Brooklyn Jam (20-02-05)
First ever flatland jam in a supermarket
Written by Hoite Polkamp
Brooklyn? Isn’t that on the other side of the pond? A hood in New York?
Nope! The original name for Brooklyn is Breukelen, which is a little town in between Amsterdam and Utrecht. Breukelen evolved to Brooklyn, just like New Amsterdam evolved into New York.. But this all took place a pretty long time ago.
Fast forward to 2005.
In this little village, an abondoned supermarket was turned into the perfect flatland spot. This has been a flatland spot for about a year now, where locals Philip and Felix actually lived for a while. The
Amsterdam/ Soul Cycle crew has been going down there every now and then, to escape the junkies and the annoying police officers in the metrostation. When we heard it was going to be torn down it was time to get everyone together for a session.
The place itself is perfect for flatland. Ony problem was the 5 cm thick layer of dust, but after a serious cleaning operation by Sytse and Hoite, two days before, the place was as good as it gets.
So, last Sunday, everyone got together to ride in this supermarket. No contest or anything. Since it had been a while since we had a jam, and since Braun Flatground, which normally goes down this time of the year, has been moved to the end of September, it was definitely good to see everyone again. Soul Cycle owner and part time dj King Koen
was throwing down some great hiphop beats, to get everyone pumped to ride. After a while, Koen decided to ride a bit and Dj Philip aka Dj de bruine Ster took over and tossed some good drum and bass records on the table, to get that energy going. It was great to see a lot of younger kids are riding hard and progressing a lot. About 15/ 16 years old, and already doing steamrollers and wheelchairs! A small group of riders from Steenbergen are coming up fast!
Off course, the more well known riders were there as well, such as James Alberto, more and more smooth every time you see him, and Soul Cycle/ KGB team rider Bram Verhallen, who no doubt had some of the hardest tricks ever seen in a supermarket. Steamroller 360 barflip to pedal steamroller, three times in one combo, anyone?? Too bad Sytse was feeling kinda sick, because he’s been progressing at an unreal level lately. The Haarlem gang, who had been without a good spot to ride all winter, showed up as well, and still got the skills.
So far the report of the world premier of supermarket flatland. Thanks to Soul Cycle, especially Koen, for the music, and Albert Heijn, for providing free entrance for everyone.
Flatland is alive in the Netherlands!
See you soon, hopefully somewhere in the sun.
Hoite Polkamp
Photo's by Bram Verhallen and Hoite Polkamp
Amsterdam/ Soul Cycle crew has been going down there every now and then, to escape the junkies and the annoying police officers in the metrostation. When we heard it was going to be torn down it was time to get everyone together for a session.
The place itself is perfect for flatland. Ony problem was the 5 cm thick layer of dust, but after a serious cleaning operation by Sytse and Hoite, two days before, the place was as good as it gets. 
So, last Sunday, everyone got together to ride in this supermarket. No contest or anything. Since it had been a while since we had a jam, and since Braun Flatground, which normally goes down this time of the year, has been moved to the end of September, it was definitely good to see everyone again. Soul Cycle owner and part time dj King Koen 
was throwing down some great hiphop beats, to get everyone pumped to ride. After a while, Koen decided to ride a bit and Dj Philip aka Dj de bruine Ster took over and tossed some good drum and bass records on the table, to get that energy going. It was great to see a lot of younger kids are riding hard and progressing a lot. About 15/ 16 years old, and already doing steamrollers and wheelchairs! A small group of riders from Steenbergen are coming up fast!
Off course, the more well known riders were there as well, such as James Alberto, more and more smooth every time you see him, and Soul Cycle/ KGB team rider Bram Verhallen, who no doubt had some of the hardest tricks ever seen in a supermarket. Steamroller 360 barflip to pedal steamroller, three times in one combo, anyone?? Too bad Sytse was feeling kinda sick, because he’s been progressing at an unreal level lately. The Haarlem gang, who had been without a good spot to ride all winter, showed up as well, and still got the skills.
So far the report of the world premier of supermarket flatland. Thanks to Soul Cycle, especially Koen, for the music, and Albert Heijn, for providing free entrance for everyone.
Flatland is alive in the Netherlands!
See you soon, hopefully somewhere in the sun.
Hoite Polkamp
Photo's by Bram Verhallen and Hoite Polkamp
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.