Freestyle Now hosted a skateboard jam session at the 2018 ICEA surf classic. On the day Freestyle Now brought in some of our portable skatepark for skateboard participants in the coaching sessions and the jam sessions to use. Cottesloe beach was a perfect location to set up the ramps and let the skateboarders roll out the rad. There was some great participation levels and lots of skaters won some rad prizes on the day. Good friends of Freestyle Now Brendon Cross and Aarron Winter were there to help other skateboards learn new skills and gain new levels of confidence. It was a great day had by all. Big thanks to the ICEA foundation for hosting the event and to all the crews who came down to skate.
It is refreshing to see some of this old style being displayed by the new generation of skaters. Go fast and grab on the rails.
Brendon Cross using the ramps for rolling out the rad and helping new skaters gain confidence. More photos can be found on our facebook page here.
Back in June Freestyle Now spent a week in the northwest of Australia to activate several skateparks. Pannawonica, Paraburdoo, Tom Price and Onslow were the target locations. Freestyle Now squad members Shaun Jarvis and Ben Thomas invited super skateboard guy Dylan Recce along for the trip to help roll out the rad to all of the locations.
Clockwise from top left – The outback roads are awesome – Tom Price winners are stoked – Jackson was stoked to win some new bars in Paraburdoo – some of the Onslow crew.
More photos can be found on our facebook page here
Flying into Onslow on the Tuesday morning the first stop was Pannawonica only a few hours drive away. A great session with the local skatepark users, learning new skills and winning some rad prizes, it was a nice fun park to ride for sure. Wednesday morning the 6 hour drive began to Paraburdoo. Driving through the northwest of Australia is beautiful, so much colour and beauty. Arriving at the Parraburdoo skatepark to see lots of skatepark users all keen to get involved in some of the coaching and mini comps. Another fantastic session was had with a long bunnyhop session taking place with Jackson winning a set of Grit scooter handle bars. Jason had moved to Paraburdoo from Mt Isa in Queensland and had remembers the Freestyle Now comps a few years ago that we did in Mt Isa. Thursday morning was a short 1 hour drive to Tom Price. Tom Price park is rad with a good halfpipe. Again in the afternoon we held another skatepark activation session with some skatepark coaching workshops and mini comps. Returning to these skatepark on a regular basis is great when you chat to the riders and they show you their progress they have achieved form the skill development you gave them last time. On Friday after a 5 hour drive Onslow was the next stop. Freestyle Now had been attending Onslow on a semi regular bases over the last few months as part of an ongoing activation session with the community. Friday afternoon was a skatepark coaching session at the awesome Onslow skatepark with the level of skills starting to take hold with the participants. Saturday another activation session took place in the afternoon with a large cache of prizes to be given out. It was great to see the participation level very high with lots of people partaking in multiple disciplines all eager to win some of the rad prizes. Sunday morning was our final session with some more skills being taught and shown to the skatepark participants. Roll on Monday morning and it was the flight out of Onslow to return to Perth. Seven days in the north west was a rad time. Lots of skatepark participants got to win some rad prizes, get autographs and learn new skills, a great success. We would like to thank the Shire of Ashburton, BHP for their support and to all of the people who came to the skateparks to hang out and engage. Check the video below of the trip to know what took place and how the radness was rolled out.
Freestyle Now recently travelled to Onslow to host some skatepark coaching workshops. Freestyle Now promotes inclusiveness at all of our skatepark activation sessions and Onslow was no different. The skatepark coaching sessions were open to all participants of any age for bmx, scooter and skateboard. Squad members Shaun Jarvis and Kieran Ramsay invited rad skater Adam Pacynko along for the journey. The trio played the “Game of life” on this trip, like on all trips, with Adam doing the most pushups. Lots of radness went down at the skatepark during the few days the trio was there. It is great to travel to remote areas and engage with skatepark users, getting them to learn new skills and help them roll out the rad. Freestyle Now hosts many skatepark activation sessions with bmx, skateboard and scooter skatepark coaching workshops, jam sessions and private sessions. If you want more information please contact Freestyle Now.
