16, out of Brooklyn was hungry too with 720s over the spine, and big tailwhips and turndowns on the concrete quarter. Rounding out the top three was Ronnie Surridge, who raised everyone’s blood pressure with the gnarliest nose dive spine 360s, and quarterpipe 540s. Three-time King of New York and reigning Pro Champion Jorge Jovel finished eighth but still wowed the fans despite a serious elbow infection, throwing down big front flips, and huge wall taps and quarter pipe airs. 
The Bronx came out to rep in force in Brooklyn, with Franky Navarro, 18, and David Lawrence, 16, taking their respective wins in the Expert and Beginner classes. Fresh off his gold medal SuperPark X Games win the weekend before, Daniel Dhers even came to hang out and support his peers. Finally, undaunted by the rain falling after the awards ceremonies, bands Face Death, Night Swim, and Big Grin rocked out and played to finish off a great King of New York weekend. Below are the 2008 official King of New York top ten results. Pro Final
1. Jeremiah Smith - Boalsburg, PA
2. Dzavid Radoncic - Brooklyn, NY
3. Ronnie Surridge - Jackson, NJ
4. Kyle LeValley - Palm Beach, Fla
5. Keith Schmidt - Lockhaven, PA
6. Ronnie Michelini - San Bruno, CA
7. Nicholi Rogatkin - Lincoln, MA
8. Jorge Jovel - Boalsburg, PA
9. Rob Deveaux - Bronx, NY
10. August Simoncini - Forked River, NJ
Expert Final
1. Franky Navarro - Bronx, NY
2. Eddy Hernandez - Plainfield, NJ
3. Jarrit Manfredy - Bronx, NY
4. Brian Pichardo - New York, NY
5. Jon Lynn - Brooklyn, NY
6. Nile Harris - Fort Edward, NY
7. Derrick Smith - Pomona, NY
8. Bryan Close - Brooklyn, NY
9. Chad Phaire - Harlem, NYC
10. Walter Wilson - Hampton, VA
Beginner Final
1. David Lawrence - Bronx, NY
2. Anthony Carsillo - Tom's River, NJ
3. Christian Mola - Yonkers, NY
4. Vincent Crispino - Staten Island, NY
5. Stephen Quigley - Staten Island, NY
6. Stephen Dimicelli - Tom's River, NJ
7. Tomasz Czech - Brooklyn, NY
8. Anthony Spagnolo - Brooklyn, NY
9. Chris Konopka - Tom's River, NJ
10. Jack Cusack - Long Island, NY
The premier Pro/Am BMX Freestyle Competition in New York City, The King of New York is one of the longest running bicycle stunt competitions in the world and the only one of its kind in New York City. We want to thank all our great sponsors for their 2008 support: Scion, Zoo York, 92.3 K-Rock Radio, Mirraco, Woodward Camp, Diamond Back, Maxxis, Tri-Flow, Props, Animal, Bicycle Union, DK, Failure, Mankind, Proper, Shadow Conspiracy, We The People, System Cycle, Brooklyn Bike Riders, BMXinvasion, and Yellow Designs.Check out www.kingofnewyorkbmx.com for more info.
All photos by: Danny Ortiz/baby bean
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.