Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
New Visitor!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Behind the Edit: Viki rides at the Pyramids
This has been a personal dream of mine and now Viki has done it. I always wanted to do some sort of flatland video section at the Pyramids in Egypt. After checking out this edit, I asked Viki some questions about his adventure to the Pyramids.
FM: Why did you decide to go to Egypt?
Viki: I was invited to do a promotional tour with Red Bull in Egypt. I have a lot of good conexions world wide and I have my team mate called "Miguel Monzon" (Guelo) who is an amazing show rider! We perform and promote in unbelievable places and everyone knows that we are friendly, social and party hardy! hehe Red Bull attitude!
FM: Did you always have the plan to ride in front of the Pyramids?
Viki: I never thought about it and when we were there I didnt think it was possible until I saw the spot! It was not a perfect spot and it was so hard to pull tricks thats why the video has some of my easy combos.
FM: Who filmed you?
Viki: Guelo was with me! He filmed me! But also Red Bull had its own camera man who film and took nice photos!
FM: Did you have any problems with security?
Viki: Not at all! We just hide the bikes inside the Red Bull truck and we remove them from the truck to film in the spot. It was a memorable day!
FM: In the USA we get a lot of media that might say that it's dangerous. Looks like you were having fun out there. How was Egypt?
Viki: The media nowadays just want to scare the masses so they keep being masses and then they don't progress. Its 100% safe to go there. Everyone knows that the problem was solved in March already and now they have democracy, it's safe and the egyptians treat the foreigners the best! first of all because they are very nice and friendly people and second because the tourism is one of the biggest income for the country! So go to Egypt, have fun, learn some culture, go party and maybe if you are lucky you will find your love there!
Viki Gomez BMX Flatland champion riding in fron of the Pyramids in Egypt!!! from PSYCHOSTUDIO on Vimeo.
FM: Why did you decide to go to Egypt?
Viki: I was invited to do a promotional tour with Red Bull in Egypt. I have a lot of good conexions world wide and I have my team mate called "Miguel Monzon" (Guelo) who is an amazing show rider! We perform and promote in unbelievable places and everyone knows that we are friendly, social and party hardy! hehe Red Bull attitude!
FM: Did you always have the plan to ride in front of the Pyramids?
Viki: I never thought about it and when we were there I didnt think it was possible until I saw the spot! It was not a perfect spot and it was so hard to pull tricks thats why the video has some of my easy combos.
FM: Who filmed you?
Viki: Guelo was with me! He filmed me! But also Red Bull had its own camera man who film and took nice photos!
FM: Did you have any problems with security?
Viki: Not at all! We just hide the bikes inside the Red Bull truck and we remove them from the truck to film in the spot. It was a memorable day!
FM: In the USA we get a lot of media that might say that it's dangerous. Looks like you were having fun out there. How was Egypt?
Viki: The media nowadays just want to scare the masses so they keep being masses and then they don't progress. Its 100% safe to go there. Everyone knows that the problem was solved in March already and now they have democracy, it's safe and the egyptians treat the foreigners the best! first of all because they are very nice and friendly people and second because the tourism is one of the biggest income for the country! So go to Egypt, have fun, learn some culture, go party and maybe if you are lucky you will find your love there!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Trifling Tour Video
The west coast is still contributing to US flatland scene. A. Kha$h, aka Shayne K. just dropped the Trifling tour video -west coast to east coast and back. Check the trilogy!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The Flat Life with Matt Wilhelm
This is the third and final part of our analysis of the state of flat. This is a follow-up interview after talking to pro rider Terry Adams and discussing pro competition with Effraim Catlow.
THE FLAT LIFE WITH MATT WILHELM
The first time I saw Matt Wilhelm was in 1994 at the Chicago B.S. comp. We were both in the beginner class. I could tell at the time, that this dude had special talent and bike control. He got first place at that comp and has since progressed to become a super pro in flatland bmx. He's competed around the world and is an X-games gold medalist. Although he graduated from the University, he has found a way to make a good living from flatland. While others moved on to desk jobs, he continues to push limits and have fun on his bike!
