DownUnderGround the video contest for 2014 so get your cameras ready and start your flatland game on. DownUnderGround, the Australian national bmx flatland contest series started in 2008. It has gone through a few changes since then with it being 4 physical contests, but with Australia being such a big country travel to that many contests becomes expensive. DownUnderGround now has two physical contests, round 1 in Sydney and round 3, the finals in Melbourne and round two is a video contest.
The video contest concept is simple, each rider in pro or advanced classes gets to submit one contest video run, between one and two minutes long, as if they were riding at a flatland contest. (It must be unedited and continuous, no video cuts) It can be filmed on any device, quality of video is not important. You don’t need to make the video fancy or have music backing or spend stacks of time editing it. You are judged on the quality of your riding not the quality of the video. The video run gets judged using the same criteria as a normal contest, difficulty, consistency and variety. Points are awarded and these points go towards the year end title.
DownUnderGround round 2 – the video round is open to all riders within Australia keen to throw down. (Even international riders staying in Australia at the time of the contest)
1st place – Share in $400 worth of travel to get to either round 3 – the finals in Melbourne 29th November or for round 1 series 7 in Sydney January 2015) – thanks to Freestyle Now
2nd place – pedals, grips and t shirt – thanks to Colony
3rd place – grips and t shirt – thanks to Colony
Once you have your video completed and you are happy with your run you will need to submit your video to BMXflatlandAustralia.
It’s simple to do, head over to www.wetransfer.com
Once all that is done, click on “submit” and it’s all done – simple as that! Your video will be uploaded to wetransfur. BmxFlatnadAustralia we receive an email notification that your video is uploaded. From there they upload all the contest videos to their YouTube channel.
Make sure that the file size is not to large or it will be difficult to submit.
Entry’s close 3rd November so all videos will need to be submitted by then to be eligible. On November 4th the videos will all go live on the net through the BMXFlatlandAustralia YouTube channel. The videos will be judged by the judging panel (announced soon) with results posted shortly after that.
Get out there and film, nothing is stopping you. Full details on the on the entry information can be found on the format and judges page.
Last year squad member Shaun Jarvis took out the first place in the advanced class with this below video entry submission, you can look at the 2013 video contest results here.
At the beginning of February Freestyle Now was stoked to be involved with the Australind skatepark fundraiser. Australind is a growing community about 150kms south of Perth. They have an old ramp set up skatepark. Its small and not all that great, but any ramps are better than no ramps. A group of local skatepark users led by scooter rider Nigel Heidt and mum Sabine Heidt got a group together and took on the council to ask for an upgrade. With a council meeting and forever growing support the council approved for a new 1.35 million dollar skatepark to be built. The only catch is the community needs to raise $50000 to help. Skateparks are not cheap. So the Australind skatepark fundraiser day was set up to start with this.
It was a great day with the community coming out with full support. With massages, food stalls, auctions, donation and an assortment of other means a total of $1750 was raised. This may not seem much but this event is the start and with this will come more community support and donations from business. Go visit the bigger and better Australind skatepark facebook page for all the newest info or to show your support. Once the new park is constructed it will be amazing, with it being a great stop over on the way down south to the plethora of other skateparks in the region. Thank you to all of the people who showed up rode, blasted and supported.
Montage from the day top left to right – Local bmxers were reppin hard – Freestyle Now head honcho Shaun Jarvis with Olympian bmx racer Lauren Reynolds and Sabine Heidt – Dylan Schmidt came down to support and help out with some bmx coaching – Nigel Heidt with Hudson Goodchild – Kim Bloodson helped young Ryan get this new skate deck with all of his pocket money in the auction – Skaters were out in force even dude who have been off the skate for 10 years threw down.
The Australian flatland scene is relativity small in proportion with our population. With this small community comes a close nit group of riders who are always willing to travel to ride with other flatland riders. Round 1 of series 6 of DownUnderGround, the national bmx flatland contest, took place in Sydney in mid January. It was by far one of the best contests that Australia has seen in a while with a great turn out and plenty of goodtimes. Freestyle Now squad members Paul Chamberlain, Shaun Jarvis and Jason Parker were there to throw down with Paul taking the win in the pro class and Shaun placing 3rd in the advanced class. Check out the video put together by good friend Will Herrmann to see all of the contest highlights as well as Pauls last combo which was the run of the day. Thanks for the support from Freestyle Now, Colony BMX, 2020 BMX Mag, as well as Hell on Wheels bike shop.
Australind is a growing community about 150kms south of Perth. Their skatepark is of a very poor quality and the community has gained council approval for a new 1.35 million dollar skatepark to be built. The only catch is the community needs to raise $50000 to help. Freestyle Now is happy to get involved to help out. This will be only one of many jams that they will hold to assist with gaining funds to help. Support for this is needed from many participants, even if you were to come down and hang out and just get involved in any of the other activities or just drop by and donate some cash. Remember many people will come to the new skatepark once built and enjoy it but will you be able to say that you actually helped? Everyone wants a new park and new places to shred but you have to work for them. Come on down for the day to show your support as the new park once constructed will be amazing with it being a great stop over on the way down south to the plethora of other skateparks in the region.
