DownUnderGround, the 2019 Australian bmx flatland national championships took place in the home base of bmx flatland in Australia, Melbourne. On a nice Melbourne sunny day riders converged on the Melbourne Museum to compete against each other for the Australian bmx flatland champion. 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. The format was each rider having three runs, each up to two minutes long. The lowest score dropped and both remaining runs added together.
The weather was perfect and the riding was rad. This was the 11th year for DownUnderGround. Its a time when friends come together from all over Australia to ride, share tricks have good times and build the bmx flatland scene in Australia. DownUnderGround has a video contest that the points from go to the year end title. It’s a way to help get the edge over on other riders to help gain that Australian championship title.
The three most progressive beginner riders in Australia battled it out once again for the top three spots in the beginner class. In the beginners class heading into the contest it was Paul Griznic who had a great video entry and was sitting in first 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. It was really good to see Reuben Pedlar progress so much over the past year. 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. All three riders said they were keen to move up to the expert class for next year, we await to see.
1st place beginner class David Rooney – photo Stephen Pretty
In the expert class it was Philipp Frueh that took the win in true Philipp riding style. Second place went to Matt Spencer who rode really well. Third place when to Western Australian rider Shaun Jarvis. Fellow Western Australian rider Trent Karow had won the video round and took a 5th place in Melbourne. This put Trent and Shaun on equal points as Shaun took a 3rd in the video round and a 3rd in Melbourne. The way to work out who was the year end champion was a trick of. After 3 rounds it was Trent who got the judges approval for the win. Congratulations Trent.
1st place expert class Philipp Frueh – photo Stephen Pretty
Freestyle Now squad member Shaun Jarvis took 3rd place in the expert class – photo Stephen Pretty
1st place in the open class went to Heru Anwari – photo Stephen Pretty
The open class was tight between Argentinean rider Gonzalo Bellanti and Indonesian rider Heru Anwari. After the qualifying round both had scored 261 points, who was going to be first and second. Third place went to Sydney resident Paul Chamberlain who had a cracker first run with only one touch. To settle who was going to take first place it was down to a trick off. Gonzalo and Heru each had 30 seconds to pull their tricks. After the first round they judges could not decide, on with the second round. Still the judges could not decide. The third round was super tight with the judges taking some time to deliberate and finally the win was given to Heru. With a first in the video round and a second in Melbourne the year end title went to Gonzalo Bellanti.
DownUnderGround 11 was awesome. If you did not attend you either could not make it or you were abducted by alien creatures. Be sure to attend DownUnderGround 12. Thank you to the competition supporters Freestyle Now, Colony BMX, Sneaky Wholefoods, Anchor bmx, ZTFFbmx , Penumbra Bmx.
The 2019 Australian champion in the open class Gonzalo Bellanti – photo Stephen Pretty
Freestyle Now squad member Paul Chamberlain took home the 3rd place in the open class – photo Stephen Pretty
Clockwise from top left – Top 3 in beginners – Top 3 in experts – Top 3 in open – The 2019 Australian bmx flatland champion Gonzalo Bellanti.
More photos can be found on the DownUnderGround facebook page here.
Please check out Stephen Pretty photos from the day on his Facebook page here
Full results of DownUnderGround from 2008 to present can be found here
DownUnderGround BMX flatland contest – 7th December 2019 – Official results
Beginner – 1st Dave Rooney, 2nd Rusty Eylward-Piko, 3rd Paul Grzinic, 4th Greg De Bois, 5th Reuben Pedlar, 6th Seth Eylward-Piko, 7th Josh Hope
Expert – 1st Philipp Frueh, 2nd Matt Spencer, 3rd Shaun Jarvis, 4th Jim Jimbob, 5th Trent Karow
Open – 1st Heru Anwari, 2nd Gonzalo Bellanti, 3rd Paul Chamberlain, 4th RongKing Tan, 5th Grant Cruse.
