FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

A few months ago Marcus "Kalle" Arnoldi gave me a copy of his "Aber Nice" cd. He mentioned that people say that it's got potential. I listened to the tunes and it was weird hearing Kalle sing but it indeed sounded pretty cool. A few months after that I received an e-mail from Mr. Fastinetto saying that Kalle had won a pre-round of the German Eurovision song festival and is now in the finals.

Las Vegas, Nevada – Dec. 20, 2006 – Schwinn's Dirt Jump legend, TJ Lavin, has been nice, not naughty this year, giving generously to Las Vegas Toys for Tots. In fact, it’s become tradition with TJ, as every year he fills the bed of his full-size truck with toys for the kids supported by his local Toys for Tots. TJ went even further this for the cause, lending his celebrity to a Vegas radio promotion. A friend of TJ's is a DJ Vegas radio station, so TJ went on the air and, thanks to some very caring people, helped to raise around 2,000 donated BMX bikes for the kids. 

Dec. 18, 2006 Vancouver, BC. MacNeil Bikes is proud to announce that we are now sponsoring Travis Collier. Travis has always been a good friend to everyone here and we love having him around. So it’s great that he’s going to actually be representing for us while he rides. Travis will also begin working part time with us here at the office doing graphic design.

Word on the streets is fast – and yes the rumors are true... After two great events in 2002 and 2004 in Germany the saga continues and the 3rd edition of Red Bull Circle of Balance will take place in Japan.  Showdown in Tokyo! if you want to call it! For some reasons 3rd editions and serials often take place in Japan, we really can't tell why but for Circle of Balance there are good reasons. Where else in the world can you find such concentrated passion for Flatland and loads of spirit for it? It's pretty much the flatland Mekka and we would like to honor this to the sport with bringing the Circle of Balance to the land of the rising Sun!

Facts Red Bull Circle of Balance:

Date: 24.02.2007
Destination: Tokyo / Japan
Venue: Stellar Ball – Shinagawa/Tokyo
18 Riders / 6 Judges
Format: Battle format – originated in 2002
Prize money: 25.000 US$ (3.000.000 YEN)

Props will be releasing Four DVD titles in a row this winter starting with the Best of 2006 Jan 2nd, Props Issue #63 January 31st, Props #64 February 27th, and the first ever Road Fools Rock-n-Roll Tour Presented By Fender on March 30th. Check out 13 new Props Shows to start airing on FUEL TV later this winter...With Crandall at the helm and Catfish doing the intros..you are sure to be offended....

The Road Fools Rock-n-Roll tour presented by Fender went down in November and was a great success... 

December, 2006 MEMPHIS, Tennessee. It wasn't seen at Metro Jam, it wasn't at Interbike and it wasn't at a corporate shindig to schmooze the video sponsors. Mat Hoffman premiered the new HB video, Broke Off video in Memphis, Tennessee to a room full of kids who know what it means to be broke off. Young eyes, bald heads and blue masks stare back at Mat. Suddenly his 20 surgeries, wrecked shoulder and ruined knees seem like a blessing. "You can't give these kids much," says Mat. "There is a harsh reality here, but you can give them a moment to forget about the challenges they have in front of them and just have a good time. This gives my job purpose."

It seems like more and more people have crossed the barrier that Cary Hart smashed so many years ago at the Gravity Games when he committed to sending his full size motorcycle upside down. Some have taken a safer line and wisely tried to flip smaller bikes or done jumps with sand landings in case of a crash. Allan Cooke only knows one way to do things, and that's 100%. There has always been motorcycles around in Allan's family.  His dad,

Who is going to party the hardest this week?
19 December 1971 - Kevin Robinson
20 December 1973 - Mark Gonzales
20 December 1974 - Brian Vowell

The Southern hemisphere is enjoying summer time and Charaba has started organizing BMX freestyle contests. Next one up is an Amateur and Pro Dirt Jump contest on the beach in Brasil.

The date of the happening is 7 January 2007 and the Brasilian girls are so into it they're having their lower backs tattood.  Want to meet them?

Morro Parananbuco, Itanhaem, Brasil. Code word:  Dirt Jump.

More info:

Stolen Bikes have come out with some great completes lately. Some of them are completely specced with Shadow Conspiracy parts. We asked Stolen's Dave Wooten what the deal is all about.

What's the cooperation with Shadow Conspiracy on this bike?
Dave: Basically we (Stolen) spec'd the bike with John Jennings' input, he actually came up with the name 'Heater', which is gangsta for a hand gun. Shadow designed the graphics and we all worked together to come up with the color ways.