Pushing the limits of Freeride at LooseFest 2015

Just take moment and watch these videos! The guys are jumping 80ft jumps, back to back and at one point you will witness probably the biggest backflip in the history of Mtb. This is loose as it gets!

Here is the highlight video from Loosefest. Nico vink and the whole crew of riders pushed the limit of freeriding sending it over 80 foot plus gaps. There was huge crashes, people doubting whether it was possible or not, fear and lots of stoked for everyone when things worked out. What’s next? Nico is not planning on stopping or going smaller so what the next LOOSEFEST will bring us.
Enjoy the insanity!

X Games Real Moto 2015 – Vote for your favorite

The X Games Real Series grows every year. What started with skating and snowboarding now includes Moto FMX for the first time. 5 Moto riders were given the opportunity to make a freeride video, the public vote and a winner is chosen for X Games Gold. Below are all 5 entries. Drake and Wes both missed the memo in my book, with a motorbike advert and a trailer submitted, while Mike Mason’s is simply average. Twitch did what he does best, but unfortunately I have been watching Crusty Demons videos for years so it did not blow me away. In my opinion, with some humour, sick variety of riding, big freeride hits and beautiful camera work and editing, my vote went to Ronnie Renner (In Picture).

You can vote too, just watch the videos below and then head on over to the X Games Real Moto Page – HERE

Fox SurferCross 2015 – Dylan Lightfoot and Bilko take the win in California

We used to have this event in South Africa and it was pretty dam cool. So stoked a South African took the win in the US version recently. Dylan Lightfoot made the semi finals at the Vans US Open and then took it a little further with his team mate, Fmx wildman, Bilko, to take the win at SurferCross.

Every year some of the best motocross and surf athletes gather together for Surfercross. This year marked the 15th consecutive year for Surfercross, with a heavy combination of Pro and Industry riders alike. In the pro class, each pro surfer was randomly paired with a pro mx rider, while the industry class was a random mix of desk jockeys. We took over the MX track at Milestone the first day, then hit the surf at Trail 6 in San Clemente the following day. Surfercross is just about the perfect amount of dirt and surf. This event brings together some of the most talented athletes across two industries, into one very unique contest.

RISE – Caleb Tennant back in the hunt for MX glory

The kid has always been good, but he has been plagued by injuries. So it is appropriate that his new video edit is called, Rise. Caleb will be back at Zone 7 tomorrow to compete in the Mx1 class and judging by the riding in the video, he could just be on top of the podium.

Caleb Tennant hasn’t been seen on the race scene since he finished 3rd in the the MX2 class in 2013. In 2014 Caleb was forced to turn in the towel due to financial setbacks and went to go work full time for his father while saving up to get back on a bike. He missed riding so must that he started making calls to Laren van der Westhuizen, current trainer John Wakefield, Shaun Pautz and Cecil Penny Racing with the help of TLB Monster Energy Yamaha they organised him a ride.
In January 2015 while preparing for the season ahead riding at his home track Zone 7 Caleb suffered a bad crash, with his front wheel collapsing on a table top, cracking ribs and breaking his collar bone putting him out of action for over 2 months. Mid way through March Caleb got back on his bike and started preparing for the 2nd round of the South African Motocross Nationals which is being held in Cape Town. “Id like to thank all my sponsors, mechanic Shaun Pautz, trainer John Wakefield but a special has to go out to Laren van der Westhuizen who pushed me to get back on my bike again. I look forward to racing against the countries best again on Saturday.”

X Games Aspen – Top 5 Moments 2015

So another X Games has past and the levels as per every year just keep getting higher. There were some ridiculous moments in 2015, in Aspen and I bring you my choices for the top moments.

First up in the ladies Superpipe the battle was between Lindsey Jacobellis and 14 year old, Chloe Kim. Jacobellis has dominated the sport for years and when Chloe had one of the biggest falls of the night, most thought the Gold was out of her grasp. But the youngster put on her fighting gloves and came back to win the Gold and become the youngest Gold Medal athlete in X games history.

Staying in the Pipe but in the men’s ski final, it was the first win from a Canadian by, Simon D’Artois. The guy was clearing 21ft out of the Superpipe and hitting double corks like they were straight airs.

