FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

It was the late '80-s when issue number 15 came out and these items made it on the RAD side of the RAD-LAME list:  Bresie'Z, Robert's graffitied Renault 14, Speedfreaks video, Vla, Divorze Posse's Demo Tape (that's a cassette by the way....), A Full PO Box, Watching Jason Ellis cutting Mike Canning's hair, Prantl's 360 at the Energie hal, English riders visiting the Leiden freestyle contest, DP's Black Medallion, Advertisers, D-signs designs, On Edge Apparel, DJ Kid Sundance, Tye Dye shirts, 'zines, Lambert's Harley, Mini-ramp Hengelo and Double seatpost clamps.Man, most of these things aren't too hot any longer but back in 1989 they made it on the RAD list. To see what made it on the Lame side, turn to page 17.

We have a Jason Ellis interview in issue 15,  a street sk8 comp in Eindhoven, 540 sequence of Albert Moonen, the Circus came to town and brought 2 BMX-ers from England, The Cologne contest Number 2 took place at the Jugendpark, Merijn Bonte got an interview, Free Converse sticker, Divorze Posse live, we had an article about miniramps that were the new thing at the end of the eighties, Matt Pingel had his fair share of contributions in the issue and Martijn Deijkers wrote a scene report on Adelberg, Germany. Andreas Althaus got an interview as well, we had a report on the King Of Concrete, concert report on the Bad Brains and  a wrtie up on a demo in Uden. 

Dude, what a list! Did you get your cup of coffee yet? Because here comes the full issue.

Issue 8 is the 8th issue of 1988. Not bad at all after the first issue (in 1987) was made as a joke. # 8 had 52 pages and on the cover were Albert Moonen, Jason Hassel and Thomas Fritscher.

Frans Swinkels and I went to Villeneuf d'Asq, France this time for a contest in dad's Lada. We pass the town on the regular and still think back of the comp we visited back in 1988. The Germany posse made it too. Paul went to see a MDC/SNFU & Afflict show in Eindhoven.

Dave Vanderspek died in 1988 which shocked everyone. Lars from Mars wrote down his thoughts on a rainy and sleepless night and sent it in. It showed up on page 18.

Pingel went to England and visited the Chingford ramp. Ralf Maier reports from a contest in Bern, Switzerland and Albert Moonen went to the 2-HIp King of Vert in Washington DC and brought us all the latest news and gossip. Back in the day there was no internet guys!

Issue 8 had a Joe Johnson interview. On the question "What do you hate" he answered: "When I am staying at Dennis McCoy's house and I have to fix his bike for food." Haha.

We took another trip to Amsterdam with the Divorze posse to visit a concert. This time RunDMC, Public Enemy and Derek B and DJ Scratch. Yoyoyo! Matt Pingel itw too and the RAD-LAME list.

Issue 4 of FAT-'zine is more of a skate issue. BMX Freestyle was at an all time low so we did some fun things next to it. It kept us on the streets and the ramps that we had placed at the end of the street could be used for everything. It was the time when we did shows with the Town & Country crew. Bert, a T&C distributor was a crazy guy who organized demos for us at some of his dealers. We loaded up the ramps, did some demos and received dinner at the local snackbar in return. When one shop did not want to give us the gas money or some decent food, it was time to do some anti-promotion. Charlie Sport sucks! Haha, funny shit.

Vert ramps were hard to find back then but we found one in Rotterdam. The hiphop concert review of issue 4 is from the Stetsasonic concert at De Effenaar in Eindhoven.

A free sticker came from Seaflex again Charlie Sport did make it on the Lame side of the RAD-LAME list (of course).

We had an interview with Dave Vanderspek and mini interviews with Elger Blitz and Dan Archer. Find a photo of Bart doing a cancan on a scooter wearing pink Oakley blades, pink/blue T&C pants and a pink T&C backback and win nothing.

Sniper Frans Swinkels was getting rad on his Zorlac representing Vision Streetwear in 1988 and

35 years of covering the BMX scene: 1987 - 2022 FAT! ISSUE 00. The official start of FAT was in 1987. It's 2022 now. That makes it 35 years of covering the BMX scene trying to make it bigger and better for everyone to enjoy. Find the info on issue 00 below and then flip through every page by hitting the link at the very bottom. We're starting off with issue zero here which was fueled by the fact that a Dutch BMX magazine (Trickx) started putting more racing and international freestyle riders in their magazine instead of the Dutch riders.

That's actually where the name comes from: Freestylers Against Trickx (FAT). It wasn't a goal or plan to make a total of 34 issues but after issue 00 came out the Dutch scene wanted more. Anyway, the "Try-MAG!!!" is mostly in Dutch but that will change soon in the issues to come.

It all started in 1987 and we were young and stupid. There were no computers in sight and the internet had to be invented for most of us. Markers, scissors, photocopies, rulers, the typewriter, these were the things you had to slap a 'zine together.

Compared to now the quality was shit but at least you had something in your hands that you could relate to.

Issue 00 already had a free sticker page. It actually came with two free stickers; one of the Freestyle

It wasn't meant to be the last issue of FAT-'zine but it sure was. Since picking up a job at the European GT marketing offices in Belgium in 1996 I was too busy with work. In fact, it was my first real job and one I liked a lot so screwing around wasn't an option. The Condor made the last cover and I'm glad it's him who got the last FAT-'zine love. Since these 'zines didn't come out every few weeks any longer the content list just got bigger and bigger.

We'll rush through it and leave it up to you to flip through all the pages here online.

