BMX Union

X-Games Brings Back Dirt

December 10, 2012

Spotted this press release up on the Fat BMX explaining what the X-Games will be including in their expansion for all of the different stops for 2013. One of those key items would be that they are bringing dirt back. It doesn’t specify at which stops, but I’d imagine any or all of the stops including BMX Freestyle will have a dirt contest. Looks like X-Games are finally starting to listen to the BMX community, so that’s awesome news.

“ESPN, the leading action sports content provider and creator of the X Games, kicks off a new era with the 2013 global expansion’s six-event schedule – featuring eight sports, 26 disciplines and new iconic venues from inaugural host cities Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil; Barcelona, Spain; and Munich, Germany. Joining the existing world-class events in Aspen, Colo.; Los Angeles, Calif.; and Tignes, France, the three new cities will combine to offer the most wide-ranging program of sports and disciplines in X Games history, including the addition of Mountain Bike Slopestyle, Women’s Skateboard Park and the return of BMX Freestyle Dirt.

With the disciplines set, event planning and course designs underway, this expansion will be the first of its kind for the franchise in terms of size, scope and scale – setting a global stage to spotlight the world’s best action sports athletes in BMX, Skateboard, Moto X, Rally Car, Ski, Snowboard and Snowmobile – while also highlighting new and unique lifestyle, cultural and digital elements around the world.

“ESPN is giving athletes a tremendous opportunity to succeed and gain more exposure in their respective sports,” said action sports icon and 17-time X Games medalist Travis Pastrana. “It is awesome to see X Games not only take these sports to more cities globally, but I love seeing new sports added and the return of past, popular events.”

Tim Reed, senior director, X Games content strategy said, “We’re very excited to embark on this new chapter of X Games global expansion and to offer such a wide array of locations and amazing backdrops for the sport disciplines in 2013. Showcasing the world’s best action sports athletes in six world-class host cities will enable fans to experience premier competition and the unique culture synonymous with the new world of X Games.”

The full list of X Games sports disciplines for 2013 is as follows:

Aspen Jan. 24-27
Ski Snowboard Snowmobile Big Air Big Air Best Trick Slopestyle (M & W) Slopestyle (M & W) Freestyle SuperPipe (M & W) Street SnoCross SuperPipe (M & W) SnoCross Adaptive Speed & Style

Tignes March 20-22
Ski Snowboard Snowmobile Slopestyle (M & W) Slopestyle (M & W) Freestyle (DEMO) SuperPipe (M & W) SuperPipe (M & W)

Foz do Iguaçu April 18-21
BMX Freestyle Skateboard Moto X Rally Car Big Air Big Air Best Trick RallyCross Dirt Park (Men’s) Best Whip Park Street (M & W) Enduro X (M & W) Vert Vert Freestyle Speed & Style Step Up

Barcelona May 16-19
BMX Freestyle Skateboard Moto X Rally Car Big Air Big Air Best Trick RallyCross Park Park (M & W) Best Whip Street Street (Men’s) Enduro X (M & W) Vert Vert Freestyle Step Up

Munich June 27-30
BMX Freestyle Skateboard Moto X Mountain Bike Big Air Big Air Best Trick Slopestyle Park Park (Men’s) Best Whip Street (Men’s) Enduro X (M & W) Vert Freestyle Step Up

Los Angeles Aug. 1-4
BMX Freestyle Skateboard Moto X Rally Car Big Air Big Air Best Trick RallyCross Park Park (Men’s) Best Whip Street Street (M & W) Enduro X (M & W) Vert Vert Racing (Women’s) Step Up

The world’s premier action sports athletes will be competing at new iconic venues such as Iguaçu Falls, Barcelona’s Montjuïc Park Olympic ring and Munich’s Olympic Park.”

Hot and Sweaty Trailer

December 10, 2012

Josh Babu has been on it with videos lately. Here’s the trailer for the new mixtape he’s working on featuring Chase DeHart, Dave Raffa, Chris Girouard, Jake Grelli, Nick Seabasty, Chris Aceto, JD Whitehead, Drew Quinlan and himself. The video is expected to be around 20 minutes long and out before the end of the month. Keep your eyes open since this is bound to be a good one.

