Mike Aitken Archives – Page 3 of 10

Fit Bike Co. – 12 Days of Aitken: Day 7 – Sentenced To Life

December 20, 2017

The 12 Days of Aitken continues. This time around we get a look at Mike’s “Sentenced To Life” part…

This time around Chris Doyle, Kris Bennett, Matt Brian Foster and Van Homan all sit down to watch Mike Aitken‘s section from the “Sentenced To Life” DVD. None of these guys had seen the part prior to watching it for this, so getting their reaction is pretty amazing. Hit play and enjoy… You know Mike crushes it!

“Day 7 in our ‘Twelve days of Aitken,’ which is a retrospective look at Mike Aitken’s BMX career as seen through the eyes of some of those who know him best via a selection of his hugely influential video parts, hones in on an unconventional pairing of Mikey and “Sentenced to Life.”

At this point, everyone was a fan of Aitken, including Dave Mirra (R.I.P.), who was heading up a video called “Sentenced to Life” filmed by Brian Purdy. Commentators Doyle and Bennett dish out some industry knowledge related to MirraCo and the quest for Mikey to leave FIT and join the team during the time the video was filmed, and his decision to stay loyal to FIT over a larger payout. BF and Van also point out that this video was filmed primarily on trips, so you know all those outrageous park clips were most likely from the first day of him riding there. And in typical Aitken fashion, all varieties of terrain are casually annihilated. That last concrete park line from start to finish is seriously incredible. -RD

Rider: Mike Aitken
Featuring: Chris Doyle, Kris Bennett, Van Homan & Brian Foster
Filmed & Edited by: Stew Johnson
Music: Lucero – “Anjalee”” – Fit Bike Co.

Fit Bike Co. – 12 Days of Aitken: Day 6 – “Wide Awake Nightmare”

December 19, 2017

Chris Doyle and Kris Bennett sit down to talk about Mike Aitken’s Square One “Wide Awake Nightmare” video part for the Fit Bike Co. “12 Days of Aitken” series…

It’s time for Chris Doyle and Kris Bennett to sit down and watch Mike Aitken‘s part from the Square One “Wide Awake Nightmare” video. This is one hell of a part with Mike’s serious ability to ride anything and everything really showing through. Hit play and take it all in!

“Day 6 in our ‘Twelve days of Aitken,’ which is a retrospective look at Mike Aitken’s BMX career as seen through the eyes of some of those who know him best via a selection of his hugely influential video parts, reaches the halfway mark, and what better section to reminisce about than Mikey’s part in the Square One’s critically acclaimed “Wide Awake Nightmare?”

This was arguably the tipping point for Mike’s riding, where he had elevated his style to one that was heavily imitated (even the girl pants), but never duplicated. Those rubber-leg inverts, the effortless flow, that flawless swag oozing out of every clip. Mike demonstrated here the pinnacle of what can be defined as the all-around rider of the new millennium. Square One teammate Chris Doyle, and filmer/ editor/ producer of “Wide Awake Nightmare” Kris Bennett provide some insightful commentary on what it was like watching the Mikey show from a front-row seat on a regular basis. AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top” was pretty fitting for his part- The Mike Aitken takeover of BMX had been realized. -RD

Rider: Mike Aitken
Featuring: Chris Doyle & Kris Bennett
Music: AC/DC – “It’s a long way to the top”” – Fit Bike Co.

Fit Bike Co. – 12 Days of AItken – Day 5: The Beginning 2

December 18, 2017

On the 5th day of the 12 Days of Aitken, we get a look at Mike’s “The Beginning 2” Part!

Matt Beringer and Shawn “Elf” Walters sit down to talk about Mike Aitken’s part for “The Beginning 2” that never was actually released as a full video, but Mike’s part did make it into the “Fit Life” bonus section. As we’ve seen the past 5 days, Mike’s level of progression just keeps going and this is a clear indicator of that. Amazing riding in this one.

“Day 5 in our ‘Twelve days of Aitken’, which is a retrospective look at Mike Aitken’s BMX career as seen through the eyes of some of those who know him best via a selection of his hugely influential video parts, continues with Matt Beringer’s “The Beginning 2”, filmed in 2002.

