Brian Hunt just posted this awesome video from the Toronto BMX Jam that went down a couple of months ago as part of the Toronto International Bike Show. Check it out!
Two days ago I ran into Jay Miron and heard the most exciting news of the summer! But, sadly, had to keep my mouth shut until the official press release dropped sometime yesterday. So now, without further delay, I can officially yell with joy- METRO JAM IS BACK!!!!
After a 2 year hiatus, Metro Jam, one of the biggest BMX contests Canada has ever seen, is back! Hosted by Ten Pack BMX (Jay Miron), this years event will be bigger and better than ever! Metro Jam 2008 will take place officially in Kingston, ON, over 2 days, August 30-31. With a series of qualifying events taking place in cities across Ontario leading up to the big event.
In 2006, Tim DaSilva lost his life building his dream. Tim was a Champion BMX racer, headed for the Olympics. His passion was selfless though; it seems every kid who met Tim, now talks about how he helped them, or how he touched their life and really made a difference. This passion, and his eagerness to help others in the sport he loved, led to designing and building the ultimate BMX track in Halton, ON. Sadly, during the building of his dream, a tragic accident occurred, and Tim passed away. Tim’s friends and family could not let that dream fade though, and with over 300 people helping, the track was completed and opened up last year.
So the track was open, Tim’s dream was a live, and Tim’s friends and family could take comfort in knowing that their son was continuing to make a difference in the lives of young people, and the sport he loved would continue to thrive and progress in Ontario.
Towards the end of last season though, there was some trouble. The land that the track was on, is privately owned but is a part of the Niagara escarpment and because of that the track was forced to close until further notice.
Fast forward to today: the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) is forcing the family to flatten their son’s dream in 60 days (from the end of April 2008) or the owner of the private land (Halton Place) will face stiff penalties. It seems somewhat unclear what the NEC’s real motives are, but there has been some muttled quotes about permits and farming. This seems completely ridiculous. In the society we live in today, with so much polution and litter, and condos going up every 5 seconds, these people have nothing better to do then tear down the dreams of some BMX riders? We aren’t building waste processing plants here, we are talking about a dirt track for kids to get out and ride their bikes on and be active!
I invite you, in fact, challenge you, to join the facebook group here, and more importantly, sign the petition here. You don’t have to be from the area, you don’t have to race BMX bikes, but if you have anything in life you are passionate about, and/or have ever lost a loved one, you can understand.
Finally, I leave you with this video by Brian Hunt. Take 5 minutes and watch it, its remarkable.
The Action Sports Coalition will be hosting an art exhibit at the Gladstone Hotel during the International Bike Show, March 7-9. I will be exhibiting *something* at the show, along with many friends from the BMX community. It’s a great opportunity for amature artists to exhibit some of their work, and it’s coming together really well and I think the collection of BMX and Bike focused works will be interesting and worth a look. Here’s the poster, let me know if you are thinking of coming by!
Last night, the ICC (Inner City Circle), the hardest group of street riders in Toronto, premiered their latest video at Republik night club. The video was Decee (which is apparently the new hot word, and I have no idea how to spell it.) That means it was good.
This video was different from previous releases from the group, in that there were few bells and whistles in the post production of the video, and it focused more on the raw energy that these guy put into riding their kid’s bikes. There is absolutely no denying that these guys give their all to pull off some of the craziest, gnarliest, and most intenese street tricks right here on the streets of our own city, Toronto.
The crowd was hyped, although I think some sound issues left some people a little more mellow than they would have otherwise been, but it was an all around good time and props to all the guys in the ICC for putting themselves out there for our entertainment, and hosting a pretty classy party!
As usual, here are some photos from the night:
Dave Thomas and Aussie:
Butta and George get the video going:
I love this next picture, look closely at people’s faces, this is during the bails section:
After at least a year of trying Dave finally landed the tailwhip clean, and wouldn’t you know, we got the first one on film! So I made this little edit in celebration of the monumental event!
After much anticipation, the I.C.C., Toronto’s raddest group of street riders, have announced the premier of their latest video. I was at the premier of their last video and I promise you, it’s well worth coming out to the premier instead of just grabbing a copy and watching it on your little tv. The guys all get so pumped and the atmosphere is so hyped! (I’ve never heard so much brapping in one room haha)
So here’s the details as per Chris Silva:
2 video premiers…..
—friday january 18th—
REPUBLIK night club
261 Richmond st.west in the T-dot
in the DSR (top floor vip room)
it’s the rock night check www.republiknightclub.com
19+ I.D. a must!
NO dress code ( so jeans, t- shirt and hats are cool)
tons of giveaways
NO COVER! just say you are there for the ICC video premier
go to the vision doors and look for butta aka Enrique or E aka adrian
we have a capacity limit so come early
video plays at 11:30 ON THE DOT!!!!!
so you got to be there by 11:10 at the latest or you won’t get in
—saturday january 19th—
THE WAREHOUSE(bmx park)
6 curity ave, back door, 2nd floor/ one street west of O’conner ,T-dot
park opens at 5pm till midnight, video will start at 9:30 dont be late.
free giveaways!
—well have videos for $10 at each premier so get one!
And incase you haven’t seen it yet, check out the trailer for the video:
Cory Beal has posted the course sketch for the 2008 Toronto Bike Show BMX contest aka. Not-so Metro. I’m not going to steal the sketch, but instead link you to repset because that’s what friends do.
No one can say Mike Heaton isn’t ambitious! You’ll see what I mean when you see the sketch. Click the banner below. By the way, repset got a really cool new header, I likee.
Last night the GTA BMX community celebrated the birthday of one of the greatest young guys I know! Not to mention THE BEST BMX rider I know. It was Chijioke Okafo’s 19th birthday and his friends wouldn’t let that pass without a sexy party, BMX style! Not only was it Chi’s “of legal age” birthday, he aslo recently became part of the 1664 BMX team, so there was lots to celebrate.
The Warehouse, Toronto’s best indoor skatepark, hosted the party, and as usual, it was a great time. Here are some photos from the night:
Chijioke and his cake
Chijioke getting one of those bouncy knee rides
Jaclyn Cohen, Cory Beal, Chijioke Okafo
Chris Dewar- No foot over the box
Dave Thomas - X Up
Cory Beal- 180 over the rail? sorry I forget