The next day was qualifying. Dutch riders Tobias van der Linden, Maikel Michiels, Jari Roggeveen, and Koen Pastoor all rode the under 17 Junior class. Maikel even qualified in first so watching the finals on Sunday was going to be interesting. The course was big. It was indoors and had a big jump box, spine, wall, step-up, quarterpipe and much more. That night we ate in a restaurant with Daniel Wedemeijer. He also qualified for the pro final. Holland was looking good.
Sunday came and the indoor place filled up with people. The Junior class was up first. Jari rode awesome doing superman seatgrabs, flairs, 540 transfers and backflips in his runs. It was hard for the other riders to b
eat that run of the 12 year old rider from Katwijk. Maikel "Mitchels" Michiels came closest and finished second behind Jari. Emeric Mezzasalma from France got the last podium spot. The level of the Juniors was actually pretty high and they made a good show in Reims. Jari won a new bike by getting first place!
After the contest we drove back home because it was school time the next day. After a short night the alarm clock went off too early on Monday morning. Time for school. I wish I was a pro rider.
-Philip
Results Junior, FISE Experience, Reims, France.
1 Jari ROGGEVEEN, 12 years, Katwijk, 90.33 pts
2 Mitchels MAIKEL, 15 years, Someren, 89.66 pts
3 Emeric MEZZASALMA, 15 years, valensole, 87.00 pts
4 Max VANREYTEN, 15 years, Lommel, 86.66 pts
5 Mathieu GARCIA, 15 years, Clapiers, 85.00 pts
6 Arthur BRAGA, 15 years, sainte savine, 83.00 pts
7 Adam GUSATTO, 16 years, Fameck, 82.66 pts
8 Mike BRESCIANI, 15 years, Courville, 82.33 pts
9 Koen PASTOR, 16 years, Lierop, 80.66 pts
10 Anthyme BOISSONHALLET, 13 years, Saint Laurent
FATBMX KIDS: Junior Class Virgin Mobile FISE Experience Reims, France. By Philip.
The Fise Experience in Reims was my first FISE event. I went to Montpellier once, but I was like two years old and don't remember much. It was back in a field that year so before the current location. Anyway, straight after school we we on our way to France. It was only 4 1/2 hours but we hit some traffic jams. We crossed straight through Belgium and then into France. The weather was nice and I could not wait until I got to see the Park course. We checked in at the first class hotel first. We were four people in a room for three people but I got the top of the bunk bed so I was okay. We then went to the contest site and saw some familiar faces at the outdoor concrete skatepark. It was a nice skatepark with a bowl and a street section. It's always there and always open so with the FISE event in town it saw a lot of action. The dirt was built just for MTB. Ryan Nyquist was not there but the French were doing the full line. It was cool they built a pump track next to the dirt course which was open to everyone to ride. Of course I brought my bike and did plenty of laps there. I also got to test the Big Airbag which was fun.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.