USA Trip 2025. Part 3; SD SX, 100%, book launch!

Jan 30, 2025

Written by Bart de Jong

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A couple days in now and waking up with the plan to go running again. Glad I did as it's hard to beat running on the beach in the sunshine in perfect temperatures. But we had big plans for the day which started off with a drive down to San Diego for the second round of the AMA Monster Energy Supercross. A quick stop at Subway had us fueled up for the next hours as we walked into Snapdragon stadium for media day. Getting to see things first hand feels good. The trucks, the bikes, the riders, the track, it all came together in SD. It was also the first time the big camera came out on the trip. Taking shots of the shiny bikes and riders in brand new gear is always a win. Did we mention it was sunny?

When the media session was over we were on our way to 100% who had their official new facility

opening a bit north of Snapdragon stadium. The building is just as stylish as the brand is. Just walking around getting to see the work spaces, the trophies, the memorabilia, the 100% cow, the artwork, framed jerseys, it was like being in a museum. With Supercross in town riders like Cooper Webb, Gautier Paulin, Jett Lawrence, Tom Vialle, Marvin Musquin all showed up next to celebrities like Peter Sagan, David Bailey, and BMX-ers Andy Buckworth and Bryce Tryon. I'm sure MTB champions were there as well but I'm not in the know there. Thanks for the invite H.Orny and awesome place Ludo and Marc!

But the best on Friday was yet to come. The book launch of the Birth of BMX Freestyle in Laguna Beach started at 7 and we noticed the long line outside of the Rivian theatre. We parked further down the street and walked back hoping the line would be gone, but it was not. It became clear that the line was full of BMX legends so the wait wasn't even a bad thing. We caught up with Greg Romero and Maurice Meyer while getting closer to the book launch event. It was amazing to see so many familiar faces. Most of them I'd met before. Others not. Some I'd only seen in magazines. A selection of people I remember were there:Ron Wilkerson, Brian Blyther, Dave Nourie, Bob Haro, Ron Haro, Joe Johnson, Kevin Martin, Bob Morales, Scotty Freeman, Scott Towne, Spike Jonze, Jeff Tremaine, Bob Osborn, Windy Osborn, Steve Giberson, Stu Thomson, The red Baron, Eddy King, Byron Friday, Perry Kramer, Tony Mackenzie, Jess Dyrenforth, John Buultjens, John Povah, Damon Nichols, Sir Chuckie Burrows, Don Brown, Simon Tabron, Chad Kagy, Dave Voelker, Chris Moeller, Eddie Roman, Todd Anderson, Chris Day, Todd Seligman, Dave Mavro, Highwayman, Junior Torres, Stephan Prantl, Dennis Langlais, Mike Escamilla, Todd Lyons, Brian Kachinsky, Ryan Fudger, Robbie Morales, Robert and Ruben Castillo, Pete Garski, Joe Hawk, Andrew Herrick, Todd Huffman, Hans Rey, Brian Lopes, Damian, Austin Steele, Jill Hamilton, Dean Bradley, James Ayres, Brad MacDonald, Jeff Cassimus, Mel Stoutsenberger, Keith Mulligan, and of course Dom Phipps, the author of the book himself. These people do not get together in one room again any time soon. It was too short to catch up with everyone and we regret that. The 560-page book is a good memory of the evening. It was a unique evening and worth the trip already.

BdJ