Like I was 12 years old again, giving the big thumbs up with Bob Haro, Brian Blyther, Dave Nourie and Mike Dominguez

August 14 2010 – Ashland, OR.

Very few people in life actually get to meet their heroes. If you grew up a big Led Zeppelin fan, chances are 25 years later you still haven’t met Robert Plant. Freestyle BMX is different, especially now. In 1986 when I first got into freestyle, the only access I had to pro riders was the magazine. In the summer of 1987 our local bike shop hosted the Haro Freestle team (actually there were two teams touring that summer I think). Burbank Schwinn was the place and Ron Wilkerson, Brian Blyther and Dave Nourie were the team.

Dave Nourie wows the crowd, summer 1987.

Brian Blyther airs over the Haro ramp.

Ron Wilkerson one-handed rocket air.

That show stuck in my mind and memory as the defining freestyle show. I saw a few other shows over the next couple summers, but Ron, Brian and Dave were at the top of the game back then and that was the show everyone wanted to see. So it was pretty exciting to hear that the Haro team were doing some reunion shows to celebrate the 25th anniversary.

The first show took place at the Worlds in Germany in 2009. A pretty amazing video edit from Germany made it online. Early in 2010 I went with a few friends to an old-school BMX gathering in Albany, OR and Dave Nourie was actually there. Between riding and having a few beers (the show was at a brew pub), Dave mentioned the team would be doing another show in August, in Ashland OR. I marked it on the calendar.

I guess Dave is pretty involved in the community in Ashland and helps organize a bike event called Bike It. The Haro show was to be the highlight of the 2010 Bike It event. I arrived early, there were only a handful of people there. I saw Dave in a fluorescent green shirt with matching Vans getting things organized.

Dave Nourie, master of ceremonies

Dave in the midst of "Nourie's Story," the flatland demo

Throughout the day, there was a lot of free riding, some bike events, Dave’s Flatland Demo, a silent auction and a ton of raffle giveaways. Despite the mid 90s temperatures, it was a very cool day even before the Haro team took center stage.

Right around 5:30, Kevin Martin took over the mic, just like the old days and got the festivities started. Before the show kicked off, he pointed out guys in the crowd like Bob Haro, Scotty Freeman and few other old schoolers.  A few minutes later he directed the attention of the crowd to the back of the lot where a stretched black limo was pulling up with 4 BMX bikes hanging off the back. The driver and a girl on skates got out to open the door and let Dave, Ron, Brian and Mike Dominguez out. The old school music was cranking and the show got started proper.

The only way to arrive at a show.

The guys all took turns taking runs, Dave filling out the flatland portion and the rest hitting the ramps (though Ron did do a few slick ground moves). The heat was intense and the team was decked out in full Haro uniforms and old school helmets (complete with mouth guard). It must have been unbelievably hot but they all hit it hard and gave everything they had.

Ron W pedal picker drop in, pulled first try

Brian with a Chicken Air (video still)

Mike D fakie (video still)

This is what a 35 year old kid looks like. That silly grin was on my face the entire time

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We had every kind of rider show up during the day. Flatlanders, street riders (lots of them), old schoolers and regular Portland cyclists wanting to see what NW freestyle is all about.

Quite a few people made long trips just to be there. Thank you Rue (and family), Jeremy, Mark, Sonny, Cash and Chris for making the effort. Apologies if I missed anyone.

Thank you to our sponsors adidas, Tips Plus, Primo, Lotek, FlatlandFuel, Brickhouse Bikes, Spry Bike Co and Goods BMX. We were able to hand out several prize packs and everyone who got one was stoked.

Check back soon for more updates, videos, photos and a full write up.

While you are waiting a few local blogs posted photos from the jam. Shad posted a bunch of photos on the Goods blog. You can check them out here. Jared Souney snapped a nice bunnyhop shot. Mark Rainha took the group shot below and did a write up on the day

Thanks

Photo by Mark Rainha. Thanks Mark.

Finally a very big thank you to all the locals who put so much time and effort into this jam. You know who you are.

