FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

After Dirt on Friday night it was time for the street contest on Saturday. In 102 Fahrenheit temperatures it was hella hot over there in the parking lot of the Hardrock in Vegas. The street course was more than decent but was built on a slopy parking lot which took some getting used to for all the 28 riders. Again it was a strong field of perticipants. Some of the riders who did not make the top 12 (finals) were: Dakis, Morochan, Beringer, Ross, Taylor, Martinez, Mihelich, Heaton, MacKay, Paddy Gross, Napolitan, Tobias Wicke, Darden, Van Homan, Chase Hawk and Diego Canina. With those riders out, you can expect the finals to be nuts. In 12th place we find Alistair Whitton who had been ripping on the course all day long. When he dropped in for his first 60 second run (best run counts), he went for a huge front flip on the box but landed a bit too deep and got off the bike. He possibly broke his arm as he was in a sling in no time (welcome brother) and rushed to the hospital later for inspection. 11th went to UK's Baz Keep. Making the final was

Vans invited for a party at the Hardrock Casino in Las Vegas. FATBMX was present. Friday night saw an amazing dirt contest followed by a street comp the next day but first things first; Dirt. The crew had built up the stage again which had a small roll in followed by a gap into a landing and two huge sets of jumps. The landings of the jumps were at least 10 feet high and 14 feet wide, I don't want to know how many truckloads of dirt had to be brought in for this. Fuzzy, Elf and the building crew had built a monster course but the riders were ready to take it on. I have to admit, it had been a while since I attended a dirt contest in America. X-Games 2003 I believe. The level of riders in Vegas was off the hook. It was pro invite only and they sure had picked a high level of riders. The contest was going to be a head to head contest. Each rider jumped once and after that the scores were announced.

While abroad we received four more e-mails from the Biker in Black. He's been busy as ever shaking hands left and right and presenting his new girlfriend that he met two days before. Here's the Rick Thorne update: Yo dudes here is a New Von Zipper Sunglasses ad, wanna buy sum glasses? Much luv, Thorne Biker-N-Black

Interbike's Thursday evening is reserved for the RIDE BMX Nora Cup party. The riders of the year are announced there and it's a BMX party that cannot be missed. But first we got invited by McGoo for a dinner with the Snafu owner and the team riders in the Venetian. After eating the biggest steak I've ever seen and downing a few brewski's it was off to the Ice for the Nora Cup. On the way to the taxi's McGoo stopped at a table to see if we were going with cabs, or with the Limosine. McGoo threw some money on the table and before we knew it, our posse was on the way to the Ice club in style (read: in a black Limosine).

Tyler Brown travels to Japan So last week was a busy week for me. I started off my week normal, and then I got a phone call that changed the whole thing! Monday afternoon I get a call from John, the Avent TM. Here is how the conversations goes; “Hey Tyler what are you doing this weekend?â€? “No plans yet, why what’s up?â€? “Well, do you want to go to Japan this weekend?â€? That is where things changed big time! So it was confirmed Tuesday, I flew out Wednesday, made it in time for the Opening Ceremony Thursday, raced Friday and Saturday, and was back on a plan home Sunday! So it was a busy, filled up trip! Here is how my races and some other things went: There was a good AA Class that showed up in Japan plus mix in some fast locals and it was a good day of racing! In my motos I finished 4th, 3rd, 1st. In the semi I was able to ride strong to finish 2nd and get a spot in the main. Everything worked out for all of the riders and it was a very good main. All of the AA’s and one of the fastest Japan riders lined up on the gate for a great main.

Two-time Mobile Skatepark Series Overall Best Trick Champion John Parker has long been one of the smoothest and most exciting riders on the pro circuit, but he’s been plagued by spectacular crashes this season, first during the X Games and then in September during the MSS event in Sacramento. When time expired on Parker’s first run in today’s pro BMX vert contest, however, both fans and fellow riders realized the respected veteran rider had just turned in a miraculous performance. Parker kicked off his run with a perfect opposite flair, a trick he only recently re-learned after removing it from his repertoire a decade ago following a horrendous spill (he still won't do regular flairs). He followed up the flair and sealed a gold-medal-winning performance with multiple huge supermans, multiple 540 variations and his signature double-tailwhip, a trick only a handful of riders in the world can land.

For the third time the FSO JAM was held on the 20th of August. Even though the weather gods seemed to have different plans for the day, a group of around 60 riders showed op at the Central Station. When we all got our shit together and the first beer of the day down us, we set off for an exploration of our nations capitols best street spots. Amsterdam does not offer you typical street spots and some of the spots provided a real challenge to some. To avoid a rundown of all the stops made and tricks pulled I will just sum up a few of the highlights of the day. For me the trick of the day was done by Rutger Pauw at the Amstel long ledge. This ledge is around 50 meters long, starts off at a good 80 cm above the ground and has a 3 meter or more drop in the beginning, 2 Years ago Rutger almost pulled it but ended up over the bars with a split knee, this year he pulled it clean.. and brakeless.

You know that Eastpak's been active in action sports for a long, long time and that they have some of the best riders around, all rockin' the packs and bags... So when Snickers was looking for kick-ass athletes to design limited edition signature T shirts they found the Eastpak Teams a natural choice. Snickers teamed up with a couple of pro BMX-ers; a.o. Hannu Cools and Travis Collier who each designed a shirt inspired by what gives them the fuel to enjoy their action packed lives...Available in blue, white, grey, black and yellow these shirts look awesome and reflect the personalities of each rider perfectly!

For those who do not follow Motocross, here's a little comparison. Every year we've got the world's for BMX but actually the real racing is taking place in America. In the United States of America everything is "bigger and better" and that's the same with motocross. You've got the GP series where the best racers of the world meet but at the same time there are the SX and outdoor Nationals in the USA where the fast and aggressive racers battle for the big bucks on spectacular tracks. But once every year the Motocross des Nations (MXdN) are held.

We're putting on a jam on Wednesday October 26th (school half-term week) at the De La Warr Pavilion on Bexhill seafront - 4 miles from Hastings. The skatepark has been built by Nick Vale and Fids, with help from 40 local kids in a school summer camp, and is free to ride/skate from 2pm onwards. Lids are compulsory. They'll be a pro-only session at around 3.30 for half an hour (they'll be a lot of pros attending because of the Backyard Jam the weekend before and Seventies being our neighbours - TBA nearer the time), giveaways, signings, bands, grafitti artists and then 2 video premieres projected on to the back of the building in the evening. They'll be a bar for the over 18's followed by a party (ask us for tickets) at the Ice Cube bar opposite our shop - which is a 2 minute walk from the event. Check out www.Dlwp.com to see the venue - it's the £8million re-opening of a crazy art gallery and is going to be a treat. If you need any more info, contact us at: