X Games Wrap: Day 1

Day 1 of X Games 2011 has come and gone, some amazing new things were accomplished / attempted while some things just left us shaking our heads.

First off, congrats to Matt Buyten for winning Step Up, we are stoked that these guys get the opportunity to compete at X Games and keep Step Up alive, however we have to ask why on earth X Games would drop events such as BMX dirt and Supercross, yet leave Step Up in?

Next up of course was the fan-judged Best Whip contest. Before we talk about winners and losers I think special mention must got to Aussie Jarryd McNeil, Frenchman and Unit team rider Tom Pagès and former Best Whip winner Todd Potter. Those three guys are really taking whips to a new level, and getting their bikes turned inside-out to the point where Todd Potter even crashed out while trying to get one of his whips back.

In regards to the 'fan based' voting system, I think it is fair to say, and that everybody in the industry will agree, that it is an unfair and completely biased system. Twitch is a legend of the sport, and we totally respect him and what he still does on the bike, but to think he actually had the "best whip" in that contest is a little more than questionable; his legion of fans from the past decade really won him that gold medal. So in the end it was Twitch who took gold, Potter with silver and McNeil with bronze. Unit's Tom Pagès didn't rate a mention, which shows the obvious flaws in this popularity contest-style judging format.

PHOTO: Courtesy www.espn.com/action

Moto Best Trick is always the highlight at X Games, and makes for the biggest and most crazy tricks / crashes / attempts / accomplishments from the whole event. This year it was unfortunate that Maddo, Bilko and Kyle Loza all had to pull out due to injury, but that doesn't take anything away from the likes of Jackson Strong, Cam Sinclair and Josh Sheehan who all risked their lives to win medals. In the end Jacko took home the gold for his perfect Front-flip, ahead of Cam Sinclair's Double Backflip Nac and Sheehan's clean Double Backflip (the first he has ever landed).

Special mention must go to Taka Higashino for his One-Handed Seatgrab Backflip! This guy is insane, and definitely a step above anyone else when it comes to Seatgrab flip tricks. Adam Jones also landed his first Double Grab Backflip, which was great to see.

Travis Pastrana showed up with all the hype, it was public knowledge he would be attempting his 720 and had he landed it, was a sure bet for gold. In the end though, the crowd watched as Pastrana crashed in almost the exact same way as the last X Games where he attempted the trick.

Everyone was cheering him on, and it really was a rare sight to see Travis fail anything he put his mind to. He managed to hop back on the bike after the first crash, and obviously not too happy with his efforts, went for it again! The second time around, he landed even harder and ended up being carried off course. The end result for Pastrana was a broken foot/ankle, and an early finish to what was meant to be a massive weekend of competition.

Jed Mildon stares down the Megaramp. PHOTO: Kramer Patterson

Finally, the BMX Big Air went down. Heavy hitters Andy Buckworth, Morgan Wade and James Foster were all injured so it opened the door for the likes of Vince Byron and Unit's Jed Mildon to get a good shot to compete. Jed hasn't had the time and facilities to really get comfortable on the traditional megaramp setup, so the possibility of a Triple Backflip was very, very slim. He ended up attempting the Double Backflip Tailwhip, but again had a lot of trouble on the mellow megaramp setup. In the end it was Steve McCann who took the win with a Double Frontflip over the megaramp, and then a Double Tailwhip on the quarter pipe. Vince Byron took 2nd place with a Backflip Double Tailwhip and a 540 No-Hander on the quarter.

Heading into the rest  of the weekend, we still have BMX Park, Moto Speed & Style and Enduro X to come! Best of luck to Unit athlete Kyle Baldock, who has qualified through to the BMX Park finals.

Below is a few news articles from the first day of the event which feature some video and highlights from the action...

NEWS ARTICLE: Pastrana Breaks Foot / Ankle

NEWS ARTICLE: Jacko Wins Best Trick

NEWS ARTICLE: McCann Wins Big Air

Source: http://www.unitriders.com/united-states/news-and-culture/blog/2011/7/29/x-games-wrap-day-1/index.htm

BMX games online BMX bikes for sale we the people BMX BMX bike BMX game

VBS.TV Presents Contest Carnage

The closest thing to vert skating us kids growing up in the 90?s ever really experienced were the homemade stolen construction wood half pipes we would make with our dad?s TOOLS.� The lasting power of those things all depended on the kid down the street who after hours of hard work and labor, he comes [...]

