Bart de Jong
Shop name: The Secret BMX Shop
Location: Murrieta, California (USA)
Years in business: 11
Best year yet: 2010 and 2020
Worst year yet: I don't think we've ever had a bad year, but 2020 definitely spawned the most grey hairs.
For a while it looked like the USA wasn't taking Covid too seriously, what's the status now?
Bryan Babbel: On a national level, it seems the media is still pumping a lot of fear into the population, but on a local level, it is very clear that most people aren't buying into the hype anymore and are ready to take their chances and move on with life. You wouldn't believe how grateful new customers are when they come in and realize we never have (and never will) require them to wear a mask. And our repeat customers love coming in knowing they can shop and breathe comfortably.
Did you take any action from the start with your shop or were you thinking this would be over in a few weeks?
Bryan Babbel: As with many bike shops that chose not to shut down and/or limit themselves, we got crushed with an overwhelming amount of business immediately following the lockdown orders.
Name: Sam Burditt
Age: 25
Hometown: Taunton, Somerset, UK
Hook-ups: The OTG crew and my old man when he bails me out with money ahaha.
The FAT FAVOURITES list:
Favourite spot: I mean skatepark wise, has to be either my local; Hammy, or there’s a sick skatepark in Madrid, the one Courage Adam’s posts mental clips, idk what it’s called tho haha!
Name: Kolbi Watier
Age: 26
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK, CAN.
Hook-ups/Sponsors: Indah Street, Mud, Sweat and Gears
---The FAT favorite list---
-Spot to ride: Millennium skatepark in Calgary
-BMX video: Road fools 14
-Website: 4chan
-Web video: The weird and Revered videos always give me good vibes
-Food: Poutine
-Person on Instagram: @therealroberto123_ , his cat pics are bomb
-Travel destination: Kyoto, Japan, sup Rimu!
-Riders to ride with: Teddy Bambrick, Roberto Ouwens, Cayle Brens, Dominik Falle.
-Car: Porsche 944
When Rooftop texts you about going to ride a park in the middle of the desert, you jump in yer car and you make that three hour drive.
FELIX PRANGENBERG & JORDAN GODWIN
With a rad Matte Dusk Fade finish, removable brake hardware, Odyssey aftermarket parts and more... The 2021 Broc Raiford Forecaster complete rides, feels, and looks like a pro-level bike. If you come across one, be sure to swoop it.
Our weekly roundup of Instagram highlights from our feed!
It's been awesome to watch these kids progress and grow up over the last few years, and we are stoked to be hooking them up!
During an era where they had one of the most revered and well-rounded teams in modern-day BMX, etnies released the full length video “CHAPTERS” in 2017. With 35 trips over a period of three years, throughout 15 countries, at both legendary and new spots, the team shared good times, friendships, sometimes adversity, and have shed blood, sweat, and tears, along with groundbreaking and sometimes downright scary feats.
Shop name: PARBMX
Location: Riga, Latvia
Years in business: 14
What were your first thoughts on Covid-19 when it hit in Latvia?
Janis Dreimanis: Try to stay calm. There was too much hype all over the media, at the beginning.
Did you take any action from the start or were you thinking this would be over in a few weeks?
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.