Matt never released the video, and since Mike had a completed section ready to go to VHS duplication (VHS tapes still existed at this point, but were quickly going the way of the Sabre-toothed Tiger, thanks to the influx of DVDs), it ended up being included in the bonus section of “Fit Life.” Like the first “The Beginning”, this was also filmed primarily by longtime friends Matt and Shawn “Elf” Walters (who provide the commentary). Filmed less a year after “Up In Arms”, Aitken just kept going bigger and bigger, with a more refined signature style. Mike was a regular at many of the bigger contests during this time, and there are a few clips sprinkled throughout of him killing it at them. Some of the transfers and lines documented in his section at parks around Salt Lake area are insane, and haven’t been replicated fifteen years later. -RD

RIder: Mike Aitken
Featuring: Matt Beringer & Shawn ‘Elf” Walters
Music: “Five to One” by The Doors” – Fit Bike Co.

12 Days of Aitken – Day 3 & 4 – “F-It” and Square One “Up In Arms”

December 17, 2017

The 12 days of Mike Aitken continue! Brian Foster and Van Homan talk “F-It” and Chris Doyle and Kris Bennett talk “Up In Arms”… Both classic Aitken parts!

“Next up in our ‘Twelve days of Aitken’, which is a retrospective look at Mike Aitken’s BMX career as seen through the eyes of some of those who know him best via a selection of his hugely influential video parts, is Mikey’s section in FIT’s inaugural video “F-It.”

Mike kicked off 2001 with a new frame sponsor, which was a freshly-formed bike company that was spawned via S&M Bikes with fellow teammates and heavy hitters Brian Foster, Nate Hanson, Robbo, Justin Inman, and Edwin De La Rosa; him and the crew set FIT into full swing with the release of “F-It.” Mike blessed the video with a well-deserved closing section; one that helped put FIT on the map and set the bar for a soon-to-be legendary team in the coming years. BF and future teammate Van Homan provide some entertaining commentary on this point in time, where Mike was really coming into his own, and the Aitken evolution continued to gain momentum.

RIder: Mike Aitken
Commentary: Van Homan & Brian Foster
Music: “Three” by Swan Street” – Fit Bike Co.

“Day 4 in our ‘Twelve days of Aitken’, which is a retrospective look at Mike Aitken’s BMX career as seen through the eyes of some of those who know him best via a selection of his hugely influential video parts, delves into Mike’s section in Square One’s first video “Up In Arms.”

Closing out 2001 with another extended stay in Erie, Pennsylvania and enjoying all the newer indoor parks in the area like Section 8 and Shebang, as well as the expanded Buck’s trails, Mike casually filmed his second part of the year. Kris Bennett commanded the video camera lens, who followed up “Empire East” with an unofficial sequel of sorts under the title “Up In Arms”, before Square One was an actual company. In the year span between “Empire East” and “Up In Arms”, you can see such rapid progress happening with Mike’s riding, where he really starts to elevate his signature style to new heights. Who can forget that massive wall ride to crash in the opening clip? Slayer’s “Angel Of Death” and Aitken- the perfect combo. Watch and listen to more commentary by Bennett and Doyle, who were fortunate enough to live this time period in person.

RIder: Mike Aitken
Commentary: Chris Doyle & Kris Bennett” – Fit Bike Co.

Fit Bike Co. – 12 Days of Aitken: Day 2 – The Beginning

December 15, 2017

Fit Bike Co. had Shawn “Elf” Walters and Matt Beringer sit down and talk about Mike Aitken’s first video part in “The Beginning”…

The 12 days of Mike Aitken continues! This time around Fit Bike Co. had Shawn “Elf” Walters and Matt Beringer to talk a little bit about Mike Aitken’s first video pat in “The Beginning” video that Matt produced back in 2000. Hit play and take it all in!

“Day 2 of ‘Twelve days of Aitken’, which is a retrospective look at Mike Aitken’s BMX career as seen through the eyes of some of those who know him best via a selection of his hugely influential video parts, is Mikey’s section in Matt Beringer’s video “The Beginning.”

