Vans welcomes a new generation of progressive BMX talent to the family, introducing Sean Ricany, Travis Hughes and 2017 Vans BMX Pro Cup World Champion Larry Edgar to the 2018 Vans BMX global team roster. “Vans is honored to showcase such remarkable talent on the global team,” states Vans Global BMX Marketing and Team Manager Jerry Badders. “With Larry, Sean and Travis on the global roster, Vans upholds a new level of progression in BMX talent and creativity, reinforcing decades of commitment to the BMX sport and supporting the next generation of inspiring BMX icons.”
Born and bred in the Golden State, Californian Larry Edgar’s powerful riding dominated the contest
The new year is here! 2017 was a good one with plenty of BMX involved. Once again we went to Tallinn for the Simple Session which we haven't missed since 2004. It's great to hear Josh Harrington is going to be riding in the next one, coming up the first weekend of February 2018. The Mini FATJAM took place in Aarle-Rixtel and the Beckers Cup at OJA was a good time. The UEC racing started in April in Zolder which was only an hour away and we managed to get some first pics of the riders in their 2017 gear. The UEC continued in Erp, Netherlands not much later which we attended as well (only 30 minutes away). With the 2017 World Cups happening in Papendal (1 hour) and Zolder (1 hour) we managed to cover a lot of racing without much travel. The trip to Argentina for the last UCI BMX SX World Cup however took around 36 hours but once there you forget the long journey quickly. Sylvain André (FRA) and Laura Smulders (NED) wrapped up the World Cup titles in Santiago del Estero.
On the freestyle side it's easy to lose track on where we all went. With multiple jams/sessions/contests happening every single weekend it was sometimes hard to pick where to go. The UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cups in France, Hungary and China were the bigger ones. The UCI World's in Chengdu were held for the first time the weekend after the last World Cup of the season and it turned out great. It was a big year anyway for BMX Freestyle as the IOC observers came to visit in Montpellier and turned BMX Freestyle into an Olympic event. That news came in while in Croatia at the Pannonian Challenge.
Street and Park used to be mixed up at the Simple Session but after last year's success of splitting it up, the Street riders also have their podium at the event. The 18th edition will see the legends come to Tallinn, including non other than Josh Harrington (USA) who got an invite through the UCI BMX Freestyle App along with Ricky Veronick (Park) and Roman Gilimzyanov (Park). It's actually unknown if Josh will ride street or park in Estonia. Maybe he should ride both. Anyway, look at the Street rider list. With cracks like Garrett Reynolds, Bruno Hoffmann, Simone Barraco, and Dan Lacey signed up, you know it's going to be one not to miss the first weekend of February.
Simple Session 2018 BMX STREET riders list:
Since Simple Session has split up their comps in a Park and Street contest there are actually two BMX contests to look forward to. The international Park riders list is promising with current and former X-Games gold medalists, the Vans Pro Cup winner, legends and talents all coming together in Tallinn, Estonia during the first big contest of the year. The event will be broadcasted live so no worries if you can't make it yourself but be sure you're missing out on a loose party weekend if you decide to stay home. The riding will be off the hook with this riders list on the Nate Wessel designed course. 3-5 February 2018. Saku Suurhal, Tallinn, Estonia.
BMX PARK invited riders list:
UCI BMX Freestyle is the new grassroots digital ranking and qualifying system for amateur and professional riders to qualify for local, national and global BMX Freestyle events. This social sports media application allows up-and-coming riders the chance to gain exposure and recognition simply by uploading a video. If you've always dreamed of riding at the Simple Session in Tallinn, they're now got a competition going on the UCI BMX Freestyle App to qualify for the 2018 edition. Three riders will get to go but you'll have to download the App and post up your video before December 21st. So do it right away.
More about the UCI BMX Freestyle App: Riders start by creating an account and uploading videos of
USA Cycling announced the launch of the USA Cycling National Team at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Fifty-one athletes across BMX, cyclocross, mountain bike, road, and track cycling were initially named to the 2018 USA Cycling National Team and identified as the top performing athletes in each discipline based on objective performance-based criteria. “USA Cycling has always developed America’s best cyclists and aided them in international success, but we have not had a formal National Team in nearly two decades,” stated CEO Derek Bouchard-Hall. “We are introducing the USA Cycling National Team now to help our Olympic and World Championship contenders achieve their absolute best, clarify for all elite athletes how to attain USA Cycling’s top level of support, and create a clear path and goals for developing athletes that aspire to Olympic and international success.”
The 2018 season will get a rad opening in Japan. From April 6th to 8th, Hiroshima’s former Municipal Stadium will be home to the FISE action sports and peace festival. FISE World Series 2017 concluded just one month ago in Chengdu, China, but it is already time to prepare next season’s grand opening. Action sports festivals such as FISE are experiencing worldwide growth, especially amongst young people.
Within this new context, FISE Hiroshima can be regarded as a significant step forward in generating awareness of, and interest in, youth-focused events like Skateboarding and BMX Freestyle throughout Japan. The festival will feature a strong focus on events that can be enjoyed casually by young people and women throughout the city.
We talked about it today. A magazine sized box arrived at Paul's Boutique but it had no magazines in it. It's strange to say, but I don't really miss BMX magazines. The fact that the content is several weeks old makes it dated in this fast paced world. Keeping a riding trip a secret until the magazine goes to print is tough these days with all the Insta live stories, Facebook live posts and other social media platforms around that makes instant coverage available for everyone. And then today Dig announced the launch of a new 148 page high quality BMX photo journal which made me curious and wanting to see it. For all magazine junkies, you can order issue 99.8 online in the DIGbmxstore for €10,88. Here's what you can expect:
WANTED: Masters of Dirt Rider! From the 16th to the 18th of march, the Masters of Dirt are back in Vienna and for the occasion of this event, the crew around Georgie Fechter comes up with something very special: they want to give one talent the chance to ride M.O.D Vienna and show his best tricks infront of 28 000 people. No matter whether FMX, BMX, Mountainbike, Snowmobile, Quad or Buggy, the M.O.D Teammmanagers are pleased about every single candidate!
The application is very simple: just post a video of your best tricks in the Ticket to ride Facebook Event and that's it! The M.O.D Teammanger will then pick one lucky winner.
Next year, in 2018, the Nitro Circus will be back on tour in Europe. With shows planned in England, Scotland, Sweden, France, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium it's a big one again. From 20 November till 09 December the Circus will be on the road with of course a bunch of crazy BMX riders. It's a show you actually don't want to miss.
It's a good mix of entertainment, stunts, show and craziness packed in one evening. With the last show being in Antwerp, Belgium, closest to the FATBMX office, we're hoping there will be some riders left to put on a show.
Stay tuned because we'll have some Nitro Circus tickets to give away closer to the events through an online competition on FATBMX. Check the dates in the photo and put your favourite stop on your calendar. The circus is coming to town.
You got this!
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.