cull to go ahead.

This means species like the endangered Great White Shark is included in the cull provisions”.

Ref. www.abc.net.au PIC: MAURI

“Nothing like a pint of pool

HOW MANY GAMES OF POOL DO YOU PLAY A MONTH?

it all depends on the time of season. usually during the summer i get a lot more pool action.

But lately i’ve been finding a ton of pools. so i’d say on average at least once a week.

DO YOU HAVE A HOT TIP FOR SIPHONING POOLS?

WHAT’S THE GROSSEST THING YOU’VE SCOOPED OUT WHEN DRAINING?

don’t do it! i’ve sucked down sooooo much shit trying to siphon pools. nothing like inhaling a pint of pool scum. yuck!

A pile of syringes or diapers.

FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2013?

dead moon “echoes of the past” so good!

FAVORITE POOL RIDING SECTION?

sean “Fish” Hoskins - “in The life” ride BmX FAVORITE POOL SKATE SECTION?

HAS THERE EVER BEEN A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE FOR YOU IN A DEATH BOX?

Al partanen - “Hesh law” Creature

not really but one time at the Fisher pool a crazy redneck chased us out of the pool and fired his pistol in the air. luckily, that’s the closest for me.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ‘BMX JIHAD’ SINCE OSAMA BIN LADEN DIED?

not sure, it’s been a while. But i did take swim lessons up until life guard. so i must be a decent swimmer i guess.

Ha ha ha! That’s a good question. it’s been a while since i’ve seen the spirt of “BmX Jihad.” i think that mentality is becoming a thing of the past. pretty rad to see BmXers and skaters push their petty differences aside and shred together.

EVER CONSIDERED WORK IN A POOL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY?

DO YOU COLLECT THINGS FROM THE POOLS YOU SHRALP?

not really. i’d be a terrible employee because i’d get so distracted with the shape of the pool. i’d rather just find and ride them.

not really. i have a couple blocks of coping and a little tile but that’s about it. i’m more drawn to photos and video.

HOW MANY LAPS CAN YOU SWIM?

WHAT ELSE DO YOU ENJOY FILMING OTHER THAN RIDING?

narrative projects or music videos are always fun.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO CREATE ‘YOU WON’T’? WHEN DID YOU FIRST CONCEIVE THE IDEA? HOW MANY POOLS HAD YOU HIT WHEN YOU THOUGHT, I CAN PLAUSIBLY MAKE A ‘100 POOLS’ BOOK? THAT’S QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT.

i starting archiving photos and videos from my pool experiences since day one. But it wasn’t until i rode my 100th pool back in 08 that i thought that i should produce a book. it took about three years to put everything together. i had a lot of help and i’m really grateful for it all. sTOked!

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PIC: MAURI

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JOEL RUGGERIO unter pool h

IN JUNE 2013, I PLANNED A TRIP TO PERTH IN ORDER TO ESCAPE THE MELBOURNE WINTER FOR A FEW DAYS. THE AIM WAS TO DIVE IN HEAD FIRST AND CUT LINES INTO AS MANY ABANDONED SWIMMING POOLS AS WE COULD GET OUR (SOON TO BE) GRUBBY MITTS ON. PRIOR TO BOOKING OUR FLIGHTS I HAD HEARD RUMORS OF A PERTH LOCAL WHO HAD AN EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF DISUSED SWIMMING HOLES IN THE AREA, A BONAFIDE POOL SHARK. SURE ENOUGH, THROUGH THE KEYBOARD OF DESTINY WE INTER-CONNECTED, TEED UP A SESSION, THEN DISMISSED THE CYBER-WORLD ALTOGETHER AND RODE/DRAINED POOLS FOR 4 SOLID DAYS. Joel is as legit as most West Australian bmx riders seem to be. He is down to earth, has a solid ‘hands on’ mentality, seems happy to ride almost anything you put in front of him and has carved himself a niche by exploring the suburban sprawls in search of palm trees with his mate Matt Walkemeir and Champ the dog.

Recorded in a backyard belonging to the Australian boxing champion; Danny Green. Joel discusses how he got to know a man who is paid to knock people out, through trespassing and commissioning an unsolicited pool renovation job. give us THe generAl BACkgrOund BeHind THe dAnny green pOOl. HOw yOu FOund iT And yOur inTerACTiOn wiTH THe HOmeOwner.

Well, Callan Stibbards was the one who first laid his eyes on it, and he looked through that gap right there (pointing to a small partition in the bushes surrounding the deep end). We left my mum and dad’s which is just up the street and noticed a curved wall attached to this house. So we had a bit of a jib around on that, then Callan stuck his head over and all we could see was the drop into the tranny, and we were just like, ‘No way’. We noticed the place was not inhabited because it was all falling down and, well look how over grown it is. yeAH, yeAH. We came in the back gate and noticed that the bottom (of the pool) was gone. It was in a big pile right there. We didn’t think anything of it at the time because we had a few pools on the go and we sort-a (thought) ‘ah we feel pretty good about things, we’ll leave this as a credit’.

Then this pool we had near the local skate park finished. We had permission there, but it finished up, people moved into the house. Me and Matt thought, well maybe its time we do something about this, because we don’t really have a pool to ride any more.

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Then we started coming here about this time last year. You couldn’t even tell it was a pool to start with, there was that much…. Ah man, if you could have seen what was growing, you could have grown the maddest mully in there, oh my god. (laughs) It was perfect, the earth that was in there was like … well you don’t even get earth like that in Perth really at all.

He said;

“DOES SHE KNOW YOUR DIPPING INTO SOMEBODY ELSE’S PROPERTY”?

I was like,

“IN AN EMPTY SWIMMING POOL”?

So we rode for about a month or two, then right before my birthday last year, Dylan Mathews, Matt Walkmeier and I were all here having our ride. We’d actually just smoked a spliff i’m pretty sure because we were pretty red eyed. I happened to notice that day that the blinds in the house had been drawn closed and our shovels were gone. So we thought someone was obviously on to us. We were expecting an owner to show up eventually, but we didn’t really know what we were in for.

So yeah, we’d blown this little bifta out and a senior looking gentleman with white hair comes around the corner and he was visibly flustered. He was not happy, aye. At the start we were like, ‘shit’, we thought he was going to sue us. That’s how serious and upset this guy was getting. We were like, holy fuck, this is gonna end tragically. He kept saying, ‘If you knew who my son was’, this, that and the other, we were thinking, what the hell, is his son a bikey or something? What’s he talking about? Then somehow he snapped out of this big rage he was in, and said, ‘ALRIGHT, this is what we are going to do. You guys are going to be the only ones who can come here, were going to lock the gates and only you guys are going to have the keys’!

