Bo Wade and Ben Q. drop a track.

Bo Wade riding, Ben Q. cutting. They just dropped this track. Enjoy.

If we could do something this awesome.

OK, before you all start hatin', talking about, "Why is a skate video on a flatland blog?" I just want to give credit where credit is due. My whole life, I've been motivated by others that do great things in other areas of life outside of doing cool tricks on bikes in a parkinglot. I get hyped to do what I do when seeing others excel at what they do. I hope that this blog motivates at least one person out there to get stoked and do something awesome or better themselves in some way today.

Party at RedBull Headquarters.

X-dance, an action sports film festival, hosted a party at RedBull headquarters in Santa Monica.

They screened the film "Fiberglass and Megapixels." It's a documentary about how the awesome surf shots are taken and the lives of the photographers. They had free food and open bar. They will have some more screenings in the future so check it out!

Bobby, Bo, and Richard. Three flatlanders at a surf film screening at an energy drink headquarters. Oh yeah, your boy, DJ sleeper, was spinning hits all night!

Q and A with the filmmaker.

Rob Walkowiak.

I just got this video link today from my friend, Rob Walkowiak. He's from Michigan. For those who don't know, I (Bobby Carter) am from Michigan. When I was teenager, I looked up to this guy's riding. He was so good. 13 years ago, he left michigan and went on to law school and became a lawyer. He's back in Michigan now, built up a bike, and is busting out again! Pure flatland.

Canadian Surprise.

John Ing took a trip with some non-riding friends up to Vancouver. While roaming the city one night, he stumbled across your boys Taka and Sho! He sent me these picts and video.

Flatland in Canada 2010 from John I on Vimeo.

Below is just a tight random shot from the trip.

In Synch!

Isaiah Jordan and Terry Adams are flat out synched up!

Life of a Flatlander.

A Ninja in Training.

AZ to Cali!

Brett Crowther from Arizona decided to pay LA a visit after Richard and Bill went to Arizona a little while ago. Here are some random photos from his visit!

While Brett was is town, the Ganji crew made an appearance for about 2 hours on their way to Ohio for the AM circuit.

ASR: An Adventure in San Diego!

A couple of times a year, ASR (Action Sport Retail) trade show happens in San Diego, CA.

For three days, most of the major brands in skateboarding, surfing, and related lifestyles set up booths with their newest line of products for retailers to see. Sorry, there's no BMX at ASR. BMX is with the other "cyclists" at Interbike in Las Vegas. Since my business now includes more than just BMX, I had some business to take care of at ASR.

You know how we do at FLATmode! :-)

Of course, I brought my bike to San Diego for the weekend. Stephen Hearn and Gabe Kadmiri live down there and wanted to session. Richard also came down from LA on Friday to check out the show and session. Sam Proctor also made a short trek down from Oceanside.

Hungry ninjas need to eat. Plain and simple.

I won't bore you with the business details of the event, but I have to say that ASR is WAY better than Interbike.

Here are some highlights from the adventure:

Stephen and Gabe have quite a pimp loft in downtown San Diego, just down the street from the convention center. Everyday after the tradeshow we pedaled to the park behind the convention center for a session.

Posted up in Gabe and Stephen's loft right in the middle of downtown SD action!

The park behind the convention center is quite chill and right next to the harbor.

I got some badges for my fellow flatlanders so they could check out the show. ASR is 180 degree opposite of Interbike. Instead of button up shirt dudes discussing bike parts, each company brings a party to the show room floor. Djs, lights, and girls are all over the place and everyone has fun!

Stephen Hearn lost at ASR. He doesn't seem too bummed.

A notable point during ASR was the fashion show. Apparently this was the first time Richard, Gabe or Stephen had attended a fashion show.

L*Space was presenting their new line...

...and the boys were holding down the situation at the runway.

We will take this time at FLATmode to bring you a little video action from the floor..

The hotel where I stayed was kind of ghetto and had a dive bar. One night, I heard some ruckus in the bar and I went down to investigate. It was "rap/hip-hop" night and a bunch of local groups were performing. The first couple of groups were straight gangsta and they had their thugs in the crowd to back them up.

At one point, the MC says, "Put yo' hands in the air..." "Yeah, let me see y'alls gang signs!"

A grip of dudes start throwing all sorts of fingers up. It looked like I was a sign language convention. These dudes are real...everybody kept their cool though and I didn't have to get my hands dirty, regulating rival gangs. HAHA!

The last group of the night wasn't gangsta at all and were pretty good. They were more hip-hop than straight rap and they brought their whole crew on stage for a fun time.

So ends another adventure at FLATmode. The next tradeshow adventure will be at Interbike in September...

Yo' boy, Shinichiro Hara!

Busting!

T-Rizz hits the west coast.

A couple weeks ago, Terry Adams visited Los Angeles. It's been a while since he's been on the left coast. So we all got together and had a few sessions throughout the week.

