Twice a year (summer and winter) the local flatland BMX crew holds a jam to pull together riders from all over the Northwest (and sometimes beyond).  Until I moved to California in ’99, I rode flatland almost exclusively, but once I moved west I started focusing more on street and ramps, partly because of what the riders I liked riding with were riding. At some point in the fall of last year I started riding more flatland again, so this was the first jam since I’ve been in town that I actually rode a bunch. The old tricks are coming back. It’s sort of like riding a bike.

This time around, the crew got really lucky with an awesome indoor spot. Scott Hagnas, a long time flatland rider, who produced a number of videos throughout the ’90s, is expanding his CrossFit Portland gym to a new location. His new spot is being built out at the moment, and he was nice enough to let the local BMXers take over the space for the day, while it was still in build-out condition. We’re in the rainy season around here, so it was a perfect scenario. Snotty, and a group of local street guys built up a spine ramp and brought it along for the day as well, so we had huge group of street/ramp guys taking advantage of the spot as well. 2001 X Games gold medalist Bruce Crisman (that still sounds weird to say, even ten years later) even made an appearance.

Mark Rainha filmed a bunch throughout the day, so hopefully we’ll see a short video on ESPN BMX soon. The FlatWeb TV guys were also filming, so there should be plenty of footage floating around from today. I got off my bike for a bit and shot a few photos which you can see after the jump. Above is Anthony Buglio doing a classic deathtruck.

Blake Hicks, dumptruck pivot.

Anthony Buglio, Smith decade.

Justin Hoey, no-handed hitchhiker.

Snotty, wallride out of the street spine that he made happen.

Justin Hoey, no-handed hitchhiker

Anthony Buglio, two-footed deathtruck

Justin Hoey, no-handed crackpacker.

Codie Larsen, bunnyhop whip (Whopper).

Snotty, wallride to 180 out.

For more photos from the day, Shad over at GoodsBMX posted up some shots here.

Yesterday was the summer flatland BMX jam in Portland. I managed to not take any flatland pictures at all, but I did get one picture of Nick Coughlin winning the bunnyhop contest. A bunch of street riders showed up to hang out (Nick included) but the street bikes and pop skills gave them a bit of an unfair advantage in the bunnyhop contest. The flat guys ended up having a “flatlander only” bunnyhop contest right after Nick hopped over 30-something inches for the victory (Jeremy Wilder was the highest hopping flatlander of the day). I only got hit in the face once, trying to get the close fisheye angle. Not bad. Bunnyhops are the root of pretty much every modern BMX freestyle street / park / ramp trick, and one of the first “tricks” any kid learns. They never get old, the just get higher. I think the flat guys will probably have some kind of video from the day up at enjoythetrick.com at some point in the near future.

After a failed mission to Washington with Ben Hucke and Aaron Lutze this morning (rain, followed by an injured wrist for me) I hit up the Enjoy the Trick flatland jam here in Portland. Joe Loumena (above right) and his crew of flatland locals put together a few gatherings a year. This time around it was at a school a few blocks from my house, and brought in riders from Northern California, Vancouver, Seattle, and more. I need to build a flatland bike and get out and ride with those guys more often. My “street” set up just doesn’t really cut it. Check out a couple more shots as well as larger versions of the above shots after the jump.