Yo, been told by a rather bossy young lady to update my blog so thought she probaly right, here goes...

After The Masters in Cologne, Germany I've been holed up at Heathrow doing my construction job, real long hours, some real hard work but I like it, it can be interesting & it pays amazing so....

Anyway, I got a call asking if I wanted to go to Hamburg, Germany to do live TV commentary for freecaster.tv & MTV Germany @ the T-Mobile Extreme Playgrounds "Summer Session". Errrrrr YES!
It's a mini-ramp spine contest but not your average run of the mill event, its head to head, knock out style which is pretty good fun. Osato & Kachinsky travelled from over the pond to ride the contest which is good, both are always great to hang out with.
I wont go thru the in's & out's of the event but Osato made finals only to be out gunned by the UK's Harry Main. Harry is only 17yrs old but has some serious bike skillage, google him or some shit?
After the event the legendary "Coach" took me, along with BDJ, Andy Zeiss, Kay Clauberg & a bunch of others down to see Pennywise at the main stage. Coach has been on stage with these guys a few times & when they told me we were going on for the last song, Bro Hymn I was scared as shit! That soon past as we were rocking out to THE bmx anthem in front of a crowd of thousands!! It was serious life moment & Im still buzzing now, 4 days later!!!
We grabbed a case of Becks & sat there talking shit for a few hours before retiring to the hotel bar. Good comp. Good friends. Good times.

I also got one of only 2500 copies of the Freestylin' book!!! Believe me, I am so stoked its unreal, like a kid at f&*kin xmas! I'm old enough to appreciate it as I used to hunt the shops for the magazine back in the late 80's (old fu**er) & it really is unreal.Thankyou to Will from DIG magazine & my hero Chris Jon for hooking me up.

Im going back to Germany in November to do the next T-Mobile event which is head to head Street/Park & Vert, lots of amazing riders coming & its going to be a blast. !

Peace ooooooooooooooooout!

So, this time next week I will be deep in parties in Cologne for the BMX Masters. This years event will be the best yet for sure, the rider list is crazy with Harrington, Webb, Wallace, Enarson, Mackay, Dhers, Barbero, Bohan, Miller, Main & so on this WILL be the event of the year for sure!!!!
Parties in Cologne are ALWAYS great, BMX in Europe is more of a gathering than a TV show which is what makes it so amazing!
Hopefully more news & footage next week?

dj

Its nearly time for NASS over here in the UK, June 13/14/15.
NASS is a strange event which can either be amazing or complete shite! last year was amazing, myself & ronnie remo had a caravan/mobile home & just ate soup, & hotdogs & drank a truckload of beer & jack!!! hopefully this year will be as good??? daniels dher is coming over again & hopefully this time he'll remember his luggage, fool!!!???

then just a few weeks later Im off to MC @ easily the best euro event of all, The Suzuki BMX Masters in Cologne Germany! This years event will be off the chain, new, bigger sponsors, more riders travelling from across the globe & probaly more booze?!!!! This is whats great about these euro events, they arent all about TV & co-orpate shit, its about having fun, drinking & seeing your friends, no pressure at all, good times every time!

Im going to do my upmost to get some kind of video stuff to get on here from both events but I will be MC'ing at both so maybe a bit limited?

If you can get to Cologne, do it... theres a camp site & Im even up for letting you shower in my room!!!!!!!

good times ahead, lifes sweet!

Yo, just got back from FISE, hungover, no voice & a stinking headache BUT I had one of the best weekends in years!!!
the level of riding out there was the nuts, europe certanly represents big time these days. As you know Dhers took both wins in street & park with Laguna.com taking the win in dirt.
The nightlife (as always in europe) was unreal, free beers & hot chicks always a good thing huh?
Im waiting on the footage from the weekend from sam wise then i'll write a full report & have an exclusive video up the homepage....

dj

Anyone on here going down to Montpellier, France for FISE this year? There's a good chance I'll be MC'ing all the BMX stuff so let me know if you are going to be around?!

Also, after speaking with Losey here @Vitalbmx Im going to write a report on the event & along with Ronnie Remo we will film as much as we can for a vital video exclusive!

Rider list looks crazy so far! www.fise-events.com

dj

Yo, I added some new pics to my vital profile, check'em out & leave me some comments.... I'd much rather be on here than fu**in myspace eh?!!!!