Source: http://www.lat34.com/2011/07/28/vbs-tv-presents-contest-carnage/

BMX racing BMX stunts BMX games BMX bikes BMX master

Terry Adams Demo at Wal-Mart

Terry Adams is getting ready to do a Demo at Wal Mart. He just posted this photo on his Facebook page. If your in New Jersey you may have time to make it out if you didn't already know.

Get Detials here
http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2011/07/terry-adams-demo-plus-waltz-bike-give.html

Source: http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2011/07/terry-adams-demo-at-wal-mart.html

BMX bikes BMX master BMX videos BMX parts BMX games online

Day 2: A Villain and a Superhero

Friday, day two we woke up early especially for how late we went to bed. Kind of hard to sleep through the sounds of Aaron Huff putting in work for too long. He was in the warehouse as usual at 5 AM and we were up by 8. Dave Nourie and Juan Carlos had met us late in the night and shared in the generosity of our accommodations. Big thanks to Huff for allowing twelve stinky dudes to cramp up his space to sleep. If you're not riding a Solid, chances are you should be, go here and buy one. We loaded up our sleeping bags and waited for Rob Jenson to show up. He was joining Dave and Carlos in their car to head down to Fresno and Woodward. While we waited Boozedawg was in full effect. A pint of Sailor Jerry's and countless beers on the way down and on into the night at Solid turned into beers in the morning. Boozedawg uses a loud voice and Sailor Jerry's breath to spread misery to any within the van.

On the way to Fresno silly stories and the team Schralp video that was, according to Shad, to have footage of Fresno's park helped pass the time on the drive. Turns out after watching it, there is not. World traveler and We The People team rider Chester Blacksmith's international sex stories, with photographic evidence, also kept us entertained. Playstation's, TV's, laptops and cell phones were not anything I ever had on road trips as a kid. Sure are nice to have now. On a pit stop Boozedawg warned me that Jeremy had started a nut slapping game and I should be on high alert. I asked him if he knew the capital of Thailand and gave him the answer. BANGKOK! Right in his! Heavy laughter followed by a hand over the goods for protection. As they say, "Paybacks a BITCH!", and I got mine. I thought I was covered up but Boozedawg came in the van swinging and doubled me over. Onward to Fresno with everyone worried about their sack.

In the van watching Team Schralp.

If you haven't made the trip to Fresno I highly recommend it. A huge concrete park that is BIKES ONLY! You can tell by the size of everything and the obstacles you don't normally see in skate parks that it was designed with bikes in mind. Boozedawg had never set tire in a cradle before and made it his goal to loop it. After a bit he had made a very respectable level of upside down. The rest of us worked out some lines and watched local shredder and Kink Flow Rider Chad Osburn destroy the park. Fresno was HOT! Almost 90 degrees hot, and coming from rainy Oregon made it a little hard to adjust. Riley and I ducked out for some shade, a drink, and a quick rest. Coming back Dave Nourie told me I needed to hurry back and check out my son. I panicked for a second thinking he was hurt but he told me he was fine but fully looping the 19' cradle. Stoked we pedaled back to check out the action. Everyone started yelling at me to check out Mac and he dropped in and started cranking! I was nervous because he was hauling ass and when we had got there he was barely making it over half way up. I about dropped a load when I saw how high he got! The boy wonder was born! He will be forever after known as "Captain Cradle". A 13 year old had just robbed Boozedawg of his glory! The crew made sure to let me know I had a short time before my kid would pass me by in the skills department. Marcus made sure to ask me how it felt to be outdone by a thirteen year old. My response was that I wasn't sure yet but to make sure to ask everyone else because I wasn't the only one. Damn Kids!

