Cluut jam. You pretty much know what to expect at a Cluut jam. Good times, madness, craziness, and BMX at its finest. Sounds good to us. Paul picked me up and we drove over to Belgium on a Saturday afternoon. Antwerp traffic wasn't too bad and once past Antwerpen we were in Mechelen in no-time. Construction was happening all around the indoor park and we found out that on Monday after the event, the indoor park had to make room for 111 apartments. So this was the very last BMX happening taking place the Rode Kruisplein 14. The Inzini House was packed with BMX-ers. A mix of street, park and dirt riders found their way around the park where the "cash for tricks" concept go the riders hyped to go mad.
Different sections of the park were used for the jam. We arrived when riders were dropping in from the highest part of the park to flat doing barspins, 360s, turndowns and tailwhips. Not everything survived but cash was handed out. Beer was flowing early. This was Belgium after all. King Koen and Denz were handling the records and MC Egon and Rachid were on the mic. The entire Belgian BMX freestyle scene was present and it was good to see the veterans make a showing. Hannu Cools managed to tire tap/icepick/fufanu a wall when his 15 years old cranks broke and he had to switch to the pils. Tom Russell, Sem Kok, Gerrit Vanopdenbosch, rocked the quarter and Twan van Wijk got some cash for doing a rock to barspin 180 out on the rainbow rail.
Niels Mertens did the rail to manual to 180 for some cashola and also Linda Grabner conquered the rainbow rail. Basically it was nonstop riding and things got a little wilder as the evening rolled in. The place was being shut down anyway so what's to lose?
People who wanted to watch, watched. Riders who wanted to ride, rode. Those who wanted to catch up with people, caught up. Those who came to drink, drank. "Niets moet, alles mag" as they say over here. Controlled chaos at its finest. Props to the Cluutshow crew and Stijn Hens for putting this on. More of these please.
BdJ
Photos by Bart de Jong / FATBMX