I've always enjoyed reading the Top Fives in magazines & wondered what mine would be so I thought Id give it a go..... answers are below, try it yourself.... it isnt that easy...

Top Fives…..

Riders:                                           

1. Ben Hennon

2. Brian Blyther

3. Brendan Jones

4. Mike Miller

5. Stefan Lantshner

Spots:

1.  Paulsgrove Chalkpit (RIP)                                                 

2. Southsea

3. Wakefield (RIP)

4. Redbanks

5. Hillside (RIP)

Videos:

1. Spatial Awareness

2. Zero Tolerance

3. Joe Kid

4. Public Domain

5. Hoffman combo DVD

Products:

1. Jack Daniels

2. Macbook Pro

3. Ipod

4. Sony K850i

5. Any kettle that makes my tea

Fads:

1. Slammed seats

2. Girl boys

3. Kickouts

4. Lookbacks

5. GHD’s

Books:

1. The Dirt: Motley Crue

2. High Concept. Charles Flemming

3. Evil Spirits. The life of Oliver Reed by Clive Goodwin

4. The ride of my life. Mat Hoffman

5. Occupation Skateboarder. Tony Hawk

Music:

1. Kings of Leon

2. Otis Redding

3. Wolfmother

4. White Stripes

5 Radio One

Movies:

1. Napoleon Dynamite

2. Pulp Fiction

3. Anchorman

4. E.T

5. Death Proof

People:

1. Smooth Keith

2. Remo

3. O’Connell

4. Jobs

5. Scarfe

Places:

1. Cologne

2. NYC

3. Playa del Cura

4. Samos

5. Home

Influences:

1. Daughters

2. Dad

3. Friends

4. McQueen

5. Murray

Ambitions:

1. Pay off the mortgage

2. Pay off the overdraft

3. Pay off the credit card

4. Earn enough to do the above

5. Ride a bit more

Magazines (non-BMX)

1. National Geographic

2. FHM

3. Stuff

4. Empire

5. Playboy

Wastes of Time:

1. NASS?

2. Myspace

3. MSN

4. Smoking (cant help it!)

5. Bitching about other people &/or their girls!

Good Times:

1. KoC’s before the shit

2. Cologne always

3. Prattman days

4. Prague Worlds

5. King of Skateparks 2004

Yo, I ususally write a rews column for ride Uk but this issue it hasnt made it in so I thought Id post it here straight away... a  lot of it will be irrelevant to most of you but hey, bmx is bmx right?

Events like Candy Bar challenge, best flat bottom etc made it an amazing afternoon & a fitting send off to a great guy. Well done to Jamie & his posse for doing a great job.

Fresh off the news that long time Odyssey distributor Padded Cell have now closed their doors is that Carlo Griggs’ IMG distribution will now be in charge of all thing s Odyssey, Sunday & G-Sport as well as the Proper Bikes brand, Fly Bikes & Simple.

Rising from the remains of Padded Cell comes Zeal Distribution bought forward by James Hitchcox to deal with Mankind, Superstar, Alone, BSD, Sputnic & Standard Bykes …… expect plenty of good stuff & support to come out of Zeal. Show them some support on myspace & at www.zealbmx.com

Fresh & rested after his ACL surgery 6 months ago Ronnie Remo’s time of acting like a 20year old party animal are now pretty much over as he has started to ride again which means early nights before events! He’s very serious about riding again & has spent way too much time weighing all the new components for his new bike!!

Mike Miller is building a ramp in his back garden in Tadley on the spot where he used keep his Llama.

Phil Aller is now riding for Vans UK and Chase Hawk is on Vans US.

Southsea local BMX “burd” Danielle Jervis has got herself a lil’ flow deal with a new US company called Wanstall Bikes

Ben Hennon has done his ACL & after his breaking his wrist on his bike Ben Wallace waited until that had healed before he got into a fight in town & f**ked up his hand!!!

Tony Watkinson is currently travelling the USA with Grotbags illegitimate son Catfish, doing shows, hitting up spots & events & being offered all the trappings of hanging out with the rich n famous!