Fresno Bike Park

Besides a crazy bike park the city of Fresno is kind of gnarly. Driving to find the park we saw streets piled with garbage for blocks. Turns out it was an annual cleanup but that, combined with poor neighborhoods, gave us a creepy vibe. We thought we were going to see a murder when we witnessed a dude rolling a Jeep Cherokee on 24's worth more than it, hit an equally gangster looking dude in a crosswalk. Looks like after some words they worked it out and no one died. A Wall mart stop for some supplies made us quickly realize how much of a minority we were in those parts. Some threatening comments at the burrito joint we ate dinner somewhat confirmed 10 white dudes weren't a common site and maybe none too welcome. We skipped town and headed to the promised land. Woodward West. We rolled into the lodge at Woodward around 11 PM. After checking in most of us took a shower and headed to the bar downstairs to catch up with friends already in attendance.

To be continued....

Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-2-villain-and-superhero.html

BMX bikes BMX master BMX videos BMX parts BMX games online

Jeff K: Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

Source: http://actionvillagebmx.blogspot.com/2011/01/jeff-k-ticking-away-moments-that-make.html

BMX bikes BMX master BMX videos BMX parts BMX games online

Flourent Soulas Chainless Edit

It has been a while since I’ve seen anyone do the chainless thing, but it looks like Flourent Soulas decided to give it a go. It also looks like it didn’t slow him down one bit. This is incredible. Damn.

Source: http://www.bmxunion.com/blog/daily/flourent-soulas-chainless-edit/

BMX videos BMX parts BMX games online BMX bikes for sale we the people BMX

Know any millionaires?

Surfing the Skate Eugene site I learned that less than half of the $870,000 needed has been raised to construct the new park. Large portions of this park will be covered due to its location under the I-105 bridge into downtown Eugene. Check out the design here. Take note of the lines representing the bridge and how most of the park will be under its shelter. There are also lights already in place that will keep this open later on these short winter days. Buy lotto tickets, hit up your rich friends and lets get this thing done!

Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/01/know-any-millionaires.html

BMX games BMX bikes BMX master BMX videos BMX parts

BK's 2011 Passport Promo

Brian Kachinsky's 2011 Passport Promo from DK Bicycle Company on Vimeo.

Source: http://actionvillagebmx.blogspot.com/2011/03/bks-2011-passport-promo.html

BMX museum BMX bike games BMX forum winstanelys BMX colony BMX

Columbia Support

Source: http://www.kinkbmx.com/columbia-support

BMX games online BMX bikes for sale we the people BMX BMX bike BMX game

Eric Holley Bike Check

Eric Holley's Bike...

Source: http://easternbikes.com/blog/2011/mar/1/eric-holley-bike-check/

colony BMX wethepeople BMX gt BMX haro BMX mongoose BMX

My 3rd Day of Trials

My 3rd Day of Trials from Dion Rides Bikes on Vimeo.

Well, ths is my official 3rd day of riding this bike in an actual "session" - 5th day if you count what I've done in front of my house.

I had some side hops and stuff, but honestly, it looks so utterly pitiful on video when you're doing them onto something that's no more than a couple feet high.

Please be kind - I'm just starting out on this bike.

Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2011/06/my-3rd-day-of-trials.html

mongoose BMX BMX extreme BMX racing BMX stunts BMX games

One Love BMX- Day 4

NYC

Our first stop on the east coast. After a very long 30 hour drive non-stop to NYC



Music

Fastlane

Royce da 5'9 & Eminem



Film and Edit

Darin W.

Source: http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2011/07/one-love-bmx-day-4.html

BMX bikes BMX master BMX videos BMX parts BMX games online

Am rider James Barton checks in!

Source: http://actionvillagebmx.blogspot.com/2011/01/am-rider-james-barton-checks-in.html

ride BMX BMX museum BMX bike games BMX forum winstanelys BMX

Updownsideness

Aussies. WTF? Guess they are just used to being upside down and backwards (note the brake lever). Triple Flips. WTF? Just met Jose Janez in April (first backflip on a bmx), now some thirty years later Jed Mildon steps it up. Think it will take another 10 years before we see a quad? Check it.


