USA Trip 2025. Part 9: Sheep, Foxes, Monsters 'n stuff. By BdJ

Feb 05, 2025

Written by Bart de Jong

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Waking up, and it's sunny! What a surprise. Maybe not, but that sun is welcome, every single day. After the morning rounds on the internet, answering email and social posts we had an appointment with the two Dutchies at the Chase Bank which used to be a gas station. It's where you park to go to Sheep Hills. To get a drink, you now have to cross the road but the parking spots have remained and the homeless are still hanging out there. After checking out Arjan and Tom's tour van they decided to put their bikes together for a morning session at Sheep Hills. At moments like these you wish you had brought your bike but we had not. Unfortunately. Anyway, it was their first time at Sheep so a little lap was done to check out what was rideable and what wasn't.

Being at a new place for the first time is always a bit strange. What is possible, what line can I remember, how far are the jumps, how much speed do I need? For Sheep Hills to be dry in the winter is pretty unique. We've been here when it was flooded, completely, but since it had not rained since February the place was in decent shape. People ride here on the daily we were told, especially towards sunset, but at 10am no SHL's were there. School, work, we get it. After some scouting Arjan and Tom got to work on their first BMX session of the trip. It didn't take long for them to find lines that worked and we took out the camera to snap some shots. With both of them surviving it was time to pack up to hit the next destination.

We now had a van following us on the way to FOX. FOX is also based in Costa Mesa (or near enough) and with their half museum/half shop plus pump track and pitbike track it was worth a quick stop again.

We had planned to go to Pro Circuit that day and Tom and Arjan wanted to check that out as well. Also that shop is half museum with tons of Championship bikes on display. We ran into Istvan Caillet (FRA) at Pro Circuit. Istvan, like many BMX-ers, loves motocross as well. Lunch at Subway. No fries or tacos for a change. We discovered that Monster Energy was just across the street from Pro Circuit and since Tom's a Monster Energy rider we thought we'd be able to walk in the door to see what's happening there. The snowmobile, Ken Block racing suit, Clement Dessalle Kawasaki 450 and a big fridge full of different flavour Monster Energy drinks in the lobby described the brand pretty well. Monster door handles, Monster logos in the parking lot, Monster pillars on Monster Avenue. Simply Monstrous!

With rush hour coming up and daylight running out we decided to head back into the direction of Costa Mesa for a little session at the Volcom park. With signs saying no bikes allowed it was asking for permission to see if it was possible for Arjan and Tom to have a cruise. Since a BMX jam happened at the place on Saturday, the push for a ride wasn't toohard. If you don't know the park, google for the Anthony Napolitan frontflip on the fence. Yes, it's that one. With plenty of skateboard lessons happening all over the park we shifted focus from the bowl to the "street section" and witnessed kids on E bikes hauling ass from one side of the park to the other, over and over again since they did not get tired from pedalling or pushing. When you think you've seen it all......

Tom and Arjan had to register for the BMX Triple Challenge in Anaheim. Philip and I drove back to Newport Beach and wrapped up the day and got a good night's sleep in for Supercross weekend number two. Full day. Gotta love it.