Where would we be?

It's crazy that 11 years ago in 1995 I was watching these events with complete amazement. It's now X-Games 12 and I have finally gotten the opportunity to go behind the scenes, behind the gates, and behind the action.

I have changed so much in these last 11 years. In 1995 I was sitting in an editing suite in my video productions class splicing footage that I recorded from that very first games. Back then it was called the Extreme Games and most of the riders were the most known unknown. BMX was going through an era of rediscovery and was building up for another rebirth. The years of the corporation and the money were on their way.

Now we have gone through the growth and we have even taken bmx back for the riders. Most companies now a days are both run and owned by riders and our "sport" is now accepted more than ever. Having ridden long enough, I have seen the bubble burst a few times and I hope this X-Games of new limits pushed, announced rider sponsors like FBM and Mutiny, and the underdogs getting their chance to shine, is a sign that our activity can participate in this crazy circus and keep it's identity.

In the end, BMX is my life, nothing can change that at this point. You can make a joke like X-Gaymes, but if you in anyway have benefited from bike riding, ie: a paycheck, freeparts, your local bike shop hooking you up, you have to thank events like the X-games. Because if it weren't for the exposure these events bring to the world, companies and shops would have continued to give up on bmx and who knows where we would be. Prolly a 40lb. bike that has a freewheel, 4pc bars, 4 pegs and a whole buncha brakes. No money = no advancements in technology = me not working the job of my dreams.

posted by pdxbmx @ 8:34 AM