World's biggest Flatland BMX event rocks Amsterdam

On Saturday September 24, the world's elite BMX riders gathered in Holland for the Braun Flatground contest. Dutch hip hop artists Pete Philly and Perquisite opened proceedings with the official party on Friday, then come Saturday it was straight into the qualification rounds for the Pro and Girl sections followed by the Dutch Championships Finals.

Flatground Arena. Fahrer: York Uno, Trick: nosewheeling crossfooted

47 professional riders from Japan, USA, Canada, Chile and several European countries competed for qualifying places in the finals. Then in the evening the 16 top Pro riders fought it out in one-on-one elimintation heats before a massive crowd in the Westergasfabriek Gashouder, built in 1902.

Exciting one-on-one battles

After the starting list had been drawn up, sixteen riders competed one-on-one in four-minute battles, directly followed by the judges’ assessment and subsequent elimination of one of each two riders. Each duel took place on a small, round wooden floor, the focal point of the intimate arena. MC Scott ‘O Brien brought the game to a higher level. The man from New Orleans, who only a few weeks ago experienced hurricane Katrina, brought his infectious enthusiasm to the entire audience.

Rider: Marti Kuoppa, Trick: Switchhiker

Originality and consistency

“I was lucky,” said eventual champion Viki Gomez (SPA). “In the first round I rode against one of the world's best, Alex Jumelin (FRA). It really motivated me to get the best out of myself.”

According to the judges, though, it was originality rather than luck which allowed Viki to triumph over Japan's York Uno in the final.

Judge James Alberto said, “Viki pulled out loads of variations. One of his winning sequences was a karl kruizer to spinning hitchhiker pivot to cross-footed half-packer.”

York Uno, Sebastian Pospischil, Greeting

2005 has been an exceptional year for the Spaniard. Viki's the overall champion of the Braun cruZer Tour 2005 and apart from fame, fortune and glory, he's landed himself a brand new Suzuki Bandit motorbike.

Rider Comments

“A great experience for spectators as well as contestants, a phenomenon that represents flatland in all its aspects,” - Sytse Winkel (Holland).

“For the first time I felt I could achieve anything I wanted.” - Travis Collier (Canada)

“the Braun Flatground should serve as an example to all flatland competitions. Its outstanding presentation gets the crowd going and stimulates the riders to go to their edge.” Viki Gomez

The Flatland Concept

At the cutting edge of artistic expression, sport and lifestyle, Flatland is the most difficult form of BMX riding. Riders dance with their BMX bikes to the beats of hip hop music. It’s probably the only sport in the world where a rider from Japan, the USA or Europe can win a contest, making Flatland BMX a true global sport reaching out to urban youth from Tokyo to Toronto, Madrid to Melbourne.

Rider: Roji Yamamoto, Trick: yamacombo

Braun Flatground Final Results

1. Viki Gomez (ESP)

2. York Uno (JPN)

3. Pete Brandt (USA)

4. Raphael Chiquet (FRAU)

 
Credits for Photos @ AlexSchelbert.de/zooom.at

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