On the day there will be 2 coaching jam sessions 10am to 12 and 1pm to 3pm $5 per session (please be 10 Min early to sign up) The local community has rallied together with lots of local business pitching in to help so even if you are not actively involved in the skatepark activity there will be plenty of ways to help raise the funds. 100 Vouchers for Eyebrow threading from Thread Away will be up for grabs for just $10 each, 50 vouchers for trendy Kids haircuts from Kinx Hair Port for just $10 each, Reflexology and Massages will be offered on the day for $10, Self- defence classes – learn nifty tricks to keep yourself and your kids safe $5, Action shot series from your children when they are doing their tricks on the Skate Park $5, Lauren Reynolds, professional BMXer and Olympian is coming from 1.30 to 2.30 for a signature and photo opportunity session, Bouncy castle and Toys for the little ones, Food vans to sell fries, soft serve ice cream, drinks, fairy floss, Harvey Fresh fruit juice and the super yummy sausages from Pete`s chop shop.
So come down to the Australind skatepark, and give something, your tricks, your energy, your dollar, your time.
Join their facebook page to show your support for the new park. Big thank you to Sabine Heidt for being the main instigator behind the whole movement.
Darwin is a rad place, we have visited there a few times. Arlo Stewart has one of the raddest yard set up we have ever seen. Not only has he got trails in his front year but has got back to back dirt bowls. Yes DIRT BOWLS, check the flyer, yes they are rad. Arlo has organized to host the first ever Berry Jam taking place on the 7th of July. The whole day is a fundraiser for UNICEF, which means you have to give something. If you give you get something in return, one of the best days of riding and hanging out with a good bmx scene you could possibly have. Freestyle Now is getting behind the day with support as well as support coming from Colony, Spokes NT and NT Elite. It’s a great time of the year to visit Darwin so get yourself a ticket there and go ride some crazy dirt bowls.
DIRT BOWL IS COMING ARE YOU GOING.
Billy Brooks Xup at the dirt bowls on a past Darwin trip.
In late December the Bassendean youth services hosted a competition jam at the Bassendean skatepark. Freestyle Now squad members Shaun Jarvis and Kim Bloodson were there on the night to be the official MC’s. It was a fun night and Ayden from the Bassendean youth services put this edit together. Look for Kim and Shaun at about the 2:20 mark. Enjoy
Round 1 of DownUnderGround took place in Sydney on the 19th of January. Freestyle Now squad members Paul Chamberlain, Shaun Jarvis, Jason Parker and Billy Brooks were there to participate in the good times. Another rider who always follows the good times in Tasmanian rider Matt Wootton. He was also in Sydney to hang out and ride at DownUnderGround . He was able to film some of the competition as well as the antics that went on during the weekend and the video captures the vibe of the weekend really well. Thanks Matt for getting the video done.
Just before Christmas 2012 the Perth bmx flatland riders got together to have a bit of a rolling jam through the city of Perth at various spots. Freestyle Now squad members Shaun Jarvis and Andrew McDermott we there on the day to roll out some tricks. New Freestyle Now reserves squad member Brady Thomas was also there on the day to film and put together this rad web edit of the day. Enjoy.
Round 1 of the new series of DownUnderGround is only a few weeks away. Taking place at Waverly Park, Waverly in Sydney on the 19th January 2013. There will be a good turn out of riders from around Australia and a few international riders attending as well. The contest is set to take place just a few minutes from the world famous Bondi Beach. The contest is supported by Freestyle Now, Colony, and 2020 bmx magazine. Check the promo flyer for info and watch the last of the promo videos. See you there for all of the fun and good times. Plan your journey and get yourself to Sydney to enjoy the fun times and radness that is DownUnderGround.
The next installment of the DownUnderGround promo videos is amongst us. This time with Freestyle Now squad member Paul Chamberlain singing a popular Australian song, with a twist. The DownUnderGround is the national bmx flatland contest series and round 1 is set to for the 19th January at Waverly Park, Waverly in Sydney and only minutes away from the world famous Bondi Beach. This will be the start of series 5 and Freestyle Now will be once again supporting the contest along with Colony, and 2020 bmx magazine. Plan your journey and get yourself to Sydney to enjoy the fun times and radness that is DownUnderGround.
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
The video contest concept is simple, each rider in pro or advanced classes gets to submit one contest video run, between one and two minutes long, as if they were riding at a flatland contest. (It must be unedited and continuous, no video cuts) It can be filmed on any device, quality of video is not important. You don’t need to make the video fancy or have music backing or spend stacks of time editing it. You are judged on the quality of your riding not the quality of the video. The video run gets judged using the same criteria as a normal contest, difficulty, consistency and variety. Points are awarded and these points go towards the year end title.