World's First BMX Triple Backflip - Watch more Funny Videos

Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/06/updownsideness.html

BMX racing BMX stunts BMX games BMX bikes BMX master

Eric Holley Bike Check

Eric Holley's Bike...

Source: http://easternbikes.com/blog/2011/mar/1/eric-holley-bike-check/

BMX bike BMX game alans BMX ride BMX BMX museum

Let's Climb Stile Ranch Trail *on my steel rigid*

This is my first MTB video. I've done plenty of motorcycle and BMX vids, but I wanted to give this a try. Sorry, no hucking off huge drops or anything, just a steady climb up my local technical trail on my rigid 29'er.

Let's Climb Stile Ranch Trail *on my steel rigid* from Dion Rides Bikes on Vimeo.

Effraim # 19

It's hard to believe that I am on clip 19 this year, when I started out this project "To document, share and progress" with Martti back in January, I had no idea where it would go, as you can see at the end of the link, very stoked to land this combo for the first time on camera!
http://www.flatmattersonline.com

Related Link
http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2011/06/effraim-18.html

Source: http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2011/07/effraim-19.html

BMX bike games BMX forum winstanelys BMX colony BMX wethepeople BMX

The Baltic Games after-party snaps!

… The Baltic Games was a banger, and the after-party that follow did not disappoint…�”Read More”�to see the after-party snaps; see if you can spot yourself! - VS

Source: http://www.valleysidedistro.com/wordpress/?p=1041

haro BMX mongoose BMX BMX extreme BMX racing BMX stunts

Trip edit

Anthony made this edit of some of the trip action.

10 Guys In A Van ? 2011 Old School BMX Reunion Trip to Woodward West. from AB on Vimeo.

Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/04/trip-edit.html

winstanelys BMX colony BMX wethepeople BMX gt BMX haro BMX

Let's Climb Stile Ranch Trail *on my steel rigid*

This is my first MTB video. I've done plenty of motorcycle and BMX vids, but I wanted to give this a try. Sorry, no hucking off huge drops or anything, just a steady climb up my local technical trail on my rigid 29'er.

Let's Climb Stile Ranch Trail *on my steel rigid* from Dion Rides Bikes on Vimeo.

Whoa! Long break :(

Hello internet world... haven't posted for some time due to an extremely busy work schedule, an award trip (for good little insurance sales boys like me) and piss poor weather.

The wifebot and I just got back from a 10-day cruise through the Panama Canal. The entire trip, with travel was actually 12 days - so it was essentially 12 days + 3 days of insane work prior of NO riding. I thought that maybe the break was good for me and I'd possibly be stronger from the rest.

Boy, was I wrong.

My first ride was a day after I returned back, and what I would normally have no problems with was extremely hard for me. I was huffing and puffing, and yes, I actually did have to stop to take a break. Wow - everything I had worked up to was all shot to shit. The next day wasn't as bad, but I still am not where I used to be prior to me leaving.

I've concluded this: For cycling, if one is to "rest", he/she must do so with some sort of pedalling included. Kind of like, an active rest or what the elitists call a "recovery ride". I went cold turkey, and all those gains I had were lost. I believe that if I had access to a real bicycle, even a single speed beach cruiser, I wouldn't have been in such bad shape upon my return.

This was the longest break I have ever taken, and I am definitely going to try not to do that again.

"Nooooo... I'm not stopping to rest - I'm stopping to take a picture! That's it! A picture!"

Source: http://www.dionridesbikes.com/2011/03/whoa-long-break.html

winstanelys BMX colony BMX wethepeople BMX gt BMX haro BMX

Um?.... Yeah...

Why not just ride a bmx bike? This makes no sense to me.

iMiNUSD RIDES SF from iMiNUSD on Vimeo.

Source: http://eugenebmx.blogspot.com/2011/02/um-yeah.html

BMX master BMX videos BMX parts BMX games online BMX bikes for sale

FORMULA FLATLAND OPEN *interlagos* (2�Part)

Source: http://www.bmxfreestyler.com/2011/07/formula-flatland-open-interlagos-2part.html

we the people BMX BMX bike BMX game alans BMX ride BMX