FM: You're a super pro and you also graduated from the University. That's a rare combination. Talk about where you went to school and what you were studying?
MATT: I originally wanted to be a music teacher and got a music scholarship to Millikin University, which has a great music program. I changed majors to Marketing but still minored in Music. I turned pro during my junior year and still graduated with almost straight A's despite traveling to a bunch of comps and events. Even during my senior year, after being in X Games I was still going to job fairs and looking for real jobs.
FM: What was your career plan if you didn't make it as a Pro Flatland rider?
MATT: I really didn't think it would be possible to make flatland a career. I was thinking about trying to work in the marketing department of a bike company, but realistically I was going to settle for pretty much whatever. During the spring semester of my senior year I won an X-trials competition. With my win/match money from one of my sponsors at the time I won $11,000 in one weekend. I decided to live off that money, and if it ever ran out I would have to get a real job.
FM: What was your parents’ perspective on the emphasis you put on flatland in your life at that time?
MATT: At that point I don't think they understood the potential, and I totally understand where they were coming from. I had just invested a huge chunk of time and money into a college education, and it didn't seem like I was using it. Once I started appearing on TV and in magazines more often they got it.
FM: Now what do they think?
MATT: They are obviously my hugest fans now and are very proud. I think they are more proud of the work I'm doing with kids than what I'm doing on the bike. I am too.
FM: What year did you turn pro?
MATT: I entered a smaller 2-hip Burning Bike in fall of 1999, but my first year of going to X Games and stuff was 2000.
FM: Hold on,Effraim at FlatMatters, is on the line, he has a question....When the going gets tough at contests, (semi finals, final battle) whats your natural reaction? Play safe or come out guns blazing?
MATT: It kind of depends. I'm really over the battle format as it currently stands. You get penalized more for going for it and rewarded more for consistency. Sometimes if you are battling someone good who always pulls their stuff you gotta go for it though.
FM: Have you ever worked a job that was non BMX related, If so, what was it?
MATT: Nope. Worked for 2 months at a bike shop when I was 19 and that's it. I always could do shows for local teams at fairs and festivals to make some side money.
FM: How did you end up doing school shows? Is it a full time business?
MATT: I never even considered doing shows at schools. I used to ride for a local team that would do fairs, auto shows, and some occasional school shows. After doing a few I realized it could be so much more if I developed some educational content around the tricks. I broke off and started doing my own thing. People don't book me because I'm a good rider. They book me because I'm a great speaker. I really feel that this is what I was born to do. I know a lot of riders want to do shows at schools, but it's tough to do it right. You have to ride on super slick floors (you can't slide out and scratch or gouge the floor or you're done). You have to be able to speak articulately as 50% of my show is talking without tricks. My show is 40 minutes so that means you have to hold the attention of a child for 20 minutes without having the luxury of your bike. It's hard to develop. I'm also lucky that I started this 7 years ago. With school funds drying up, it's a changing industry and I'm lucky to be established already.
FM: How many days a week do you do shows?
MATT: I do about 350 different events per year, and some have multiple shows. I would say about 450 total shows per year. I try to take the summer off from doing shows and there is always winter and spring breaks. During the school year I average about 10-15 shows per week.
FM: With so much of your days dedicated to doing shows, do you still do some recreational riding for fun, learning new tricks, etc.?
MATT: The first year I was really busy doing shows all the time it was so overwhelming and I barely rode for myself. Now that I have the formula figured out I can always ride at the warehouse at night. I'm constantly on the bike. I kind of treat the shows as a warm up or skills refresher and then ride for real at night. Plus I am now booking stuff in warmer climates during the winter, so that helps too.
FM: Just in case you thought it wasn't possible to stay progressive and do shows all the time, check this...
FM: As a pro rider, where does the largest percentage of your earnings come from, comps, shows, sponsor salaries?
MATT: About 90-95% of my income is from shows. Back in the X Games era it was more like 90% came from sponsors and comps, but it's a changing world. I love the fact that I'm my own boss and don't have to stress about contest placings to pay the bills like back in the day.
FM: Do you put a lot of emphasis on riding comps?
