-Let's kick off with the contest news. The 2010 Freestyle World's in Prague have been cancelled due to lack of sponsorship. Sad but true, but there won't be a 2010 World Championship on the program this summer. Also the BMX Masters are suffering/changing. No flat and no vert this year. Having all 5 disciplines at this event made it what it was and people are already protesting to get the two disciplines back:
Not sure if you have heard yet but the BMX MASTERS contest in Germany has dropped Flatland and Vert from the competition after 25 years of this event being the soul of the European BMX scene.There are riders from all over the World who have booked their tickets to the event and are being left out of pocket going to a contest that is not what it used to be and they were travelling to The BMX Masters ride either Flat or Vert.
There is only one contest in the World that sticks to the Roots of BMX and that is the BMX Masters, without Flatland and Vert which are the two things that this whole sport was created on the back off with you guys at the Helm the BMX Masters becomes a Hollow event with nothing more than a show for TV with ridiculous Buzz words like "Super Ramp" which they talk of on their website. On their site is this other priceless quote.
"Unfortunately for the younger generation Halfpipe is just not where it’s at right now, we will follow and see if this will change in the future and will consider bringing the Vert-ramp back if there is a demand for it!"
So let's DEMAND it!The Vert contest last year at the Masters was amazing one of the best I have seen, (They own their own Vert so they do not have to hire it in so minimal costs)
How are we ever going to get the younger generation interested in Vert if we keep taking it out of events? We are all slowly but surely killing off certain very important and exciting aspects of our sport as we know it. Please VOICE your opinions, if you agree or if you do not with what I am saying. Check the BMX Masters Facebook page to see what the BMX community in Europe and the World is saying about this. Also check this link .
Regards and thanks for listening to my Rant but I believe this contest is too important to the whole BMX community to let this slide. -Zach Shaw
-2010 Event schedule for the upcoming weeks:
2010/04/24 - Freestyle BMX & MTB Polish Championships 2010/04/24 - Dorchester Skatepark Jam
2010/04/24 - All American Nationals
2010/04/25 - T-Mobile Extreme Playgrounds
2010/05/02 - Flame Trails jam
2010/05/07 - UCI BMX SX Copenhagen, DK
2010/05/08 - The 4130 Subway Series Ride!! Hollywood to Downtown LA!!
2010/05/08 - BMX Jump and Flatland Contest at Bike Days
2010/05/08 - Freedom Nationals
2010/05/09 - Tour Dur Laarbeek
2010/05/12 - fise
2010/05/15 - 20inch Trophy - Park Contest
2010/05/28 - Spring Nationals
2010/05/28 - adidas eyewear - Austrian King of Dirt 2010
2010/05/29 - Saint AvoldSchool BMX French Reunion
2010/06/04 - Freestyle World's CANCELLED!
2010/06/04 - Summer Nationals
2010/06/05 - Com'In Lyon
2010/06/13 - Helm "Summer" Jam
2010/06/18 - Midwest Nationals
-2010 will be remembered as a new start for BMX Groupment, mother company of Superstar BMX, St-Martin BMX and Focale 44 fixed bikes. The alarm clock rang and we are ready to move ahead. Let me introduce our "new" workmate: Tony Pereira. He is not really new at BMX Groupment. He was the one who started the story. Back in the year 2001, he had the idea to create BMX Groupment and Superstar brand. During years he was not working for BMX Groupment. He is back now. He will handle the whole communication activity at BMX Groupment, working with Eric Chancelier on global graphic/web design, with Manu Massabova for St-Martin brand, with the future team manager for Superstar... And he will work with you also.
Tony and I were BMX racers around Paris in the 80's. Then Tony became one of the top trails/dirt riders in France in the 90's. After that he became team manager for Kanabeach (french clothing brand) and did many other things related with BMX, sports, communication. He has a lot of connections in the BMX world. His comeback in BMX Groupment will be a real boost for our 3 brands. First visible effects within 6 months. -Med
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Craig Tull has been a photographic contributor to the FATBMX site and is selling these Emulsure T-s in several colours. It's about give, and give back. They're 10 pounds each with free worldwide shipping. With the ashcloud gone the plane might be at your place in no-time. -Justin Holt from North Carolina has a "12 Questions" interview up on GroupHomeBikes. Ed Pollio says: Justin Is a good Dude. Justin is also looking to get a helmet company to donate some helmets to his local Skate Park. It is a very low income area. And the younger kids there want to get into riding at the cement park but can't ride unless they have helmets. But can't really afford them. If you can help here is his email: "Justin Holt" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
-New T-shirt out from Stereo Bikes. This could make it in the FATBMX Comic 'n Art section at any time. Got cool BMX drawings or artwork that you want the BMX community to see? We've got a space for it on FATBMX.-2010 Korea "Money Race" Elite Men results:
1. Maris Strombergs (LAT)
2. Raymon vd Biezen (NED)
3. Edzus Treimanis (LAT)
4. Rob van den Wildenberg (NED)
5. Kevin Sprengers (NED)
6. Masa Sampei (JAP)
7. Jelle van Gorkom (NED)
8. Lillian Goux (Fra)
-News from Chad Johnston:
1.) After months of working with S&M I’ve officially been added to the flow team, stoked. We’re working on some signature parts that cater to riders looking for something responsive and reliable. We’re on the third prototype bars and second stem, they’ll be available after we finish testing, should be soon. More products will follow. 2.) I just recently finished filming my first pegless dvd section (previous pegless edits were for web) for Dane Beardsley's “Same Thing Daily 2” which premieres this month in Athens, Ga. Stoked to be included in this project, I’ve got much respect for every rider in this video. 3.) I’m also starting to work on another video with Martti Kuoppa, no name or details yet, but you know it’s going to be sick. I’ve got a couple clips from Martti already and they’re bangers. 4.) One last thing, another video project is in the concept stage with Tomi at Sevisual. Expect an Sevisual/inTRIKat collaboration in the near future. 
