And we bet you thought those guys were hanging it out when they were riding for trophies, right? Well prepare to have your sense of reality assaulted. You ain't seen nothing' yet! A new feature to the contest was the highest air competition. The judges were looking for the lowest point of the bike when it peaked, and there was some controversy brewin' as to who won 'cause it was real close between Fiola and Dominguez.
The prize was $200, winner take it all. By the judges decision, Fiola won. The judges marked his winning aerial at eight feet, nine inches and that's on top of a bowl that is 12 feet deep. That's almost 21 feet from the bottom of the pool! Brian Blyther was the only amateur to enter the highest air contest. Fiola broke his wrist two weeks before the contest trying to invent a new trick. He was trying to do a drifter air. Sort of a carve aerial. A couple days before the contest Eddie cut his cast off so that he could ride, but after the morning session he decided it would be best to have it back on. If Donovan Ritter keeps improving at the same rate he did between the last two contests, he's gonna be putting some heavy pressure on everyone. Check the cover.
HIGHEST AIR: 1.Eddie Fiola 2.Michael Dominguez 3.Brian Blyther
PRO: 1.Eddie Fiola 2.Michael Dominguez 3.Brian Deam
17 OVER EXPERT: 1.Hugo Gonzales 2.Dan Osman 3.Ted Emmer
16 UNDER EXPERT: 1.Brian Blyther 2.Donovan Ritter 3.Rich Sigur
17 OVER NOVICE: 1.Steve Peralta 2.Mike Lenkowski 3.Richard Allison
16 UNDER NOVICE: 1.Marc McGlynn 2.Rich Aguilar 3.Perry Wagner
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.