I started toying with BMX Freestyle sometime around 1983. In August of 1985 I went to the AFA (American Freestyle Association) Masters contest in Fitchburg, MA, the first contest I entered (13 and under open). From that point on never really thought about much else, much to the chagrin of unreceptive grade school teachers, who knew for sure that those kids bikes would get me nowhere. I guess they didn’t. I mean, I’m still riding them, and taking pictures of them, so in the grand scheme of things I haven’t really “gone” anywhere.  The photo above is from 1986, a year or so after the Fitchburg AFA Masters. From the looks of my outfit I was destined for Portland, and some sort of hipster pioneer. My mother dug up some old photos, most of which I’d consider the “middle school era” of BMX Freestyle. The 1986 shot above is a bit more old school, but most of them are a bit later.

Trophies from the King of the Flatland series. 1986 or 1987 I think.

This was some sort of ghetto, reconfigurable street set up I'd built. Rock Walk drop in. 1989.

Smith decade. Or a "Pegade" as they were called in New England. 1989.

Halflash. 1989.

An overview of the King of the Flatland competition in Manchester, NH. 1989.

This was my backyard halfpipe in 1990 or so, Sharon, MA.