-Good stuff, good stuff, find it in the BMX racing section:-Tyler Brown
-Laetitia Le Corguille
-Donny Robinson
-Thomas Hamon
-Kevin Sprengers
-Kurt Pickard
-Raymon van der Biezen
-The Helm Jam was great. The weather couldn't have been better and the jumps were shredded all day long. The little kids BMX race was fun too. Good times, that's what it's all about. Support your scene. Do something. Here's the link to the report. Thanks to everyone who helped out. You know who you are.-Going by the pictures it looks like the Mega Ramp they built in France has got something terribly wrong. What do you think?
-South American Games 2010 BMX results:
Elite Women
1. Mariana Pajón- Colombia
2. Gabriela Díaz- Argentina
3. Andrea Zuluaga- Colombia
4. Stefany Hernández- Venezuela
5. Belén Tapia- Chile
6. Luisa Pardo- Colombia
7. Maria Belén Dutto- Argentina
8. Florencia Soriano- Argentina
Elite Men
1. Augusto Castro- Colombia
2. José Luis Díaz- Colombia
3. Felipe Faundez- Chile
4. Ignacio Katogui- Argentina
5. Jonathan Suárez- Venezuela
6. Sergio Salazar- Colombia
7. Fausto Endara- Ecuador
8. Cristian Becerine- Argentina
-This week's Workshop Wednesday comes from Bill Bryant over at Revolution advertising. Bill has been in this advertising game for many years and gets greasy hands whenever he has the cance. Time for Paul de Jong to fire over some questions to see what he's got. Read about it here. 
-FAT FAVs this week:-Rob Clancy
-Shanice Silva Cruz
-Greg d'Amico
-Steven Church
-Mike Fede
-Thomas Caillard
-Jeroen Surfstad
-Shawn Swain
More to come next week. We're taking the weekend off so Monday will bring the new one.
-The Tribeca Film Festival is proud to being featuring a new movie from Johnny Knoxville! This year, the Festival is coming to you with Tribeca Film On Demand. You will be able to demand Knoxville’s The Birth of Big Air. The Birth of Big Air Official selection of 2010 Tribeca Film Festival and ESPN 30 for 30. Producers Spike Jonze and Johnny Knoxville showcase the inner workings and exploits of BMX great Mat Hoffman, the man who gave birth to “Big Air.” With Tony Hawk.
-Intense BMX is releasing a limited edition Factory Series Race Bike to support USA Cycling. A portion of the sale from each bike will be donated to USAC to help fund the USA Cycling BMX Program. USAC BMX Program Director, Mike King, comments "The Intense USAC BMX bike provides that 'cool' factor when riders want bikes designed like those of USAC National Team members David Herman, Nic Long and Arielle Martin. We feel this type of support identifies Intense BMX as the premier brand in the BMX racing world". Mike continues, "The USAC National Team jersey compliments the USAC bike so riders can have that factory look at the BMX World Championships or at the local BMX track". The bikes are available in six sizes: Mini XL, Junior XL, Expert XL, Pro, Pro XL, and Pro Cruiser. Parts spec are the same as the current Intense Factory complete bikes. We expect these limited edition bikes to be in our warehouse by May 10th and sell out quickly so have your local bike shop reserve yours today.
-What would we be without Susan Linerode. We would be short of some great interviews and a whole lot of FAT FAVS with riders we wouldn't know how to get in touch with. You should definitely read the latest Josh Perry interview she contributed. Thanks Susan.BMX is about give, and give back. Isn't life about that too? These companies understand: Vans, Nike 6.0, Mirraco, Eastpak, Haro, Tioga, Snafu, Paul's Boutique, Leatt and Carhartt. Thanks for your support. Wouldn't be able to do it without your help. Much appreciated.
05:17am. Peace out.
BdJ
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.