Shaun Jarvis nohanded fakie stall.
Freestyle Now squad members are always there to help skatepark users of any skill level and of any age. Inclusiveness is the key important factor for all Freestyle Now events.
For the past several years Freestyle Now has been returning to the Pilbara and the City of Karratha to run some skatepark coaching sessions and skatepark competitions. We have met many skatepark participants over the years and we have watched them grow, progress and achieve. When you see that moment when a first trick is pulled or a goal has been achieved for the first time it is an amazing thing to witness. Although it may be very basic for the more advanced rider, it was a time that you too were just like that mastering the basics. This is one of the joys of hosting skatepark coaching sessions.
Freestyle Now squad members Shaun Jarvis, Mitch Harris and Hudson Goodchild were sent on the task to roll out in the City of Karratha. The trio visited Dampier, Wickham, Roebourne and Karratha skateparks for some skatepark coaching workshops and Nichol West skatepark to host round 11 of the Freestyle Now Western Australian Skatepark competition series. this video highlights some of the moments when the skatepark participants achieved their first time goals as well as some skatepark action from Shaun, Mitch and Hudson. A big thank you to the Youth Shed crew in Karratha.
Shaun Jarvis gives a discussion at the Fremantle skatepark on skatepark etiquette as part of the skatepark coaching workshops. This is some great information to new young skatepark users and especially parents. Young skatepark users don’t retain information well and it’s important for parents to help educate their young ones on the do and don’ts at a skatepark to give all users a great experience at the skatepark. This discussion took place at one of the recent Fremantle scooter sessions and covers skatepark etiquette (what to do and not to do at a skatepark), foot placement on a scooter, scooter design differences, quick maintenance and helmet safety. Please give it a watch and educate yourself in skatepark etiquette so that all users at the skatepark will have a rad experience.
Give the below video a watch to help understand the difference between a certified and non certified helmet as to what Shaun was talking about in the skatepark etiquette presentation video
South Hedland skatepark saw round 7 of the Freestyle Now Western Australian Skatepark Series take place. South Hedland skatepark is massive and one of the biggest in Western Australia. The scene in South Hedland is a strong one with a real great strong group of skatepark users all progressing well. It is good to see the progress over the last few years of some of the young shredders. On this trip to South Hedland squad members Shaun Jarvis, Mitch Harris and Kieran Ramsay flew there to host some skatepark coaching workshops as well as the skatepark competition. The scene there is small but rad and the skatepark coaching workshops really help to build the skills of the participants. When Freestyle Now hosts a skatepark competition there are three classes for competitors to enter, beginners (younger and still learning), intermediates (competitors with some good skills) and the open class (consistent and dials tricks) in the three disciplines scooter, skateboard and bmx. There is also a girl’s class to help encourage more girls to enter. We would like to thank the Town of Port Hedland and our supporters, Colony bmx, Sacrifice scooters, 4 skateboard Co . Round 9 of the 2017 series takes place at the Rockingham skatepark on the 13th of May. Be sure to check our coming events page for all the latest information.
Clockwise from top left – Cody Broome has been progressing well over the past few years and it is good to see him still shredding 2nd in open scooters – Tory Burns is a machine, he is what we call a tri rider, smashing the rad on all 3, bmx, skateboard and scooter. Here is a tuck no hander on his bmx – Kane McPhee took out 1st in scooter intermediate and it’s great to see him back at it – Brock Viliamu was on holidays from N.S.W. and was over whelmed with his prizes from his fist place in intermediate skateboard. More photos can be found on the facebook page here.
South Hedland skatepark competition – 8th April 2017 – Round 7 Freestyle Now Western Australian Skatepark Series – Official results
Scooter beginner – 1st Jamal Doyal, 2nd Jasiah Dann, 3rd Mahlyk Collins, 4th Cimmaron Smirke, 5th Toben Smirke, 6th Isaiah Park, 7th Latrell Walters, 8th Leo Drage, 9th Robert Drage.
Scooter intermediate – 1st Kane McPhee, 2nd Malach Ching, 3rd Alan Borell.
