Here's a couple of cool photography sites I found the other day...

Lost America - This is where you'll find a collection of night photography of the abandoned roadside west. All the photos look like how they were shot, no photoshop work.

Lost America

Rob Dobi Photography - Years spent wandering the hallways of abandoned mental institutions and run down factories in new england.

Rob Dobi

Here are a few photos sent by soon to be Austin transplant, Greg Short.

Austin transitioned wall
Sam Table
Stuart toothpick

The first Stockwell jam of the year is coming up this saturday (tommorow!). The stage for the bands is getting put up today, and the weather prospects are looking good. So bring your friends, some brews and whatever else you need to help you kick back and come down to stockwell bowls (address details available via the park guide). Oh and you can bing your bike or board too if you fancy being active. And please bring a little cash to help fund the rennovations dearly needed for the park.

Brixton Weather Check
Click to view enlarged flyer

Not long to go until one of the best outdoor parks in the land re-opens for business. Sat 3rd April is the date and the times are Sat, Sun 12-6, Tues, Wed, Thurs 4-9 (12-9 in holidays).

There has been a few changes made. The flat bank to wall has gone. There is now an 8x12ft
quarter, 8ft quarter to wedge and a 5ft quarter to sub. They all join a 32ftx10ft deck to the building. There is also a curved/sloped wallride on the driveway and the spine and vert has been surfaced with birch ply.

A couple of new sites for you to look at.
No. 1 is Homers 'art fag BMX photography site' Passion BMX

Site No. 2 is a site dedicated to reviewing the super strength lagers normally reserved for tramp drinkers. If you're after some guidance on drinks designed for no other reason than to get you twisted then this could be the site for you. Tramp Juice

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If you want to see what Lee was trying to explain about the new ramps that have been built at Derby Skatepark, Homer has now posted some photos on his site. Go check out Black Country BMX and see whats changed.

There are less than three weeks to go before the Backyard Jam and if you haven't yet got a ticket ... WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?? (no, really. what? have you seen the rider list?).
The Backyard Jam is the ONLY opportunity to see so many quality professional riders at one contest competing against each other for the $5000 prize purse. With its constantly changing course and relaxed atmosphere this has become THE contest to attend above all others in the U.K. Pro riders confirmed include Mike Escamilla, Taj Mihelich, Jay Miron and Ruben Alcantara (see list below for more)

Full Rider List

There will be 100 Expert Riders taking over all day Friday the 2nd of April to kick start the contest. The youngest rider is 7 year old Jack Watts who was overall winner in the newbreed category at K.O.C and has been riding for 3 years already. He will be against Backyard Jam regulars Miles Davies and Steven Artus and a whole bunch of other riders who will be fighting it out for prize packs from Etnies, Primo, Seventies, Macneil, Federal and Lord.
As always we have a large selection of exhibitors including Custom Riders, Alans, On Yer Bike, Lord and Gate 8 who will be showing off new products and selling current ones for a special Backyard price. New to the Jam is an exhibition of BMX photography by DIG magazine contributor Ricky Adam. Plus SoBe energy drink will be in attendance to quench your thirst with their fruity drinks for free.



There will also be plenty of free giveaways and opportunities to win a host of BMX clothes, parts and accessories, including a Hoffman complete bike on the Seventies stand.

Tickets are available from the BIC on 0870 111 3000. Rider updates and tickets are also available on www.backyardjam.co.uk . Ticket prices start at £5.00

A couple of photos taken at Alianos trails recently...

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Been on a few reconnaissance missions lately, dropped into Jon Robinsons trails to have a look what was going on. Some new additions over the winter include a new line off the main set, a new small set and a few new jumps and tweaks to the big line, plus a dirt bowl complete with tombstone.

Also a few of us checked out the newish park in Sittingbourne, Unreal Skatepark. Go visit yourself and witness the friendliest skatepark ever. Thanks to Jenny the owner for looking after us today! The park isn't quite finished yet but heres what is there: Mini spine with wallride, mini with wallride, nibble mini (3 and a half ft) with sub, small qps to wall ride (no coping) with bowled corner at the end acting as a hip towards vertwall, Driveway (part transitioned with bigish grind way smallrail with stairs, Qps either end of driveway, and to cap it all off a qp with RSJ 4FT above. There is to be another bowled corner to go in with over curved wallride. Price is only ?2 per session, BMX is 4-6 and 8-10, plus 2-12 on the weekends.

The local shredder, Maggot, kills the place. Too many skills for a 16 year old.

I received an email a while ago from a female rider called leah who had the idea to have a female BMX roadtrip around the north and midlands. Her and some friends (caz, chaz and hazel) who are also BMXers, are looking to raise the profile of female BMXers in the UK. To help them out, here is a bit of info on what they are doing and where they plan to go:

THE NORTHERN MONKEY 2004 R0AD TRIP
START IN DERBY ON 1ST JULY
2nd JULY - SHEFFIELD
3rd JULY - HEAD TO LEEDS PARK
4th JULY - YORK, POCKLINGTON PARK
5th JULY - HEAD TO NEWCASTLE
6th JULY - HEAD DOWN TO LIVERPOOL
7th JULY - HEAD TO RAMPWORX AND WARRINGTON OUTDOOR
8th JULY - CHESTER BONEYARD
9th JULY - WE HIT MANCHESTER
10th JULY - WE COULD EITHER HEAD TO EPIC IN BIRMINGHAM, OR GO BACK TO DERBY

