|
| PRO RESULTS |
| 1.
Mike S |
| 2.
Mike Sommers |
| 3.
Sam Foalkes |
| 4.
Alex Jumelin |
| 5.
Alex Bickers |
| 6.
Alexis D. |
| 7.
Dan Margrets |
| 8.
Dino Jeffers |
| 9.
Steve Green |
|
Birmingham, UK
This year’s competition at the NEC had a lot to live up to
in comparison to the previous year’s event where many top
pros, including Martti, Vikki and Nathan, turned up torsemide. However with
the help of a rather large amount of prize money ($5000 for flatland
alone) it seemed certain to attract some good riders.
The contest format was organised and run by Chris Job and his wife,
who most riders on the UK scene will know, Chris isn’t a flatlander
himself but seems to organize most of the big UK flatland events
so props go out to him voltaren.
The event was held over three days starting with a world record
gyrator attempt on the Friday for UK kids TV (no seriously its true,
Sam Foalkes holds the record if you think you can beat it but I
don’t know the figure). Following that was an amateur comp
on the Saturday and the finally Pros on the Sunday.
Before I tell you who won the Pros I should mention the Am comp
where as well as some old guys like me entering for a bit of fun
there were some real up and coming kids which is always good to
see for the UK scene. The comp was eventually won by Steve Green
with some nice moves like half packers, hang tens and hang nothings,
he won a nice new £500 Haro flatland bike which he promptly
sold for £60 because he didn’t have room for it in his
car. I should also mention James Smith one of the South Bank kids
(went to the same school as Alex Vickers as well) who is putting
together some crazy fast links with real good style – this
guys shown an alarming rate of progression over the last 6 months.
Anyway onto the Pros where eight riders entered, with money down
to tenth place they all seemed certain to go home richer. I joked
that I should enter just to get some cash, then hot of his win in
the Am’s Steve Green decided that was a good idea and there
were nine riders.
First place went to the super smooth Mike ‘dialed’
S who threw down a virtually flawless run. This guy just flows around
the whole area melting one trick into another, half packers, opposite
half packers, cross footed hitch hikers (I could go on all day).
Next up is second place man, another Mike S ironically, but this
time Sommers. I was glad I wasn’t judging between the two
Mike S’s because they both deserved to win (if that’s
possible). Anyway I think Mike just has an amazing style to his
riding that’s so good to watch, lots of jumping moves, like
from the back pegs with a 540 bar flip straight into pedal steam
rollers. He has also got nice turbined cliffhangers with a bar flip
thing while spinning.
Sam Foalkes took third representing the UK scene with his array
of original moves like no handed half packers and super man steam
rollers, Sam’s got a really solid style and rarely seems to
bail out of a link or combo still its stomped.
In fourth was Alex Jumelin, the hip hop soldier from France, who
came riding a new signature Ares from (which is nice if you like
bendy top tubes a’la the GT show, oh yeah its made from good
old 4130 as well). Whenever I’ve seen him ride before Alex’s
riding seemed very powerful and consistent and his runs this time
were lacking a bit of the consistency which could be due to the
fact that he was trying some new moves which I haven’t seen
before. I saw him attempt his crazy two footed pedal steamroller
and he’s got a nice ‘pumping’ combo where the
trick kinda sustains itself with no scuffing (perpetual motion or
something).
Anyway I should also mention some more of the up and coming kids
in this class from the UK, Alex Vickers and Dan Margrets who ended
up in 5th and 7th respectively. Alex is one of the new breed of
south bank riders and this guy can ride FAST (I see Alex riding
a lot and the speed at which he can pick up a new move if amazing).
Dan is a totally committed flatlander and every time I see him ride
he seems to be coming up with another new move.
Futher down the pack was Dino Jeffers, a UK comp wouldn’t
be the same without him, Dino put out two virtually flawless runs
but is perhaps let down by the technicality of his ticks in comparison
to the big name pros, anyway stick at it Dino.
Well I think I’ve babbled on for long enough now so I’d
better sign off but if your in the area when bike 2004 rolls around
it might just be worth checking it out, the riders in the UK scene
are always up for a good laugh whether riding or just hanging out
drinking at night. Later… |
