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Twilight Ramp and Flatland Contest

Twilight Ramp and Flatland Contest

Click the picture to see 27 more ramp and flatland photos from the contest.

Text and Photos: Kent Pearson

Usually on the last weekend of April each year, there is a large festival centered in downtown Athens, Georgia. It’s all based around the main event of a bicycle road race that is held on Saturday night (yes, they are racing at night) on the streets that are blocked off for the festival and the race course. Outside of the main road race, the festival has kids events, mountain bike races, marathons, demos, wheelchair races, food, concerts and all kinds of things with thousands of people in attendance.

The last few years, Jon Dowker has also put on a seriously nice BMX comp. And it’s one of the last (if not the last?) U.S. contests that has flatland and ramps at the same event. It’s grown each year to the point where, outside of the main race event, it is the crowds’ favorite event to attend in the whole festival. The growth in size has also come with growth in the amount of work that goes into the contest. I’ll spare you all the details but everyone should know that the guy literally builds a skatepark in the middle of the street the day before the contest and has to move it at the end of the contest night and then has to have it all torn down and gone by lunch the next day. And that’s on top of all the normally difficult work that goes into having a good comp. With a few volunteers Twilight still manages to get done and create a competitive contest while still making it a lot of fun.

I was lucky enough for Vital to ask for a few photos of this year’s contest and this write up of the event, and so take a look at the photos and I’ll just hit the high notes of the comp. When you look at the shots that I got, you’ll realize that they have Am Ramps, Am Flat, and Pro Flatland. I don’t have Pro ramp and Ramp best tricks because I couldn’t shoot photos and ride in the comp at the same time.

Am ramp kicked things off and like most comps these days, it blows my mind what “experts” are throwing down in their runs. Twilight was no exception, and had everything from 12-year-old Mick Malik throwing big mans tricks to Brandon McGregor throwing down the first place moves. Am flatland was equally amazing and reinstalled my faith that there will continue to be a new crop of pros coming in the future. Pro flatland was literally amazing and came down to a close finish with second placer Dane Beardsley (who has just made an unbelievable comeback after breaking both of his elbows while filming a street rail hop) finish just a little behind first place winner Terry Adams, who made the trip all the way from Louisiana to blow everyone’s minds.

Just before Pro Ramp a storm shower came through and soaked everything down, but everyone was lucky enough that the sun came out. After waiting for the ramps and pavement to dry the crowds came back out and got to witness Alex Lepack take one of the scariest slams that I’ve ever seen and land all the way to his face. Alex spit out a few pieces of teeth, went to the first aid tent to get the bleeding stopped around his face and head, and then proceeded to come back get back into a later heat and win Pro Ramp. One tough dude! Last but not least was the best trick comp and as usual, riders went to throwing themselves all over the place on tricks that had slim chances of getting done. Which made it hard to get runs and even harder to pull tricks. When the dust settled, there was a tie between Eric Miller and yours truly (me–Kent Pearson) for the best trick win.

After everyone cleared out and the ramps were moved from the streets, the night was capped off by Flatland Best trick on the patio of a well known Athens beverage establishment and then a video premiere (in the independent theater Cine, by the way) of Dane Beardsley’s new video “Same Thing Daily”.

It was a blast again this year and a big thanks goes out to Jon Dowker, the city of Athens, all the volunteers who picked up a drill, Kink , Profile Racing, Empire BMX, Albe’s, SE Bikes, Flatlandfuel.com, Odyssey, Sunday, Pimo, Coalition, Hell On Earth, Cream Magazine, Vital BMX, Diversion, Tifosi Sunglasses, Factory Skatepark, Lifetime Bikes, Sunshine Cycles, 8E’s bar, and Porterfield tire. Hope to see you there next year!

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Losey
6/9/2008 6:30 AM

13 comments Sort:

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xamobmx

6/11/2008 4:27 PM

nice
foxrider18

6/11/2008 4:03 PM

nice, flatlands not my thing though...
perry55

6/9/2008 3:58 PM

that snafu seat at the bottom is dope!!!! can't even read the article because im so attracted to those things whoo!
bmx-camo-9

6/9/2008 3:42 PM

10
FITrider21

6/9/2008 3:00 PM

9th!
dk bikes

6/9/2008 12:50 PM

fags thinking its cool to think your first or not
go to hell!!!!
COLORADO SPRINGS

6/9/2008 11:33 AM

i miss you guys... Come out and see me. Athens Family Represent!!!
rolobmxpro

6/9/2008 8:20 AM

this is a forum, right?, so try to leave a message about it..."FIRST", "SECOND", ...are not messages.......dejense de estupideces........about the topic:...good contest
atsubmx

6/9/2008 7:37 AM

5th
källeman

6/9/2008 7:10 AM

Awesome written
wannab.mx

6/9/2008 7:08 AM

3rd
david525

6/9/2008 6:56 AM

second
blaxuede

6/9/2008 6:39 AM

1st

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