Off Season? We're Just Getting Started: BMX in the Winter Months

Photo Gallery   Check out what BMXers do on the off season. View Gallery>

 

The winter is a mellower time, though. By virtue of weather things tend to slow down a bit, and it’s a good time for riders to put themselves back together if you will. Yes, I mean surgery. It’s almost inevitable. Whether it be a joint clean up in the form of a scope, or a complete tune up with ligament replacement, riders go under the knife frequently. Vert riders Tom Stober and Kevin Robinson are best friends, and what do best friends do? They fly to California to get surgery together. Tom and Kevin flew to San Diego in early November to see Dr. Chao, a renowned surgeon, who has done work on some of the best athletes in the world. Both had shoulder tears repaired, while Kevin also had surgeries on his elbow and knee. Down but not out, both should be back on their bikes in a few weeks and working on new tricks. Also on his way to California for a visit to Dr. Chao is Ryan Nyquist, who tore his ACL earlier in the year. Ryan will have a cadavor ligament put in on the 29th of November, and will begin several months of recovery from there. Steve McCann and Scotty Cranmer have been making some trips to the dentist, getting some new teeth put in. Scotty and Steve both had bad crashes at the last stop of the Dew Tour, resulting in some heavy grill damage.

 

 Kevin Robinson Crashes hard at the RightGuard Open and almost destroys his shoulder. Watch Clip> 

 

The winter can also be a time to switch things up, in more ways than one. Some riders, like Chad Kagy, find themselves in the midst of some sponsor switches (as of January 1). Kagy is also in the midst of a giant dragon tattoo on his right leg, being created by Twig from the A&E show “Inked.” Chad is sponsored by Hart & Huntington, Cary Hart’s tattoo shop where the show takes place. Look for Chad to be getting some color laid down on a future episode. Chris Doyle is also in the process of some major sponsor changes after being let go by DK. In a matter of minutes, however, Doyle was scooped up by component company Demolition, and his new bike sponsor, Kink Bikes. Some of the foreign riders like Daniel Dhers will switch up the scenery, and make the trip back to their homeland — Daniel will go to Argentina for a few months — for some riding with old friends at their local spots, before returning in the spring to ride in the States. Jamie Bestwick and his family are currently spending a lot of their time back in their home country of England, however Jamie plans to make regular trips to the States to ride at Camp Woodward. Also switching it up is Dave Mirra. Dave currently has Mark Podgursky and crew (of Woodward Camp) at his warehouse complete redoing the street course layout. This will provide new lines, and a likely a slew of new tricks out of the Greenville crew.

 

 A look at camp woodward. Watch Clip>

  Scotty Cramner crash BMX Park Spills and Thrills 2006 Playstation Pro. Watch Clip>

 

New tricks are definitely a big part of the winter months. Summer is spent bouncing around from event to event, with no real time to buckle down and work on anything new. Less time on airport layovers means more time on the ramp, and more time on the ramp means… well you know.  Anyone who paid any attention to the internet last winter will remember videos floating around of guys like Dave Mirra and John Parker, showing you the madness they had been up to. John had a some trouble this season as a few severe concussions held him down, but he’s already back on a path of destruction at Woodward. Maybe we’ll see another Draino landed at a contest next year? Who knows.

 

  Daniel Dhers Winning Run at LG- Dallas. Watch Clip>

 

The events don’t stop when the chill rolls in. Some of the years’ best events take place amidst the arctic temperatures. In November, flatlanders from all over the globe will converge on Amsterdam for the annual FlatGround contest. Another favorite event of riders the past few years has been the Simpel Session in Estonia. This January, heavy-hitters from all over the world will converge on Tallinn for what has grown into one the best events BMX has to offer. Dave Mirra, Mike Spinner, Tobias Wicke, Alistair Whitton, Kevin Porter, Baz Keep, Chase Hawk, and many more will all converge on Estonia this winter, and you should too. And that’s not all. Before the NBC and ESPN cameras have even started warming up, my favorite contest of the year is going down in Toronto, Ontario. Jay Miron and his crew have been putting on the Metro Jam for many years, and last year’s event in Toronto was their best yet. Dave Mirra and Ryan Guettler even made the trip up to compete with the likes of Gary Young, Morgan Wade, Owen Clegg, and Chris Doyle. You want to see riding that’s off the charts? Head to Toronto in early March for Metro Jam. It’s a Belter.

 

Mid December will see a new concept in Chad Kagy’s vert gathering at Woodward Camp. “We're lacking new blood in the vert class, and as more and more guys retire from competition, it's going to leave a small selection  of guys on the vert ramp. I'd like to see more kids ride vert. I hear from kids that there is interest in riding vert, but they are 

intimidated.  It's also another reason for those of us that ride pro vert to get a big vert session to go down,” says Kagy. Already confirmed for the gathering are Kevin Robinson, John Parker, Simon Tabron, Steve Swope, Morgan Wade, and many more. If you have a serious interest in BMX vert, and only a serious interest, than this event might be for you. This is just an example of how some of the top Pros are giving back to the sport, and trying to help along the “new guys.”

 

As a photographer, the winter months are always some of my favorite in BMX, the great events and the incredible new tricks make for some of the best photos all year long. Part of me wants to relax for a few months, but another part of me knows the madness that is to come. In BMX, there is no time to relax, you’re always rolling where the fun takes you. This winter will be no different, and I can’t wait.