The Freestyle Now North West skatepark coaching sessions tour was five days of good times and great skatepark coaching sessions. In February Freestyle Now squad members Shaun Jarvis, Ben Thomas and Mitch Harris fly into Paraburdoo and got ready for the 4 hour drive to Onslow. Onslow had just had a fantastic new skatepark built and their opening day celebrations taking place and what better way to help celebrate than by having some skatepark coaching workshop sessions taking place.
Shaun Jarvis gets all tucked in as the storm passes Onslow.
Thursday afternoon was the first low key session with the official opening taking place on the Friday. During this session Freestyle Now hoisted a few mini competitions and fun activities and gave out some rad prizes. On the Saturday it was a long 5 hour drive inland to Tom Price to host another skatepark coaching workshop session. Again some mini competitions and fun activities took place and the participants at the skatepark all had a great time. On the Sunday Shaun, Ben and Mitch managed to do a bit of sightseeing to Karijini National Park before heading back to Paraburdoo to host another skatepark coaching workshop session. The north west can be forever changing and on this day the weather decided to change rapidly with a sudden downpour of rain and strong winds. It lasted for about 20 minutes but long enough to soak the skatepark, though it did dry out just as the session was ending. On the Monday the squad headed back to Perth for some relaxation time and to escape the heat. Till next time a big thank you to the Shire of Ashburton and to all the skatepark users that got to interact with Shaun, Ben and Mitch. Check the video below of the trip to know what took place and how the radness was rolled out.
Top – Mitch Harris carving the wall at Paraburdoo as well as relaxing at Karijini
Bottom – Lack of animals
Freestyle Now has been rolling out the rad since 1986.
It’s hard to believe but Freestyle Now started way back in December of 1986. Now 30 years later it has grown from 3 young guys just wanting to promote BMX freestyle with BMX stunt shows to an Australian wide entity. Freestyle Now specialises in entertaining stunt show performances, skatepark coaching workshops, well managed skatepark competitions and motivational school presentations all while making sure inclusiveness and diversity is at the forefront of our ethos. By applying the same philosophy that free sports teach us, to our business ethics, we have persevered to achieve our goal of running well-managed events and entertaining performances. We have accomplished this all while promoting the fun aspects of BMX, skateboarding and scooter riding and associated activities. This has, and will always be our main focus.
The original Freestyle Now squad members L to R Shaun Jarvis, Brad Dyer and Georg Molnar taken at the Fremantle Speed Classic in March 1987
Freestyle Now began as an idea in mid 1986 by three friends Georg Molnar, Brad Dyer and Shaun Jarvis. 1986 was a year of new things for these three friends. A new sport was emerging, BMX freestyle. This is what brought these three guys together. In Perth Western Australia where they lived the small BMX freestyle community was tight. There were only a handful of riders and Georg, Brad and Shaun were in the core of it. Shaun started in the BMX racing scene in 1981 and raced in Western Australia until the new emerging freestyle sport took hold of his senses in early 1986. Within a few months, he took a spot on the newly formed Redline BMX trick team which was put together by Padbury cycles bike shop. It was through this shop that word got around about other riders, this is how Brad, Georg and Shaun met each other. The very first show that the Redline trick team did was at Whiteman Park for its grand opening in August 1986. Although this team did a few shows they only lasted a short time and in the later part of 1986 Shaun left. It was upon this leaving that the three friends got together to form their own BMX freestyle team, Freestyle Now.
Where did the name come from? A very popular magazine from America was called “Freestylin”. Freestyle is what the riders did, it’s what they called it. Now is an action word as in do it “now”. So Freestyle Now was the name that Brad, Georg and Shaun settled on as it seemed fitting.
In 1986 the only form of information available in the BMX world was through magazines. There was no internet to gain instant information from. Only the magazines had the information and this was sometimes up to 6 months old by the time it would reach Perth from either America or England. BMX freestyle teams were all over these magazines, from the large factory teams to the little group of friends that started something. It was this that inspired the formation of Freestyle Now.
