ONK DIRT @ BMX Amsterdam. Report by BdJ

Sep 10, 2023

Written by Bart de Jong

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One way to get people together is putting a title on an event. BMX Amsterdam put the title Open Dutch BMX Dirt Championship on the poster and the people came. Stijn Hens and Kenneth Tancré made it an international comp as the Belgians were put on the list last minute and Stijn had to borrow a helmet to ride the three jumps that were chosen to crown the champion at the end of the day. It was our first time are BMX Amsterdam, located on the West-Siiiide of Amsterdam at the Grifioen Outdoor facility. It was hard to find a parking spot but that was also caused by the athlethics tournament that took place next to BMX Amsterdam and us arriving fairly late. Practice was just being wrapped up and the comp started with younger age groups. Riders could pick their lines. There were 4 of them to choose from. The table line on the left was most popular with the younger age groups and parents classes, the small table line next to it was an option also and the third line from the left had gaps in between the take-off and landing and was shaped in a bit of a hip kind of way. The bigger line had a huge starting hill and mega kickers and was used by the brave riders in the age groups and the pro class riders.

Taj Mihelich made a presence at BMX Amsterdam. The BMX legend was on a bicycle trip in Europe and pedaled to the ONK to witness the event and check out the facility. The newly added pump track was a nice addition to the already amazing place which has a roller section, spine miniramp with box and an indoor facility with park and street sections also.

The club has 250 members and a big part of them were present at the dirt championships. The vibe was chill, people were having a good time, it felt good to spend an afternoon on the bike on the dirt jumps with Philip, Sander, Jur and Virgil.

But back to the contest, and straight to the pro finals. Qualification had cut the field to 8 finalists and all of them were sending it big during the 3-run finals. With the best run out of three counting, riders could take a bit of a risk to show their best three tricks on the jumps. The first jump with to the left a little so whatever the riders had planned, a bit of adjusting to landing to the left in an angle had to be made in order to line up right for jump number 2. When doing big moves like 360 backflips, this adjustment can get a bit tricky if you have never done this before. That foam pit and resi don't have a hip normally. With the speed that riders had bombing down that big start hill, the riders could send it to the moon. All of them did. Amplitude matters.

3rd place was for Kenneth Tancré (BEL) who always goes full throttle which was rewarded on the jumps in Amsterdam. Sem Kok (NED) claimed second place with style and height but it was Jari Roggeveen (NED) who was the clear winner of the 2023 ONK dirt title. His 360 flips on the first jump were incredible and he made sure he double flipped one of the next sets, one time on the last jump and the next time mid-line. Add a turndown flip or double whip and you get the idea. High fives were shared with the young riders who now have a new favourite rider.

Congrats to all winners of their classes. Awesome day of BMX. Thanks Amsterdam.

BdJ

Results:

Women:
1) Jikke Schrafford
2) Hannah Louwrier
3) Manon
4) Marie Eisma
5) Noor Martin

8 and younger:
1) Odin Paulissen
2) Beer Merkies
3) Joël Koeman
4) Julien Snoeks
5) Toby Lam
6) Bas Boterbloem

Age 9-11
1) Pim Maas
2) Raphael Konings
3) Madhu Furst
4) Lou Blomjous
5) Mats van der Zouwen
6) Nuka Furst
7) Willem Buschman
8) Igor Borowiec
9) Loui van Schalwijk
10) Sieb Tas

Age 12-14
1) Saimi Paulissen
2) Boaz van Calsteren
3) Julien Chen
4) Benjamin Burghart
5) Damian Haijkens
6) Melle Dijkstra
7) Dexter Fit
8) Ruben Vogel

Age 15+
1) Micheal Beaufort
2) Sam Ahlbom
3) Raon Mensink
4) Jan Schreurs
5) Daan Tang
6) Iggy Perez
7) Daniel Ockhuijsen
8) Daan van Wijck Jurriaanse

Pro:
1) Jari Roggeveen
2) Sem Kok
3) Kenneth Tancre
4) Pim Scheers
5) Arjan Ellens
6) Tycho Schipper
7) Tom Selbeck
8) Niels van Maaren