As I write this I’m getting updates from Watko & Wallace both at the final Dew tour stop in Orlando. Nyquist has just won this years overall Dew Tour Cup for Dirt. Ryan also recently married his long-time girlfriend Ali. Congratulations to you both. Dhers took the Park win for the 2nd year running & within that event Dennis Enarson nailed a triplewhip 360 now, I’m not sure if I said this before & I know Banners has voiced his concern but all this triplewhip, 1080’s, doublebackies, double whip 3’s etc etc is getting a little monotonous & I for one am concerned that eventually one day the spin will go out of control & riders will end up in orbit!!! In all honesty though, as difficult/impressive as it may be it really isn’t creative is it? Theres no originality to just adding on another flip/twhip or rotation is there? Sorry, off rant!

Shaun Scarfe & his crew of Panasonic wielding “tradesmen” have been knocking their nuts out at Corby skatepark building the new 75 foot wide Vert ramp. After the ramp is built there will be a Resi section added plus there are plans for an extension of the existing building to put in a skate “plaza” & an over 18’s area with bar etc…. Things look great at Corby so get yourself along there & show some support.

It looks as if the issues regarding Southsea could be closer to being resolved & the park could remain open? More definite news on that soon but related is myself & Effraim are planning on doing at least 1 event at Southsea next year so watch this space….

Mount Hawke skatepark has recently had a big overhaul with loads of old stuff demolished and replaced with shiny new stuff, check out the pics or get yourself down there.

Toby Gresswell is no longer riding for Eastern Bikes but still runs a front brake.

Ben Manuel’s Upton Skatepark recently celebrated being open for 10 years with a big jam/party with fireworks, a clown, a juggler & jelly & ice cream!

By the time you read this Central Skatepark in Manchester’s city centre will have had its 1st year birthday party with FIT video premiere & a visit from the DC team, that’s shoe team not superhero DC comics team!

Chazz Michael Michaels is now riding for Verticoli & Happy Gilmore is still sponsored by Subway

Right, hopefully that’s my fill for the month? Do you got anything for me? Gossip? Pics? Rumours? Lies? Truths? Whatever it is send it to me at professionalprick2003@yahoo.co.uk for next issue

Before I go I just want to add. If you haven’t done it already make sure you go donate some money to the Stephen Murray foundation. Fatbmx.com recently posted 3 videos of Stephen talking about what has happened to him. Stephen is being amazingly strong & positive about the future, which says a heck of a lot of him as a person.

Forget about that dodgy New Era cap you were going to buy or how much you think anyone with 4 pegs, 2 brakes or jeans that actually fit annoy you, there are people in the world that need your help & Stephen is one of those. Make it a priority this month.

Go to http://www.stephenmurray.org/ & make it happen people. Thankyou.."

Yo, I've been writing for Ride mag for a few years now so, aftet the magazine is released Im going to post my articles on here as blogs just incase some of you dont get to read it in the magazine... here's last months "news"...

Yo, it’s been a while eh? I’ve been so busy/tired/unenthusiastic that I just haven’t had time/energy/motivation to actually open the notebook & fire down what gossip I have. I have attempted to several times, honestly! I’ve sent bulk texts & emails saying how this was the month etc & I was going to do finally write something down but it never materialised until now but hey, better late than never huh? OK, so a lot of this will be old news but its all news either way…

Ben Hennon is no longer riding for Haro Bikes. After 4 years representing them he, one of Europe’s top riders, was let go from the team. Go figure! Hennon also left long time sponsor Etnies & is now aboard the Vans US team. Nice one.

Premium rider & Masters street finalist Louie Smith recently had ACL surgery, which went pretty well but means Louie will be out of action for at least 6 months.

Mike O’Connell & his wife Cordi recently celebrated the birth of their baby son. They named the child Luke & he is brother to 4-year-old Leah. Star Wars fans are strange eh?

Mark Webb was having a great year until he broke his wrist in Cologne & couldn’t win the X-Games 2 weeks later but he has picked a nice Suzuki sponsorship deal, which will help pay them bills. The X-Games will have to wait another year for a UK gold medallist.

As well as riding for Haro, hitting up the Dew tour Stateside & loving crap cars Ben Wallace is now riding for Primo & Orchid thru Seventies plus I’m pretty sure he’ll be riding the X-Games next year as he was down as an alternate for this year!

Both Webb & Wallace are down to be on the next Local Exposure tour…. As long as Allan Cooke sticks to his word!!!

