Summer Bowls Trip Video & Photos - Back Bone BMX

Summer Bowls Trip Video & Photos

Danny Stevenson lived up to his name on this trip. Full weaponhead status in Bondi deep end. Photo: Tyson JP

The quest for riding concrete bowls never ends.

We took a trip up the coast with not too much of an itinerary, except to ride some parks we hadn't before, as well as get a better session at some that we had. The NSW coast offers up some ridiculously good concrete skateparks, but we had bowls in mind - hopefully some with some deep transition.

We definitely got a good serving of them.

We also got to plan our trip around heading to the Blake Butterfield memorial jam that took place on the Saturday evening at Thornleigh skatepark. We've been helping Brodie Butterfield out with prizes for the jam in his brother's honour since the beginning, so it was great to make attendance this year.

There was an amazing turnout of riders and it was awesome to put faces to names of customers who have supported the store over the years. It's such a buzz to watch riders you don't know absolutely rip their local park to shreds. 

Hayden Burr AKA the Sydney Haydos took home the best rider award, stoked to help with his swag of gear for his efforts. Thanks for the support mate! 

Haydos spine tailwhip Thornleigh skatepark

Haydos with the spine tailwhip at Thornleigh! Photo: Tyson JP

Haydos thornleigh skatepark prizes

Haydos with his well deserved 'best rider' prizes. Photo: Tyson JP

We ended up at Bar Beach bowl in Newcastle for our final day. After 3 full days of riding in the sun, the crew was toasted, but the allure of the bowl was far too much to stay in the shade. We took our final laps and got a really good last session in before packing the van for the trip home.

If there's one recommendation to leave you to ponder on, it's this.

Get out there and ride different spots.

Riding new parks, with different layouts and even feeling different transitions under your wheels is a pretty unique experience. Obviously there's the feeling that comes with mastering your local park, but the feeling of being on alien turf can be exciting and challenging, all at once.

By no means did we conquer parks, but it's a cool feeling to know that there's plenty of places to take you out of your comfort zone, and make you excited to ride, that are waiting everywhere.

It also is nice to experience what works, and what doesn't - so that if the chance arises that you can make something in your own town, you have experience to draw on. 

We pulled the camera out a lot on this trip, hope you enjoy the video and photos and they get you psyched for your own trip somewhere!

- Tyson

 

Russell Brindley table Bar Beach skatepark

Russ going scenic with this epic table at Bar Beach. Photo: Tyson JP

Bob Saunders one foot table bateau bay skatepark

Bobby got that pop! Way up there at Bateau Bay. Photo: Tyson JP

Tyrone Edwards euro bondi bowl

Tyrone Edwards making it look all too effortless at Bondi bowl. Photo: Tyson JP

dermo one hand x-up thornleigh

Sydney legend Dermo twisted down at Thornleigh. Photo: Tyson JP

weaponhead bar beach bowl

Weaponhead with the weapon shred lookback at Bar Beach. Photo: Tyson JP

Will Gunn 360 table thornleigh skatepark

Will Gunn, proper 360 table over the spine at Thornleigh. Photo: Tyson JP

Benn Pigot best table ever thornleigh skatepark

Here it is, don't even try. The best table ever. Benn Pigot at Thornleigh. Photo: Tyson JP

January 30, 2020 — Tyson Jones-Peni
Cult Down Under video (Welcome to the team Jason Watts) - Back Bone BMX

Cult Down Under video (Welcome to the team Jason Watts)

 

No doubt you've seen this increddddible 17+ minute long rip snorter of a video from the Cult crew by now, but if you haven't, now is the time to really sit back and absorb some seriously, seriously, amazing riding in our own backyard. Corey Walsh and Dan Foley were able to travel across the Pacific with BMX filmer and all-round legend Veesh, to meet up with our bro (and long time Back Bone team rider) Benn Pigot, as well as newly appointed Cult team rider (and also Back Bone team rider) Jason Watts. 

The dudes spent some time in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as a bunch of time in here in Canberra, destroying the place in the best way they know how, on a BMX bike. Plenty of the trails in this vid, as well as a heavy dose of Canberra skateparks.

