Updated Videos Page

We’ve been starting to make some of the tweaks that you will be seeing with the site over the course of the next few weeks. They won’t be anything too drastic, just some stuff to help clean up the site a little better and open up some new opportunities.
The first change is that we have dropped a video player into the site. So now, instead of having to shoot you over to the old BNQT page, you can get all of the Original videos that premiered on the site in the past by going to the Videos page. There’s also a link up top in the navigation bar.

Also, for 2012, I’m looking to get a few regular contributors from around the world involved with the site. Whether that’s video contributors, photographers or writers, the site has been growing and I want to give the people who are producing high quality work a place to showcase it and get paid for it. If you are interested in joining the crew, get ahold of me. Please have samples of your videos, photos and / or writing work ready to preview.

The new year is looking to be a good one.

Mat Olson Interview

Mat Olson’s name is one that has been popping up more and more the past couple years. This Deco rider floats a little under the radar but definitely kills it on a bike and lives on the road doing shows. About a week ago, Chris Smith hit me up wondering if I’d be interested in seeing an interview with him. I was more than psyched on it, so here we have the interview that Chris did with him. Check it!

Name: Mat Olson
Check It >>

Jeff Wescott Bike Check

All photos: Jake Geisel

Jeff Wescott has been on fire lately. After joining the Amity Bike Co. team a little over a year ago, he has been making moves all over the world and is constantly on the move these days. It’s cool to see that if you put in work, you can make things happen for yourself. Jeff has been mega busy as of late handling the U.S team manager roll for Amity while putting in a ton of time in front and behind the camera. I figured it would be a good time to catch up. Check out what he’s rolling on these days with a bunch of extra questions. Sounds like he’s got some warmth in his future…

Name: Jeff Wescott
Check It >>

Review: Almond Belmont Shoes + Giveaway

A few weeks back, I received a care package from Almond. They had sent over a pair of Ben Hucke’s new signature Belmont model shoe to check out and spend some time riding in. When I opened the box up, I found not just one, but two pairs of the shoes. They said I could keep them to myself, or I could give the extra pair away to a lucky fan of The Union, who happens to wear a size 10.5. So, I have been wearing the shoes for a few weeks now and figured I’d give you some insight on what the shoe is all about, how well they held up and my personal opinion on the shoe. Then you can find out how to win the extra pair. Check it!
Check It >>

James Meliota Interview

Photo: Jeff Harmon
“ I had to circle that basketball court and then sprint full force to get up the grass bank with enough speed. Old Port area of Portland, Maine”

James Meliota has been a rider that I’ve been a fan of since I saw one of his edits a few years ago. He brings a lot of style to the table and with each edit he has produced, he has definitely caught the attention of more people because of his unique outlook on riding. A few weeks ago I hit him up to find out a little bit more about this guy who calls Maine home. I came to realize that he’s got a pretty interesting story based on his look on different things from BMX to nature, college, work, music and life in general. There was no doubt in my mind that I needed to get him some questions to let everyone find out more. So here’s the James Meliota Interview. Check out what he has to say, then leave him some love in the comments…

Name: James Meliota
Check It >>

Strike Against SOPA & PIPA

Some of you might be seeing a number of your favorite websites either “going black” with this page or you might get a link to Google asking you to sign the petition.

But what the hell is it exactly and how could it affect BMX?

Well, simply put… The U.S law makers decided that they were sick of hearing the music industry and computer program industry cry about piracy, or people stealing their work and putting it online for people to get for free. Which, I can understand since how many times have you downloaded a song or tried to get a copy of a program like Photoshop or Final Cut for you to edit your photos and videos without paying for it? It happens… A lot.

However, after doing some research, if these two bills pass it will give the government and corporations the right to go on a head hunting mission to eliminate any form of piracy online. Ultimately leaving them in control of creativity and originality online.

I suggest that you read about the SOPA bill here or the PIPA bill here.

So it eliminates piracy? That’s a good thing, right? Yeah, ending piracy is a good thing, but what the government wants to do is make it so that any body who uses a song (like the song you want to use in your edit) or a photo without paying for it and gaining clearance could lead you to being sued. That also means sites like Youtube, Twitter and Facebook could all be shut down because how many times have you seen song posted up? How about a photo the person didn’t take or get permission to share? When was the last time you looked up your favorite video part that was uploaded by “BMX Kid 69″ or something? What about a clip from an episode of Family Guy that Seth MacFarlane didn’t upload? Hell, that means if you do your own cover of a song and put it up on Youtube, you are violating these laws because you most likely didn’t get permission from the record label that owns the song!

This also would force search engines like Google to block any website that could share content that was pirated. It would also make it so the government or a corporation could literally look at a website and decide they are promoting piracy through their videos and have the entire website deleted like it never existed.

That means The Union, The Come Up, Vital BMX, Ride BMX, Ride UK, DIG and pretty much every single one of your favorite BMX sites would get shut down because they all share edits that pop up on Youtube and Vimeo that I’m willing to bet 99% of the music isn’t cleared with. They could shut us all down because we are “promoting piracy and using content that is stolen”.

