FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

New York (December, 2006) Wade Martin, who has guided the Dew Action Sports Tour during the Tour's first two successful seasons, has extended his contract and been promoted to President and General Manager. Ken Schanzer, President, NBC Sports and Charlie Mancuso, President, Live Nation Motor Sports made the announcement. Owned by NBC Universal and Live Nation, the Dew Action Sports Tour, the pro tour of action sports, debuted in June 2005, and consists of five major, multi-sport events with a cumulative points system, a $2.5 million competitive purse - the largest in action sports - and an additional $1 million bonus pool based upon year-end standings. NBC and USA Network will combine for exclusive Dew Action Sports Tour coverage with the largest combined network and cable commitment in action sports. The Tour features skateboarding (park and vert), BMX (park, vert, and dirt) and freestyle motocross, and at seasons end, the Tour awards champions in the six combined disciplines with the Dew Cup. Key lifestyle elements at each Tour event's festival village includes live cutting-edge music, video gaming, and interactive events. 

In what point of your "riding career" did you decide you wanted to stay involved?
Chad: Staying involved in the sport was a no-brainer. There hasn't been a time that I was like "I am over this". Maybe one time this past summer when I got hurt, but I healed and got back on the horse. I didn't know having a skatepark could start a scene and make it as strong as it is. It's insane how good it is. 

Mat Hoffman’s Long-time Business Partner, Fellow Rider and Friend Heads to California and Takes New Position at IMG OKLAHOMA CITY— Hoffman Enterprises announced today that founding partner Steve Swope will be moving to California and taking a position with IMG in its Action Sports division effective January 2007. “Steve has been a great business partner and will continue to be one of my closest friends and confidants,” said Mat Hoffman. “I am happy for him and this opportunity as he was already moving to California in support of his wife’s recent promotion. I am going to miss him in Oklahoma, but I know this is a good thing for Steve and a good thing for the action sports community.”

Swope and Hoffman grew up in Oklahoma together and were professional riders beginning in the mid-1980s. When Hoffman decided to start Hoffman Bikes and Hoffman Promotions (1991), Swope worked diligently alongside him and earned partnership in the businesses. More than twenty years later, Swope and Hoffman are more like brothers than business partners.

Name: Janosch Ritter (looks like Jan Knight in English) 
Age: 27
Hometown: Hessen/Köln

When did the People's store open?
Janosch: 18th March ....but in truth I had to ask Klaus (Dyba) this.

What did you do before that?
Janosch: A lot. School, worked for a bmx clothing label, for a bmx shop and distro, then some practical stuff like carpenter and such...I was also at one time learning this as a trade before I dropped out and opened Janoschs bmx shop, also in Cologne.

Did Cologne need a good BMX store?

Eurobike Demo Day debut in Vorarlberg, Austria Friedrichshafen, Germany. Test out the latest bikes, discover new products and innovations, talk shop and celebrate at an alpine party – in natural surroundings: Bicycle industry manufacturers, retailers and media representatives are invited to the first Eurobike Demo Day taking place on Wednesday, 29 August 2007 – one day before the official opening of the Eurobike International Trade Exhibition (30 August – 02 September 2007). 

Factory Media, a new holding Company, announces the merger of three leading specialist sports publishers; Action Sports Media (ASM), Permanent Publishing and 4130 Publishing. The new Company’s management team will include Darryl Newton, Managing Director and Matt Fenton, Group Publishing Director. Jim Peskett will remain Publisher of the UK board sports brands and Mark Noble as Editorial Director of the bike portfolio. Joining the team are Alistair Ramsay (former Chief Executive of Dennis Publishing), acting as non-exec Chairman, and James Carter (former NPD Director of Dennis, and Publishing Director of FHM and FHM.com) as Director of online and lifestyle brand development.

Kent, WA – SBS has reached an agreement with Jim Cielencki, founder of Sunday Bike Company, to distribute their BMX frames, forks and handlebars – starting with their 2007 line. “Our salesreps are extremely excited to offer Sunday’s unique 2007 offerings to their dealers,” said Mike Sanderson, SBS Buyer for Sunday and Odyssey. “Sunday’s products are not only high quality and unique in their color choices, but also  innovative and widely accepted amongst the

Madison, Wis. – December, 2006 – Pacific Cycle Inc., the leading bicycle supplier in the U.S. and a Dorel Industries Inc. company, is pleased to announce two personnel changes.  Steve Reeds has been promoted to the position of EVP, GM of Global IBD. Reeds most recently served as VP, GM of InSTEP, Pacific Cycle’s popular line of joggers, strollers and trailers, and prior to that he served as Pacific Cycle’s VP, IBD Purchasing. 

TransAm are having an Open House event on 9 December. They've got selected Orchids selling from 20 bucks and some Little Devil shirts will go for $5, so if you're looking for a deal you should be there at two to twelve.
-WHO: Trans Am Distro, Orchid Footwear, Little Devil
-WHAT: Open House featuring a pro ramp demo, holiday sale, and BBQ
-WHERE: Our warehouse: 2051 Potshop Lane East Norriton, PA 19403 (45 minutes west of Philly)

We reported earlier on FATBMX that the Eurobike team was working on setting up a brother trade show in Portland Oregon, USA. Well, for now they've put the idea in the fridge meaning that there will be no "USA-BIKE" trade show in 2007.
"The decision is primarily attributed to delays in assembling a US management team. In the course of 2006, various US bicycle industry leaders approached Messe Friedrichshafen, requesting that it fill the need for an alternative trade show format in that market."