Tuesday, July 30

BMX Update 07.30.02

By Josh Root
EXPN.com

Warmth has taken over my little corner of the world and summer is finally here. The little kids are out of school, so the parks are crowded. But since it's hot out, hardly anyone is skating. So it is kind of like having the place to yourself (with a bunch of Baker skateboard wanna-bes sitting around).

The video that everyone in the BMX world has been waiting months for is finally coming out. Etnies "Forward" will be in the stores within weeks and premiers have been popping up here and there. The latest one was in Vancouver, BC at Sonar on Friday July 26. The Vancouver crew was out in force I'm sure. With no cover charge and drink specials all night long, why wouldn't they be. Etnies has what many consider to be the best team in BMX. With riders like: Joe Rich, Taj Mihelich, Mike Escamilla, Reuben Alcantara, Jason Enns, Dave Freimuth, and Edwin Delarosa making up just a part of the team, you know "Forward" is going to be amazing. But, in my typical scheduling nightmare, I was in Southern Oregon/NorCal when the Vancouver premier happened. So once again, I missed a good party.

Brain Vowell is on UGP.

Vic Murphy is hooked up by Dan's Competition these days, in case you were wondering.

In case you didn't catch it from the pervious paragraph, Edwin Delarosa is now on Etnies "A" team, as he should be.

And Dave Mirra has added to his list of lucrative sponsors by getting a deal done with Dodge. Vrrrrrooooom.

The countdown to the 2002 Philly X Games has begun. So pay attention, or you are going to miss something good.

The Venice Beach KOD took place recently. Though many of the usual pro riders were at the CFB finals in Illinois, the riding was still amazing. The KOD is a part of the "Got Milk?" Core Tour this year. Which isn't as strange as it sounds, since we should all probably get more calcium given how often we all smack out bones on the ground. The NYC stop is coming up on 19-21 and the Huntington Beach one Sept 6-8.

Results:
Am
1. Chris Pupo
2. Sergio Munoz
3. William Zak
4. Brian Close
5. Joel Hulsey
6. Brian Sterley
7. Jason George
8. James Dakis
9. Damian Coleman
10. Chris Miracles

Pro
1. Cory Nastazio
2. Joey Marks
3. Stephen Murray
4. Mark Kehl
5. Eric Lawson
6. Josh Pyle
7. Darrin Read
8. Marvin Loetterle
9. Shaun Butler
10. Joel Hulsey

Bruce Crisman is once again using his mastery of Spanish to wander through Spain. His plan was to hook up with whomever of the Spanish crew (Reuben, Viki Gomez, Nathan Penonzek) was around. I'd say the amazing street riding in Spain is an excellent training ground for this year's X Games.

411 issue number two should be hitting the shelves shortly. Look for a Jason Enns profile, Troy McMurray "day in the life", the NY LaRevolution contest, and a bunch of other random 411 type goodness. Rookies, spot checks, that sort of thing. You know the deal, after all, how many hours of your life have you spent watching 411 skate videos?

Mike Ardelean is in the process of coming up with a shoe design for Axion.

Bruce Crisman and Seth Kimbrough's band is called "Mortal Treason". Chase Nickens and Josh Jarrett round out the quartet. Their first video should be on VH1 just about……..now.

Fuzzy Hall has started up a retail shop in Sandy, Utah with Mongoose team manager Chuck Fallon. 50/50 is the shops name, and appropriately it will carry both bike and skate equipment. I wonder if Mongoose frames will be any cheaper there? The Mervyn's Beach Bash Soul Bowl Comp happened once again the other week. Usually a favorite with vert type tricksters, this year was no different. Big air and flowing lines were the order of the day in the kidney shaped bowl (with a vert hip of all things). Or at least that's what I was told; my probation officer says I can't leave my basement.

Results:
1. Jamie Bestwick
2. Jay Miron
3. John Parker
4. Jimmy Walker
5. Koji Kraft
6. Jay Eggleston
7. Jim Burgess
8. Chad Kagy

High air contest:
1. Bestwick 12'
2. Robinson 11'
3. Eggleston 10.75'
4. Kraft 10' TIE
4. Parker 10' TIE
6. Burgess 9'2"
7. Miron 9'
9. Mancuso 8.5'

And finally, Woodward West in California has been postponed for another year due to the need to have an "Environmental Impact Statement" done. Everyone is bummed, but what are you gonna do? It's the environment dummy, you're not allowed to screw that up. So I'm off to San Francisco for a few days. Good times. Nothing like driving 18 hours to make a man question his sanity.

You go ride bike now.