MATT: I ride in contests purely for my own satisfaction. When you've been riding for 20 years a little extra motivation isn't bad. I totally forgot there was money involved at one of them this year. I was just so into the riding.
FM: You were recently on America's Got Talent. What is your thought about the experience and its impact on flatland?
MATT: I absolute loved everything about performing on the show. I feel like it's kind of the pinnacle of my riding career. Plus I got to do something totally original and artistic by riding in the black lights, which has never been done. I'm not really sure what kind of impact appearing on America's Got Talent will have on flatland. I know that it can't be bad though. That show reaches so many people and a lot of kids to. I could totally see someone trying some tricks in their street after seeing it. Whether or not they stick with it is a whole different story.
FM: Where do you see things going in the “flatland eco-system” as a pro flatlander – sponsors, comps, demos, making a living, the internet, etc? Talk about whatever.
I don't even consider myself a pro rider because I can't make a living from being a pro. I consider myself more of an entertainer / motivational speaker because that is how I make my living. If I just had to rely on the traditional Pro BMX model of making a living I would be living on the street right now. Flatland is in such a weird place currently, and I just can't tell if it's growing or shrinking. There are more bike companies and more events than ever before. However the turnout is super low at events and I'm not sure how many bikes are being sold. When freestyle was "Dead" in 1992 it seemed like there were still a ton of riders, but just no events taking place. I just don't see enough new blood coming in. It's sad that there aren't any new pro's coming up. I also think the level of riding is lower than it was back in the day. It seems like people are doing a few harder tricks, but they aren't multidimensional like before. They just do one genre of tricks and even that seems limited. Newer riders are skipping the basics and going straight for the turbines and spinning tricks. I'm all about the spinning, but you always need that foundation of tricks. That's a whole different topic though. Don't get me wrong I love flatland, the community, and the people involved. I just wish more people would come out and support the events.
FM: What's in store for the future of Matt Wilhelm?
MATT: I'm obviously going to continue to ride because that is what I do and who I am. I'm sure I'll do tons of shows, but I see myself competing less. I like how the flatland community is close and you know pretty much everybody at the comps and jams, so I still want to hit up some jams for sure. I think I would just rather push myself in the direction of new video tricks than consistency at contests. My doorbell literally just rang, and three kids who are in 4th grade just asked for my autograph. They saw me on America's Got Talent and followed my car home. They were already asking how to do tricks, so maybe we will see some new blood in flatland after all.
FM: If people want a Matt Wilhelm demo, how can they book a performance?
MATT: http://www.probikeshows.com is where all the info is at. My calendar is completely booked until 2012 but I have lots of openings from January on.
FM: If you want to learn how to ride flatland. Matt produced this video so you can go from Zero to Hero!
THE FLAT LIFE WITH MATT WILHELM
The first time I saw Matt Wilhelm was in 1994 at the Chicago B.S. comp. We were both in the beginner class. I could tell at the time, that this dude had special talent and bike control. He got first place at that comp and has since progressed to become a super pro in flatland bmx. He's competed around the world and is an X-games gold medalist. Although he graduated from the University, he has found a way to make a good living from flatland. While others moved on to desk jobs, he continues to push limits and have fun on his bike!
FM: You're a super pro and you also graduated from the University. That's a rare combination. Talk about where you went to school and what you were studying?
MATT: I originally wanted to be a music teacher and got a music scholarship to Millikin University, which has a great music program. I changed majors to Marketing but still minored in Music. I turned pro during my junior year and still graduated with almost straight A's despite traveling to a bunch of comps and events. Even during my senior year, after being in X Games I was still going to job fairs and looking for real jobs.
FM: What was your career plan if you didn't make it as a Pro Flatland rider?
MATT: I really didn't think it would be possible to make flatland a career. I was thinking about trying to work in the marketing department of a bike company, but realistically I was going to settle for pretty much whatever. During the spring semester of my senior year I won an X-trials competition. With my win/match money from one of my sponsors at the time I won $11,000 in one weekend. I decided to live off that money, and if it ever ran out I would have to get a real job.
