CRAZY RAMP IN MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (and Area51)
"Have a nice weekend!" Tom v.d. Bogaard said when I left Area 51 today. It's Monday, and the week has just started. It's not even a bank holiday so Tom's confusion that it was Monday and not the weekend was just right. BMX competitions normally don't take place on a Monday morning/afternoon but since the park is closed for visitors on Monday, it opens up an opportunity to hold a contest for the pros and those who could get a day off work or school. The deadline for UCI's Nation ranking that is used for quota places to make it into the Olympic Qualifier Series is December 5th. Now that we're at it, an other C1 competition will take place on Monday December 4th, exactly, right before the deadline. So those riders looking to add some more UCI ranking points to their name still have a chance and should mark December 4th on their calendar. Luckily Indy Kramer signed up last minute in order to give Kim Lea Müller at least a little bit of competition. With Area 51 being Indy's local park, the 15 years old Dutch rider knows every inch of it. The tricks she brought were no-handers, X-ups on hips, box jumps and into the wall as well as T-bogs and cancans. The flow she has certainly helps as she makes it look good. Kim however is a top contender from Germany and with her tailwhip over the spine she confirmed first place in Eindhoven.
With riders from Costa Rica, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic and The Netherlands, the Monday morning Men Park comp was an international affaire. Orlando Amsing, Jose Quedada and Fabian Müller missed the 8-final cut where riders from Belgium/Czech/Germany and Netherlands
battled for the prize money, bragging rights and points. 8th place went to Gerrit van Opdenbosch (BEL) with 7th for Levi Weidmann who didn't manage to pull a clean run but did bar bar 720's, braspin fronties and trucks like it was nothing. Levi always sends it but paid the price in today's final. A quick check-up showed nothing was broken so he'll be back in action shortly. 6th place went to Czech National Champion Mikulas Rehorik who flair whipped, 3-double whipped and also dec-8'd over the spine. It's an indication on the level these days. Wilhelm Kittler is a new talent (18) from Halberstadt Germany. He's got moves so watch out. Kenneth Tancré put all effort in completing run number 2 and ended up with 4th place, just missing out on the podium. Tom Clemens rides Area51 a lot, but so do the other two riders who ended up on spot 1 and 2. Tom's young and hungry and showed what he's got. It didn't matter it was Monday. 3rd place for the German. When the clock starts for a 60 second run you never know what to expect from Paul Thoelen. Next to the flowy style, height and style, the German also brought barspin, seatgrabs, flairs and even the no-handed backflip which he normally only unpacks at World Cups. It worked though as Paultje Pils scored a 2nd place in Eindhoven. First place: Tom van den Bogaard. After Levi's crash in his second run and completing a great first run Tom called it a day. The gamble that his first run would seal the deal for a win is a gamble that worked out fine as Tom grabbed first place at Area 51, his local park. 
BdJ
Men Park:
1 Tom VAN DEN BOGAARD 27 NED 200.00 UCI Ranking Points
2 Paul THÖLEN 25 GER 160.00
3 Tom CLEMENS 18 GER 130.00
4 Kenneth TANCRE 28 BEL 110.00
5 Hans Wilhelm KITTLER 19 GER 90.00
6 Mikuláš ŘEHOŘÍK 20 CZE 70.00
7 Levi WEIDMANN 23 NED 50.00
8 Gerrit VAN OPDENBOSCH 23 BEL 30.00
9 Fabian MÜLLER 19 GER 20.00
10 Jose QUESADA FONSECA 23 CRC 10.00
Women Park:
1 Kim Lea MÜLLER 21 GER 200.00 UCI Ranking Points
2 Indy KRÄMER 15 NED 160.00
Pics by Bart de Jong / @fatbmx
New workshop offered by the folks at Area51 skatepark in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Read down here what they've come up with:
Do you want to keep grinding, flipping and riding while we are closed? Come to our Closing Day event and build you own mini park!
Join our workshop on ?????? ????? ??? and learn how to build 3 obstacles: kicker, bank and grindbox in only 2 hours!
The cost of 20€ includes all materials and the option to drop off the obstacles at your home if you live within 5 km radius around Eindhoven.
Bring your friends, workshop starts at 12:00!
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.