Open Dutch BMX Dirt Championships 2011. Report by BdJ. Pics by Jos/BdJ/Marcel

May 05, 2011

Written by Bart de Jong

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The day was finally there. The day of the Open Dutch Dirt Champs. Open, so people from outside The Netherlands could come over and ride in the championships. It's amazing how the word "Championship" can change things for some people. For sure it helped getting personal goals done be dialling in tricks before the big day arrived. But on 1 May the riders had to deal with the pressure, and the wind, to pull the tricks right there and then.In Practice the bar was raised by the presence of David Theissen and Felix Kirch from Germany. Double whips and turndown flips over the first set, followed by 3-whips on the last set and bars to X-up. A good posse from Belgium came over as well so the Dutch crew had their hands full trying to keep the title in The Netherlands. Bart Mol's preparation wasn't the best ever. The "Okay, one drink" the day before turned into a few more than one. That, combined with a big slam on the wakeboard, was reason enough not to sign up. Daniel Wedemeijer did show up, but with a hurt knee. Daniel has been winning comps left and right but could not enter the ONK.

In the end we had a total of 28 riders in the 14+ class, and 14 in the -13 class who each had two runs of their choice to impress the judges. 8 riders would transfer to the finals.

It was clear that some people could deal with the pressure better than others when the qualification started. Part of the -13 class jumped the three tables, while some took the middle line to show what they got. The 14+ class rode the line along the fence that Pim van den Bos, Asa, Mike, Mark, and the locals had worked on for the big day. Only 8 spots were there for the finals and with both runs counting towards the final score, there was no room for mess ups.

Missing the cut with one point was Dennis "25 for life" Keunen but he did show his turndown flips and supermans on 1 May. Pim van de Bos frontied himself in the finals but took it easy there and did back to back one-hander runs for 8th place. Timothy Bauwens from Belgium scored 7th just behind Kenneth Tancre who showed good potential. 5th place was for Dimitris Araouzos who did variations on every set, at height. He showed he could do backflips too but that was after the final run was over. His first ever flip on dirt and probably his last one. Been there, done that. Tom van de Boogaard (Ale Blie) was stoked on 4th place. It's no secret that Tom has talent. He's got the style and skills to make it through the sets.

He'll throw in some turndowns and no-handers along the way. Add a few more tricks and we'll be seeing more of this guy in the future. The podium spots in 2011 were for a German, a Belgian and one rider from Holland. It was Desmond Tessemaker on third place. Doing "full pulls" at the Helm trails required some skills and Desmond has those. Plenty of them. As a racer you learn how to ride a bike and Desmond made it through the lines and did 360-s, no-footed cans, no-handers, toboggans and tables along th

e way. Going higher than everyone else was Felix Kirch. The Stereo bikes rider from Germany showed he can ride dirt too. Double whips, super high turndown flips, pendulems, no-handers, barspin to X-up, multiple one-handers, and a flair to fakie on the last hip got him second place. It was good to have zhe German at the ONK and with a trophy, 100 Euros cash and a bag full of goodies it wasn't a bad day for Felix. First place and the 2011 Open Dutch BMX Dirt Champion titel went to Greg van Tulder. The Deluxe rider from Belgium simply pulled it together in Helmond. 3-s, flips, turndowns, no-handers, tables all in a smooth style and all the way to the end gave him a total of 527 points. Congatulations!

The -13 class was won by Sergio Farias (Amsterdam?) who had a 37 point lead over second place finisher Camiel de Mol (Ale Blie) and scored 65 points more than Sander van Schijndel (3rd). Good effort from all the kids in the -13 class. Gotta start 'em young.

A day like this wouldn't be

possible without the help from all the sponsors, riders, locals and people behind the scene. Thanks to all, you know who you are. ONK at the Helm Trails in 2012 again?

BdJ

Photos by Marcel van de Kerkhof, Jos Wissink, Bart de Jong

Results Open Dutch BMX Dirt Championships 2011, Helm trails, Helmond

14+ class:
1. Greg van Tulder (Belgium)

2. Felix Kirch (Germany)
3. Desmond Tessemaker (Netherlands)
4. Tom van den Boogaard (Ale Blie)
5. Dimitris Araouzos (Greece)
6. Kenneth Tancre (Belgium)
7. Timothy Bauwens (Belgium)
8. Pim van den Bos (Netherlands)

-13 class:
1. Sergio Farias

2. Camiel de Mol
3. Sander van Schijndel
4. Pim Vervoort
4. Kay van Kaatoven
6. Nick Swaanen
7. Jarno Henraath
8. Philip de Jong

Thanks to the sponsors: Monster Energy, Nike 6.0, Pro-Tec, Paul's Boutique, EBC, Gebr. Swinkels, FATBMX.