We were thinking, ‘how did he just do a back-flip from what he was just saying to this’? Then he said he wanted to talk with my mum, because at the time I was still living with her up the road.

He said; “Does she know your dipping into somebody else’s property”? I was like, ‘Yeah’.

“In an empty swimming pool”? ‘Yeah’!

So we went to see my mum and at that point we noticed he had ‘gr33n machin3’ license plates. Then it all started to make a bit of sense.

In the car on the way up, he kept saying, ‘You’re so lucky that I beat Danny down here’. Then as we got back to the pool after getting the locks, we pull into the driveway and Danny Green is standing there with a stone cold boxing stare on his face that could burn through lead. We were all sitting there, not able to get out of the car because they had child locks in the back. We were feeling like dick heads.

He was staring through the window so hard we thought the glass was going to break.

Pewl

Once we removed all of that, we dug out a lot of the mud and shit, right back to the reo bar. We put a drain in, loaded the gaps back up with a lot of the rubble and muddied the rubble together. We left the rubble muddied up for probably a week and then Matt came over the next Saturday and said, ‘we should do that concreting job down the road this morning’. Then it was on. We got ten bags of rapid set, mixed it up right in there and it just rolled itself into the hole. This was still when we weren’t allowed to come here, so we had to be all inconspicuous getting it in the gate and everything. We did ten bags of ‘crete and the hole was only half full. So Matt went and got another ten bags, turns out we only needed another seven, so seventeen bags of concrete to get the hole the way it is. Then, yeah, we had a pool to ride!

We’re sat there thinking; fuck, we are going to die.

So we got out of the car, and he wasn’t too stoked at the beginning, but he sort of come good, because I think he realised that we weren’t crack headed vandals. Then his dad said, ‘I’ve had a chat with them, they are decent guys’. Danny at first was like, ‘nah, you can’t let them ride the pool, you know, they could fall on their head, then maybe break their neck, then you’ll get sued Dad, its not worth it mate’. We understood, because, that’s the main story we get. Then, I had an epiphany. What if we pay a lawyer to write up a waiver signed by Joel and Danny. Sign here etc. Danny said, ‘Mate, if you can do that, here’s my number, don’t give it to anyone, we can do this and you get the pool all summer’.

And, yeah, we did. In the beginning he rang me up one time and said ‘I don’t know whether it’s going to be worth you paying for that thing, because the pools going to be pushed over in November. And here we are in mid June, still sessioning it.

STILL SESSIONING. SO, YOU SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT IT TOOK ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF SOLID RIDING TO PROPERLY START GETTING THE LINES YOU’VE GOT IN HERE. To get what I wanted. Yeah, it wasn’t so much that it took me longer to pick up, I think, when I watch Matt ride, it doesn’t burn me, its wicked because he just picks up on things much more naturally than I do.

Especially when going opposite, because he’s goofy footed. Him and Dyl were just jumping the stairs and doing it a lot more flowy than I. I thought, damn it, I want to be able to flow in here like them. I used to come down on my own a lot and just chill. Sometimes I wouldn’t even ride, I’d just smoke a spliff, clean up a bit and just roll. Other times I’d just practice the lines that I wanted to do. For a long time we didn’t know if we’d go over the (love) seat, because of all the rocks n that. We thought it was a bit dodgy.

WELL NOW YOU LOOK REAL COMFORTABLE CARVING OVER IT. Yeah, well Matt (Walkemier) did it first.

(Joel was really keen to get it done before he went to the states on a trip. However, sessioning that pool in the middle of a Perth summer made it hard to focus on taking the risky lines. On his return from the states, before he’d even done a manual down the street, Joel got the love seat line locked in.)

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TELL US ABOUT PALM TREES. Ooh. We started the pool thing when we were a bit younger.

The similarities just kept coming back, so we started picking up on it. When a pool is in the front yard, it’s easily viewable, a lot of times kids will think ‘aww, they just use Google Earth’… they’ve got no idea mate. I think I’ve used Google Earth once because my girlfriend needed to get somewhere, and I was like, look, there’s a pool, so I had a geez. But I’ve never really found a pool doing that.

It’s always been like this: I’ve seen the front yard and the big space before the house, then there are a few palm trees, sometimes a little pergola. Its sort of a giveaway, I mean, what else would be in that big space? There’s only been a few times where there have been palm trees, I’m thinking there is definitely a pool in there, taken a look and found no pool.

That’s bizarre. 99% of the time; Dogtown. You can just tell as well, the house will be seventies-sixties era and just have that feng shui.

YOU’VE GOT A SENSE THAT TINGLES..

Yeah, it’s full blown hey; you can just sniff it out. Every time I drive around, I’m almost always narrowly avoiding having an accident because I’m like, ‘wow, look at that… ohhhh’.

And that’s been me for that past 5 years I think. That’s what we’ve been doing.

NICE SYNOPSIS. I should take you round to ours to show you. We haven’t got all of them up, but we’ve got the pin up board in our kitchen.

It’s got probably the first couple of years of pooling we did, but it’s still probably about 20 pools on the wall.

IF YOU CAN DO THAT, HERE’S MY NUMBER, DON’T GIVE IT TO ANYONE, WE CAN DO THIS AND

SHOW US THAT FOR SURE. It’s pretty wild. Definitely wild.

LOUIS REEVES LOU HAS THE UNCANNY ABILITY TO RIDE THE MOST AWKWARD, TIGHTEST AND UNFRIENDLIEST OF SPOTS. OF ANY MAN I KNOW, HIS SKILL SET IS PERFECTLY MATCHED TO POOL RIDING. NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE TRANSITION, REEVES WILL DRAIN IT AND STILL FIND A LINE. IT SEEMS SENSORY TO HIM. FELLOW ALL ROUNDER, CHRIS ‘FLAGZ’ MATTHEWS ONCE QUIPPED THAT FOR SOME TIME, BENDIGO HEADS WOULD START TO IGNORE CLAIMS OF RIDE-ABLE WATERING HOLES BY LOUIS, PURELY BECAUSE HE WOULD SOURCE POOLS THAT ONLY HE COULD IMAGINE RIDING.