You know any session with TA will go off course at some point through out the day. The boys take the session to the greens at the beach!

T-rizz going for the birdie.

Bo Wade avoids the sand trap.

Richard Aguayo gets the eagle!

There was a session in Long Beach too. A lot of riders from the surrounding areas came through. Check the video.

Farewell to Cluade!

Claude Hickman ain't no joke!

He was in LA for the summer and now it's time for him to return to Oklahoma.

We had a little farewell session at the rose garden.

The future in Singapore!

I had to post this. The Downtown Standard in LA has nothing on the newly built Sky Park in Singapore. The renderings look like something out of the future that wouldn't ever be built. However they made it a reality. Now we just need to get a flatland jam going up in the sky!

RedBull where you at?!!

I found this clip as well. Looks like a perfect flatland area to me.

(Skip to 1:19 in the video) Just KOG the floor for protection and Boo YA! Flatland Jam!

Sam Proctor is 20!!

Sam turned 20 years old recently. If you haven't heard of sam, he's a flatlander and his photos have been published in Cream Magazine. Anyway, Richard and I rolled down to his b-day party and tore up the pinata and ate some good carne asada!

Happy Birthday, Sam!!

LA Flatland Video Trailer.

Ben Querubin, AKA Ben Q., is making a video about the LA scene.

Here is the trailer.

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.... Phoenix Trip: Part 5.

Phoenix Trip: Part 5 the final episode!

Brett and I have been chatting by email the last few weeks about

fuck trucks. I learned them a long time ago and only mess around with

them from time to time. There is actually a newer link that I want to

do that would feature the use of them proper, in my opinion. Anyway,

Brett has been the master of deathtruck for a really long time and he

felt like he needed a new way to ride in. So I have been trying to

give him some pointers. I told him that when Richard and I come out

that we will have to get that trick all sorted out. Brett has been

spending much of the session trying to get the timing and leg throw

down. So I roll over and we get down to the matter at hand. The

first part is mostly like a dumptruck. The real thing to over come is

the leg throw and the hand switching. Once you overcome that the only

obstacle left is the fear because once you can swing the leg and

re-grab then it is just a deathtruck again. The fear is what Brett

hadn't adjusted to just yet. It takes a few sessions on the dream

machine for me to really get a feel for riding it. So, deathtrucks

were feeling squirrely from the get go for me. I was getting into

them but I was having trouble steering them for some reason. So I

tried some regular dumptrucks and some double footed ones too. That

seemed to help align my situation pretty well and after about 4 or 5

tries I was able to swing my leg over the headtube and coast. Brett

and I were trading off. He would try one then I would try one. I did

some to no handed-one footed, double footed and I even did one and

scuffed around a little just for argument's sake. Brett was right

there with it. He was conquering the fear but not quite able to hold

on to coast. His main concern was that he was going to fall backward.

I told him that between the forward momentum and the leg kicking,

there is only a small chance of falling backward. By the end of the

session Brett was comfortable throwing his leg he needs to just learn

to readjust his body in order to coast. In due time folks, all in due

time.

I find that no trip to Arizona is complete with out a trip to

Oregano's. It is a Pizza and pasta place, so after the session we

head over and get our grub on. You really can't go wrong with just

about anything on the menu, it is something that I always look forward

too. After the meal we top it off with a Pizza cookie. It is a

cookie baked in a small pizza type pan top with ice cream, oh yeah!!

It is getting late so we say our goodbyes and hop in the truck, roll

out and head back to PHX. Once we get back to the house the night

gets capped off with Hypnosis, Wheelies, and Balancing Act off the

Dorkin' box set. These videos are always inspirational and it is good

to watch them all in succession like that. I love the Chase part from

Balancing Act. But, I completely forgot about tons of links that both

Kevin and Chase did in all of those. Dope!

As it all comes to a close...

So it is Thursday morning the same old same for me. I am up by

9:00am. I hit the Internet, check my email, run through the usual. I

then take advantage of the time and jump on my cruiser and make a bee

line to get some donuts and an ice coffee again. I also stop by the

local record shop for a quick peak. I don't find any "can't pass up

deals" so I head back to the house.

Richard needs to break down his ride for the trip back. So, we

make sure we are all packed and showered up and ready to bolt. I told

Billy before that he needs to give Richard a little ride in his car.

Billy has a sick Firehawk. So they head out to pick up the banner

from the shop. Brunch on a Thursday and I am with it. Another spot

of interest is called Harlow's cafe. The menu is pretty brunchy,

something for everyone and the wait staff is a plus as well. Shortly

after our meal Billy gets Richard and I to the airport right on time.

LAX bound, and another great trip in the books. That about covers it.

Oh and for the record, within 15 minutes of me walking into my

apartment. I get a text from Brett. "Pulled it!" Nice one. I knew

he would get it sorted out.

-Bill Freeman