In the Ski Big Air it was young rider, Vincent Gagnier, who blew minds with his top 2 runs. This guy was stoked because he made 2 tricks he had never done before in competition.

The top 2 moments belong to one man, Marc McMorris. This guy is riding on another level! In the Snowboard Big Air, he pulled first a frontside triple cork 1440 and then stepped it up with a backside 1620 triple cork. The commentators were actually speechless.

After blowing everyone’s minds in the Big Air, McMorris moved onto the Slopestyle, where he once again stepped up the performance levels to claim his second Gold of the X Games. With a flawless rail game and progressively huge airs, he stepped up the game.

These were by no means the only highlights of a once again incredible winter X Games. Check out the X games rollout video for the biggest moments of 2015. The focus will now turn to summer and X Games Austin in early June.

X Games Aspen Begins – 22-25 January 2015

X Games Aspen returns to Buttermilk Mountain, January 22-25, 2015. Don’t miss the world’s most accomplished winter action sports, music and festival experience. Most eyes have been on the return of Shaun White and whether he will be able to beat out the new guard of guys like Torstein Horgmo and Marc McMorris. Follow my blog for updates on all the action!

And Check out why everyone is so excited about Shaun White returning…

Top 5 Web Surf Videos of 2014

With the Surfer Poll having just gone down and most sites picking their highlights for the year, I thought I would give you guys my picks for the best web surf videos over this year. There have been some absolute bangers, some that follow the old music and surf formula and the newer arty ones that mix and match between old french people smoking and John John busting. My criteria is simple, good music, great editing and surfing that gets me pumped to go session!

Before I get into the Top 5, one video worth watching in number 6 is this one, Clay on Clay by Surfing Mag. Unleashing Clay Marzo and Matt Meola on West Oz was a great idea. Maybe a little to many left handers, but the surfing and footage are insane.

Clay is Clay from SURFING Magazine on Vimeo.

Number 5 – LNF: Diamond of the Desert
With the focus on just the one spot, this video still inspires and fills with a sense of wonder. Having one of the longest tube sequences ever filmed also helps, with Koa Smith the standout.

LNF: Diamond of the Desert from LastNameFirst.tv on Vimeo.

Number 4 – Enjoy
John John Florence and filmer, Blake Kueny, have made some memorable web videos. This one definitely went arty on us, but the surfing footage and the feeling of being in France created by Blake definitely got me amped to go surf and eat baguettes.

Enjoy from John John Florence on Vimeo.

Number 3 – The Getaway
Jordy Smith has been having a banger year and he backed it up with this sweet video shot in Mozambique. Huge gaffs, big punts and long tubes in paradise make this video a keeper.

Jordy Smith: The Getaway from O'Neill on Vimeo.

Number 2 – Cheese 2
Noa Deane has just found himself in the cuck after some rather bad behaviour at the Surfer Poll Awards, but he still won the AI award and this video won best web video. There is a reason why, he rips and the video is shot so well with insane tunes. I almost made it number 1.

Noa Deane | Cheese II from Rusty Brasil on Vimeo.

Number 1 – Dirty Dozen
Pumping track, huge moves and of course Mr Dane Reynolds. This is everything you need in a surf short and its simplicity is the winning factor. Short, sharp and to the point, make this video my winner for 2014. These are twelve of my best clips of Dane Reynolds. Filmed in Sumbawa, Japan, Hawaii, and California from 2011 – 2013, for various Marine Layer Productions projects such as Excerpt, LOADED, and Kai Neville’s Dear Suburbia.

Dane’s Dirty Dozen in High Definition from mini blanchard on Vimeo.

So thats my web surf video choices for 2014. Let me know your thoughts and if I missed any good ones?

Supercross Africa with the Monster Girls

Wow, what an event. Seriously brought home to me why Supercross is the best racing to watch. You get the whole track perspective, instead of just a part of the course, you see tight and fast racing, massive crashes, big jumps and loads of extras like an FMX show featuring Bilko and of course the gorgeous Monster Girls. I was lucky enough to experience the event on the ground, behind the scenes, on track and alongside the gals. Here is my video of the experience.

Get online and make noise, as it looks good for 2 Supercross Africa events next year and you want them in your city!

Big thanks to Wohza (GoPro Africa) and Monster Energy for the assistance.