The Cult crew also put on a hell of a show with a jam at Belconnen skatepark one of the days they were here, I shot some photos for that, which you can see below. 

If this video doesn't get you stoked on what Cult is doing, as well as what the Australian BMX scene has to offer, then you might be doing the wrong thing!

- Tyson

Benn Pigot belconnen skatepark turndown

Benn Pigot doing it proper. Photo: Tyson Jones-Peni

Corey Walsh belconnen skatepark

Corey Walsh, Zac Miner and Jason Watts hangin'. Photo: Tyson Jones-Peni

Dan Foley Belconnen skatepark can can

Dan Foley is as smooth as it gets, with style to match. Photo: Tyson Jones-Peni

jason watts bmx belco bowl belconnen skatepark

The dude Jason Watts is runnin' it right now.. His part in the Cult Down Under video is bonkers. Photo: Tyson Jones-Peni 

January 15, 2019 — Tyson Jones-Peni
Benn Pigot Back Bone video section and Top 5's - Back Bone BMX

Benn Pigot Back Bone video section and Top 5's

Pool hanging with Trent Rowsell. James Fox photo.

Benn Pigot is an Australian BMX legend and has been a supporter/team rider of the shop since damn near the beginning.. Not to mention one of our closest friends. Benn rips anything he rides with a casualness that just looks so good, which makes sense, because it reflects his casual, chilled demeanour off the bike. We are so stoked to have a full section of Benn in the video, and now we can bring it to you online, as well as gracing you with some of Benn's favourite things in this top 5, complete with epic shots from James Fox.   

Places on the bike:

  • Five Dock
  • Nimbin
  • Wellington
  • A good chill pool
  • Málaga (all of it)

Benn Pigot pocket air Bondi

While Bondi doesn't technically make Benn's top 5 places on the bike, the deep end, pool coping and the ocean right next to it - it certainly contains elements of his favourite places. Big pocket air in the deep. James Fox Photo.

Places off the bike:

  • Berry Springs, NT
  • Málaga, Spain
  • Bydalen, Sweden
  • Encasa 
  • Guzman y Gomez

 Benn pool table

Just look at that pool! And that table! While it looks like a dream pool to ride (judging by the blasted table Benn is folded into), what makes it so sick is that Benn found and cleaned this pool for hours with his mate Trent before laying tires on it. James Fox photo.

Music to ride to:

  • Postmortem - Slayer
  • The Number 12 Looks Like You - Category 
  • Lil Gin - Demons in my soul 
  • La Chat - Luv 2 Get High
  • Faith No More - Woodpecker from Mars

Music to hang to:

  • Da End - Gangsta Blac 
  • Ab Soul - Pass the Blunt
  • Ween - Buckingham Green
  • Ween - Mister Would You Please Help My Pony
  • Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan - Stone Cold Dead In the Market 

 Benn Pigot turndown five dock

Benn on home ground. If you haven't sessioned with Benn at Five Dock, notch that up something you must do. James Fox photo.

Bike parts:

Tricks:

  • Tables
  • Slides/skids of all sorts
  • Kick outs 
  • Turndowns 
  • There's no way I could do it, but I love seeing a good Derek Duster. 

Benn tireslide

Jeez. Soulful, stylin', all time tireslide from Benn. James Fox photo. 

Riders:

  • Mike Aitken 
  • Joe Rich 
  • Ruben Alcantara 
  • Trent Rowsell 
  • Dylan Lewis 

BMX memories:

  • When Aitken and company came to Bondi. 
  • Ever getting to see Dane Searls ride anything. 
  • New Years trip 2 years ago when I was lucky to hit Plumbus Dam and the big ass full pipe. 
  • A trip Trent Rowsell and I did late November last year to Málaga, had the chance to ride some crazy places with amazing people. 
  • At a Five Dock Jam, I saw Danny Stevenson do the biggest turndown over the spine I've ever seen.

 

June 21, 2017 — Tyson Jones-Peni