FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

If the local council doesn't cooperate with your request of making a spot available to build dirt jumps, there's always the possibility to do it yourself. You can't have it close to where people live. The more people/kids know about it, the sooner they'll be destroyed. Find a location that you normally would never go to. Check the dirt. If it has a hilly section that's a plus too. The folks in Bochum, Germany have been digging and riding at the same spot for years. It's hidden in the woods and no we're not going to tell you where it is. Dig your own.

Public trails are hard to find. Most of the time they're private or hidden in the bush so  noone can find them. This will protect the jumps from being killed by people who don't know what they're for. Another option is the Abflughalle in Germany which is an indoor dirt spot where you have to pay to ride. The Helm Trails at the Johannes Vermeerlaan in Helmond are a public spot. Everyone can ride at any time of the day. For free. Truckloads of dirt were dropped but the last  couple of truckloads had the wrong dirt. That's why the locals are trying to get some more dirt from the local council. Dirt that holds up under the riding and the rain. Good sessions have been going on regardless and the building process never stops. Kids have their own section and also this part of the trails is being sessioned heavily. The part of the city where the trails are located (Helmond Noord) doesn't really have the best reputation but the trails are a perfect fit and we yet have to face the first incident. Last year's Helm Jam was a success and the next jam is scheduled for 9 September 2007. Until that time let's hope that the truckloads of dirt arrive to add some jumps and to fix up the existing ones with a new layer.

A lot of time has passed but now the waiting is over… and to be worth while! Next to the “Middle of the Night” there will be a whole day only for bikes from May on! Mondays will be reserved exclusively for BMX and MTB. “Open Bike” kicks off on Monday the 14th of May and if the weather keeps up, this day will be celebrated with a barbeque and cold drinks! Besides there is a new web page and new ramps are planned as well.
- From the 14th of May, each Monday: “Open Bike”

Singapore was a good time. It rules to receive invitations to go places that you've never been to before. Before I left I had not checked out much about Singapore. I had no clue about their currency, language, dimensions, regulations or any of that. It's a bit stupid to not look into that but I was ready for some adventure. On the way up on the stupid long 12 hour non-stop flight I sat next to Tobias Wicke and his girlfriend Claudia. At least I had travel company which is always good. On arrival we were picked up by a Singapore local who held a sign:

After years of bikes being kicked out of the Fun Spot in Santa Cruz , the park has now been opened to us. One of the builders told me the park would be completed this week as is indicated by the sign on the fence outside. Quite a rare occurrence in the state of California for sure, but a welcome one nonetheless. The park is located across the street from the pier and the beach front.

Lloyd Ramsay

CHANDLER, Ariz. – The City of Chandler will dedicate its new BMX/Freestyle bike riding facility on Saturday, May 5, 2007, with a morning of professional rider demonstrations, giveaways, and a ribbon cutting ceremony. The Chandler Bike Park is located at 450 E. Knox Rd., and it is in the City’s Espee Park.

 The free festivities are open to the public and begin at 8:30 a.m. with professional riders showing off their skills.

With the IBMXF BMX racing World Championships taking place in Japan back in 1984, with Martin Apparijo doing a quarterpipe demo on a Torker, it is fair to say that BMX in Japan was well alive at that time. On a trip through the city of Tokyo we took a visit to W-Base, a small BMX shop. Thomas Fritscher and I were welcomed by Motoaki Tanaka and his brother who seemed to know everyone and everything.

Japan is a good place if you're looking for some exclusive shoes. Some models are made specifically for the Japanese market and that's the case with some of the VANS shoes we ran into in the Shibuya area.

If you have a Vans shoe fetish, drool over these photos. I'm sure there is a pair in there that you've never seen before.

Now check on that flight to Tokyo.......

1st September 2006  One dismal, grey Tuesday morn in mid August, summer had clearly taken an early exit. Nonetheless, the relentless GBH crew threw down their space hoppers at Winch services and grabbed their boards to tackle the newest GBH installation in Wokingham. Team skaters Ross Forknall and Bummer flew over the ramps of Wokingham, which as well as talent and the slick design, could also be accredited to the bucketful of spaceships they annihilated on the way down, all those E numbers can’t be a good thing, surely?

Gabe Weed and his wife Erin just opened a brand new indoor park in Reno,NV. Take a look at the photos to see what the set up looks like. There are too many good pics of the place. They also have a full BMX/Skate Shop which looks very good in the photo. Open Ground Park is the name and you can get in touch through:
-Phone 775 324 PARK (7275)
-Fax 775 324 7275
-E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
-Website: opengroundpark.com