New toys in Derbyshire
I rode Derby yesterday for the first time after a long long absence and I'm glad to say that things are on the up and looking good. There have been a few employee related changes, I guess some would think these are for the better and judging the new mods. to the layout I would have to agree.
Fashion corner (90° hip) has been replaced by a flat bank hip, on top of this there's a transitioned vert wall. A monster truck quarter with no deck has been built on the flat bank that's at the side of the 90° hip. For me though the best new addition is Full(ish) pipe, its a vert wall on one side, has no flat bottom and goes over to about 10:30 on the other. It's situated between two 5ft quarters so it can be used as a tranny to tranny wallride. There's also talk of the spine ramp being moved but it'll be a big project and likely to take some time.
If you've not been to Derby before or for some time I'd definitely recommend a visit. It's good to see that within three months of the changes this new stuff has been built. I would recommend you visit Black Country BMX to see some photo's, but Homer being the person he is forgot his camera!!!

Fraggle's Day of Reprisal jam is in two weeks (Saturday 27th) so go there and ride the place

Other Derby related news Amateurer Backyard winner Matt Roe has been picked up by Diamond Back

New Photos
Finally some new photos on the site from the racing and dirt jumping at Weston on the weekend. The event was put on by BMX40 and although the dirt wasn't perfect there was good riding going down. Steve Murray was over and took the win, Scott Edgworth was second and Kye Forte took third. Go to the galleries and look under the events / jams section for 2004.

Hopefully there should be a whole bunch of new photos now the 'season' is about to kick off, just got to sort some more web space out as I've totally run out, hence the lack of updates.

New Birmingham Skatepark?
Heard a bit of a rumour of a possible new park in Birmingham. Outdoor but undercover, near the fire station where there is already some banks and ledges. Plans have been drawn up by Bob from Ideal skates and would be made from concrete using features already there but adding transitions to the pillars etc.

Sittingbourne Skatepark Bike Sessions
Also the new skatepark in Sittingbourne has 3 bike sessions per day, the times are 12-2, 2-4 and 8-10.

Loophole Front Hub
This is a prototype Loophole front hub. 7075 shell, Hard anodized finish. Titanium cones with extra weight saving holes. Production models will feature a titanium axle as standard. The hub uses the highest quality japanese bearings available which spin like a dream. Pure waffer but still strong enough for pegs! Click below for photos...

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www.loopholebmx.com

New Indoor Park
I've been informed of a new indoor skatepark in Sittingbourne, near to the M20. I've been told it's kinda small, but has minis, spines, wallrides, bowl/hip thing, vert wall, quarters the usual. Hopefully some photos soon.

Snickers Games On - Via Press
Snickers Game On @ Download, June 5th, 6th, Donnington Park.

Soul Bowl
- only the second time this has been set up in the UK
- ‘Best of British’ styled competition amongst the top riders.
BMX: Jamie Bestwick, Achim Kujawski, Stefan ‘OBG’ (one big German) Geisler
Skate: Pete King, Sergi Ventura, Brian Patch and Nicky Guerrero .

Street Area
Invites will go out to biggest British Board Company teams for a head to head over the two days. With four riders at a time in a jam format, this will not be your ordinary competition. With the 'Snickers Best Trick' event and open Skate sessions running throughout the weekend for all other invited riders

‘Snickers Game On Stage’ will aslo be bringing you the best in punk and rock. Acts appearing at Download include some of the biggest names in rock such as headliners Metallica and Linkin Park with back up from clown metal icons Slipknot, the legendary Iggy and the Stooges and punk icons The Distillers The Hives, Machine Head and Korn to highlight just a few of the acts.

Tickets for Download 2004 are onsale now for more information please go to www.downloadfestival.co.uk or call 0870 400 0822

Donington ticket prices: £80 for the weekend (plus agent booking fees) £95 weekend and camping.

Due to the overwhelming demand for Campsite Plus last year Download have introduced the £5 upgrade for Loaded Camping which includes hot showers, cloakroom, attended toilets and access to Club Kerrang! in the Download Café (limited capacity).

Based on feedback from last year, Download will also be introducing the Upload VIP Package this year, available on 0870 145 1210 or from the website. This includes: Secure parking, Private VIP campsite with mains toilet, shower and catering facilities Exclusive entrance to festival
Preferential access to Club Kerrang! at the Download Café (limited capacity). Access to backstage guest hospitality area, with cash bar facilities, Download goodie bag, Event Programme, Stylised VIP pass for each guest.

Scotland – ticket price: £79 for a two-day ticket (plus agent booking fees)

More acts will be announced shortly, with contracts in the final stages.

Check out www.downloadfestival.co.uk for continual updates. The website is constantly being developed with brand new features and downloads available for ticket holders including the barking mad Download Dog to keep you informed of news and updates.

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More Street Furniture
There is some more street furniture photos added to the gallery. Photos by Tom James. One of them is actually a hedge that can be ridden?!

Misc Park News
The corner wallride on the bowl at Epic Skatepark has now been curved and brought slightly forward nearer to the coping to match the profile of the bowl. No more Kye Forte angled wallrides.

Also the vert ramp at Radlands skatepark has been taken out a mini ramp put in its place.