Here’s what he had to say about his pride and joy:

“I remember reading the comic strip called “BC” when I was a kid. One of the caveman characters rode around town on a stone wheel with a stick through it. Who knew that years later I’d build my own version? Anyway here are the specs for my one wheeler:”

Bars: old Odyssey 4 piece
Grips: Ritchey true grips
Bar Ends: Odyssey
Stem: Odyssey Elementary
Fork: Odyssey flat fork
Hub: Suzue unsealed high flange 48
Spokes: Ti
Nipples: gold alloy
Rim: G-sport rib cage chrome 48
Pegs: Spry
Tire: Odyssey Chase
Brake: Dia-tech Hombre
Lever: Shimano XT
Stem pad: Cut up piece of old shin pad

Bike Specs:

Frame: SickChild Metropolitan/ 18.75″ TT
Forks: Odyssey Flat Forks
Stem: Camacura 26
Bars: Odyssey Chase 7.5”
Grips: Odyssey Thumb Tacks / Black
Bar Ends: Odyssey Plastic
Cranks: Odyssey Polished Phat widows 165mm
Pedals: Odyssey Twisted PC / White
Sprocket: Unknown 26t
Chain: KMC Lime Green
Seatpost: Thompson Elite / Black
Seat: KHE Plastic / White
Seatclamp: S&M
Rims (front/back): Odyssey Hazard Light White / Alienation Skylark White
Rear Hub: KHE Geisha Light
Front Hub: Odyssey Vanderos 2
Pegs: Spry Ti
Tires: Odyssey Freq G’s
Front Brake: Gold DiaTech
Levers: DiaComp Tech77

I rode a chrome frame as a kid and have wanted one ever since I got back into riding. After much drooling over other people’s LTFs I pulled the trigger and ordered one from Shad at Goods.

The photos really do not do this bike justice. It is a beautiful thing. I can honestly say I now own three of the nicest bikes I have ever ridden. So stoked.

Frame: S&M LTF / 19.5″ TT
Forks: Odyssey Flat Forks
Stem: Dragonfly Doozer
Bars: Fit Inman’s
Grips: Odyssey Thumb Tacks
Bar Ends: Bizhouse
Cranks: Profile Flatland Cranks (150mm) / FSA Ti Spindle / Ti Hardware
Pedals: Ares 88 Plastic Pedal
Sprocket: RNC 28t Titanium (Custom machined)
Chain: KMC
Seatpost: MacNeil
Seat: MacNeil Pivitol
Seatclamp: S&M
Rims (front/back): Odyssey Duralecta Rims (48H)
Rear Hub: Nankai Technolite Freecoaster (11t with Quamen Cap)
Front Hub: DK
Pegs: Spry
Tires: Odyssey Freq G’s
Front Brake: Odyssey Evo
Rear Brake: Hombre
Levers: Odyssey MonoLevers (medium)
Gyro: Snafu

Shad and a bunch of street riders came out to hang at the lot as well. Chico the dog was chillin’ on the sidelines.

We did some riding, stood around chatting and then went for a few brews. It was a fun night and I really can’t wait to see how the photos turned out. Now we just have to get a photo of Joe in Ride and Cream.

Here are some photos I took. I apologize for the quality I was messing with my camera and turned on some weird color setting.

Bike It 2010 – Ashland Oregon

“The 1985 HARO Freestyle Team” will perform a retro show that will surely rock the house and bring back some of the roots of BMX Freestyle.

Bob Haro will be there supporting the event and this incredible team he created many, many years ago.

At 5pm on August 14th 2010, the 80’s tunes will be playing, Kevin Martin on the mic introducing the 1985 HARO Freestyle Team…Ron Wilkerson, Brian Blyther, Dave Nourie and Mike Dominguez to perform one of the original Freestyle shows to date.

To support to event visit www.bikeit.info

Bike It 2010 is proud to host the 25th Anniversary of the Haro bmx freestyle team.

Haro was one of the premiere freestyle teams during the 1980′s, performing shows and promoting the sport of freestyle around the world.

