Re-Up: The Coldest Edition of the Mini FATJAM is a fact. Freezing in Ale Blie (2013).

Mar 27, 2014

Written by Bart de Jong

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22 April 1990 is when we had the first jam at the Sugar Hills in Aarle-Rixtel. 23 years later the same spot is still going strong. Tosti, Tom, Jaimy, Steven and the Ale Blie crew had worked their asses off in the cold to get the place running again for the "season opener". The 2013 Mini FATJAM goes down in history as the coldest edition ever. We had snow the day before, and even during the jam a bit of snow came down. That didn't stop people from showing up. Riders were seen riding in T-shirts while the visitors were freezing their asses off on the sidelines.

Also for the first time in FATJAM history we had a professional medic crew present. The AES crew came over with an equipped van, a trailer that hosted as a mobile hospital and a fully equipped quad. It impressed the hell out of everyone and gave the riders the feeling they could go big as they would be in good hands if something went wrong.

The only jump that wasn't fixed yet was the killer jump. But when Paul promised a Pro-Tec helmet for the rider who would first jump it a session followed quickly. Koen Nouwen was the first to jump it and grabbed the new lid. A spontaneous session followed on the Killer jump and after working on the landing a bit, the jump was finished in the end as well.

But still it was a challenge for most to make a "full pull" at the trails. After spending all winter indoors, riding dirt was different. Riding new terrain always requires some getting used to and the fact that the jumps weren't packed in all places made it even harder to make it through till the end. Dimitris Araouzos cleared it first try and probably was the only one who did that. Making it to the end were a.o. Tom van den Boogaard, Kenneth Tancre, Michael van Gelder, Greg van Tulder and I'm guessing Sven Grieten also made it through.

Red Bull was there with a sound system and riding the jumps was what the jam was all about. It's good to see that the young riders keep showing up because the place needs to stay around also in 10 years from now. The Vans goodies were given away to all who did something good. Coach handled that well on the microphone. Thanks to Vans for the box of products once again. Another solid jam in the books.

Plans are in the works for the 25th edition of the FATJAM on 10 August 2013. Same spot, bigger chaos, and a bit of sunshine. Bring on global warming. If you've never been to a FATJAM, make that one happen.

BdJ