Has anyone got any pics of the new £500,000 concrete park in Crawley? Pill & O’Connell have both sessioned it but no pics!!!

Remo & myself are starting our own “company” called totalBMX. Its basically a new version of our original Team Total off of the mid-late 90’s & in all honesty we don’t have a frickin clue what it’ll actually do but its worth a laugh so be on the look out for t-shirts & all the usual shite from new, rider owned “companies” when we can be arsed to do it, in the meantime we’ll just be drunk & loud! Our team already consists of Mark Webb, Daniel Dhers, Ben Wallace, Mike Miller, Tony Watkinson, Dave Mirra, Jimmy Crankie, Sam Wise, Alice Thatcher, Debs & some others. We haven’t actually told/asked them yet either

Crapest news without a doubt is the sad passing of a UK BMX legend. Steven “Pepi” Winder recently passed away & will be sorely missed by everyone. Pepi is one of the original UK riders appearing in hit TV show BMX Beat in the 80’s & riding for Vincent frames & Skyway in his day. Pepi left BMX for a while but returned a few years back & was just as good & innovative as ever. He had time for everyone & anyone & you couldn’t meet a nicer guy. Pepi joins Neil Ruffell, Scott Carroll, Dave Vanderspek & Colin Winkleman in BMX heaven. Have fun guys. Ride In Peace.

Pijin bike shop & Authentic clothing are supporting this year’s annual “one quid budget jam” down at the War Memorial Skatepark in Amazingstoke on Sept 22nd.

The flyer reads, “Bring your own beer, bbq & bitches”. Sounds like a good day!

Owen Williams DVD is finally coming along at a decent pace & he has a nice trailer up on youtube. Get on there & type in “the last few years UK bmx” & that’ll give you what you need.

It would appear the p**s poor Portsmouth City Council are yet again trying to close Southsea Skatepark. It is way too much hassle for these guys to EVER do anything positive for the park & this just goes to prove that they really don’t give a toss about its users.. They are more than willing to throw money at other local facilities such as The Pyramids centre opposite the park itself that just heamarroge money in an amazing way but when it comes to supporting a great place for the youth of the city to hang out they couldn’t give s**t. They’ve never been any different & they should be ashamed of themselves as public servants. Years ago I would have actively fought these guys but after they have constantly stiffed the park I lost motivation a few years ago so, go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/save-southsea/ & sign the petition do your bit. In the meantime keep an eye on www.southseaskatepark.com for regular updates… Fuuny that loads of other city councils like Crawley are paying to build these new parks & yet Portsmouth cant even throw in a few grand a year to an existing facility Message to council: You suck.

Manchester’s Central Skatepark has just had a major refit sponsored by Carhartt & had some concrete added outside. The park will be holding BMX jam called Glamorama on Oct 4th, which will be a team event, plus MirraCo. Have donated a bike & the event will be raising money for the Steven Murray fund. Check out www.centralskatepark.co.uk for further info

Jay Pycroft & Mark Webb are planning on making Zero Tolerance 2 on DVD. The original Zero Tolerance was made by the infamous Jon Pratt back in the late 90’s & is without a doubt a classic so a sequel will be hard to make but it should be good plus the release will contain the original on DVD. Nice.

Right, I reckon that’s about it from me but so I’m off but do me a favour, send me some news, gossip, pictures etc for next issue to professionalprick2003@yahoo.co.uk oh yeah, don’t know about anyone else but I for one have been disappointed with the parties in Cologne over the past few years, I’m not feeling the Pow Pow Movement personally so next year I will play my first ever DJ set at a party!!!! Song suggestions also emailed to me!!

Hey, as of July 31st I will no longer working for Haro bikes over here in Europe & UK.

I'm not going to get in the conspiracy theory bulls**t that is now circulating around the Haro contest, dont be so cynical... BUT Tony Watkinson is now officiall riding for Haro Europe!

Hey, things are on the change over here for Team Haro Europe, we've now got 2 riders riding for us, both UK based shredders. Ben Hennon & Ben Wallace will be at as many events as possible this year. Hennon is going to spend some time over in the USA this year & Wallace... well, he'll turn up at contests etc & tear the place up with minimal effort then go cruising in his modified piece of crap car!