• Ruben Castillo interview,
• BMX race Schijndel,
• Schwinn show Atlanta, Georgia,
• Volkel BMX race,
• Burnside Oregon session,
• Telebel show, bunny hopping ten bodybuilders,
• BMX Wo Venezuela,
• Bo's trails,
• Basic Boys House in Vancouver,
• Crimetime with KOP,
• BMX Race Doetinchem,
• Hard Volume (Music section),
• Jamie Staff interview,
• Video reviews,
• Best and Worst with Todd Lyons, Lawan Cunningham, Robbie Morales, Darrin Mitchell, Neil Wood and Mike Hammond.

The cover of issue 33 is one I remember well. Jay Miron, Mark Losey and I made a trip from Huntington Beach to Vancouver. We stopped in San Jose where we visited the Garcia family, had a tour at the Skyway factory in Redding, rode Burnside early in the morning and then cruised on to "the Basic house" in Vancouver.

We had nothing but rain all week long and did not much else than drink and play fuSball. Every time we got back from a club Andrew Faris was still riding his bike in the garage downstairs. He was working on a new trick and I promised him the cover of FAT if he pulled it. Well, he's on the cover isn't he?

Anyway, back to the content. Taj on vert on the contents page. This was 1996.

• Bicycle Stunt finals report (Florida),
• Andrew Faris interview,
• ABA Grands report + KOD,
• DIG sticker,
• VIDEO reviews,
• Brad Blanchard interview,
• 10 memorable places where I spent the night,
• Bartman comic,
• Dave "Hot Guy" Osato interview.
• Play sticker,
• Christmas Classic KOD,
• San Diego scene report,

- We are almost nearing the end here of the FAT-'zines that were made between 1987 and 1996 before we got involved with that WWW. John Parker got the cover of issue number 32. Again GT hooked it up with a free sticker on the inside cover. The computer was doing its job and made it easier to read the text. No more fading typewriter ribbon.

The BON section has always been a big part of the FAT-'zine. Read it, it will make you go: Oh yeah, I forgot about that. 

The Beerfelden comp is one to remember. We bring it up every time we run into Alex Reinke and Detlef Richter. Good times. Read about it on page 12.

A terrible accident on the way to the KOC in Kalle's dad's car did not stop us from getting there as planned. It was a close call but we survived. The car was a write-off though.

We had a Rob "Ninja" Sigaty interview before people started calling him Sarge. BS Comp OKC report by PdJ who also provided a free Paul's Boutique sticker.

Iwan and Choq went on a trip in a 2CV. Read all about it in FAT-32.

Mark Losey has shot many covershots in his life. This time he makes the cover himself, mouthguard and all. Brian Foster had just discovered the freestyle scene and puts his aluminium Schwinn to the test by doing a 300 X-up in Chicago. Third rider on the cover is Trevor Meyer. Has anybody heard of him lately?

The year is 1995 and I just got my first computer and played around with Coreldraw a bunch for this issue. For once FAT had different fonts, different font sizes and more of that stuff that did not work on a typewriter.

The news section was big again. We went straight into the S&M warehouse ramp followed by a Robo interview. Megafestatie report, free Haro sticker, and a report about the Chicago BS comp followed. The Sjappi Jam in Maarssenbroek was always fun. Dirt , Vert and Lake jumping this time.

KHE provided a sticker and then we went on the Jinx-tour. One of the best trips ever.

We had to smuggle Jay Miron across the Spanish border in order to do a show.

Read all about it in issue 31. 

Cheesy Hundertmark from Germany gets the cover of FAT-'zine issue 30. Also on the cover in small video grab pics is Ian Morris doing a humonguous rail in our hometown back in 1994. It was a good year. Ice Money popped up in Cologne and later in Munich, Germany and England. Even in the Lageja ad!

The Editorial is still accurate. I do have a car now though. Free stickers this time from KDL, BigBoy, Busy P and GT. Huge new section. I hope to see some of these guys in Vegas next week at the Nora Cup.

At the Trierer Cup we almost got blown away by Hurrican Ike. The tent took off but the Chevy stayed on the floor. Paul Osicka got an interview that starts on page 22. AK Helmond race report. Freestyle World's in Cologne.

The real world's, none of that LG fake World Championships stuff. VANS Cup in Amsterdam. Dam right!

Wateringen trails report by Petrik de Heus. Bartman comic by Deamer. Magazine interviews with Marco Massei, and Freedom BMX.

The 1994 FAT-JAM was one of the best ones. Read the report on pages 49-54.

Issue 29 came with a bunch of free stickers; Mutation, BMX PARTY (Mental Jimmy'z), Forbidden Planet, VANS Off the Wall and a Gatorade postcard featuring Mat Hoffman doing a backflip. These little items were nice extra's that came free with the 'zine.

Webmaster Jos sent me a copy of page 4 a few weeks ago. Read it and smile.

8 pages of BMX news followed. Then the report about the trip to Copenhagen for the X-Mas jam followed by a Solingen miniramp session report.

Woody Itson gets interviewed and we went to the Phoenix Winternationals in the back of Chris Moeller's pick up truck. Back to Holland for the first NK of the year.

Also covered in issue 29 is the BS contest in Moreno Valley, California. Those comps were fun.

Thomas "Tarzan" Hansen gets interviewed, Axel Reichertz and Jay Miron get sequences.

We posted the I-punkt BMX comp results, did an interview with Mike Daily and Cruzin' Chris, went to another race in SoCal, and also Markus Wilke gets an interview.

Just read it.