Freestyle Now can perform stunt shows anywhere, in any location, for any occasion.
Andrew Ahumada backflips over a lifesaver. The theme of the party was fancy dress so the party goers were in some great costumes – Photo LR photography Melbourne
When Buzz Products approached Freestyle Now asking if we could do a stunt show at their Christmas party we naturally said yes. The Christmas party was at a cool Melbourne venue called The Third Day. It was a perfect spot. To get the radness rolling, Freestyle Now recruited two Melbourne shredders. To get the flatland component of the show sorted, Gonzalo Bellanti, the 2019 Australian bmx flatland champion Gonzalo Bellanti was in full effect. With the small kicker ramp brought in the air antics was given to none other than Australian legend Andrew Ahumada. Freestyle Now squadron leader Shaun Jarvis headed up the MC duties and got some show riding in as well. It was a pumping gig with a great sound system and such a receptive crowd. None of the Buzz Products employees knew Freestyle now was coming to throw down the radness so when we started up they were super stoked. No matter the location Freestyle Now can perform some great entertaining stunt shows for any occasion, be sure to get in contact with your requirements.
The 2019 Australian bmx flatland championship Gonzalo Bellanti spinning a time machine for the Christmas party attendees. More photos can be found on our Facebook page here
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.
Freestyle Now recruits squad members Naotada Yamada and Jigen Omotehara recently both took home some first place positions at bmx flatland contests in Japan. Naotoda competed in the under 16 class at the Chimera A side games in Kobe and did an awesome run to take the win. With a great front wheel combo and with only one touch the rad was definitely rad. Congratulations.
These two radsters are both bmx flatland contest winners. Jigen Omotehara and Naotada Yamada have been friends for over half their lives and are both Freestyle Now squad members. Both are wearing the Freestyle Now “Life without BMX” t shirts. Check our Facebook store if you would like to get one
Jigen entered the Japan BMX freestyle federation Japan Cup in the 13 – 15 class and took home the first place with a contest run that was full of hard combos and only 2 touches. The contest took place in Okayama City in September on the same weekend that a typhoon Hagibis hit Japan. Congratulations. Jigen will be competing in Kyoto this weekend (16th November) for round 3 of the Japan Cup.
DownUnderGround is the Australian bmx flatland championships and has been going since 2008 with Freestyle Now being the competition organizer. Once again DownUnderGround will return to Melbourne for the 11th year of the national competition on 7th December at the iconic Melbourne Imax in Carlton.
DownUnderGround also has a video contest to help riders earn points toward taking the Australian bmx flatland championship title. Riders submit a contest video between 1 and 2 minutes in length. The rider has to perform their tricks on camera as if they were at a physical contest. Riders are then judged according to the judging criteria.
This year the video round judges were –
Freestyle Now squad members Paul Chamberlain (judging beginners and experts) and Shaun Jarvis (judging opens), both are no strangers to competitions having judged and entered many DownUnderGround competitions. James McGraw. James has been in flatland for over 30 years and had competed and is still competing at the highest level. James is behind the American Flatland Association, making sure the grassroots movement of bmx flatland is always being promoted and influenced in the USA. Joe Cicman. Joe is legendary for pushing the boundaries what is possible in BMX flatland and inspiring other to push the boundaries.
We would like to give a big thanks to the judges and it was great to have their input into judging the video round.
Thank you once again to our competition supporters Freestyle Now, Colony BMX, Anchor BMX, Sneaky Wholefoods and ZTFF BMX. Hope to see many riders at DownUnderGround on the 7th December at Melbourne Imax in Carlton, come on down to witness the best bmx flatland riding in Australia.
2019 DownUnderGround – Australian bmx flatland championships video competition results
Beginner – 1st Paul Grzinic – Melbourne, 2nd Greg De Bois – Sydney, 3rd David Roomey – Melbourne
Freestyle Now squad member Dez Marssen knows how to get rad on a bike. His bmx flatland skills are dialed. Over the past few months Dez has been performing in the Elements of Freestyle with the ISH Dance Collective and recently performed in Edinburgh. Following on from the theater shows Dez travelled to Spain to hang out with Alberto Moya and compete in the Boadilla street line competition where he took out the 2nd place.