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I experienced this first hand, last year, in a St Kilda pool that to most of us, seemed impossible to carve. With barely one third of a 20inch wheel’s worth of transition, low and behold, ‘Master Sleeves’ found a line, much to the amazement of the bucket crew, who had drained the thing believing it was to no avail. His lust for the hunt runs through his blood as deep as his instinctual bike sorcery. A personal trait I see within all of his passions. Whilst personifying a shark on a bike, he is a musical hog. With a natural ability jamming the pig skins, and an acute snout that snuffles juicy underground auditory truffles. This hammer head hog has earned his knowledge.

f head o r e m m a The h lian BMX Austra

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YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THE NEXT SESSION COULD BE.

IF ONE MAN’S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE, DESCRIBE THE FEELING OF DISCOVERING AN ABANDONED SWIMMING POOL, WHICH FOR 99.9% OF THE POPULATION, IS MERELY AN EYESORE READY FOR DEMOLITION. It is a rush like no other, So many thoughts are running through your head, Is it a bust? How rideable is it? How full is it? How are we going to drain it? You spend so long searching randomly or from leads, so when you find a live one, well, it’s just exciting.

I always try not to spend too long gawking and get straight to work on either cleaning or riding because you never know how long you have. Those first few feeler carves are magical.

WHEN DID YOU RIDE YOUR FIRST POOL? I would say 01-02, Bendigo Aquatic Centre. the pool at the end of a waterslide called the “Big Bendi”. It was the middle of winter in the pitch black of night, with small dewy tiles and maybe a bit over a foot of transition.

WOULD YOU RATE POOL RIDING AS YOUR FAVORITE FORM? IF SO, WHY? I think any weird transitioned or banked spot is my favorite to ride. I like riding bikes on just about anything. Variety is the spice of life, but there is that unique feeling of peeking over the fence and hitting pay dirt.

HOW MANY POOLS DO YOU THINK YOU’VE RIDDEN TO DATE? I actually don’t know, I’m gonna say 25-35. Sometimes I can go a year without a session, then BAM you will hit a bunch within the space of a month.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTING TRESPASS STORIES OR POLICE ENCOUNTERS? Funnily enough, not really, never once have I had to deal with cops. I think if you go about it wisely and be respectful if someone does get ‘suss’, you show them what you are doing and if its an abando they are usually cool. I avoid smashing things/graff/ loud music etc. One lady living next to the Newport Pool (R.I.P) had a half hour chat to me. Once she realised I wasn’t there to vandalize or do drugs, she was amazed that in the heat I was manually emptying a half full pool just to ride my kids bike by myself. She brought me a cool drink to the fence and said I was welcome and admired a positive take on what was otherwise a place where local kids come to smash things and huff paint.

A question from Sam Dowley; WHAT IS THE MOST INTIMIDATING POOL YOU’VE RIDDEN AND WHY? None stand out above the other. I like the challenge of a pool. Each one has an intimidating moment, usually followed by smiles, laughter and high fives.

WHAT TECHNIQUES DO YOU USE TO SEARCH? Back in the day it was the old word of mouth or just blindly searching. Certain suburbs yield more than others due to economic stance, era constructed etc.

But nowadays the good old google maps can save you a lot of running around. Having said that, you never know where the next session could be. Keep those eyes and ears open.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE POOL RIDING SECTION/ VIDEO? That’s a tough one. So many skaters influence me, including Hewwit & Cardiel. Bmx wise; Fish for creativity, Homan/Wiz for the bangers and Dean Dickinson/Scerbo for style. I could go on for ages, too many.

HOW MANY LAPS CAN YOU SWIM? It used to be a lot, now not so many; I’m way faster on a bike in the pool.

YOU’VE BEEN WORKING IN MELBOURNE’S PRESTIGIOUS ‘THE TOTE’ POURING BEERS. WHO ARE YOUR TOP 5 MUSICAL ACTS OF 2013?

Obviously most of the local bands because they either drink or work at the Tote, and I am lucky to call them friends, so watching them play and partying down is always a treat. A few non local vinyls I purchased in 2013 and can’t stop listening to are: Earthless,Sonic Praye, Jam, OM, Variations on a theme, Grey Daturas, Dead in the woods, From Return to disruption (wait, they are local).

AND LIVE SHOWS AT THE TOTE? SO MANY: TTTDC, Batpiss, Hotel Wrecking City Traders, Sheriff, Agonohymn, Adalita, Endless Boogie, to name a few.

WHAT IS YOU’RE FAVORITE MANEUVER TO BUST IN A BACKYARD BOWL? The usual suspects.

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Pewl

DEATH OF THE TORTOISE BOWL AS JOEL RUGGERIO’S INTERVIEW PROVES, PERTH HAS NO SHORTAGE OF POOLS. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A PARTICULARLY INFAMOUS BOWL THAT APPEARED IN BMX AND SKATE VIDEOS NATIONWIDE AND INTERNATIONALLY. The Tortoise, was in essence, one on the most perfect pieces of unintentional ‘flow design’ one could ever dream of carving. Clover in shape, with a friendly love seat set up, ready for whatever lip trick a ferret could desire. The rocks that jutted out of the deep end were just enough of an obstacle to be vigilant of, although I witnessed skaters chinking their trucks on it as they clocked high as possible carves, exiting the pools slick, numerously layered painted surface, to crunch the stone, before freefalling into the steep but plentiful transition.

In 2009, whilst gathering content for what would be the last issue of Rebel Yell, I was fortunate enough to experience a full blown session at this gem. Bmxers and skaters jamming all afternoon with a vibe akin to that of Fitzy or Paddo, only superseded, by the rare medium of the spot.

In July 2013, around the time Joel’s interview was conducted, we embarked on what became the last session the tortoise would experience in its lifetime. The dozers where already in place and the surrounding abandoned buildings, which had acted as a stomping ground for graffiti, had been demolished. It felt like a race against time.

There were rain clouds headed straight for us and a deep end full of water. Without delay half of the group (consisting of some of Australia’s most notorious underground beasts; The DOC, Dyl Mathews, Graeme Scott, Jammo & Matt Walkemeir) shed their clothes and were bare footed, knee deep, in murky filth, with danger shards dotted around like

land mines. Scooping for all our might, the pool fiends were moments away from victoriously wiping down the surface and drying it out for what would be the last time. Only ravenous bears could get between us and that satisfying carve.

At that moment, two bears, starved of duty, came creeping from behind the rubble. Constable Bear and Constable Bear, brothers of injustice, had sniffed out a veritable pic-a-nic basket of misunderstanding.

