Simple Session 19 report by BdJ. Pics by Antti Huotari

Feb 07, 2019

Written by Bart de Jong

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The annual Simple Session in Tallinn, Estonia brings a big part of the BMX Freestyle community together for the first big gathering of the year. During the cost and wet winter months when outdoor riding is rough, simply not a lot of (outdoor) events take place. Seeing the BMX family again for the first time in the new year has always been a big part of Simple Session. The Thursday ice hockey match between BMX and Skateboarding was lost for the first time. It definitely had something to do with Reed Stark arriving a couple of hours late. He was gutted he missed it and so was any BMX-er who was watching the game. Yes, it's all about the good time, but winning makes the good time even better. Let's get that win back in 2020 when Simple Session hits its 20th B-day.

With two days of practice split by Skateboarding and BMX the riders had some time getting used to the Nate Wessel designed course. It had a Street as well as a Park section but riders could use whatever they felt like so there was no line splitting the course in two. Still, Street riders were expected to hit up the rails/ledges/flatbanks and the Park riders used the big jump, quarters and spines on the other side. All was linked up well and if you did not find anything to your liking you should take up flatland riding instead.

After missing his bike on arrival things didn't look too great for Matt Ray (USA). Thursday's practice session was missed but on Friday the baby was back and Matt got used to the course quickly to win

Saturdays qualification in street. Matt's riding is actually a mix between street and park so he would have been a strong contender in the years when both disciplines were joined together. Felix Prangenberg (GER) rode to a consistent 2nd followed by manual king Courage Adams (ESP). In Park Irek Rizaev (RUS) put two killer runs together for the winning overall spot in qualifying followed by 16 years old Rim Nakamura from Japan and veteran Daniel Dhers (VEN).

Those who did not make it to the finals, and some of those who did, got to party the night away in Club Hollywood. Tallinn is known as the party capital of Estonia and especially the Simple Session weekend doesn't disappoint. All kind of stories were told the next day from boxing matches to hearing industry news, from scoring girls to being getting wasted. With nothing on the schedule until the riders meeting at 14:30hr on Sunday afternoon it allowed for everyone to recuperate before the finals started. But first a Best Trick session was held for everyone sober enough to get on the course. 10 minute warm-up for Street with 20 minutes on the clock for a Street Best Trick session followed by the same for Park. Simple Session has been known for crazy riding to happen and also during the Best Trick comps riders got loose and sent it. Johnny Raekes (USA) pulled the BMX Street Best Trick, which was a tooth hanger over pegs hard 180 crankflip. A mouthful but sick indeed. Kenneth Tencio (CRI) won the Pumped BMX Pro BMX Park Best Trick contest with a flair drop-in transfer that was perfectly executed. The fact that the landing didn't line up with the take-off and with the run-up on the take-off being super shortmade it a tough one to pull.

The Saku Suurhall was pretty packed and ready for the last two finals of the event. 8th place Street qualifier Justin Spriet (USA) got in the zone and ripped in the Best Run counts format to finish 3rd. Even with a few of the top names missing, getting a 3rd place at Simple Session is no easy feat and had to be celebrated. Matt Ray (USA) once again rode super consistent to grab 2nd place at his first Simple Session but it was Germany's Felix Prangenberg whose 88.20 in his first run could not be topped. In Park it was Tom van den Bogaard (NED) who was missed. After qualifying in 8th, and almost nailing that 360 quad downside whip on the big jump, Tom hit his chin on his handlebars on a deep landing on the quarter pipe and had to pay the Estonian hospital a visit for some stitches. This allowed 13th place qualifyer Kostya Andreev (RUS) to ride finals to finish 7th. Kieran Reilly (GBR) nursed his ankle all week so he could ride his first Simple Session. It worked. The youngster made finals to get 6th right behind 2018 UCI World Champ Justin Dowell (USA) and Irek Rizaev. The first podium spot was for the Best Trick winner Kenneth Tencio who had a great weekend in Tallinn doing all kinds of fun stuff. Daniel Dhers stepped it up and was looking for his first Simple Session win but it was Boyd Hilder (AUS) who impressed everyone the most. The 0.40 points lead over Dhers after his first run was kept after run two making him the 2019 Park winner of the Simple Session on his first visit and first ride for Federal Bikes.

All in all another great weekend in Tallinn. The 20th edition is one not to be missed.

BdJ

PARK FINALS:

1st - Boyd Hilder

2nd - Daniel Dhers

3rd - Kenneth Tencio

4th - Irek Rizaev

5th - Justin Dowell

6th - Kieran Reilly

7th - Kostya Andreev*

8th - Jack Clark

9th - Rim Nakamura

10th - Ernests Zebolds

11th - Daniel Wedemeijer

12th - Cam Peake

*Kostya replaced Tom van den Bogaard in the finals as Tom was injured.

STREET FINALS:

1st - Felix Prangenberg

2nd - Matt Ray

3rd - Justin Spriet

4th - Broc Raiford

5th - Mark Burnett

6th - Bruno Hoffmann

7th - Courage Adams

8th - Anthony Perrin

9th - Alex Kennedy

10th - Max Chuprina

11th - Jiri Blabol

12th - Lewis Mills

BMX Park TOP 12 qualifiers:
1. Irek Rizaev RUS
2. Rim Nakamura JPN
3. Daniel Dhers VEN
4. Kenneth Tencio CRI
5. Boyd Hilder AUS
6. Jack Clark GBR
7. Daniel Wedemeijer NED
8. Tom Bogaard NED
9. Cam Peake GBR
10. Justin Dowell USA
11. Ernests Zebolds LAT
12. Kieran Reilly GBR

BMX Street TOP qualifiers: 
1. Matt Ray USA
2. Felix Prangenberg GER
3. Courage Adams ESP
4. Mark Burnett USA
5. Broc Raiford USA
6. Bruno Hoffmann
7. Anthony Perrin FRA
8. Justin Spriet USA
9. Alex Kennedy GBR
10. Jiri Blabol CZE
11. Lewis Mills AUS
12. Max Chuprina RUS

Pics by Antti Huotari