FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

shape with the help of anyone who wanted to pitch in. The 1000 litre water tanks were near full so the water cans could be filled up again and again. It was great having this opportunity because it was hot and dry on Sunday. The nearby canal made for a way to cool off as people jumped off the bridge multiple times to get the body temperature down.

When the finals started all eyes were on Wessel Fijma, Stan Kastelijn, Philip de Jong, Faisal Nagle, Joost Schepers, Jordy Burhenne, Noah van Stokken and Jarno Henraath in the -13 class. 2 goes each, best run counts. Doing a kids class might not deliver the most spectacular trick action, but it brings the young ones to the trails and gets them stoked on BMX. Instead of having to watch all day, they can participate and experience being a BMX rider firsthand. With Tobias van der Linden, Veerle and Boyd de Jong, we had a group of 5 year olds entering a dirt comp. None of them made the final, but they were stoked on the day and made their parents proud. Back to the finals. Stan Kastelijn showed some good skills through the tables and on the way back. He was the only one to do the extra line as well and received the first place plate and a backpack full of goodies for his effort. Jordy Burhenne is a Helm Trails local and has got the one-footer down. He did at least 6 in a row for his best run. I challenge anyone to repeat that. Third place went to Joost Schepers who rode shirtless all day and looked pretty red at the end of the day but he was stoked on making the podium. Congrats to all and see you again next year.

The 14+ class saw some more action. The rollercoaster line was favourite of most, but the middle line and trick line were used as well. Some even made transfers from line to line which is always good to see. In the finals were the following riders: Bram de Laat, Desmond Tessemaker, Tom van den Boogaard, Greg van Tulder, Sem Kok, Sven Grieten, Dimitris Araouzos and Kenneth Tancre. It was pretty much a Netherlands - Belgium affair. With the title going to Belgium the previous two years, the pressure was on for team Holland.

Desmond Tessemaker was killing it all day and made it count in the finals as well. Every rider had three runs with their best two counting for a final score. Coming fresh off an X-Fest win in England the Kink rider ripped on the trails in Helmond and won the comp. Second place went to Kenneth Tancre from Belgium who came over the night before with his dad and camped out in front of the gate. Kenneth flipped the last hip, did sweet no-handers and looked good in general on the rollercoaster line. Third place was for local Tom van den Boogaard. The young 15 years old Paul's Boutique Local Hero rider did no-handers to turndowns and styled all over the new line as if he had been riding it for a couple of months. Having good style paid off with the judges at the ONK, Tom got third and was hella stoked.

After the finals it was time for the Monster Energy BBQ. All riders got to treat themselves with free burgers and Monster Energy and in the en there were plenty of burgers for everyone. After the meat had settled, the Best Trick comp kicked off and Catfish got the riders motivated one more time. It had been a long day for most and with the heat all day it was tough to find the energy for the riders that had something left in the can to push a good one out. It came down to the last rider to win the Deluxe frame. Channon Balorian pulled a no-handed flip and won himself a brand spanking new Deluxe BMX frame. The park rider from Rotterdam now needs to build up that new ride and hit some more dirt when he comes over to 040BMX. It's just 20 minutes down the road.

The last burgers were eaten, the last drinks were gone. Time to clean up the place and head back home. Luckily the trip back was only 20 minutes this time. It was a day how BMX should be; friends, sunshine, BBQ, good place to ride, fun, music, happy faces. Thanks to everyone who made this possible, from builders to sponsors to riders, to visitors. ONK 2013? Let's do this!

BdJ

Results:

13 years and under:
1) Stan Kastelijn
2) Jordy Burhenne
3) Joost Schepers

14+:
1) Desmond Tessemaker
2) Kenneth Tancre
3) Tom van den Boogaard

Thanks to: Deluxe BMX, Monster Energy, Paul's Boutique, Vans, Pro-Tec, EBC, FATBMX, Catfish, Fam. Henraath, Gemeente Helmond, Gebr. Swinkels, De Groot Tuin en Parkmachines, SWH, Projectgroep Helmond-Noord, local diggers, World Wide Woofers, and everyone for showing up.