Police officers on a Sunday afternoon with no real crime to preoccupy the tax payer’s fee, found it very hard to understand why we were all trespassing on a derelict demolition site, draining a filthy hole.

They took everyone’s identification and threatened action against us, depending on the landowners will to prosecute. Of the half dozen of us there with bikes, it seemed they would not accept the idea of bmx riding in a pool.

T’was at that moment, that it hit me. I opened my camera bag, and pulled out a copy of Dean Dickinson’s book. I flipped it open to the old photo of Fish blasting a 1 footed x-up out of an American deep end, whilst explaining that this was truly a passion for all of us. It was the tortoise bowl in particular, which had convinced Melbourne bowl skater Lex Dowley to accompany me on the Perth Pool mish we had embarked on.

I explained this to the cops whilst flipping through page after page of pool riding, some of which looked similar to the one we were standing in front of.

It seemed as though the official nature of a printed publication justified our actions to these stringent men of the law. It was like professional documented evidence of us not trespassing to sell drugs or paint walls (that were getting knocked down anyway). The police man’s rules swiftly altered, from “tell your story walking, you must go now and we’ll watch you leave” to “we knock off in an hour, and we are going to leave now, if another police officer catches you here, you’ll be in big trouble”.

As they drove into the distance, the crew dived back in head first, straight back to the clean up. Lex stomped a couple of lip tricks during the few attempts he was able to squeeze in, while the transition was still damp and as the first drops of rain began to fall. Before any bmxers could hit it with speed, a hole in the sky deluged precipitation and it was all over. It was a lot of effort for a couple of carves, which nearly eventuated in prosecution, yet it is still a fond memory and something that all of us can officially claim. We visited the tortoise for the last time.

DOCUMENTED IT PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTED LIKE PROFESSIONAL WAS LIKE IT WAS NG ESPASSI R T T O S N E OF U EVIDENC

RVES, WHICH RT FOR A COUPLE OF CA IT WAS A LOT OF EFFO NEARLY E EV VE UA AT EN TE NT ED D IN PROS TU IN PROSECUTION ECUTION

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Pewl

THE BLUE WHALE OF NUNNAWADING

THIS BEHEMOTH WAS A WET WEATHER PLEASURE. Although

the roof leaked and required bucketing after time, it was possible to session this one in the midst of Melbourne’s winter spitting (and other bad habits). Deep, with an awkwardly short bank to wall transition, it was not the easiest thing to fang but once the lines had been traced inside one’s head, it had a lot of potential for good times.

CAL EGGINGTON

JUSTIN BELL

RAMSHACKLE MOTHERFUCKER SCRAWLED IN PAINT ALONG THE BACK WALL BY SKATERS, THE RAMSHACKLE POOL REPLACED OUR LIVING ROOMS AND LOCAL BOWLS FOR A SOLID WEEK. Located in the heart of Brunswick, in an abandoned plot, the place was never a bust. To complement the situation, the local bottle shop had half price boutique beers. The stars had aligned. It’s pebble dash surface acted as the ultimate grip for tyres and a solid reminder not to eat shit.

DOWZA

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YOU MUST GO NOW and

ANOTHER

to “WE KNOCK OFF IN AN HOUR, , IF OFFICER CATCHES YOU HERE,

YOU’LL BE IN BIG

78

Japan 80

Daniel Watson on the streets. Photo Kyle Jacobson

Japan

J A P A N

GROUP TEXT MESSAGES FRUSTRATE ME BEYOND BELIEF; THEY REALLY DO SEEM LIKE A PRODUCTIVE IDEA AT THE TIME, BUT WHEN YOUR MATES ARE A BUNCH OF DELINQUENTS, THE CHIME OF AN INCOMING TEXT FOR THE FOUR THOUSANDTH TIME THAT DAY REALLY STARTS TO SCRATCH AT YOUR NERVES. HOWEVER THIS PARTICULAR WEDNESDAY, DREW SENT OUT A TEXT SIMPLY ASKING IF WE WANTED TO GO TO JAPAN IN NOVEMBER. THE DEAL ON THE FLIGHTS WAS SIMPLY TOO GOOD TO RESIST AND I KID YOU NOT, WITHIN THE HOUR WE WERE BOOKED FOR JAPAN. IF YOU KNOW US AS A GROUP, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THIS WAS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE. ORGANISATION DEFINITELY ISN’T OUR BIGGEST STRENGTH! STORY BY KYLE JACOBSEN AND JACK BIRTLES

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Japan

When the overly lit Japanese streets tur nto a blur of vivid light, and the sound o thousands of Japanese people shuffling the feet is drowned out by the sound of rubb n pavement and the tick of your hub, You n that moment.

Jack bars from up ride. Photo Kyle Jacobson

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Japan

rns of eir ber u’re

Shota on home turf/transitions... Photo Kyle Jacobson

One minute you’re sitting at work receiving a text message about a trip to Japan, next thing you know you’re completely and utterly lost in a Japanese city. Its 3am in the morning you don’t know which way is up…

Your friends have vanished, and you have possibly treated yourself to one too many Japanese whiskeys.

Left with just your bike, wallet, phone (with no reception) and not a single Japanese word under your belt apart from Konichiwa… What the hell do you do?

Pedal… Survival instincts and the muscle memory from riding a bike your entire life kicks in. As you weave through cars and pedestrians in one of Japan’s busiest cities, pedalling as fast as you can that way, which way? You don’t know, but whatever that way was, it got me home. The home I didn’t even know the address of at the time, the right fluke! It may have not been a life or death situation but amongst the stress of being lost, you’re always left with moments of clarity.

When the overly lit Japanese streets turns into a blur of vivid light, and the sound of thousands of Japanese people shuffling their feet is drowned out by the sound of rubber on pavement and the tick of your hub, You’re in that moment. You’re completely out of your comfort zone but yet so comfortable on your bike.

Which brings me to the fact, how the hell would you travel without a BMX? Once you’ve travelled with a bike it’s pretty hard to do it any other way, you become allergic to the common tourist attractions. There is no better way to see a place for what it is, you’re right there amongst it all. Whether that is the heart of the city or the outskirts of a country town you’re seeing that place in a way most people don’t get too.

Unfortunately Dan took a step off on day two and was apartment bound for the majority of the trip with a torn ACL. So we decided to do some touristy style stuff and take him to the aquarium. I found myself pretty damn frustrated the whole day. Walking everywhere was making me just as salty and lost as the marine life trapped behind the glass. I was just a spoilt little kid throwing a tantrum because I didn’t have my bike!

