Man oh man Where do i even start. ha ha ha

Had an awesome time down at the dunes for Sand Jam 09, and was an honor to get to ride in front of everyone down there.

But let me do some catching up from the last blog is been a while, Well as a matter of fact this will be the first blog since i started this new myspace.

The Seasons been great so far.  All the sponsors have really stepped up there game this year in helping us out, my bike has been totally decked out this year, which is a lot of pressure to deal with, if they believe in me enough to hook me up with all this stuff i better deliver when the crowds watching and the films rolling.  So with that being said, the practice here around the house at The Freestyle Farm, has been getting pretty serious.  I’m trying to push myself harder than i ever have before while trying to keep working full time and keeping some what of a social life.  It easy to stay on my toes out here with riders like Ryan McCall, whos been with me since the start pretty much, watching him progress and go the distance with me off the ramp is awesome.  we are even getting a few tricks out of him this year which makes me wanna ride more.  But i told myself this year, this is my year, in the past i’ve concentrated more on helping newer riders get into FMX with them just to disappear for whatever reason the next  year.  and in a way that kind of hurts me by not allowing me to push myself.  So why it might seem selfish, this is my year, i gotta bust out big, get my name out there, and make my sponsors happy.

But this year we’ve already got a ton of footage for the next Bshipman Films movie “Unsung Heroes 2″ and from what ive seen of the new movie you guys are going to have to wear a diaper cause its that amazing.  Seriously its really good.  Blakes put 110% focus into this movie this year and it shows.  The guys got talent and you can really see it in the new movie.  I’m really excited to see all the new one, last year at the priemear i had chills the whole time watching it so i’m really excited for the new movie.  But the footage this year is great.  Blake, Jon, Devin, Logan, and Tater all went out to California this year to do some riding, filming and attend the Extremeys.  “Unsung Heroes” was nominated for Best Freestyle Motocross Movie of the year, which was an honor to even be nominated.  I got to meet some really cool people in the industry and a lot of people i looked at for inspiration when i was a younger rider wanting to get into FMX. Check out my pictures and you can see how i had all met, and believe me when i say this, all those guys where the nicest people you could have met, really down to earth friend people it was an awesome experience.  Sadly we didn’t win Best FMX movie of the year, but we where against some heavy competition, but it was an honor to just be nominated.

But i will tell you this, If anyone out tells you Southern California is the Mecca of all Freeriding and motocross, they are a liar, or extremey hooked up out there and know all the connections.  The only place we found we could ride and not get an grief from dirt bikers or private land owners was Ocotillo Wells.  That place was so cool, never been in desert like that before and it was cool to just go out and do some natural terrain with all the guys.  Usually we all just get together and hit up some ramps and stuff but its different when its natural, things aren’t quite as perfect as steel ramps or nicely groomed MX tracks.  So it takes just a little more skill out there than normal and let us really shine out there.  We found a few hits out there that where pretty cool and other that we’d had like to hit up but just un prepared.  Shovels are definetly a must when going out there.

Lake Elsinore MX track was a good time, i was really excited about going to that track after watching Dana Creech and all the Can-Am riders hit that track up on Huevous 11.  All i could think about was that 120 camel back double. it was unreal when we got out there.  This was the first place we hit up when we headed out to So Cal.  but as fast as my excitment grew to know i’d get to ride this track i just a fast became disappointed. The track was in pretty bad shape, dirt clods as big as catalopes, you might as well tried to ride on a track covered in softballs, we couldn’t get traction out there for anything, no matter what gear you were in, what tire pressure you had, nothing.  you’d just roast the tires and the dirt was so dry and hard you would have ruined a set of tires out there.  Needless to say we didn’t stay long after that, and they had told us the track would be in better shape in a day or two.  After another trip to the desert we came back only to find out no quads where allowed that day on the track and we didn’t get to ride there.