FM: What was your parents’ perspective on the emphasis you put on flatland in your life at that time?
MATT: At that point I don't think they understood the potential, and I totally understand where they were coming from. I had just invested a huge chunk of time and money into a college education, and it didn't seem like I was using it. Once I started appearing on TV and in magazines more often they got it.
FM: Now what do they think?
MATT: They are obviously my hugest fans now and are very proud. I think they are more proud of the work I'm doing with kids than what I'm doing on the bike. I am too.
FM: What year did you turn pro?
MATT: I entered a smaller 2-hip Burning Bike in fall of 1999, but my first year of going to X Games and stuff was 2000.
FM: Hold on,Effraim at FlatMatters, is on the line, he has a question....When the going gets tough at contests, (semi finals, final battle) whats your natural reaction? Play safe or come out guns blazing?
MATT: It kind of depends. I'm really over the battle format as it currently stands. You get penalized more for going for it and rewarded more for consistency. Sometimes if you are battling someone good who always pulls their stuff you gotta go for it though.
FM: Have you ever worked a job that was non BMX related, If so, what was it?
MATT: Nope. Worked for 2 months at a bike shop when I was 19 and that's it. I always could do shows for local teams at fairs and festivals to make some side money.
FM: How did you end up doing school shows? Is it a full time business?
MATT: I never even considered doing shows at schools. I used to ride for a local team that would do fairs, auto shows, and some occasional school shows. After doing a few I realized it could be so much more if I developed some educational content around the tricks. I broke off and started doing my own thing. People don't book me because I'm a good rider. They book me because I'm a great speaker. I really feel that this is what I was born to do. I know a lot of riders want to do shows at schools, but it's tough to do it right. You have to ride on super slick floors (you can't slide out and scratch or gouge the floor or you're done). You have to be able to speak articulately as 50% of my show is talking without tricks. My show is 40 minutes so that means you have to hold the attention of a child for 20 minutes without having the luxury of your bike. It's hard to develop. I'm also lucky that I started this 7 years ago. With school funds drying up, it's a changing industry and I'm lucky to be established already.
FM: How many days a week do you do shows?
MATT: I do about 350 different events per year, and some have multiple shows. I would say about 450 total shows per year. I try to take the summer off from doing shows and there is always winter and spring breaks. During the school year I average about 10-15 shows per week.
FM: With so much of your days dedicated to doing shows, do you still do some recreational riding for fun, learning new tricks, etc.?
MATT: The first year I was really busy doing shows all the time it was so overwhelming and I barely rode for myself. Now that I have the formula figured out I can always ride at the warehouse at night. I'm constantly on the bike. I kind of treat the shows as a warm up or skills refresher and then ride for real at night. Plus I am now booking stuff in warmer climates during the winter, so that helps too.
FM: Just in case you thought it wasn't possible to stay progressive and do shows all the time, check this...
FM: As a pro rider, where does the largest percentage of your earnings come from, comps, shows, sponsor salaries?
MATT: About 90-95% of my income is from shows. Back in the X Games era it was more like 90% came from sponsors and comps, but it's a changing world. I love the fact that I'm my own boss and don't have to stress about contest placings to pay the bills like back in the day.
FM: Do you put a lot of emphasis on riding comps?
MATT: I ride in contests purely for my own satisfaction. When you've been riding for 20 years a little extra motivation isn't bad. I totally forgot there was money involved at one of them this year. I was just so into the riding.
FM: You were recently on America's Got Talent. What is your thought about the experience and its impact on flatland?
MATT: I absolute loved everything about performing on the show. I feel like it's kind of the pinnacle of my riding career. Plus I got to do something totally original and artistic by riding in the black lights, which has never been done. I'm not really sure what kind of impact appearing on America's Got Talent will have on flatland. I know that it can't be bad though. That show reaches so many people and a lot of kids to. I could totally see someone trying some tricks in their street after seeing it. Whether or not they stick with it is a whole different story.
FM: Where do you see things going in the “flatland eco-system” as a pro flatlander – sponsors, comps, demos, making a living, the internet, etc? Talk about whatever.