Dez has just recently compiled a stack of his instagram videos to make the Insta Ammo clip. Be sure to give this one a watch to see how much radness Dez possesses on a bike. Six and a half minutes of pure bmx flatland skills that will blow your mind on what is possible on a bmx bike. Keep rolling out the rad Dez.
Dez Maarsen performing with the Elements of Freestyle in Edinburgh
Driven is a action sports documentary. Action sports are truly amazing. The drive to achieve can be pain staking but very rewarding. Perth scooter rider Jakob Wells put together a short documentary about action sports which features Freestyle Now squad member and co founder Shaun Jarvis. Shaun talks about the benefits of participating in action sports and how the skills learnt can help with life skills. This is definitely a video worth watching.
Freestyle Now recruits squad members Naotada Yamada and Jigen Omotehara attended the 2019 Flatark bmx flatland contest in Samukawa Kanagawa Japan. Both riders did fantastic runs in the Expert class. Jigen place 12th with 309 points and Naotada placed 13th with 307 points. A very tight competition it was. Jigen and Naotoda are both only 12 years old and moving up to the expert class is a big step. Jigen attended the Flatark contest a week after winning the junior bmx flatland division at FISE in Hiroshima.
At the last Flatark contest in 2017 both riders competed in the Novice class where Naotada placed 2nd and Jigen placed 6th. In Qualifying it was Naotada in 1st and Jigen in 2nd. Both riders are good friend and have grown up together riding bmx over the last 6 years. it is great to see their progression.
These two are legends in the making, watch this space over the next 5 years, at only 12 years old they have a long future of radness ahead
Jigen Omotehara wins bmx flatland juniors class at FISE Hiroshima 2019
We are so stoked for Freestyle Now recruits squad member Jigen Omotehara for winning the juniors class at the 2019 FISE in Hiroshima. Jigen Omotehara is a super rad 12 year old bmx flatland kid. Coming from Osaka in Japan he has been riding bmx flatland since he was six. In November 2018 Jigen joined the Freestyle Now squad as a recruits member. His win in the junior’s class at the FISE Hiroshima contest shows he is a future bmx flatland pro in the making. Freestyle Now is very proud to have Jigen as part of the squad. Keep rolling out the rad.
Jigen Omotehara linking his way into a time machine and taking the winning spot on the podium at FISE Hiroshima.
Jigen Omotehara rolling a hitchhiker on his way to winning the juniors class at the 2019 FISE in Hiroshima.
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.
In October 2018 Freestyle now headed to Japan to attend the legendary Flatark contest. With flight all book the contest was cancelled a few weeks prior the date, so it was still all systems go to head to Japan and go on a riding holiday. Freestyle Now squad members Shaun Jarvis and Paul Chamberlain headed from both sides of Australia while Dez Maarsen traveled from his home in The Netherlands. Meeting them in Kobe was Freestyle Now recruits rider and Osaka resident Naotada Yamada. Shaun Jarvis documented the 10 day trip with making a video of each of the day’s activities and riding. It was an awesome time with so much riding going on almost every day. The video highlights the Spaceark jam that happened in Kobe which took place due to Flatark not happening, and the Freestyle Now jam that took place the day after at Nagai Park in Osaka. While in Japan and in Osaka Freestyle Now also added young shredder and good friend of Naotada, Jigin Omotehara to our recruits squad. So much great riding took place. Also there are many riders from around the world who also were riding in Japan as well as so many of the Japanese bmx flatland riders. Give it a watch to see some amazing bmx flatland.
Riders included in the video – Paul Chamberlain, Shaun Jarvis, Dez Maarsen, Naotada Yamada, Jigin Omotehara, Joel Schallhorn, Naoto Tamaru, Masato Ito, Dan Hennig, Benjamin Hudson, Jorrit van Drumpt, Minato Sato, York Uno
Freestyle now squad members L to R Paul Chamberlain, Dez Maarsen, Naotad Yamada and Shaun Jarvis
