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San Diego, Ca. USA. January 2006. The New School  is here! After much anticipation, Avent is proud to announce its 2006 USA Pro BMX Racing Team:

Tyler Brown Elite AA Pro - Tyler, a return rider for 2006, is geared up to make a title chase this year. This Orange County local has been putting a lot in this year, hiring a new trainer, participating in the UCI High Level Training program, traveling to a host of international races. One of the most professional riders out there, Tyler is going to be doing it big for Avent again. Tyler's schedule with over twenty races on four continents will push this racer to the limit, UCI, NBL, and ABA he'll have a PHD in racing. Tyler will be riding the Avent (r) Factor Pro XL in 2006. "We not only have a great product, but we also have a great team for '06. We are a group of hungry young riders ready to come up and make a name! With the support from Avent we can go no where but to the top!" stated Tyler.

Things over at Psykopath headquarters are shaping up for the 2006 season.  On the street/park side of the spectrum, with the recent rains in the bay area riding has slowed as of late. But with the new addition of a 30foot wide 6foot tall mini ramp at headquarters, As soon as the sun shines sessions will begin! The trail riders are also waiting on the dryer days as a good solid week of rain means that trail maintenance will be underway soon. The team looks to add a new 6pack to the existing track next to that mini ramp mentioned earlier. 

MADISON, Wis. – Jan. 3, 2005 – Mongoose Bicycles proudly announces the Dirt, Vert and Street riders on the 2006 BMX Team.

Simon Tabron A pro since 1990, Simon Tabron has been a man on fire, scorching one Vert ramp after the next. His fluid and bold style has served him well, and he’s known for his consistent 900s and his willingness to push himself to new limits. “The riding that I like the most is when I am riding above my own ability, progressing into new territory,” said Tabron. “It's always good to surprise and scare yourself!” Simon scared everyone in the summer of 2005 when a fall at the Denver stop of the Dew Action Sports Tour put him in the hospital for weeks. Amazingly, he came back to the ramp only two months later and took 3rd place at the San Jose Dew Action Sports Tour stop. “It was really hard coming back from this injury, the worst injury of my life, mentally and physically,” said Tabron. “To come back and place third was amazing.” Simon’s career highlights are nothing short of impressive. Among them:
• 2003-2005 BMX Freestyle Worlds - Vert: 1st • 2005 Mobile Skatepark Series, Cincinnati: 1st • 2004 LG Action Sports Championships • U.S Championships of BMX - Vert: Silver Medalist • 2004 X Games - Vert: Silver Medalist • 2004 & 2003 Soul Bowl England - Vert: 3rd • 2003 Gravity Games - Vert: Bronze Medalist • 2003 Bike 2003, UK - Vert: 1st • 2003 X Games Global Championships - Vert: 4th • 2002 Gravity Games - Vert: Gold Medalist • 2002 Bike 2002, UK - Vert: 2nd • 2002 & 2001 Euro X, Barcelona - Vert: Gold Medalist • Simon’s a character in Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX 2 video game 

2005 was a year to forget as far as riding my BMX bike goes. I only rode around a BMX track 3 times and that was it. In January I borrowed Robert de Wilde’s bike at the Bellflower track and when I was ready to jump the table top I popped out the shoulder and had to call it quits.

Sure, I took a bit of a risk riding as my shoulder had popped out the week before. I wasn’t sure though but the track looked too much fun to stay on the sideline during the early morning practice session with Afro Bob.

JOPLIN, MO. USA - The newly constructed Autumn Ramp Park will be opening its doors to the public in April 2006. 

Autumn Ramp Park is located in a brand new 20,000 square foot building within the Bridge Youth Center Complex next to John Q. Hammons Convention Center off Interstate 44.

The distinctive ramp park was designed and constructed by Nate Wessel and his experienced crew of builders with some assistance from Jud Heald of Untitled Skateboards, and American Ramp Company out of Joplin.  Surfaced in Skatelite, Autumn Ramp Park features an assortment of interconnected bowls and ramps ranging is sizes from 4  to 11 feet deep to keep both skaters and bikers happy. The park also features a multi-level, flowing street section with stairs, bowl corners, handrails and ledges, hips, wedges and plenty of gaps and transfers.

The 2006 NBL Season kicked off in pure classic NBL style this past week in the Columbus, Ohio Convention center with one of the favorite BMX races of all time- The NBL Christmas Classic. After being in Florida for the past few years, the Christmas Classic was brought back to Ohio and the arena atmosphere made for some exciting racing action. With a awesome built track with a 2 strait away pro section offered for the Elite riders, it was Classic Columbus racing action and the fans loved it. Besides the regular NBL elite national event, Day 1 offered the first North American UCI Continental ranking event. Here is how the Double A marketing riders finished up for the weekend:

Kyle Bennett picked up right where he left off at the end of the ABA season, out front and taking home a win in Columbus. On Day 1, Kyle was in both the UCI and NBL Elite Main events. Kyle finished up 4th in NBL Elite and 7th in the UCI race. Sunday, things were back to normal, as it was Elite Pro and Pro Open. In the Elite main, Kyle started things off by winning the Sun Ringle Hole shot award, on his way to a huge Elite men's win.

Just wanted to say thanks for all the calls and emails and to let everyone know that the entire HB crew is fine and we aren’t in any immediate danger from the fires.  The closest any have come was about 5 miles from Mat Hoffman's house last night.  The good news was the winds were taking the fires away his area.  I called him around 8 last night and he told me he and the kids were roasting marshmallows and making smores.  

For the most part, Oklahoma is a very rural state and that’s where the fires are mostly taking place.  The rural areas have lots of brush, trees, tall grass, dead leaves and other fuel for the fires.  These areas also have limited resources to fight fires.