Ride Issue 106

Ankle Deep: We are British, so it’s inherent within our sociological and psychological make-up that we waffle on about the weather at any given opportunity. It’s an ice-breaker, a casual chat between strangers, it’s what we Brits do. But yeah, wasn’t June just a crock of crap? The wettest June since records began? And we had to make a magazine under these conditions?

Red Bull’s seemingly bottomless coffers chipped in to create the raddest (and I use this term wisely) BMX course ever made in history. They hauled over the hottest badasses ever to sling a leg over a 20-inch bicycle, and laid on the finest hotels in all of Devon for the media circus. And it hammered with rain. But still, with Kye’s barn and Decoy trails remarkably weathering the storms, we all still got some riding done and shots in the bag and a tale to tell; and witnessed the best dirt session to date.

Miller Time
Dodging the rain and lightning and various touring commitments, Steve Bancroft managed to track down the UK’s answer to Chase Hawk for a few random sessions in various parks up and down the land – along with a nuts evening session which took place right outside our new front door. When asked “what’s your favourite you’ve ever ridden?” Mike answered with, “well… the Backyard Jam jumpbox?” So Steve set out to acquire said jumpbox, and after a couple of phone calls, Stu from Seventies said we could help ourselves to it and take it away. Which we did. Once set up, Mike proceeded to destroy it – check the photos in this issue, and a video clip which is being put up on our new website as I type this… check it out. Mike goes HIGH.

Stay Young
We’ve had this in our sights for some time now – he’s been on our hit-list of interviewees for 2007, since the beginning of 2007, and we set Rob Dolecki on the hunt right away. Several shoots in San Diego later, and we have the Gary Young interview in the bag! Gary was keen to make this article really work, and the amount of effort he put in to nailing that whip to fufanu alone would have felled a lesser man. But that’s Gary for you – always riding with a smile, always pushing himself to the next level at max speed (complete with those power-wheelies), always having a good time. This month we finish off the issue with another rider who still does the same, only this guy is clearly old enough to be Gary’s dad. Ron Wilkerson has been driving freestyle forward since the dawn of freestyle itself, and his attitude, drive and passion for BMX as a whole should be an inspiration for all of us. This is why he’s this month’s Icon. Ron is definitely one of those guys who is staying young…

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