Sandy Carson Archives

Etnies – “Why Didn’t We Do This Before?” – Full Video (2006)

May 30, 2023

The full “Why Didn’t We Do This Before?” video from Etnies is now online!

Here’s a throwback that Snakebite BMX uploaded that I’m especially stoked to see again. This is the full “Why Didn’t We Do This Before?” video Etnies released back in 2006 from a trip the team (arguably one of the most legendary teams of all time) took from Austin, Texas on up to Wisconsin hitting up parks and spots along the way. This video is honestly part of the reason this website probably exists today since 16 year old me met these guys for the very first time at Jellystone in Wisconsin and it was one of those experiences that really stuck with me. If I remember right I met Ruben when I had just about all of his signature parts and shoes at the time. It was also when I was really getting into making videos, and seeing pros of this level ride in person definitely made an impact. Either way, this video is an awesome watch with a ton of great riding and that classic mid school riding that we just don’t get to see a lot of these days. Check it out!

“Featuring Taj Mihelich, Ruben Alcantara, Sergio Layos, Jamie Bestwick, Dave Freimuth, Garrett Byrnes, Sandy Carson, Joe Rich, Brian Kachinsky, Brian Vowell & More!

Filmed by Stew Johnson & Mike Manzoori
Edited by Mike Manzoori” – Snakebite BMX
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The Legend of Paul Buchanan and the Church Gap

March 3, 2021

This is amazing! Taj Mihelich has put his amazing illustrating talent together to tell the story of Paul Buchanan doing the legendary Church Gap in Austin, Texas. The story is told by Sandy Carson, and it’s just shy of five minutes of the crazy story of how Paul did the insane gap without any cameras to document it because he just sent it! Talk about a legend.

“Sandy Carson tells the Legend of Paul Buchanan and the Church Gap.

Director and Animator: Taj Mihelich
Introduction: James Shepherd
Storyteller: Sandy Carson
Sound Design and Audio Mix: David Jack
Music: Adam Yeoman, Taj Mihelich
Photos: Sandy Carson
Additional Sound Effects and General Huge Help: Stew Johnson
Special Thanks: Chris Rye
The Man, Not Levan: Jimmy Levan” – Taj Mihelich

Tip Plus “The Family” – Full Video (2005)

June 4, 2020

Oh man, here’s a gem that you guys won’t want to miss! Snakebite BMX uploaded the full “The Family” video from Tip Plus for your viewing pleasure. This BMX DVD was released back in 2005 and features a TON of legends and dialed riding. Kurtis Elwell, Brian Foster, Van Homan and Josh Heino all have full parts in the video, then Primo, Wethepeople, Lotek and Federal Bikes all have team mix sections with riding from Brian Wizmerski, Chase Dehart, Sandy Carson, Leif Valin, Corey Martinez, Josh Stricker, Hannu Cools, Grimaldo Duran, Brian Terada, Eddie Cleveland, Ryan Mills, Adam Perez, Matt Puorro, Terry Adams, Shawn Hoskins, Rich Hirsch, Edwin Delarosa, Seth Kimbrough, Steven Hamilton, Ian Morris, and Brian Tunney! Obviously with a line up like this, it’s a BMX video that you cannot miss. Get on that play button and take this all in.

Not only is the rider list heavy, the filming and editor list is wild too…
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Check Out Sandy Carson’s “We Were There” Photobook

March 3, 2017

It’s always awesome seeing what riders are getting into “after BMX” so to speak. Sandy Carson is still shooting photos, but has put a lot of his time and effort into the music world around Austin, Texas. Sandy has been super busy working on a new photobook and 7 inch Record from the Black Angels and The Sword and is doing a crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds to make it happen! The book features a ton of amazing photos that documents the crowds at hundreds of shows and festivals and it looks like it turned out awesome. If you’re into music, this is definitely one you will want to check out. To make things even better, there’s also a ton of perks from Fairdale, Vans and more! You can get the full scoop on the book, all the crazy perks for supporting the project and more RIGHT HERE!

“To support and pre-order book, go here- igg.me/at/WeWereThere

WE WERE THERE is a hardcover book dedicated to concert fandom, shot over a decade in Austin, Texas 2007-2017. This project explores the symbiotic relationship between rock concert fans, the bands, and myself, the photographer at music festivals. It is also a self-portrait of a music fan, musician, and photographer, who has been on both sides of the stage, barrier, and photo pit. Without the band there are no fans; without the fans, there is no band. One just cannot exist without the other!
Book comes with a 7-inch flexi disk vinyl featuring the Black Angels and The Sword. Coming fall 2017 on Daylight Books.”