Incline Club Park Mix

December 10, 2012

Bryan Carter sent over over his latest video he put together featuring Sean Ricany, Bryan Carter, Devon Smillie, Tj Luther, Dj Meatball, Chris Hordis, Tim Hordis, Dom Simoncini, Anthony Derosa, Brandon Kitson, and 11 year old Eddie Rovi getting some time in at Incline Club in New Jersey. All of these guys bring some real solid riding to the mix, but little Eddie is on it for this one. Check it!

Print Ad: Animal – Steven Hamilton

December 10, 2012

Here’s a look at Animal‘s latest print ad featuring Steven Hamilton. This can be found in issue 187 of Ride BMX.

Victor Salazar iPhone Edit

December 10, 2012

Volume‘s Victor Salazar pulled out his iPhone to document a session that he had at a cement park recently. As always, Victor comes through with some real good riding so hit that play button.

Ashley Charles Leaves Eclat

December 10, 2012

This is pretty crazy news. Ashley Charles has decided to step down from the Eclat teams. Ashley and team manager, Paul Robinson, have released a few words about the news that you can find below. It doesn’t specify if Ashley has new opportunities coming or if he has decided to step out of the professional BMX rider light entirely. I hope not since Ashley is a phenomenal rider. Only time will tell I guess.

“I have been a part of Eclat, wethepeople and wemakethings for over ten years now. That is a long time when it comes to anything in life especially when that is a third of the time you have been on this earth. To me, it has always been a family and I have seen it grow from four people in a small Cologne office to the successful brand it has become. They are the reason I was able to start traveling the world 10 years ago and because of that, they have had a part in making me the person I am today. I have met so many amazing people through them, filmed my first full video part with them and got my first signature products through them. To say I owe them a lot would be a massive understatement! I have the utmost respect for the brands they do and especially for all the hard work that Harry and Klaus have put in over the years, even at the risk of their own health at times. They have done all this for the simple reason that they love BMX and want to see it grow in a positive way. Life is about growing and learning as we make our journey through this world. In recent times and down to no fault of anyone’s I have found myself heading in a different direction from wemakethings and éclat. Because of these differences and because of the respect I have for Harry and the friendship we have, it is time for me to move forward on my path. I seriously can not thank them enough for everything they have done for me over the past ten years and can say in confidence that the bond we have made will still be the same if not stronger in another 10.” – Ashley Charles

From Paul Robinson – Team Manager

“For me, my time spent with Ashley is not just that from the point of view of a team manager, it’s from that of a friend. I first met Ashley around the time of the millennium, we travelled together, rode in jams together, got hammered drunk in Bournemouth together and always bumped into each other at various events and while he was touring with WETHEPEOPLE. When I first got the job as Team Manager for Éclat I was instantly excited as I would be able to hang out more with Ash, and the first trip I made was to see him shortly before he left for the states. Its fair to say that Ash has been going through a definite transition in life recently, one that has made him realize a lot about his direction in life. It doesn’t help when you have to go through the ordeal of having two knee surgeries in a year. I often think that people forget he has dedicated over half his life to riding bikes and just because those knees are feeling the strain it doesn’t mean he’s slowing down, he’s just entering a new stage in his adventurous existence. Part of this transition has seen him unfortunately re calculate his options and subsequently his decision to leave éclat. The silver lining here is that we still remain friends, back where we started and although we are truly sad to have a great friend and rider leave the team we wish him the very best of luck in everything he does from now on.”

Spotted on ECLAT.

Josh Kathigitis – Skids and Jibs

December 10, 2012

I haven’t seen United‘s Australian connect, Josh Kathigitis’, name pop up in over a year. Good to see he’s still on it. Check out this quick video for Little Black Bike of him getting his jib on around Adelaide.

Filming by Josh Kathigitis and Dave Rubinich. Editing by Josh Kathigitis.
Song: Willy’s Headache by Cymande.

TBB-Bike Instagram Contest

December 10, 2012

The guys over at TBB-Bike in the Czech Republic are having an Instagram contest for you guys to get in on. I’m not sure what you win since I can’t read their website, but it sounds like all you have to do is deck your bike out with some holiday spirit and snap a photo where you tag it #ChristmasBMX.