BOK 2016 at Burnside, Deventer. Dutch BMX scene gets together to celebrate BMX. Pics by Jos Wissink

Oct 26, 2016

Written by Bart de Jong

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The BOK series has a long history. Once a year the Dutch BMX scene makes it over to Deventer to hang out together and take over Burnside skatepark (not to be confused with Burnside in Oregon). The turnout this year was impressive. Riders from all corners arived during the day for the Am and Pro comp followed by some fun Best trick events. The idea was easy. Bikes, Beers, Music and getting nuts. You just had to be there to catch the vibe. It was BMX Freestyle in the purest form.

Riders pulled tricks for the first time, riders pulled tricks that they really wanted to do, riders just rode and made the best of it. The park had a few rails, flat banks, ledges, quarters and a temporary jump box with a ceiling that wasn't high enough for Tom van den Bogaard as he hit his helmet on one of the beams mid-air. But the party continued and once the Pro finals started the riders also turned it up a notch.

DJ Desmond Tessemaker got back on the bike for a moment to do the biggest flair transfer to death. It got him the

'Best Crash' of the day medal because it was a serious slam. Levi Weidmann was voted rider of the day. The youngster pulled a 540 bar to bar after a few too many attempts to make it count for points, but pulling it was the goal and he sure did so. Jari Roggeveen pulled his oppo flair in the far corner, Jack Nieraeth went full speed on his jump to tooth hanger on the rail which was fire, Roy van Kempen did a railride to whip off which was sick but top three went to the following riders.

Third place was for Arjan Ellens who rode smooth and solid at Burnside. His wallride to barspin and lazy double barspins on the quarter were sweet. Arjan made things stick at Burnside and finished on spot 3. #1 qualifier Pim Scheers was a crowd favourite and his riding is full throttle from start to finish. Had he pulled his big wallride he probably would have won but second place in this field with most of the Dutch top riders present was good anyway and Pim was stoked.

The most modest guy out there is definitely Tom van den Bogaard. He thought he'd missed the finals altogether with a shitty qualifying run but made it in and then took the win. Tom makes riding a bike look easy but the stuff he does at the height he sends it, definitely deserves some respect. Tom finished off his run with a frontflip on a flatbank to flat. He had to get fired up for that one because he wasn't sure if it was going to work and he knows that crashing on your back on a frontie isn't much fun. The place exploded when Tom pulled it and it lead to the Ale Local winning BOK 2016.

BMX needs more events like this to celebrate riding together. With winter coming up we'll probably have to go indoors somewhere. We've heard about things that are in the works and we'll let you know about it when it's time. Save up for now to make that trip to the next BMX event. Stay tuned.

BdJ

Pics by Jos Wissink