The sole purpose of Freestyle Now when it was formed was to promote to the masses the newly emerging sport of BMX freestyle. This was done via BMX stunt shows. December 1986 was when Freestyle Now did their first ever show at the Mullaloo primary school which was followed a few weeks later by a performance at a Christmas dance event in Girrawheen It was the start of something that no one could ever imagine would survive still all these years later.
The second show Freestyle Now did was at the Girrawheen Christmas dance
With the first show done new locations were sought for more stunt shows. For Georg, Brad and Shaun it was all about the promotion of BMX freestyle. Another medium that was also emerging out of America was the “Zine”. A small photocopied magazine that was produced by various people. It was another platform to promote BMX freestyle. So the three guys brought a second hand photocopier and started making the “Freestyle Now zine“. These were produced using photos and a cut and glue method. They were put into bike shops and given to other riders. It was a very D.I.Y mentality. With no prior experience it was just hands on and make it work, a true Freestyle Now philosophy.
Another good friend of the trio Todd Triebler, who had also been on the same BMX freestyle shop team as Shaun in early 86 was recruited to announce the stunt shows and as a backup rider. These guys were tight, inseparable, spending every moment they could riding together, learning new tricks and exploring Perth.
The BMX freestyle scene was growing steadily in Perth and the need for regular gatherings was required so Freestyle Now went ahead and held its first competition in January 1988. Riders came from all over to attend. The only way to spread the news was through word of mouth and the Freestyle Now Zine. The competition was a success, so more were organised. Over the next few years, many competitions were held.
The whole ethos of promoting the new sport of BMX freestyle was complete, BMX stunt shows, BMX zines and BMX freestyle competitions.
In time Georg Molnar started to move on from BMX and left the Freestyle Now team and Brad Dyer returned to America. Shaun and Todd recruited new riders into Freestyle Now and kept on performing the BMX stunt shows.
Todd Triebler on the left and Shaun Jarvis on the right at the Bruce Rock show in 1989 performing double no handed cherrypickers.
When the 90’s rolled around a major shift took place in the sport of BMX freestyle. It was as if overnight every rider had quit and stopped riding. There was still a core group of BMX freestylers but the need for competitions had passed. With Brad now in America, the drive to produce the Freestyle Now Zine was in a standby mode. The promotion of the sport had shifted to just the stunt shows.
Over the coming years, Todd and the other riders moved on from BMX and their association with Freestyle Now. This left Shaun Jarvis at the helm steering Freestyle Now into the future. When there were no riders to perform at the stunt shows Shaun just went out and did solo shows. The need to carry on the promotion of the freestyle sport was what drove Shaun to keep going. After 30 years you can check out a list of all of our past stunt shows on our past stunt show page here.
In late 1996 the sport of BMX freestyle seemed to be coming back, new riders were emerging. One of these riders was a young Jason Parker. Jason had heard about the Freestyle Now stunt shows through friends in the south-west area of Western Australia where he lived. When Jason moved to Perth in 1998 he managed to track down Shaun through an advertisement in a national BMX publication for BMX products that Freestyle Now was then distributing. The two guys started riding together. It did not take long for Shaun to recognise Jason’s riding potential, and he was asked to join Freestyle Now in 2000. In an ironic twist, when the two riders met for the first time Shaun showed Jason some BMX photographs, one of the photos was of Shaun at the very first BMX show that he did with the Redline BMX trick team, the one at Whiteman Park in mid 1986. Jason was surprised to see the photo because as a very young 6 year old Jason Parker was in the crowd that day and saw the show. The two new friends could not believe it, Jason remembered the whole show, how a tram came in through the middle of the show location and stopped the show leaving some riders on the top of the ramp. Even to this day, the two riders can’t believe how ironic it was. Jason is still riding and involved with Freestyle Now today and apart from Shaun is the longest serving squad member.
Jason Parker joined the Freestyle Now squad at the start of 2000. This was Jason’s second show at the Toodyay Moondyne Festival in May 2000. His first show was at the Denmark Country Fair in February 2000
Over time more BMX shows were performed and new riders were recruited into the squad. But now with the growing popularity of BMX, the need for competitions became prominent once again.
