The steep curve in the progression of freestyle riding in the early 1980's gave rise to a relentless flow of radical new inventions. With the release of the HARO Freestyler in 1982, Haro Designs had set the standard for innovation, with a concept that would energize the scene and launch Freestyle BMX into the main stream. But in the spring of 1984, another breakthrough moment in the history of our incredible sport would come to pass.
In the winter of 1983, Bob Haro welcomed a 14 year old, California skate park prodigy named Mike Dominguez to his freestyle team. Mike D had risen through the ranks of the Vans team in the early 1980's, developing his trade along side a talented group of young
Name: Damon Nicholls Hometown: Santa Monica, Ca
Occupation: IT Recruitment Manager
You were one of the well known riders on the UK freestyle scene in the mid-eighties, when did you experience BMX for the first time?
Damon: First time was when one of my older brother's mates came home with a Team Murray from Halfords…he wasn't that into it and sold it to me - I was in love with it from the moment I set eyes on it…prior to that I had a Raleigh Grifter. This Murray had the yellow Leister Mag's, all HT Steel and heavy as a tank, but it flew like a Jumbo Jet if had enough speed before hitting the ramp.
Was it a hit for you instantly, did you know you wanted to do this for the next couple of years?
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.