One of the very first things I noticed when trying to navigate around Japan was the fact that most of the locals were more than happy to take time out of their day to help a bunch of weird looking round-eyes find whatever the hell we were looking for at that point, on one of the first nights we had heard about an Irish pub nearby (yes we went to an Irish pub in Japan) we had a shitty map which made little sense to us so we just set out riding towards where we thought it might be. We quickly realised we had no idea and we had been split up.

Zac Wood. Photo Kyle Jacobson

75 83

Japan 84

Kyle Jacobson tucked playground goodness. Photo Drew Raison

Japan

Drew Raison speaking the international language of ‘rad’. Photo Kyle Jacobson

So I was just wandering around Osaka with one of the boys, we found some Japanese youths who looked close to our age, we showed them our shitty map, they whipped out the phones and quickly found the address, then proceeded to walk us there, after around 30 minutes of walking through the city centre we found the bar, we offered to buy them a beer which they refused immediately, all they wanted was a selfie before they headed back the way we came.

For the first couple of days in Osaka we just cruised around the downtown area, and it became very apparent that Japan is incredible for finding amazing street spots absolutely everywhere. There was always something better and better that we would find just around the next corner, almost never ending string of spots better then most I have ever found here in Australia.

We met up with a young dude named Tim that took us on the train to a local BMX store called RideG, he met us at the main station in Osaka then gave each of us bike bags that he had purchased that morning without wanting any reimbursement what so ever (for those who don’t know your bike must be completely covered when on trains there, even the wheels)

beyond appreciative for that, Tim. We got to the shop which like most stores in Japan was tiny and completely full of products, we chilled there doing the tourist thing and getting some happy snaps for awhile, then headed to ride some of the amazing spots that were again situated just around the corner from each other.

So the week was winding down and we had headed back to one of our favourite spots to grab a couple more clips and chill out, then a group of BMX dudes from Tokyo rock up to ride with us, apparently one of the boys had been talking to Rehito Murata who had actually been over to Australia around 7 years ago. So his crew came down to ride and party. So they took us to some more spots that we had missed around Osaka then we went to another BMX shop called Circle Geek (amazing set up), we chilled there and had a couple of beers as we thought “hey the suns down time to drink” right? But no, these dudes had more riding and spots to hit before it was time to party. So when we eventually got to a restaurant and had dinner and threw back many beers then went clubbing, which in Japan is an interesting experience to say the least.

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Japan Osaka night crankflip by Jack with perfect beer can photobomb..... Photo Kyle Jacobson

it became very apparent that Japan is incredible for finding amazing street spots absolutely everywhere.

Something that can happen, which I hope never happens to anyone while travelling is a lovely visit to the local hospital. Our friend Daniel Watson had tweaked his knee pretty early in the trip and hadn’t been riding for a couple of days while trying to rest his knee and reduce the swelling. This just wasn’t happening so we decided one morning to go try and get some crutches so he could at least get around and check out the scenery. Well this isn’t as easy a task as one would think in Japan, the only place to purchase crutches is the hospital, but you can’t just roll in and say “hey my knee hurts can I buy some crutches?” He had to see a doctor and get an x-ray. Then we are in the doctor’s office while he looks at the results (now picture a middle to late aged, chubby Japanese dude with a deep voice, that speaks little English) the first thing he says is “haematoma” so we were like “yeah bruising we know that”, then he says “acupuncture” and we were like “um really?” thinking he was going to use a bunch of small needles to fix Dan’s knee, no he pulled out one huge f***ing needle and proceeded to suck out over 140ml of blood and shit from Dan’s knee, then he gave us crutches and we were done. Now this took a total of 2 hours and cost only $180, crutches included. When we returned home it became apparent that Dan had actually torn his ACL… All that is really left to say is “go to Japan!”. It is like no other place on earth, the language barrier is annoying (honestly heard Jack trying to say “cheap” to a local, and when they didn’t understand he tried “inexpensive”) but people there will do their best to help you get where you want to go. It is also kinda nice in a weird way how everyone looks at you for being a freaky tall white boy.

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Interview Coco Zurita

DREAM LIKE YOU’LL LIVE FOREVER, LIVE LIKE YOU’LL DIE TOMORROW

Darling Harbour // Sydney Australia

Chilean Bmx // Background In the mid ‘90s BMX freestyle in Chile was seen as a sport taking a spot in the country, gaining attention and curiosity. The internet was not yet popular with the youth; it was something new to the country. That’s why a few BMX Plus magazines from a small local bike shop were the greatest motivation we had to explore this new world. with a group of friends, schoolmates and neighbours we started to immerse ourselves in the sport. picking up and collecting the parts and frames, we’d build what would shortly become our first bikes from old BmX bikes and parts from the ‘70s. in a few years this curiosity led to us forming a group of 13 united friends who spent all our weekends building trails and having cheap sandwiches for lunch. mostly consisting of bread, tomato and mayonnaise (pan, Tomate, mayo), which is how we got our name of pTm crew.

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Interview Coco Zurita

At that time in santiago, the Chilean capital, there were only a few skate parks that had ramps but they were usually in a bad shape. The most renowned place was the estadio nacional, where we had some good ramps to ride built by the first generation of Chilean BmXers (Andre, ehrmantraut, Christian mateluna, Alfonso mujica, Ariel echeverria, Juan Carlos morales, maxi Arribas and more). Another park was parque Araucano, a public place for skating and bike riding with wooden ramps but it was poorly designed. it was hard to ride ramps and be underage back then. we had to cross the city with our bikes that weren’t easy to buy (most were imported from the usA at a very high cost) and bike robberies were very common.

At the end of the ‘90s the pTm crew was more united than ever, making trips to other cities and riding most days of the week. some of us were at an excellent level and were competing against Chile’s first generation of riders. some even started doing demos and winning contests, making a name for ourselves. with all this happening around us we had to do something to show the world that in Chile BmX was growing. in 19992000 with internet in some of our homes, the first website for the pTm crew was created. it was a simple online gallery where we could upload all our media and share it with the rest of the country. As a rider you travel and meet people from other towns and you start to realise there are many more who are prepared to share their riding material as well.

This was when the pTm website started featuring photos of riders from other places, and at the beginning of 2000 it changed its name to www.bmxchile.cl and made a name for itself as a well known web blog in the BmX community.