Original team riders Ron Wilkerson, Dave Nourie, Brian Blyther, and Mike Dominguez will reunite for their first US show in over 20 years.

The show will take place on August 14, 2010 in Ashland, Oregon.

Click the link below for details:

ashlandresourcecenter.com

I’m not sure when, exactly, the idea was put forth that Sonny and I should put on a jam of our own, but I think Joe planted the seed. Over a period of a few weeks, Sonny and I decided that we would. We had the perfect spot, too. The 105 bridge crossing the Willamette River covers a basketball court where Eugene old-schoolers such as Cash Reynolds and Jesse Puente rolled back in the mid to late 80′s. With the forecast predicting 30% chance of rain, it was perfect.

Except for the fact, which we discovered Friday, that a Gay/Lesbian organization reserved it for festivities lasting the duration of the day. Fuck is right!

So we moved to the courts at Chucrchill Sports Park, where the Churchill skatepark is, attached to a highschool. Justin was first on the scene and had his bike out of his european wagon and spinning jugglers and steams instantly, with the occasional J-stall thrown in to work the abs. Cash Reynolds actually came out, lured by the promise of a bike to ride. The bike in question was my park bike which needed some chain work. Cash worked on it the entire time we were at the courts.

Anthony and James showed up with the shirts and a couple of very dialed bikes next. James had an S&M LTF which was chrome-plated. Drool, you know you want to.

Brett showed next and I got hooked up with two pairs of his ti-ended pegs for a very good price. They even had cheeta print grip-tape. He proceeded to flow around the courts, non-stop. Every time I looked over, he was rolling, switching and smoothying.

He also brought the most sano un-bike I have ever seen.
Sarge (Paul Miller) was next sporting large guns, facial hair, sun glass tan and the Tank, his ghetto ride. I have to admit, I was really stoked to see him. The level of positive energy was off the scale and we took turns making tire marks in the gritty, yet fast, surface. But, as Sonny fired up the BBQ, the rain made good on earlier threats and sprinkles and opened up for real.

We moved to a covered spot at the high school entrance and it turned out to be a great spot. While steaks and burgers BBQ’d riders shared the tiny spot as cameras caught the action. Cash had the bike going and seemed to feel right at home breaking out rolling tricks like butter. The vibe was at an all-time high. Steaks and burgers were passed out, thanks to Sonny’s set-up. It was a medium sized BBQ/smoker strapped down to a low trailer made from a pickup bed and it was dialed.

Sonny’s traveling Flatland feeder.

He takes his BBQ’ing seriously, using cherry wood to add natural flavor and never uses gas. The meat tasted great.

Which was about the time security rolled up. The fucker. Ok, we have been at this for twenty years and have come to realize what it means to have a job to do. We get it, security has to make us leave, but be human about it. As we rolled out, I offered him a bribe of a steak, trying to be cool and joke with the guy. He was a straight up ass about it. Fuck him.

The vibe would not be stopped as the crew, minus Anthony, moved to the Creswell spot which Sonny and I have been loving since I moved in October. The general consensus seemed to be that the spot was all I had foretold it to be and worth driving to as the session continued.

As the session wound down I realized just how great all the guys are and how much this jam meant to Sonny and I. It was kind of giving back, though I wish Joe could have made it. He busted his ass providing the t-shirts which turned out great and deserves a good steak.

Thanks to everyone who made it out and contributed to the awesome vibe. Thanks to Sonny for the eats and motivation. We’re gonna do a little jam again, possibly in the winter, since our spot is lit and covered year-round.

It was a good fuckin time.
~J

Find more videos like this on Elephant Glide

Questionable Wednesday’s with Joe Loumena

Ride BMX has a nice video from the Old School Reunion that went down at Woodward last weekend. Looks like it was a great weekend. You can find more videos and photos on Jared Souney’s website. Would love to do a road trip down there next year.

From old school to new school here’s some footage from KOG Round 1. Great stuff.

Finally don’t forget the Seattle Jam is only a month away. You can find more info on Global-Flat.