There’s always a good reason to throw a BMX jam. Bringing riders together for a day of bikes and good times is always a good idea. But, there’s also a lot of other great reasons to throw a BMX jam. Nik Ford recently threw the 3rd annual A Light In The Dark BMX Jam over in the U.K that helps bring awareness and support for the C.A.L.M program that is focused on helping to prevent suicide with young adults. It’s a good cause like this that deserves any support it can get, and Nik put in the work to make it happen. Check out some words from Nik and photos from the day below!
Words by Nik Ford.
Photos by Mish Mish Sikorska, Ben Hall and Fiona Ford.
“Saturday 19th September was the A Light In The Dark BMX Jam at Stratford upon Avon skatepark.
The previous 2 years events had been awesome and 3rd time round it did not disappoint. The event is really starting to gain a following and in addition to the familiar faces, it was great to see some new ones.
The jam is a yearly fundraiser for C.A.L.M – Campaign Against Living Miserably. CALM exist to prevent suicide, which takes 18 lives everyday and is the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. This year we raised £276.70 which will fund 34 potential life saving phone calls to CALM. When you break it down like that, it really is a powerful number.
Riders from all over the midlands, Oxford and the Crucial BMX crew from Bristol was in attendance. The event had 3 categories per jam, AM, Over 30 and Pro. It was rad to see the Over 30’s class popping off in all the jams. More comps need to include an overs category, BMX is for life, not just for the youth! Shout to Andy Webb, Chris Maher, Tom Elliott, Adam Galt, Ethan Mumford, Rico Ferguson and the many more shredders from level 3.
Things of note –
Photo: Ben Hall
AM street is just as good as PRO street. The top 3 in both could have easily been mixed up. Props to Jev Gannon, Max Petts, Harry Pritchard, George Hall, Beau Trigg and Tom Shepherd.
Photo: Mish Sikorska
Aidan Gregory has unlocked the nose manual combos cheat code and will 540 or 720 any jump or the spine! Aidan took home the MVP trophy of the night.
Photo: Ben Hall
Brad Mulholland showed how well rounded a rider he is and sent it in every jam. Good mix of big tricks and tech.
Photo: Mish Sikorska
Luke Glover is another rider that is good at everything and killed the spine comp with 1st place in PRO as well laying down some rad stuff on the hip and ledges.
Photo: Fiona Ford
Jayden “mullet man” Burns has that fast and loose style that gets the people going! My son, Travis was stoked to see a backflip up close. Thanks for answering his calls for a flip!
Travis Ford, age 7, is a rad hype man on the megaphone and could be a commentator when he grows up!
I’m already thinking about next year’s jam and after seeing Mish Sikorska and Jay Lewis riding, think that we need to add a women’s category as well. Each year we learn and will come back in 2023 even bigger and better.
Thank you to all the fantastic brands that donated prizes to be won, Stolen BMX Brand, Crucial BMX, DuFFS Footwear / MandM Direct, F.R.Jones & Son and Classic Clouds for 3d printing the medals.
Please remember that there is always a light in the dark my friends, until next time.
Stay Rad X” – Nik Ford