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Interview Coco Zurita

The high levels achieved by these riders and the lack of skate parks in Chile prompted riders to travel and go through risks to find something new. it was hard to explain you wanted to leave Chile and live the dream of an American pro BmXer, and clearly a very hard time for BmX in Chile. At an early age Coco went against a conservative culture. not many high achieving sportsmen existed, and only soccer players were really recognsied. At the beginning of the 2000s Coco was getting the highest jumps and airs, resulting in him competing with pro Chilean riders and eventually beating them all.

Coco had the support of his family, especially his father Jorge Zurita, who came from a car racing background. with the support of his family it was then, in 2003, after dropping out of university, that he left Chile to go to the usA to try his luck. He arrived in dallas, Texas where he met with Felipe gonzales “superpollo”, a pTm crew member that had left Chile a year earlier. with not much money in his pocket Coco started working with Felipe, selling water pumps door to door in dallas.

After a few months working and training in his spare time, thanks to his amazing riding level, personality and determination he met the right people and started riding in BmX shows. in those days a few of us had made trips to the usA to ride, but what Coco was doing was proving you could make it as a rider. A few months after his arrival it was my turn to try and make it. i arrived at Felipe’s house and also sold water pumps. Just a few months later Coco landed a job doing demos for gT bikes and was doing tours around the usA. i remember one day, after walking for hours dressed in a horrible office suit in 40 degree heat trying to sell pumps; frustrated that i couldn’t ride every day, Coco invited me to take part in some BmX shows with a company named “stunt Teams”. it was there that i would try my luck and that is when the doors opened thanks to Coco and i started living my bmx dream.

Coco’s riding progressed to a very high level and over time he added charisma and style to his huge airs. He started out hitting dirt and park contests, making his way to vert for the first time and achieving good results.

Once he progressed, he moved to California to his new home base, woodward west. Coco became the first rider in the world to land a triple tail-whip, competing in more than 11 X-games with a 1st place at the 2013 BmX world championship, 2nd place at the Brazil X-games and also won the rider of the year award at the 2010 dew Tour. He came a long way from south America to place himself in sunny California, at one of the world’s biggest training camps, woodward west.

Coco conquered the mega ramp; a new discipline to add to his career highlights. He’s also a big car enthusiast and spends his time off at the race track going fast and as high as the sky.

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Interview Coco Zurita

...THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE OUT THERE JUST WORRYING ABOUT STYLE...

Five Dock Skatepark // Sydney Australia

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Interview Coco Zurita

The Questions Many people think that you have an amazing and new kind of style riding vert, where is this coming from? Who or what was your inspiration?

Joe rich, Taj mihelich, Chase Hawk, ruben Alcantara and the one and only mike Aitken are my influences. let’s put it this way, i seek quality versus quantity!

Back in the days tricks like triple-whips were the highest scores, now a huge stylish and clicked tabletop give almost the same points. What do you think about it? What has changed in the scene?

The evolution of style is getting to a point where it is starting to get noticed. Tricks are over-rated, there is more and more trick maniacs riding amazing, but there are very few people out there just worrying about style only. Hopefully that changes and becomes even more prevalent. This is freestyle so you can do whatever the hell you want. i do and you do you hommie!

Being your friend I have seen you growing up riding hard without getting many injuries. What is the secret? i’m very patient when it comes to riding. i like to push my limits but to a point where i feel good. After riding for so long, you know exactly when you can get broken bones, and that sucks, i’ve been there. you lose more than you can win. At the end of the day, injuries take away riding time and confidence but there is always an accident factor, no matter what you’re doing, so shit can go wrong any time. sometimes you gotta take it, a cut ACl, 2 broken ankles, a few fingers and ribs, and stitches everywhere are part of the game and of living the dream.

How do you compare the differences between living and training in a big 24/7 populated city like Santiago, Chile and a very isolated place like Woodward West? iit’s totally amazing. Both places have their own magic and i love them both, but i feel like i am home when i am in California training up at woodward west.

BmX opened the doors so i could get in to it. it’s a very complicated sport, but ever since i was a kid i grew up around cars and speed thanks to my dad. He got me in to cars and now, thanks to my career as a bmx rider, i am able to own a race car and take it to the track just like if i was having a sesh at a skatepark. it’s pretty sick.

Social networks?

They’re slowly taking over our lives. it’s good to use it, i think, sponsors appreciate it big time, and it has become a big part of BmX today. i have my own and i make sure it runs smooth and chill.

You have a big crew of friends the ones you started riding with in Chile, talk about PTM in Chile i have my home boys, the ones i grew up riding with, building amazing memories. They are part of my motivation and why i still keep riding today. we all grew up with a dream of riding forever. we lost a lot of soldiers on the way making this dream a reality: families, babes, careers and jobs are responsible for taking them out, that’s the storm of life, but i have the best memories and lots of motivation to represent my boys from pTm (Ale, robin, Chris, moto, dereck, papo, Juanjo, guaton Felipe, super pollo, Ariel, nico, lulo, nacho). i was the only one that survived that storm of life. probably one of the funnest times of my BmX career, before it got too serious, was when we were kids just looking for adventures, riding bikes everywhere, and doing road trips.

How come only one of the PTM crew decided to quit University and keep riding BMX as a profession? Was your family part of this? how did this happen? i believe that god gave us gifts and definitely bmx was mine. i wasnt going to give it up and i’ve been fighting for it since day one. Just faith, that’s all it took me, lots of hard work, determination and screw everyone that ever told me i can’t. guess what? i can and i can do whatever i want in life!

Baggy pants Vs. Girly Pants?

Where do you like to spend most of your time, in Chile or California?

Tight ass pants is where it’s at, girls love it!

well i’ve been spending more and more time in California. i have woodward west there, the biggest training facility for extreme sports. This has helped me get to where i am at now. i also have a big mission in Chile, there is a huge population of up and coming riders that are going to lead the sport. my dad passed away and left me a huge heritage (erencia). He owned a bike park in santiago Chile, he got in to the BmX industry and built one of the main parks in santiago, just to support the kids so we could have a spot to ride our bikes. now days it’s one of the main ones and is the one i am running today. so this definitely makes me spend more time in Chile. On average, in a year i’ll spend my time 50/50 between Chile and California and the rest of the time traveling the world. i am crazy busy all year around, and that’s the way i like it.

Long hair vs. Ricky Martin?