I don't even consider myself a pro rider because I can't make a living from being a pro. I consider myself more of an entertainer / motivational speaker because that is how I make my living. If I just had to rely on the traditional Pro BMX model of making a living I would be living on the street right now. Flatland is in such a weird place currently, and I just can't tell if it's growing or shrinking. There are more bike companies and more events than ever before. However the turnout is super low at events and I'm not sure how many bikes are being sold. When freestyle was "Dead" in 1992 it seemed like there were still a ton of riders, but just no events taking place. I just don't see enough new blood coming in. It's sad that there aren't any new pro's coming up. I also think the level of riding is lower than it was back in the day. It seems like people are doing a few harder tricks, but they aren't multidimensional like before. They just do one genre of tricks and even that seems limited. Newer riders are skipping the basics and going straight for the turbines and spinning tricks. I'm all about the spinning, but you always need that foundation of tricks. That's a whole different topic though. Don't get me wrong I love flatland, the community, and the people involved. I just wish more people would come out and support the events.
FM: What's in store for the future of Matt Wilhelm?
MATT: I'm obviously going to continue to ride because that is what I do and who I am. I'm sure I'll do tons of shows, but I see myself competing less. I like how the flatland community is close and you know pretty much everybody at the comps and jams, so I still want to hit up some jams for sure. I think I would just rather push myself in the direction of new video tricks than consistency at contests. My doorbell literally just rang, and three kids who are in 4th grade just asked for my autograph. They saw me on America's Got Talent and followed my car home. They were already asking how to do tricks, so maybe we will see some new blood in flatland after all.
FM: If people want a Matt Wilhelm demo, how can they book a performance?
MATT: http://www.probikeshows.com is where all the info is at. My calendar is completely booked until 2012 but I have lots of openings from January on.
FM: If you want to learn how to ride flatland. Matt produced this video so you can go from Zero to Hero!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Church of Pedro.
Pedro Melo, a very creative rider. I knew he had no grips, but now he has no bar ends as well. Check some fresh styles in this very well edited segment by Jim Newrick.
Church of Pedro from jim newrick on Vimeo.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Flatlanders in Brazil hold a Jam for Chase!
It's the 25th of September, at Ibiripuera Park. Starting mid day.
Chase Gouin needs help.
Friends,
This letter is to inform you of Chase Gouin’s battle against illness and his current health condition. On December 12, 2009, Chase woke up with a severe headache and was feeling ill. For the next fifteen months he saw more than twenty different Doctors and Specialists who did every kind of traditional test and scan that they believed to be relevant and yet they found nothing that they could diagnose. At one point during that time, Chase decided to move out of his basement apartment and discovered what appeared to be mold in two locations in his bedroom, one being in the wall merely three feet from the head of his bed. Petri dish lab results confirmed three types of mold that are known to be pathogenic to humans under conditions like the ones he was living in (i.e. an old building basement with poor ventilation).
He soon began to suspect that his illness might have been caused by the prolonged close proximity and breathing in of mold spores. A Naturopathic Doctor ordered an advanced DNA based stool sample analysis that he sent to a high tech lab in Georgia. The results confirmed much more and worse than he expected. Results showed the highest possible concentration rating of yeast/fungal overgrowth throughout his body; in the cells, tissues, and bloodstream. A parasite was also found, that may be from the numerous mosquito bites he received one night on an island in Panama in November, 2008. The yeast/fungi and parasite consume most of his fat soluble vitamins which causes a mal absorption disease. The constant and relentless symptoms that Chase has been suffering with include a toxic feeling headache, a cracking kind of facial pressure/pain, numerous sinus issues, tearing goopy eyes, chronic fatigue/weakness, debilitating lethargy, and others. These kinds of infestations can and have resulted in cognitive impairment, memory loss, lack of concentration and disorientation. The immune system also becomes severely weakened and goes into a hyper defense mode which causes multiple environmental chemical sensitivities along with food allergies and devastating reactions to many typically harmless substances that have had him bed ridden for days and even weeks at a time.
