Rich Sigur Highest Air Contest--Freestylin' March 1986

The Ride of My Life

Brian Blyther Highest Air Contest--Freestylin' March 1986

Brian Blyther Pipeline View Two

Update to Wednesday's post http://edwardkoenning.blogspot.com/2011/06/brian-blyther-pipline-transfer.html

Brian Blyther Pipline Transfer

Found this in an BMX Plus Rad Gallery Special issue. Such a great shot of Brian Blyther.

Freestylin'--March 1985

Nice cover shot of Rich Sigur airing at the Upland Pipeline.There is always so much to Bob Osborn photos that just make them the best. Even with all of the large cover fonts and colors they hardly distract to how great of a photo this is. And there in nothing that can take away from Rich's pink socks.

I remember seeing the opening photo to this article and thinking what the hell? Who are these yahoos? Little did I know how much influence Dizz and Gork would have on our little recreational hobby of bike riding. These guys were something else, and a much needed blast to a somewhat stale industry.

Eddie Fiola blasting on the narrow GT quarter pipe. I like that little comment in the corner that said Dave and Eddie "afflicted" over 10,000 people with their shows. Don't you think that is an under estimate? Had to have been way more that that. I remember those two being on the road for what seemed like for ever.

What could SE do to make the Quadangle frame anymore radical at the time of Freestyle "do-dads" and "add-ons"? Not much, that is for sure. Other than adding the chainstay loops to the frame, it still looks like a classic Quadangle. The forks did get their "standing" tops, but  still have the Landing Gear look to them even if those platforms were useless. Still a great lookimg bike. That stem needs to go though.

There is a thing beauty with how smooth and high Brian Blyther would air at these contest. Perfect X-Up out of the deep end of the Pipeline. Another thing from this time frame was how many people had their bikes and uniforms set up just like Eddie Fiola.

This is the "TRICK" from the King of The Skateparks Final. Hugo Gonzales doing a fence ride way before any of use knew what a fence ride or wall ride was on a bike. Way ahead of his time and crazy to boot. What a great combination. I remember learning fence rides way later on and getting my back peg stuck in the fence. That was real fun.

Freestyle Men's FS75401 Hammerhead Polyurethane Watch
BMX Freestyle
Bmx Freestyle
Motion Activated Light Saber with Star Wars Sounds - with Free Blinkee Light

Wham-O Snowball Blaster 2-Pack

BMX Plus November 1983

I can still recall finding this issue in our local grocery store and being blown away. BMX Plus had a way with trying to make their covers so over the top. And they managed a good one this time. David Ruz getting his hop on while his buddy puts his family jewels at risk. Great cover, great issue.

Always did dig the Rad Gallery's in Plus. This issue was a VS. issue featuring "Dangerous Dave Gianunzio against Flying Fiola." I wonder who won? Eh, who cares. That rear tire grab photo is awesome.

Fiola and Gianunzio clocking air in the Rad Gallery.

Procraft Ultima 2400 bike test with MartiN Aparijo manning the ship. Somewhere during this bike test is where I was introduced to the I-Hop.

Good to see ESPN has had their hands embedded in BMX for so long. That shot of Richie Anderson and Bubba Hayes is just so "BMX". Fast and stylish, those guys ruled. Also have to give props to two top Pros running front brakes. I had one of my old bikes set up just like John Piant's bike. Chrome, red and black work so good on a bike.

Old School Snowboarding: The Very First Contest [VHS]
Diamondback Session 24 BMX Bike (24-Inch Wheels), Candy Black, 24-Inch
Mongoose Racer Boy's BMX Bike (12-Inch Wheels)
KMC Z610HX DropBuster BMX Bicycle Chain (1-Speed, 1/2 x 3/32-Inch, 112L, Silver)
The Complete Book of Bmx

Eddie Fiola footage.

He always had the best color combo bikes. Yeah, and he good ride pretty good also.

BMX Action June 1984

Been slacking getting the updates going. Long Memorial Day weekend filled with a bunch of projects to get done. Managed to get a bunch finished, which is nice. Now time for a throwback.

I can honestly say that I read this issue of BMX Action over a million times when it came out. Another classic cover shot from Bob Osborn, and another good issue with a ton of good content. On the cover, Donovan Ritter tips his hat and runs his number 1 sideways. Hey, Eddie Fiola ran his upside down. Looks good to me. Do a search online about those two. Some interesting rants from Donovan about Eddie.

When a bunch of us in the neighborhood saw this photo, we all decided to go ride our bikes into a pond in the subdivision across the street from a local ditch we would ride all the time. Much to our surprise, not as fun if you don't have a ramp. Hey, we didn't care, it was summer in Texas, we needed to cool off.

Two of the best styles ever. Hands down. Brian Blyther on the left with a "tuck" air  at the usual Blyther height. Guy went so high and was always so smooth. And Mike Dominquez on the right with a proper look back. I must have driven Mr. Sanders at Action Bikes mad all the times I would call him. "Do you have white Tuff Wheels with the blue hubs?" I called so much the number is burned into my brain. 

Tons of good coverage from this contest. Eddie being a hard ass riding with a cast on. Brian Beam's one handed fence plant is crazy especially where he was doing it. And well, more awesomeness from Dominquez.

Big upset over the highest air contest. The side by side photos on the left show Eddie and Mike's highest airs. There has always been some question as to how Eddie won, and if he should have one. Biggest question was where do you measure? Always the lowest point of the bike. It looked to me that Mike might have really won that contest. The judges wouldn't break up a MF team now would they?

A while back I had posted something about the time line of "The Judge" jump. This was Tim Judges response to all the hoopla. DAMN! That would make even Vic Murphy proud.

Freestylin' July 1985

This was such a good issue of Freesylin' magazine. So many good pictures and articles. And the coverage from that Del Mar contest was so crazy. It also looked like it might have been the starting point for the world take over by Skyway. Their riders were all over this issue.

Two Skyway riders on the cover. Not bad. You know, as soon as everyone saw those orange Tuff Wheels on Scotty Freeman's bike, they were going to go out and get a set. I opted for the lavender.

Objective Rad? Sure. Vector Bars might have been cool (I had a set or two), but every set I had and I think every set everyone else had cracked. And as much of a game changer as the "Rotor" was in the BMX industry, you would have thought they could have used something better than an exhaust c-clamp as a cable stop. Good for them for only letting this go for a short time and coming out with that headset cup that had the stop built into it.

 

Del Mar Skatepark  was always such a cool looking place. With it's crazy long snake run, and all of the different bowls. Bummer it was kinda of the younger stepbrother to the Pipeline Skatepark. I wish it would have gotten more coverage before they bulldozed it. Did Jeff Carroll land in that frame stand, or did he go back to the pedals before landing?

Classic Hugo Gonzales. This is the reason I would set up 3 foot tall pieces of plywood by a ditch and learned 360's over them. Hugo is the man!