The Most Influential BMX Videos Of All Time

September 8, 2016

There’s a real interesting feature over on the X Games website by Sandy Carson that takes a look at some of the most influential BMX videos of all time. This is packed with A LOT of history and it’s an excellent read. I’m sure most of you “old dudes” will be having flashbacks of the good days before “webisodes” and some of you young guns will be asking yourself “Who the hell are these guys?”, which is understandable since this one reaches as far back as the mid to late 1980’s, haha. This covers a lot of ground from “Curb Dogs 1”, “Nowhere Fast” and “Criminal Mischief” to the first Props “Road Fools” all the way on through the “Deadline” video! You can check it all out right here — The Most Influential BMX Videos Of All Time

We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think in the comments below!

VISIT: FRONT PAGE // DAILY SECTION // BMX COLOR APP // BMX VIDEOS // RANDOM // BMX Games

Fairdale France

July 9, 2016

No, this isn’t BMX, but it’s always interesting seeing what a few BMX legends are getting into these days. Some of the Fairdale Bikes crew took a trip over to France to do some touring around the French Alps and came back with this new video. There’s some awesome sights to take in, in this one and it looks like the guys had an amazing time. Take a look!

“We took Taj Mihelich, Leif Valin, Sandy Carson, and Chris Cotsonas to the French Alps and celebrated Chris’ birthday in one of the best ways imaginable.

—

starring
CHRIS COTSONAS, TAJ MIHELICH, LEIF VALIN, SANDY CARSON

—

directed by
TAJ MIHELICH
FRANCIS DELAPENA

filmed and edited by
FRANCIS DELAPENA

additional filming by
TAJ MIHELICH
LEIF VALIN

illustrations and narration by
TAJ MIHELICH

—

Music by

Don’t Bring it to Life
SOUNDER

Donna Donna
TENNIS COATS

I Want To Ride My Bicycle
OLIVER COTSONAS

Check out the AUGUST 2016
issue of BICYCLING for the full article.

Visit our website for bonus photos and doodles.
HTTP://FAIRDALEBIKES.COM/FAIRDALEFRANCE”
[Read more…]

Cycling, Cameras and Cats with Sandy Carson

September 15, 2015

Ah, we’re huge fans of Sandy Carson on and off the bike and of course behind the lens! Fairdale Bikes caught up with Sandy to talk cameras, cats and the shitload of different bikes that he rides from BMX to fixed gear, mountain bikes and road bikes! This has some riding footage in there which we don’t see nearly enough of from Sandy these days along with some of his photography work. Definitely a BMX video to check out!

“Sandy Carson was our first team rider back in January of 2012. “Team Rider” is a term we use very loosely at Fairdale. We don’t expect our riders to win races (though Sandy did just win a Texas State Championship on a mountain bike). Hell, we don’t expect our riders to even ride all the time.

Mostly our team is made up of friends who are doing cool things. Folks we admire. People who in some way have bicycles as part of their lives. Sandy couldn’t sum that up more.

As a full time photographer he is always doing something exciting… some shoot or another, working on his own photo books and shows, or traveling around to odd places. More than any of that what really makes us admire his work is the way his photographs portray the world. He takes some of the most interesting photos we know of by catching little details that the rest of us skim over. Those little things that when expertly highlighted can reveal special moments all around us.

On top of all that he is an amazing bike rider. A cyclist who is perpetually motivated to ride all kinds of bikes. Riding with an infectious sense of humor and inspiring enthusiasm. His great history as a sponsored BMX rider means he can naturally shred on any bike. Applying that mastery to bikes with other sized wheels has lead him into an even bigger love for cycling.

We spent some time down in Austin filming the man and would like to present to you this video. Check out our friend Sandy.

Music:
Water of Life & Concrete Antenna
http://wateroflife.bandcamp.com
http://www.concreteantenna.org

Filmed and Edited by:
Francis Delapena

See more of Sandy’s Work:
http://sandycarson.com”

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A Storm Trooper In Austin, Texas

May 4, 2015

Here’s one for you Star Wars nerds out there! With it being May 4th (May the 4th be with you), ESPN BMX dropped a photogallery by Sandy Carson featuring ~~Brian Tunney~~ a Storm Trooper getting some riding time in on his BMX bike during some down time, in Austin, Texas!

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