Go to Australia they said, it’s always warm and sunny they said... Warm indeed, riders were on fire for the qualification but rain stopped the event before the end. Even if we don’t know all the qualifiers, Alex Hiam, local from Australia, thanks to his temporary 3rd place is sure to make it to the final. We took advantage of this time off to ask him a couple of questions about this very first edition of the Vans BMX pro cup.
So tell me Alex, you are Australian, one of the guests of the first international BMX event in Australia, and no matter what, you are qualified for the final. How does it feel?
Alex Hiam: Unbelievable. I used to fly to attend this kind of event. Plus I’m riding with other riders I used to watch, like Sergio Layos, Ryan Nyquist…
Name: Colton Walker
Age: 19
Hometown: New Richmond, WI
Hook-ups/Sponsors: Unit, Totalbmx, Bellhelmets, Gform, Monster Energy
The FAT Favorites list:
-Spot to ride: The Kitchen Skatepark
Name: Poleczki Richard
Age: 25
Hometown: Győr, Hungary
The favorite list:
-Spot to ride: TailorLand, Adrenalin Alley (Corby)
-BMX video: Odyssey Electronical
-Web video: HARRYMAINIA
-Food: KFC
-Person on Instagram: @richardpoleczki
-Riders to ride with: @konradszabo
-Car: Volkswagen
-Colour: Gray, Crom
-Bike company: Total bmx
-BMX contest: Simple Session
-Bike shop: Elite Bmx shop
Risto Kalmre interview. Simple Session 17 coming up shortly.
Name: Risto Kalmre
Hometown: Tallinn, Estonia (born in Tartu, Estonia)
Age: 34
Event: Simple Session
How many years has the Simple Session been running now?
Risto: It’s been 17 years in a row now. And we have done over 20 big events. I believe we’re one of the longest-running BMX and skate events in the world now.
When you started it 17 years ago, did you ever think that itwould last this long?
Risto: Of course not. I was just a 17-year-old kid. We didn’t have anywhere to ride. So we built our first skatepark in Tartu. That needed an opening event which went really well, so we threw it again the next year and so the tradition and the Simple Session was born. Still, there never was really any business plan in the beginning, it just grew somehow and it’s been a blast all these years. It hasn’t been always easy to keep the show running, though. People who have put on events, know the drill that goes into them. Simple Session is not a big organization like some other big series owned by TV companies, big shoe
Name: Chris Akin
Age: 30
Hometown: Medford, OR
Hook-ups/Sponsors: Got nothin'
The favorite list:
-Spot to ride: Talent Skatepark
-BMX video: Thunder
-Website: Facespace
-Web video: Anything with Mike Aitken
-Food: Pizza
-Twitter to follow: Ain't got time for that lame shit
Name: Eddie Cuellar
Age: 23
Hometown: Anaheim, CA
Hook-ups/Sponsors: Not sponsored but I get hooked up by Cult bikes, shout out to Robbie Moralas for everything.
The favorite list:
-Spot to ride: any ledge or bank spot.
Name: Gianni van den Borre
Age: 19
Hometown: Aalst, Belgium
The FAT FAVOURITES list:
Edit: First edit (Tnx you like it)
Person on Instagram: Giannivdbmx on instagram
Name: Eugene Serrato
Age: 25
Hometown: Cottage Grove, MN. Now reside in Plymouth, MN
Hook-ups/Sponsors: Skworl, RDDO, 3rd Lair
The favorite list:
-Spot to ride: Any good rail set up?
-BMX video: Ahhh of all time? Criminal Mischief. As of recently, Deadline for sure.
Name: Matheus Moraes
Age: 21
Hometown: São Domingos do Prata- MG - Brazil
Hook-ups/Sponsors: PJK BMX @pjkbmx
The favorite list:
-BMX video: Dead Line DVD
-Web video: This one
-Food: Chicken stroganoff
-Person on Instagram: @moraeesmatheus
-Travel destination: Where life takes me.
-Riders to ride with: My friends.
-Colour: Black
-Shoes: Nike SB
-Bike company: Demolition and Fiending.
-BMX contest: Simple Session
-Bike shop: Gravity Bmx, Drac Bmx, Paco Bikes
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.