DownUnderGround – Australian bmx flatland championships – 2018

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DownUnderGround is the Australian bmx flatland championships and the 1st December saw the finals hit the iconic location of the Melbourne Imax. Bmx flatland riders from around Australia and the world converged on Melbourne to partake in one of the hardest forms of bmx riding, flatland. It was good to see a great turnout with a few international riders attending. This was the tenth year of DownUnderGround, the first contest took place in Perth in November 2008. Over the past 10 years many riders have attended at various locations around Australia to compete and have fun. In Australia bmx flatland riders would rarely get to hang out if it was not for DownUnderGround. It’s not just about a competition, it’s a time for riders to come together, share tricks have good times and build the bmx flatland scene in Australia.

David Rooney is progressing well in the beginner class ad took another win in Melbourne for DUG 10.

There have been many changes with DownUnderGround over the ten years. When it first started there were four contests around Australia, now there is only on physical contest along with the video contest, this makes travelling easier for the riders. Melbourne has the biggest bmx flatland scene in Australia so it makes perfect sense to hold the contest where the majority of riders live.

Clockwise from top left – Year end title holder Philipp Frueh mid hitchhiker – Freestyle Now boss man Shaun Jarvis moving into a upside down backward wheelie and a 3rd place in expert – Freestyle Now squad member Paul Chamberlain doing his best strong man pose while wearing some of that Freestyle Now rad dude merch – Heru Anwari returned from Indonesia once again to throw down some of his radical riding like this front wheel to back wheel whip transfer.

In the beginners class heading into the contest it was Paul Griznic who had a great video entry and was sitting in fist place. He didn’t ride as consistent as he would have wanted to and only took a 3rd in Melbourne. His progression is good though and its rad to see that passion. In Melbourne it was local rider David Rooney who ended up taking the win from Rusty Eylward-Pyko in the beginners. David was just a little bit more consistent than Rusty but both rode well. With his first in the video round and a third in Melbourne it was Paul Griznic who to the year end title in the beginners class. What was great to see with all of the beginner riders was the willingness to give it a go and not care how sketchy they were, that is what is needed at more competitions.

Beginners L-R – 2nd place Rusty Piko, 1st place David Rooney and 3rd place and year end title holder Paul Grzinic.

In the expert class it was a close result between Philipp Frueh and Shaun Jarvis. These rider had scored 2nd and 3rd in the video round so only 5 points separated them going into the championships in Melbourne. With western Australian rider Trent Karow not at the competition it was up to Tasmanian rider Chris Letchford to ride well enough to take the win in the expert class with Philipp and Shaun taking the 2nd and 3rd spots respectively. With two seconds it was Philipp Frueh who took home the year end Australian championships title in the expert class. Good work Philipp.

Chris Letchford has been heading to DownUnderGound for 10 years now and in Melbourne took home to Tasmainia a 1st place.

Experts class L-R – Philipp Frueh with a 2nd place and the year end title, Tasmanian Chris Letchford in 1st and Freestyle Now squad member Shaun Jarvis stoked on his 3rd place.

The open class is was all about Agentinian rider Gonzalo Bellanti. With taking a first in the video round he was almost untouchable to take the year title. Indonesian rider Heru Anwari was present to keep the heat on him though. Heru won the Australian championships last year and was back to defend his title. With 3 run each the riders were able to be a bit more relaxed on the runs knowing that their lowest score would be dropped. Gonzalo had more combos completed and rode a bit more consistent than Heru who had some fast cross footed techniques but consistency defiantly held him back. So 1st to Gonzalo and 2nd to Heru. DownUnderGround veteran Paul Chamberlain took home the 3rd place in the open with some great riding but consistency was down.

Gonzalo Bellanti rode with consistency and difficulty for the win.

Open class L-R – Heru Anwari from Indonesia with a 2nd, Argentinian Gonzalo Bellanti taking the 1st and the year end title and Freestyle Now squad member Paul Chamberlain in 3rd place.

DownUnderGround 10 was awesome. It had a great relaxed vibe. All the riders were happy with the new format of 3 runs and dropping the lowest run, it worked well. Planning has begun for DUG 11 which will no doubt take place in Melbourne towards the end of 2019 along with the video round announced around mid year.

Thank you to the competition supporters Freestyle NowColony BMXSneaky WholefoodsAnchor BMX,

DownUnderGround BMX flatland contest – 1st December 2018 – Official results

Open – 1st Gonzalo Bellanti, 2nd Heru Anwari, 3rd Paul Chamberlain, 4th Aristyo Rahadiyan (Ais), 5th Lee Kirkman

Expert – 1st Chris Letchford, 2nd Philipp Frueh, 3rd Shaun Jarvis, 4th Matt Wootton, 5th Matt Spencer, 6th June Dungca

Beginners – 1st David Rooney, 2nd Rusty Piko, 3rd Paul Grzinic, 4th Seth Piko.

More photos can be found on the facebook page here. Full results of DownUnderGround from 2008 can be found here

 The open class runs