We spent a lot of time driving around So Cal in search of a place to ride, only to find out that the desert was our only friend out there really.  But it was still an experience that i’d definetly go back a do again with a little more planning the next go around, but i definetly had a blast out there with all the guys, a week and a half long trip we really got to know each other and bond and build a better relationship with everyone and that i wouldn’t trade for the world.

We’ve also been doing a lot of filming down at the dunes and in Texas at the Pinn-it compound.  All i can say is this footage is nuts, the dunes have been great, i don’t ever remember them being so fun, its been a few years since i’ve been there and definetly going there with all the guys and finding these perfect lines to just sky out on, its been amazing.  when you can go out and follow a line everyones been hitting and do it 4th tapped and bust out a bid double can or cordova over a natural jump there is nothing better and noting gets your blood flowing faster.  Like i said before its not a smooth jump or as predictable as a ramp so you don’t know if your going to get sideways or what in the air you just gotta be prepared for whatever and thats brought back a lot fun for me this year. Its also funny to go out there and see everyone try and be so tough and competitive, like start talking smack about some riding when they can’t even ride themselves.  to get a little further in detail i had a guy talk smack on me about how i wasn’t that good but yet his still sitting there watch me jump the whole time.  So after we talk to him for a little bit he is going to show us hows its done, but hitting the same line twice and then bailing.  It doesn’t make sense why people have to talk smack and can’t back it up.  You don’t have to be so negatice people, and there is nothing weak about giving someone props or telling someone good job.  its a respect thing, and it doesn’t make you cool to sit there and hide behind your words only to not deliver.

Texas was fun down at the Pinn-it compound, that place is always a good time, Dan Weeks really has his stuff down there together for the ultimated big kid playground 5 ramps 5 landings, water slide, 15 and 30 foot water towers, it was a great time.  We had the most insane night shoot there, Dans compound is all lite up when it gets dark like a baseball stadium and you can ride all night if you wanted.  this footage is great you guys wont be disappointed with it, Jon had a pretty wicked crash but was alright but did stop riding for the night.  Just to many factors with it being dark and unusually tall ramp and all that, i had a crash there last year in the dark so i know where Jon was coming from.  But Devin and I still tore it up for a good hour afterward, going big trying to practice for the Sand Jam FMX demo. and we had a good time, got alot of tricks down pat and worked on me and devins trains.  Never really started doing trains in the back of the pack before this year and i tell you what i’m glad who ever it is in front of me weather its Devin or Ryan, i’m glad you guys trust me enough, cause to be honest there has been times where ive thought i had just killed you both cause i thought i was going to land on you two, but its been a blast.

But let me get into my main point here, Sand Jam 09.

I have never done an actualy FMX demo before, i mean i’ve had riding partys at my compound where people would come and watch and i’ve been to some contests that had quite a big crowd but a demo was different.  I don’t know if it was just the lack of pressure to impress the judges, or that the competitiveness of a contest wasn’t there or what but i had a blast praticing and doing the show, probably the greatest riding i’ve had since i started riding.

Pratice got started a little slow due to some tire malfunctions on blakes ramp and getting Derek Cooks landing ramp there. but better late than never.  We had a good set up and good landing, so it was just time to practice, after not hitting this ramp in exactly a year, i was still really unfamiliar with this ramp, and forgot how much pop this ramp will give you.  Kind of a bad first day with totally missing the ramp with the expection of my rear tires and totally tweeking out Derek landing and doing some good riding not being serious at all and coming up way short and being bucked off the front taking a nice dirt sample.  So Sand City i still got some Gravel in my arm, so if you’d like it returned just let me know.