How about photography in your life? As a shooter and a rider? me and my friends formed our group called pTm and got really in to photography after you (Ariel) started shooting photos. it was awesome to see you shooting us back in the day and record every fun moment, whether it was riding or just kicking it. That’s how i got hooked on shooting photos. it helps me see the world in a different way, or shape it the way i want to see it. use my time and not waste it, who knows, some day it could be my job.

92

Car racing?

screw ricky martin, we pedal to the metal mofo!

Any girls in your life? not really, focusing on my bike, that’s my babe, too busy for something serious, not planning it, but i am down to meet a rad girl.

Did you try meat pies in Australia?

711 Has the best and worst meat pies, when you are starving it could be the best ever, when it’s just an other option, not that good!

Something to say? my dad once told me, the right way is the only way to do shit, do work!

Interview Coco Zurita

LETS PUT IT THIS WAY, I SEEK QUALITY VERSUS QUANTITY!

Bondi Beach Skatepark // Sydney Australia

Five Dock Skatepark // Sydney Australia

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Interview Coco Zurita

History // Interview In memory of Jorge Zurita for the hard work supporting the Chilean Bmx Family.

Five Dock Skatepark // Sydney Australia

Vans Warped Tour // Canberra Australia

94

Hell On Wheels // Sydney Australia

Make Do & Mend 94

Once a week the streets around here will be filled with treasure, leftovers from the rat race, hard rubbish piled on corners waiting to be looted by the curious and industrious. Homes are furnished, kitchens equipped, gardens built, bikes restored, it’s the tangent pathway that city living offers.

Make Do & Mend

wH

MAKE DO

&

MEND MELBOURNE

Photos: Leigh G, Jamie M, Will H Words: WH 95

Make Do & Mend

Jm

THE

ATMOSPHERE

THAT

BRINGS THE

“WILD & WANDERING”

TOGETHER.

92-93.Robbie Brown.Fence Moto 94.Louis Reeves.Handplant 95.Cal.Concrete Bars 96.Beech.Backyard Bars 97.top.Cairns.Table 97.top right.Dylan.Wallride Xdown 97.bottom.Flagz.Turndown 98.Cal.Pipe Bars

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Make Do & Mend

Jm

melBOurne seems TO ATTrACT THe very peOple eAger TO rummAge And COlleCT in THe HOpe OF Finding ABsTrACT gOld, iT’s A perspeCTive On living THAT seems TO COme FrOm A Truly d.i.y. wAy OF liFe. The riding scene here definitely reflects the city, the inner suburbs nurture a grassroots outlook, a place where there’s always something happening and always something to find, fix, make or mend.

This place and these people are truly creative, it’s a creativity that is not wholly conventional either, it’s a creativity reflected by a way of living as much as a way of making. If you take time to really look while cruising down the leafy side streets you begin to spot glimpses of this abstract underworld, roofs covered in patchwork tarps, pallets forming makeshift shelters, back alley bars, warehouse venues and community restaurants, the clues are hidden in plain sight.

Figures rise from this underground, sometimes shrouded in the salvation army’s best, to the unassuming onlooker they follow a disjointed path snaking wildly through life, embracing whatever comes along and allowing it to dictate their journey. It’s here, amongst the makeshift and D.I.Y. where the atmosphere created brings the wild and wandering together.

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Make Do & Mend

USUAL METHODS

TO CREATE THE

“UNCONVENTIONAL” i HAve Tried mAny Times TO wriTe sOmeTHing ABOuT melBOurne, sOmeTHing THAT sOunds eduCATed, sOmeTHing THAT wOuld prOBABly sOund FAr ABOve my sTATiOn. my iniTiAl ideA wAs A COmpArisOn BeTween THe pHysiCAl AspeCT OF THe CiTy And iTs diy nATure, BuT THAT’s FAr TOO BlATAnT And misses THe pOinT sOmewHAT. My second stab was from the perspective of a visitor, possibly a collection of stories from an outsider perspective, the trouble is I have never felt like a visitor or outsider, neither do I think anyone else has, that idea soon twirled down the literary shit pan.

I have given up, or at least found some small inspiration in the last resort, substituting keyboard for pen, daytime for night, maybe I can hash something out. I struggle with the stress, I love Melbourne, with anything I decide to create surrounding it I feel pressure. It’s a place of creativity, a creativity that causes callouses and bloody knees. Sitting at a computer screen to type something about the place and its people seems too disengaged.

I picture makeshift workstations pressed tightly into into bedrooms under the Hotham street roof, Greg putting extra hours into a zine expressing his opinions on riding and the world, Flagz producing video gold and fiddle magic, Lex wielding an old saw, taking conventional methods and creating the unconventional, Scuba’s a collection of images and sculptures presenting the surreal life, all the while punk Pete cuts skate decks, mystifies and enlightens on his way to the next gig. These examples are from under one roof and only depict a small segment of what makes up a hugely diverse and creative whole. So, I feel my anxiety over these words is founded, how do you possibly document this level of abstract creativity and do it justice?

Unconventional creativity, the best kind, a creativity born from everyday life, fitted between work and sleep, in fact that’s bullshit, it’s creativity of everyday life, in everything said, made and done.

Creative living, creative life, waking up everyday to take it as it comes, even basic needs are up for consideration, food for example.

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Jm

Make Do & Mend

WH WH

JM

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Make Do & Mend Jm

Spending a few days with the likes of Cal and Cairns you soon gain a appreciation for what’s available right under our noses.

The best dumpsters are well known, capitalising on the excess of the excessive, they lower the cost of living through creativity and ingenuity. Groups enjoy meals of eggs, fruit, vegetables, mystery tins and even beer liberated from dumpsters. Nothing spent and everything gained, if it’s found it’s shared. How could this possibly be described well enough for anyone to get the real picture?

I would spend evenings behind a rusted tin fence perched on a kitchen stool watching Louis, Francis and Robbie play music, they allow it to flow. Songs go everywhere and anywhere, it’s fucking wild and seemingly impossible to accurately describe in words, it’s just another part of the creative whole.

These actions and events are all part of a greater creative scene, even the Anchor is fucking creative, a small shop with its own killer clothing line and now parts, they just seem to do it, no messing around, just get shit made and let it fly.

i‘m glAd JAmie HAs Been ArOund TO sHOOT AmAZing And reAl imAges, THe mAJOriTy OF THe THe pHOTOs i HAve Are OuT OF TOwners, BuT iT never reAlly FelT THAT wAy. yOu gO THere TO Be A pArT OF iT All, A pArT OF THe everydAy CreATiviTy And iTs everydAy peOple. THere’s sOmeTHing ABOuT THe TOwn, in THe riding, eATing, Building, drinking, THe mOTivATing And THe everydAy.