So what can you do to stop this from happening? Well, it’s pretty easy. You can call your local law makers and tell them they won’t be getting your vote if they vote for this and that you don’t want to see it happen. Even easier than that?SIGN THIS PETITION THAT GOOGLE PUT TOGETHER!. Then SIGN THIS ONE by the SOPA STRIKE GROUP.

Letting this happen would give the government and corporations even more control over what we can and can’t do. All I know is I’m saying fuck that! (Gotta take advantage of that freedom of speech before they try and take that away too…)

Introducing Network A

A few months back, I heard on the radio that Youtube was going to be launching 100 premium channels with different brands and celebrities that would feature higher quality videos. Combined each of these channels would produce over 25 hours of original footage everyday (that’s an hour more than a day for those of you counting). I thought it was pretty interesting, but didn’t really think too much of it.
Fast forward to a few weeks back and I get an email asking if I would be interested in helping one of these channels called Network A get rolling by compiling some lists of some of the best videos to pop up online.
This channel is an action sports specific channel (BMX, skate, snow, ski, moto and surf) that will feature original videos from some of the top film makers and riders from around the world from all these sports, along with some of the best of what Youtube already has to offer.
Fast forward to today, and they finally launched the channel for the world to see and I’m psyched. This channel will be a featured channel that will put BMX among the others sports in front of the millions of people who may check out the channel.

Above you can find the first original BMX video to premiere in the BMX Section featuring Chad Kerley and Connor Lodes getting in a round of Calling The Shots by none other than Justin Kosman. After you check out the video, go check out what Network A is all about since I have a feeling you will be hearing a lot more about it in the future.

Kris Fox Interview

All Photos: Matt Lingo

If you stay pretty current with the web video game these days, there’s a good chance you have seen some of Kris Fox’s recent edits. This ex-racer turned high speed, style beast has been blowing some minds with his talent he learned and brought over from the track to the trails and skateparks. Not only is Kris killing it on a bike, he’s been handling the team manager duties at SE for almost the last year. I figured it was due time to find out a little bit more about this guy. So check out what Kris has to say, a few photos courtesy of Matt Lingo and some of his past edits. Don’t forget to leave him some love in the comments!

Name: Kris Fox
Check It >>

Chris Beers Interview

Photo: Greg Dickson

Chris Beers is a name that I’ve been seeing pop up since the early days of the Midwest BMX videos. For one reason or another his name caught my attention. I think it was because I thought it was cool his last name was Beers. I don’t know. Either way, over the last year or so, his name has been popping up more and more between clips in edits and the edits that he filmed and edited. I caught wind that he was really good at doing motion graphics and that’s actually what he does for a living. Shortly after, he ended up doing The Union’s video pre-roll that a few of you may have seen. I was definitely curious about this guy, so I figured I’d see if he would be into doing an interview to get to know him a little better and find out exactly what it is he does. All I know is people into filming and editing or motion graphics and graphic design will like this one. Take a peek!

Name: Chris Beers
Check It >>

2nd Annual BV Jam Flyer

If you have noticed, I’ve been slacking a little with the originals. I apologize! I’ve been busy working on getting things organized for my annual contest / jam that I’ve been throwing in Minnesota for the last 8 or 9 years now. This year, we will be having it at Bluff Valley Campground’s Over The Top Skatepark in Zumbro Falls, Minnesota for the second year on FEBRUARY 4th! I’m in absolute shock by how much support I was able to get for this one this year. I’d like to give a HUGE shout out to all the sponsors for this year.

Mutiny
S&M
Fit
Deluxe
Kink
Volume
Demolition
Etnies
Sunday
Dan’s Comp
Profile
Madera
Sun Ringle
United
Colony
Divison Brand
CULT
Animal
FBM
Bone Deth
Shadow Conspiracy
Subrosa
The Make
Tempered
Verde
DUO
Cinema Wheel Co.
Fly Bikes

As you can see from the flyer, we will be running two contests. One for the beginner and intermediate guys. It will be a jam format. After the contest, we will run a JR. Biggest Air, Jr. Colony Highest Bunnyhop and Jr. Footdown! Registration opens at 10 A.M and the contest will start at Noon for these guys.

After that wraps up, we’ll be running a Pro X Expert contest at 2 PM for the big dogs. It will be a jam format with a cash purse! We will try and fire it out as quick as possible so we can get to the DELUXE Biggest Air where we will be giving the winner a frame from Deluxe, S&M World Record Manual contest, Longest Skid, Division Brand Rail jam, Colony Highest Bunnyhop, FBM Pizza Eating contest, and more.

There may be a video premiere or two depending if the videos are done (Fingers crossed).

It will be a $20 entry fee for the day. That gets you into the contests (if you want), all of the jams for prizes, riding for the entire day with a FREE EVENT T-SHIRT. That and I’d imagine you will be walking away with over $20 in prizes anyways. Free entry for spectators!

So come out for what’s looking like a DAMN GOOD TIME on February 4th here in Minnesota at Over the Top Skatepark.

For more information hit the skatepark’s Facebook page

Need directions?
Bluff Valley Campground
61297 390th Ave
Zumbro Falls, Minnesota 55991-5293
(507) 753-2955

Leave any questions in the comments!