In the early 80’s Co-founder Shaun Jarvis helped organise BMX races on the local BMX dirt jumping/BMX track that the youth of the town of Quinns Rock had built. Organising BMX competitions was nothing new as he had done it before as a BMX racer and then as a BMX freestyler. The need for well managed events was something that was required to help with the growth of the BMX scene. Some of the first competitions that Freestyle Now organised were dirt jumping competitions in the late 90’s. These morphed into BMX skatepark competitions for local government and community organisations and were very successful. Freestyle Now was then asked to manage skateboard competitions as well as BMX and then with the rise of the scooter scene the whole skatepark culture was catered for in competition management. All of our past competitions can be found on our past competition page here
In 2001 community T.V. was starting to emerge in Perth via channel 31. There was a show being air called “Cruzin” a show about Perth hot rods and the car street scene. Shaun was watching this show and realised that a show about BMX could be done. Shaun called up Jason and said “do you want to do a television show on community television”. Jason said “sure why not!” and with no prior computer experience or video editing experience “Behind the Bars” was started. The show was a nine part show with each show airing every 4 weeks. It was a major undertaking at first. In the same way, the Freestyle Now zine was done with a D.I.Y. mentality so was Behind the Bars. Learning as the show progressed was the format. It was just hands on and make it work, a true Freestyle Now philosophy.
This is the first episode of Behind the Bars which aired on Perth community television in 2001. All the episodes can be found on the Behind the Bars media page here
With BMX, scooters and skateboards being a great youth involvement activity it was not long until Freestyle Now started its motivational school presentations. These school presentations were to help keep the youth motivated to pursue their dreams and goals. Using the medium of BMX, scooters and skateboards as a way of delivering this motivational message, with self discipline and consistency you can reach your achievement. Tricks done on BMX, scooters and skateboards are a great example of this
To help grow the competitions and to also help new riders Freestyle Now started to host skatepark coaching sessions. These sessions are designed to help younger participants or those needing to progress their skills.
With show performances, competitions, coaching, publications and promotions, Freestyle Now is advancing into the future with positivity paramount. The past was great but the future holds larger aspirations. Freestyle Now continues to grow by using our fundamental ethos of courtesy, respect, inclusiveness and diversity within our cultural industry. Please always remember to Freestyle now……….. before it’s too late…………….
Over the 30 years Freestyle Now has progressed so much. This is one of our stunt shows from January 2015
Freestyle Now recently headed to Tom Price for the Nameless festival to host a skatepark coaching workshop session. Freestyle Now squad members Ben Thomas, Mitch Harris and Jarrod Murfit did an amazing job helping the workshop participants learn new skills and skatepark etiquette. The participants also got to be involved in some skatepark games and mini competitions to win prizes. Ben, Mitch and Jarrod, also dropped into the Paraburdoo skatepark for a quick roll before flying back to Perth. Freestyle Now hosts many skatepark coaching workshop at many various skateparks, be sure to check our coming events page to see where the next one is you can attend. The below video was put together by Jarrod Murfit. Give it a watch to see the squad rolling out the rad.
Some time ago Freestyle Now co-founder and full time squad member Shaun Jarvis was approached to help write a book on bmx freestyle tricks. The chance to help out with such a project does not happen all the time so Shaun jumped at the chance. The main reason that Shaun wanted to help out with the book was to use it as another medium to promote the sport of bmx freestyle. When Shaun and co founders Brad Dyer and Georg Molnar started Freestyle Now it was to promote the sport of bmx freestyle, this has always been the main objective and with the book it was just another medium that could be used to do this. Freestyle Now has some copies of the book which you can buy through Freestyle Now via EBay.
Freestyle BMX tricks the book is divided into two styles, flatland and air. Flatland is for flatland tricks and the air tricks relate to anything done on a ramp or skatepark. The book is targeted at beginners riders who want to increase their skill level. The book takes readers through 39 tricks step by step and reveals the secrets to every trick’s success, providing insider’s tips and techniques and common problems. Shaun Jarvis also adds in his trick tips which will help to learn the tricks quickly and easily.