Saturday was kinda bad, the wind had picked up and i was pretty stiff from the crash on friday landing on my left elbow and head.  we praticed a little that moring with the wind and decided to move the ramp back a little farther for the show, then the wind really picked up and we waited for about 2.5 hours to let it settle down and it was only getting worse, we where jumping right into the wind.  so your definetly going to need to carry alot more speed into the ramp to make sure the wind didn’t mess with you too bad.  So i gear up and went for it, and of course did the same thing as i did yesturday missed the landing totally taking a much more harsh impact that friday.  some deep pain in my left wrist and my face getting quite acquainted with my new pro taper bar bad.  After taking about 15 minutes for my wrist to stop hurting so bad, i hit it again and landed it perfect right at the sweet spot, well as i was turning around to make another pass i see Jon get tossed over the bars and get drill by the quad.  after bailing off my quad and runing to his aid, he was alright and got up under his own power, and went to the hospital to get checked out.

After this Devin Blake, and myself had a little meeting and agreed to move the ramp back to where it was that morning and do the show, after two crashes the past two days we didn’t want anyone getting seriously hurt.  The Ambulance is always on site, you just pray you never have to take that ride.  Devin and I started the show kinda slow doing some simple tricks then did an interview with Blake and then the show got started, The music was blaring people were going nuts, it was a good time.  Everyone seemed to really enjoy what we where doing and the tricks we where pulling.  Devin and I went through our entire trick list and even stopping every once in a while to get the crowd pumped up.  After me and devin had stopped we went on top of the landing and everyone was going nuts cheering and reving the two strokes up it was great.  the crowd was going nuts and we even through our googles away, but the crowd wanted some more so me and devin did what we had been training for we started doing some really close trains like the closet we’d had ever been, i was really nervous a couple different times.  but the show was awesome.  Signed autographs afterwards, took pictures with all the kids, talked to a few guys from my neck of the woods it was great i never get enough out of meeting all the people and that stuff its the best part of the day.  The Sponsors also got repped really good too, Everyone was coming up and asking about this and that, weather it was questions about Pro Armor, or the Full Flight Racing A arms or anything.  I think the sponsors are going to get a lot of recognition this year with Blake pimping them out in every short internet clip he throws up and how well the bikes are stickered up and how highly we speak of everyone this year.  So i think the sponsors are going to more than happy with everything we are doing for them this year.

We got to go out and went riding after the show with a lot of the people that where just there to watch.  and we had a blast out there on the dunes. finding some good jump and having another large crowd of people follow us around it was awesome best weekend ive had in a long time.  That night was great too, Jon came back from the hospital and stayed with us for a while, i had finally gotten to shower and eat.  and got to just chill with everyone that made the show happen all the event staff and some crazy crazy people out there.  i don’t think i went to bed until 3am it was cool getting to meet everyone and have them tell me how crazy i am or how cool they think it is, and thats what makes me keep going, is knowing that people enjoy watching me ride.  but definetly had a blast that night with everyone, Blake Devin, Jon, Derek, Kevin, Melissa, Kristy, Zach, Mike, Ben, Corn, Skraggle Mat, and everyone else, and sorry if i forgot any names i’m terrible with them, but definetly had a blast with all you guys and thanks for all the support this year. you guys are the best.

But this year is going pretty good.  The monday after the show i’m sore as ever just feel like ive lost a fight to a 350lbs Smurf this weekend, and after accessing all the damage, i got a lot of work to do so i’ll be takling a couple weeks off of riding to just do some maintence stuff.  I broke my Sub-Frame all the way through on one side this weekend and also had a couple bolts rattle loose, so that needs taken care off, my pitbike started coming a part too so i need to get it fixed, ive been fighting some metal peices of my ramp for a while now, the expanded keeps raising up and breaking the welds so i need to do that, and i also need to do some dirt work out here at the compound too.  I also got a couple side project i need to get cracking on too, which i’ll post more blogs about them as the time comes, But i don’t really know how many people read these things but i’m going to try and undate and keep everyone informed with everthing going on.

But anyway glad i got to meet everyone i did this weekend and i hope i put a smile on you and your childerns face too.  I had a blast this weekend and couldn’t have done it without you.

Thanks again for all the support
Gabe

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 8:25 pm and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.