This is one of the biggest days on the calendar for the bmx community in Western Australia. Now into its fifth year the Livewire Jam is a memorial jam for Chadd Walton. Bmx riders from all over converge at the Mandurah skatepark to ride and have a blast and enjoy a day of kinship. With a great turn out of over 200 riders the sun was blasting down upon everyone and the sunscreen was aplenty. It was hot, really hot and everyone felt it but that did not slow down the riding. Freestyle Now once again supplied additional ramps and rails to add to the park and they were all put to excessive use.
Clock wise from top left – Matt Bell, hops a 107.5cm – The long jump in full effect – Kie Ashworth, tuckin it up to clear 107.5cm but just not getting it – Madco, down whip to disaster.
The bunny hop comp is the most organized thing that happens at Livewire and this year it was well and truly balls out. With the height bar starting at 50cm it moved very quickly to 70cm and riders started to fault. The bar got to 80cm and still the core group of riders was still at it. At 90cm high it was down to a few riders but it still seemed too easy for them to get over. The bar was raised to 100cm and the same riders were making it over with ease. At 103cm it was down to Kie Ashworth, Matt Bell, Tim Rose, Rex Cubic and Dempsey and they were all having some difficulty with the height. After a few more attempts they all got over it and the bar finally was set at 107.5cm and it was Mr Matt Bell who sailed over the bar successfully. Congrats to Matt and a new set of FBM handle bars from Stowaway Distribution were his.
Clock wise from top left – Andy Fontini, 270 to over double pegs and back – Dylan Schmidt, before the rain – Pav, flips outta the quarter – Ben Moran, cliffhanging in the rain.
The long jump had some crazy action going on with Jaymin King doing a backy out of the jump ramp and Jay Wilson doing a crazy long 360. Then the clouds started to bang together and make some noise. This noise made some lightning and in turn all of that commotion made it rain. At first it was just a sprinkle but that changed fast and it turned into a torrential down pour. Many riders left for shelter and only the riders who had been feeding on cement were tough enough to ride in the rain. Just as soon as the rain had come it disappeared and everything dried up, the sun came out again and the riding once again took a hold of the park.
Clock wise from top left – Pav, no handers the hip – David Pinelli, mad dipped 360 – Dylan Schmidt, turning down – The Freestyle now ramps getting used effectively for a tire grab.
With the jam finished it was the after party that everyone was now anticipating. This year the party was set up in a hall and went down without a hitch with many people having a great time. It was at the after party that the rider of the day was to be announced, with the winner taking home $130 (profit from drink sales on the day). It was at the presentation of the rider of the day that the plight of Stu Timms was brought to everyone’s attention. This automatically set some riders to put donations into a hat for him. A minute silence was held in honor of Chadd Walton before the rider of the day was announced. When it was announced that Matt Bell had won he put his winning to good use and donated it right there to Stu Timms. This once again set a mad frenzy for donations and they just kept on coming. At the end of the night a total of $1484.10 was raised for Stu Timms. Totally unbelievable.
The 2009 Livewire Jam was a great day for many. Riders rode and did insane tricks. People remembered Chadd Walton with respect. The Stu Timms trust fund got injected with a stack of funds. But the most important thing that took place at Livewire Jam 2009 was that everyone had fun.