Bmx freestyle has been around in a semi official capacity since the very early 1980’s. People were doing tricks on bikes well before then but the official wording bmx freestyle did not start till then and people and riders started to see this form of bmx riding as a new form or something that was worthy of input. The tricks that were being done back then were of the basic form and backflips were not even contemplated let alone a tailwhip. Progression is what drove the sport, riders wanted to progress and one up the next rider, what more could be done. The tricks in bmx freestyle are endless. Even now over 30 years later the progression is still what drives the tricks.
Freestyle Now squad member Shaun Jarvis has been riding bmx since 1981 and witnessed the growth of the sport in Australia and around the world. From its infancy to now although the tricks have progressed the fundamental ethos of riding is still the same, ride bmx, do tricks, have fun.
The freestyle bmx tricks book is an instructional book that will help the beginner or novice learn basic to advanced bmx tricks on ramps and flatland. It is not really target at the expert level rider. The format is simple to understand with tricks broken down into three basic steps.
Although the book has been published around the world Shaun did not take any monetary return for helping put the book together, his payment was “If the book can get people stoked on riding and more people into the sport then that’s enough payment for me” This statement has had some impact as Freestyle Now received an email from Steve S in Glendale Heights in Illinois America, and he was stoked on the book and the content.
Hi Freestyle Now,
I recently grabbed a copy of the BMX freestyle tricks book on Amazon, and I wanted to write and say thanks for it, and for your website. I’m a 38 year old want-to-be flatland rider from the US and find your book very helpful. I rode a little in the 80s and am trying to get back into it. With the help of your book, I managed to bunnyhop a rolled up t-shirt yesterday after only a few attempts. I know it doesn’t sound like much, or very impressive, but it has inspired me to keep trying and not feel as self conscious about being an old guy on a kids bike. haha. I was wondering how tall Shaun is as I am 6’3″ and had written myself off as being “too tall” to learn flat, but Shaun looks like a taller guy, so maybe there is hope for me yet. Anyway, thanks again for putting out the book and website. It has helped remind me about what having fun on a bike is all about. Take Care.
Steve S.
Glendale Heights,
IL U.S.
Upon showing Shaun this email he was super psyched, with a large smile on his face, he knew that even if only one person was stoked on his input into the book then that was what he set out to accomplish.
Freestyle Now has some copies of the book which can be brought via EBay for $30(AUS)(inc postage)
If you are keen to pick up a copy please send us a contact or go via the Ebay site .
10th April – Skatepark jam session Yanchep skatepark Yanchep Western Australia
10th April – Skatepark coaching session skateboard, scooter, bmx Cooloongup skatepark Cooloongup Western Australia
11th April – She / Her Skatepark coaching session skateboard, scooter, bmx Cooloongup skatepark Cooloongup Western Australia
11th April – Rollerskate Skatepark coaching session Cooloongup skatepark Cooloongup Western Australia
12th April – Skatepark competition skateboard, scooter, bmx Cooloongup skatepark Cooloongup Western Australia
13th April – Pump track coaching workshop session (BMX / MTB) Hester Park Langford Western Australia
13th April - Rollerskate skatepark coaching Fremantle skatepark Fremantle Western Australia
13th April - Skatepark jam session BMX scooter rollerskate Kwinana skatepark Kwinana Western Australia
14th April - Bayswater BMX and MTB jump track opening Bayswater BMX and Mountain Bike facility (Under Mooro-Beeloo Bridge) Katanning St Bayswater Western Australia
20th April – Skatepark competition skateboard, scooter, rollerskate, inline, bmx Balga skatepark Balga Western Australia
21st April – Skatepark coaching workshop session Dowerin skatepark Dowerin Western Australia
24th April – BMX / MTB air bag jumping coaching session Honeywood Park Wandi Western Australia
27th April - Skatepark competition BMX scooter Busselton skatepark Busselton Western Australia
27th April - Skatepark competition BMX scooter Dunsborough skatepark Dunsborough Western Australia