The suffering he has endured along with the apathy, denial, and lies he has encountered in the health care system have put him in a desperate situation in which he is racing to find real answers and a cure. Ninety five percent of what he has discovered has been through his own research while enduring the host of symptoms listed above, he barely props himself up at the computer, makes phone calls and writes letters, all of which are only possibly due to the minor relief provided by taking prescription pain killers and sedatives. He has been on a restricted diet of no yeast or sugar, as well as a custom protocol of anti-fungal and anti-parasitic supplements. For over a year now he has lived in a new apartment with all laminate flooring (can't have carpeting), with an expensive air purifier, all natural household cleaning products, spotless living quarters, and he must bring a medical mask with him everywhere he goes. Nothing has yet changed or improved his health in any way.
He thought it was good news when he got the diagnosis five months ago, but it turns out that most modern western Doctors are not educated in the types of diseases Chase is dealing with. Because of this they are actually known as "the quiet epidemics". Even an infectious disease Specialist was not familiar with the lab results or methodology used, and she did not accept his plus four fungal overgrowth rating. She ordered blood tests unrelated to evidence he presented to her and ordered him to do three more inferior culture based stool tests which he had already done and which failed to detect what is there. He even printed out information from the Metametrix lab and submitted it to the I.D. Specialist in an attempt to inform her. It has been a struggle trying to convince and educate the Doctors so that they can help him. Many of these encounters have left him feeling that such efforts have been utterly futile and that the health system is severely broken.
The pain medication he is on is interfering with the metabolizing of the food he eats and supplements he takes which renders them ineffective but, he needs the meds simply to function and to continue the mission to save his own life. Besides that, the side effects and withdrawal symptoms of the pain meds makes it difficult to decipher the real pain from the symptoms of his disease, so it is difficult to determine if he is making any progress.
What he needs to do is find what's called an integrated Medical Doctor who knows about these diseases and how to treat them aggressively and successfully, which may require heavy duty intravenous medications. He is currently in debt due to all the medical costs not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan and unable to effectively pursue a solution to his condition. He cannot even try to ride or exercise because if he does in this weakened state his symptoms become ten times worse. For a high-level professional athlete known for his aggressive and intense riding style, not being able to ride or be active at all for the past fifteen months has taken a serious toll on his physical fitness and emotional well-being. In the face of these extreme obstacles Chase is holding out hope that he may find some real help soon to eradicate these insidious infections, and get back to the love of his life...riding.
Chase has brought so much to the world of flatland and BMX in general. He has inspired many and he has been dedicated to pushing his own limits of potential. He has also been encouraging and helped others to do and be their best. More than that, he has been a true friend and a genuine person. He has been a flatland icon for many years, helping flatland to stay alive in its lowest points. Now I am sincerely asking you to help Chase stay alive through what is no doubt his lowest point. With your help, Chase can continue to pursue the additional medical attention he needs to try and conquer his debilitating condition. The Athlete Recovery Fund has agreed to financially assist Chase towards his cause, but he cannot depend on that as the only source for help, so that is why we need your help. We ask that you please donate to Chase’s recovery fund today. Please give anything that you can so that we can help to get Chase to return to good health and hopefully one day he will be able to get back on his bike and be that amazing rider we all know him to be.
Donations may be sent via paypal to the following address: chasegouinrecoveryfund@gmail.com
Chase’s close personal friend Ryan Quinn has set up the paypal account on Chase’s behalf since Chase doesn’t have a credit card. So don’t be alarmed if Ryan’s name shows up on your paypal receipt. All of your donations are going directly to supporting Chase’s recovery mission.
Sincerely,
Brandon Fenton
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Flatland Festival in Brazil.
Whether it's worldwide or local, I'm a bring it you on Flatmode...
Your boy, Nene, had a flatland festival at his house in Brazil.
Two OGs in the house, Draculão and Leonardo Claro!
Learn more about Brazil here.
Your boy, Nene, had a flatland festival at his house in Brazil.
Two OGs in the house, Draculão and Leonardo Claro!
Learn more about Brazil here.
East Coast Homie, Jody Temple!
If one dude was busting out this summer, it was Jody Temple. Check the skills in this edit. A true OG fo' life!
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