16 years old Paul Thoelen from Viersen, Germany and his Dutch colleague Daniel Wedemeijer usually can be found riding skateparks with perfectly smooth transitions and flat bottoms, but that luxury wasn't around for the 'Riverbed Trails' project. However, riding a dried up wild water kayak course was a once in a lifetime opportunity for both of them. The concrete surface was unbelievably rough and looked more like a lunar landscape, but it challenged both of them to see what was possible on this unusual terrain. Paul Thoelen and Daniel Wedemeijer used the various steep concrete banks for their tricks in an area that is usually owned by fish and canoes.
The idea of 'Riverbed Trails' came from Paul Thoelen himself. When he came across a photo of a drained wild water kayak course last year, he started dreaming. The artificially constructed drainage showcased an interesting BMX playground because of the many differently shaped concrete transitions that normally develop necessary streams for canoes. After some research Paul ran into
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.