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The Mellowpark is one amazing place and the perfect location for the Rebel Jam. Andy Zeiss and Mike Emde worked together with the Mellowpark crew to pull off their first Rebel Jam. After doing a strong promotion campaign of print advertising, setting up a killer website, printing plenty of leaflets, making buttons, and spreading the word at numerous events, one would expect a huge turn out in both the riders field and spectators. Although there were enough quality riders and enough spectators, the Mellow park wasn't as packed as you would think afer such a strong promotion. This makes you think what needs to be done to get the people there. Are there too many contests that people simply pick their closest event to go to? With the World's in Prague, the Snickers Bowl in Donington, the LG comp in Munich, the BMX Masters in Cologne and the LG contest in Paris going on in June prior to the Rebel Jam, you might think that it was a bit contest overflow for some. But when do you have the chance to see riders like Ryan Guettler, Van Homan, Ruben Alcantara, Dave Osato, Sergio Layos, Dustin Guenther, Clint Millar, Kye Forte, Axel Juergens, Hannuh Cools and more ride together in a relaxed atmosphere?

Rebel Jam Dirt The normal dirt set-up usually consists of a few big sets with a big roll in. Not at the Rebel Jam. The permanent trails offered more than one line from the steep wooden starting hill. The rain on Friday made it sketchy if the dirt event could be run, but already on Saturday night people were flowing through the sections after the sun came out and the clay trails had dried up. The event was moved to Sunday regardless with amateur and pro qualifying and finals. Most amateurs chose the right line which started with a hip to the left and was followed by at least 7 doubles. Transfer lines were possible but most ams stayed on the straight line to the back. In pro this was a different story, especially when Hans Friedrich got to work. The Mellow Park employee had the lines down and went from the middle line all the way to the right and back through alleys that were barely visible. Hans won the creative award by multiple points and was stoked.

Miniramp contest Rebel Jam Berlin, Germany. Before the contest took place at the MellowPark, the kink got taken out of the ramp. This helped with the riding both in amateur and pro class. The ams had an important contest ahead of them with a free trip to the USA up for grabs including a week stay at Woodward Camp. This is every rider's dream that entered the mini contest and althought the contest happened on Saturday, the results weren't announced until Sunday afternoon. I bet non of the riders slept well on Saturday.

Tony Hawk's promise of this year's Boom Boom Huck Jam going bigger, faster and badder officially came true last night as the tour rolled into its 5th city, Anaheim, CA. The crowds were hyped, the riders were out of their minds and the energy from the Arrowhead Pond could be felt all the way to Disneyland. Before the show even starts there is in an interactive village that, although it said you needed a show ticket to get in, basically anyone could get into it. And as we were walking to the village, I spot

If you're talking countries there are not that many places left in the world where bmx tours haven't left marks, but Poland is one of them. Only recently invited into the EU, it's a country still heavily influenced by previous communist ideology and the architecture is becoming an incredible mix of both stereotypical East and West. I don't want to give the false impression, or hang on stereotypes but East Europe remains a through route to much criminal activity. But such images are built on the minority (as ever) because as we learnt, the country is incredibly rich in culture, really genuine people who'll do anything to help and spots that have never been seen outside it's previously difficult borders.

Suzuki BMXMasters: Ryan Nyquist takes first place in the Miniramp Pro Contest, while Justin Miller wins the Flatland Pro Competition. Exciting Contests and a new ranking for the Braun cruZer Tour, which stopped at the Italia Surf Expo and the Suzuki BMXMasters in Cologne. Cologne, June 29, 2005. Around 300 international top riders from more than 21 nations as well as 12,000 spectators joined a relaxed and all around successful event under blistering heat in the Cologne youthpark from June 23 to 26. One of the absolute highlights was the final in the category Miniramp Pro, which was held on the Braun Spine. Ryan Nyquist (USA) won in supreme style with huge “360� variations over the spine. Mark Webb from England followed with a sensational run full of technical combinations to take second place. Dave Osato from Canada got 3rd with amazing front wheel tricks and a huge double tailwhip to tailtap.

I'm in the Mercure Eiffel Tower hotel writing this story on the LG Paris stop. It's Sunday and it started raining right when the pro/am street contest was about to start this morning at 10am. Hung-over Koji was stoked about that one. The weather forecast doesn't look too good at the moment and the whole day is a possible rain out for Sunday. The vert riders knew this was a possibility and they went all out on Saturday thinking the prelims might be the final with the rain coming in on Sunday.