CREATIVITY OF

EVERYDAY LIFE, EVERYTHING SAID,

MADE AND DONE. 100

Behind Bars

COLLIN NEVIN

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Behind Bars COllin nevin

CollinNevin Collin Words and Photo Dave Rubinich

Over the last few years we have witnessed his transformation from a clean cut racer boy from the suburbs, into a full fledged bearded hessian shredder.

Don’t let the beard and ratty hair fool you though. Under that weathered exterior that could belong to a veteran sea captain of the Baltic sea hides a dude that will ride the shit out of anything that is put in front of him. Happy to jib a manny pad or blast a backyard setup after drinking enough to drop a small elephant. He has got it covered.

Also a purveyor of fine Hawaiian shirts and an impressive record collection. Never shy to sling you a beer or head on a mission, even if he’s a broke. Sure we give you a lot of shit buddy. But it’s because we think you’re tops. Stay golden.

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Inbox READER s LIVES

Email Us bmxrules@2020bmxmag.com.au

Josh Harvey upside down at Shearwater Photo Jack Freeman

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Kurt Belbin on the other side of the lens Photo Andrew Vanzelm

Andrew Vanzelm roastin the Royal bowl. Photo Kurt Belbin

Inbox READERs LIVES Lloyd with foot jam no hander. Photo Jack McCarty

Timmy Bird Photo Amy-Louise Hage

Joe Cameron Photo Jayden Holman

Joe Cameron Photo Jayden Holman

Jesse Aitchison Photo Cameron Mackenzie

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New Products

Newproducts Photos Tony nolan

Bell segment helmet

FresH is BesT

www.BELLHELMETS.com If there’s one place you don’t want to cut costs, it’s definitely your helmet.

And pretty close behind that is not sacrificing comfort or safety. So trust one of the worlds oldest and most respected hemet companies to drop a helmet that covers all bases. The new Segment utilises a series of EPS segments connected to a reinforcing skeleton that means this helmet fits all head shapes but is Australian standards compliant and like all Bell products, protects your brain better than most helmets out there. Lots of colours and minimal big head vibe.

Colony wasp rainbow hubs www.COLONYBMX.com.au The latest rainbow colour way from Colony on their well sorted Wasp hubs is rocking. Aside a 14mm female axle that slots into drop outs by 3mm, they run high quality sealed bearings and the 9T driver has a ton of engagement points tha means direct power transfer, or in simpler terms, that rad, at times too noisy, cassette sound. Up front it’s just as dialled, female cromo axles and 36 hole only. We hear there’s rainbow rims and more coming our way soon too…

Primo Aneyerlator Tl stem www.PRIMOBMX.com Top load style for that extra rise and style. The Aneyerlator is Tony Neyer’s signature stem and comes CNC’d in a host of sweet anodised colours.

Fly Bikes devon seat www.FLYBIKESBMX.com Looks like the tripods are taking over from pivotal this year if Devon Smillle signature tripod set up for 2014 is anything to go by. With a larger tripod base and a stack more padding it’s there for your knees and anything likely to hit it hard should you case… 300 grams of sweet cush.

Proper vanguard sprocket www.PROPERBIKECO.com Protecting your chain from damage is a very serious business, especially if you value your knees! So the bash guard style of sprocket has once again become very popular over the last year or so. Propers Vanguard is simple, effective and very well thought out. Four rotation points for long life, plus they offer it in 27T which allows for good gearing and still get your crooks on without too much hang up.

Jays A-jay Five headphones www.JAYS.se Music and riding go together like a lock and a key. As do headphone cables and knots… Enter Jays a-Jays Five in ear headphones which rock a flat ribbon cable that pretty much defies tangling even after being shoved in pockets.

Solid sound (like an amazing upgrade on the iPhone stock model), different size silicon ear sleeves and iPhone or android remote button models, plus they aren’t white, yeeeew! But you can get white should you feel the need…

Fly bikes neutron complete www.FLYBIKESBMX.com As far as complete’s go, Fly Bikes have a range that suits all sizes. They offer three completes, all spec’d basically the same, but run different sizing and geo to set them apart. The Neutron is aimed at the tech rider with a 20.6” top tube and slammed short 13.2” rear end. Big 8.5” bars and a whole stack of Fly’s own components including sealed bearings throughout make these ready to ride out of the box.

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New Products FresH is BesT

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New Products FresH is BesT

Afray

The Shadow Conspiracy

Subrosa

script snapback cap

Classy snapback cap

party snapback cap

www.AFRAY.com

www.THESHADOWCONSPIRACY.com

www.SUBROSABRAND.com

Fox

Hell on Wheels Old mate T

dirt paw glove

www.HELLONWHEELS.com.au

www.FOXHEAD.com/au

Proper

TSG

Acala Tl stem

dawn helmet

4140 hubguard

www.PROPERBIKECO.com

www.SUPERSPORTS.net.au

www.DIVISIONBRAND.com

New for 2014, the Acala stem replaces the long standing microlite stem. Stronger, lighter, faster? Maybe the first two! 52mm reach and 20mm rise and your choice of twin pinch bolt or wedge clamp.

Full cut style with state of the art EPS protection. Plus it now comes in red (amongst other colours), meaning I need to watch the 80’s movie Red Dawn right about now.

4140 cromo protecting goodness from Division. Run these babies on either side of your back end and know they won’t spin around, aren’t threaded so won’t destroy your axle and are super thin so they don’t spread your frame like alloy ones manage to do. Don’t go running ‘em on female axle hubs though….

Primo v2monster tire www.PRIMOBMX.com The legend is back! One of the most successful tires in freestyle BMX history has made its way back into the here and now. Primo’s new V2Monster is a redesigned all round BMX tire capable on any terrain. 1.95 through to 2.25 in black or gum wall.

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Division

Wallpaper

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Wallpaper

Jye Stuart Droppin...

Photo James Hornsby

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Wallpaper

Will Horan CrOOks FOr Clips Photo Jerry vandervalk

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THE NEW DVD FROM TROY CHARLESWORTH &

AVAILABLE APRIL 1ST

IN NEWSAGENTS, YOUR LOCAL BMX SHOP AND THE 2020 STORE FOR $9.95 DOWNLOAD ON THE 2020 STORE FOR $5.00

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