“The Beginning” is Mike’s first video section ever (released in 2000, around the same time as Empire East), spanning from when he was 13 (around the time he had those clips in Road Fools 2 at Fuzzy’s backyard) to about 16. It documents the transition from ripping around on a race bike to his Mosh days, and filmed by Matt and Shawn “Elf” Walters (who provide the commentary). Includes his first rail (which is massive for a first rail!), contest footage, baggy pants, and the classic Mikey style in it’s infancy documented while flowing through some of the old trails and indoor skateparks around Salt Lake City, Utah. This was the beginning, literally and figuratively. -RD

Rider: Mike Aitken
Commentators: Matt Beringer & Shawn “Elf” Walters
Filmed & Edited by: Stew Johnson” – Fit Bike Co.

Fit Bike Co. – 12 Days of Aitken: Day 1 Empire East

December 14, 2017

Chris Doyle and Kris Bennett sit down to discuss Mike Aitken’s “Empire East” video part!

The next 12 days are going to kickass! Here’s the first of 12 videos looking back on Mike Aitken‘s BMX career. Up first, we get Kris Bennett and Chris Doyle‘s perspective on Mike’s “Empire East” video part!

“Up first in the ‘Twelve days of Aitken’, which is a retrospective look at Mike Aitken’s BMX career as seen through the eyes of some of those who know him best via a selection of his hugely influential video parts, is Mikey’s section in the Erie, Pennsylvania-based video “Empire East.”

While transitioning from his first sponsor of Bully to the geometrically exaggerated-shaped frames of Mosh, a 16 year-old sharply opinionated visitor from Salt Lake City by the name of Mikey Aitken spent the summer of 2000 in Erie, Pennsylvania. While riding with the heavy-hitting crew that called Erie home at that time, he filmed a video part with Jim Winschel primarily at Buck’s Trails and Jim’s infamous backyard trails (which had gained notoriety around this time after hosting a stop in Road Fools 4). Chris Doyle and Kris Bennett provide commentary and a little insight into witnessing Mike’s casual slaying of the enormously long jumps at Winschel’s, which would still be pretty significant by today’s standards. The time period documented in “Empire East” is where Doyle and Bennett got a firsthand look at the blossoming Aitken’s natural riding talent and rapid progression that would eventually evolve to legendary status. -RD

RIder: Mike Aitken
Featuring: Chris Doyle & Kris Bennett
Music: “Paint it Black,” The Rolling Stones” – Fit Bike Co.

Fit Bike Co. – 2018 Aitken 26″ Signature Complete Promo

September 26, 2017

The crew at Fit Bike Co. just released this short but sweet promo video giving you a look at the 2018 Mike Aitken 26″ Signature Complete that is hitting BMX shops and mail-orders now. Unfortunately this doesn’t feature Mike shredding the bike, but Doug Darrah gives you a good idea of what it can hold up to! Check out the video and more info on the bike below!

“A grocery getter that can still get ‘er done… our very first 26″ complete is a Mike Aitken signature model, mostly because Mike is awesome, and chances are, if you’re after a 26″ – you know that too.

-23″ Top Tube Full CrMo frame.

-26″ Wheels with 26″ x 2.4 S&M Speedball Tires

Find out more on the Fit Bike Co. Website!

Rider: Doug Darrah
Filmed & Edited by: Tony Malouf
Music: Hundred Waters – “Caverns”” – Fit Bike Co.

“Dollar Bet” – Friends Section

December 6, 2016

One of the big reasons we were huge fans of the “Dollar Bet” DVD is because it featured footage from a lot of damn good riders, and creative spots like Matt Beringer‘s new backyard setup, abandoned mini golf places and more. This first Friends section shows really well. Check it!

“The highly entertaining Friends section from Shawn “Elf” Walters’ full-length DVD production “Dollar Bet”, with Matt Beringer, Paul Edwards, Braden Ross, Brady Tweedy, Jordan Swenson, Calvin Krey, Tucker Brunson, James Hess, Mikey Aitken, Kelby Merton, Tate Roskelley, Dave Thompson, and more.

Filmed and edited by Shawn Walters.”