Real BMX 2017 contenders
In Their Own Words
Real BMX is returning for its second year. This time around, we're letting the competitors tell you more about themselves and their filmer/editor partners. Read on...
Real BMX is returning for its second year. This time around, we're letting the competitors tell you more about themselves and their filmer/editor partners. Read on...
Alex Donnachie
"I'm from Scotland, where it rains almost every day," says Alex Donnachie, "so I spend a lot of time riding indoors at the Unit 23 skatepark. I also spend most of my time working on video parts and trying to put as much thought as possible into each one to make them different." (Feeble hard 180)
"I'm from Scotland, where it rains almost every day," says Alex Donnachie, "so I spend a lot of time riding indoors at the Unit 23 skatepark. I also spend most of my time working on video parts and trying to put as much thought as possible into each one to make them different." (Feeble hard 180)
Chad Kerley
"I grew up racing BMX until I was thirteen," says Chad Kerley. "Then I quit to focus on the less competitive side of riding by going to the skatepark every day. I started filming, meeting new people and friends, which eventually led to where I'm at today. I'm super honored to have been invited to compete in Real BMX!" (Manual bar spin, manual opposite bar spin)
"I grew up racing BMX until I was thirteen," says Chad Kerley. "Then I quit to focus on the less competitive side of riding by going to the skatepark every day. I started filming, meeting new people and friends, which eventually led to where I'm at today. I'm super honored to have been invited to compete in Real BMX!" (Manual bar spin, manual opposite bar spin)
Colt Fake
"I'm 28 years old. I like to ride bikes and hang out with my son, Taj," says Real BMX 2016 Fan Favorite and silver medalist, Colt Fake. "The filming and making video parts is my favorite aspect of riding, I guess because of my style. I'm the least tech, or trick oriented, so the stuff I look for to ride is usually something that looks very flashy and fun. It's a really good feeling when people tell you how much fun they had watching your video, and how much you just inspired them to ride something fun and fast, or drop off a roof. That's one of the most fun parts of being a video-part rider." (Rail hop)
"I'm 28 years old. I like to ride bikes and hang out with my son, Taj," says Real BMX 2016 Fan Favorite and silver medalist, Colt Fake. "The filming and making video parts is my favorite aspect of riding, I guess because of my style. I'm the least tech, or trick oriented, so the stuff I look for to ride is usually something that looks very flashy and fun. It's a really good feeling when people tell you how much fun they had watching your video, and how much you just inspired them to ride something fun and fast, or drop off a roof. That's one of the most fun parts of being a video-part rider." (Rail hop)
Dave Krone
"I have been riding BMX and making videos for 18 years," says Dave Krone. "I used to make web edits on a weekly basis, before it was popular, and in more recent times worked on a video part with Navaz for Cult's 'Talk is Cheap.' The last three-four years I have kept my riding under the radar -- soul riding." (Double peg)
"I have been riding BMX and making videos for 18 years," says Dave Krone. "I used to make web edits on a weekly basis, before it was popular, and in more recent times worked on a video part with Navaz for Cult's 'Talk is Cheap.' The last three-four years I have kept my riding under the radar -- soul riding." (Double peg)
DeMarcus Paul
"I really enjoy filming and going through all of the transitions that it takes to get one clip," says DeMarcus Paul. "Over the past few years I've been able to put out a DVD video part and web sections for a few of my sponsors. I believe those are the reasons for me being chosen to be a part of this contest." (Pegs to 180 gap)
"I really enjoy filming and going through all of the transitions that it takes to get one clip," says DeMarcus Paul. "Over the past few years I've been able to put out a DVD video part and web sections for a few of my sponsors. I believe those are the reasons for me being chosen to be a part of this contest." (Pegs to 180 gap)
Nathan Williams
"I don't really have a plan for anything," says Nathan Williams. "I like just going with the flow of life wherever it takes me. Any opportunity I've been given over the last 10 years has been shocking to me. I had the chance when I was younger to ride and hang out with pros around Nashville, like Corey Martinez and Seth Kimbrough, who I looked up to. Those guys really showed me a good example of what it was like to get a check for riding, but it never, ever was a job to them. For some reason they liked hanging out, so over the years we got to go on more and more trips together, and that lead into some flow deals, and so on. I can't thank them enough!" (360 gap)
"I don't really have a plan for anything," says Nathan Williams. "I like just going with the flow of life wherever it takes me. Any opportunity I've been given over the last 10 years has been shocking to me. I had the chance when I was younger to ride and hang out with pros around Nashville, like Corey Martinez and Seth Kimbrough, who I looked up to. Those guys really showed me a good example of what it was like to get a check for riding, but it never, ever was a job to them. For some reason they liked hanging out, so over the years we got to go on more and more trips together, and that lead into some flow deals, and so on. I can't thank them enough!" (360 gap)
Kerley's partner: Christian Rigal
"I filmed my first legit edit with Christian, so we work really organically," says Chad Kerley of his filmer/editor teammate, Christian Rigal. "He's always been just as passionate about filming as riding. I like to film lines and I trust him to capture it right. We also won a video contest back in 2011, so I knew right away who I wanted to work with for this."
"I filmed my first legit edit with Christian, so we work really organically," says Chad Kerley of his filmer/editor teammate, Christian Rigal. "He's always been just as passionate about filming as riding. I like to film lines and I trust him to capture it right. We also won a video contest back in 2011, so I knew right away who I wanted to work with for this."
Fake's partner: Darryl Tocco
"I choose Darryl as my filmer because I like his work," says Colt Fake of his reunion with his Real BMX 2016 co-medalist, Darryl Tocco. "It's crisp and refreshing, not over done in an artsy sense, and it's a huge stress relief to know you're in good hands while out trying to get a clip. I only have to focus on what I'm doing, because I know he has his part down no problem."
"I choose Darryl as my filmer because I like his work," says Colt Fake of his reunion with his Real BMX 2016 co-medalist, Darryl Tocco. "It's crisp and refreshing, not over done in an artsy sense, and it's a huge stress relief to know you're in good hands while out trying to get a clip. I only have to focus on what I'm doing, because I know he has his part down no problem."
Donnachie's partner: Dave Sowerby
"I chose Dave because he is who I film with most of the time," says Alex Donnachie of his filmer/editor partner. "I have been working with him for over four years on various projects. He is a perfectionist when it comes to filming and editing, so I thought he would be perfect for this."
"I chose Dave because he is who I film with most of the time," says Alex Donnachie of his filmer/editor partner. "I have been working with him for over four years on various projects. He is a perfectionist when it comes to filming and editing, so I thought he would be perfect for this."
Paul's partner: Mike Mastroni
"I chose Mike because he's simply one of the best filmer/editors to ever touch a camera," says DeMarcus Paul of his Real BMX partner, Mike Mastroni. "He's one of my best friends and it's always great time when we're out filming!"
"I chose Mike because he's simply one of the best filmer/editors to ever touch a camera," says DeMarcus Paul of his Real BMX partner, Mike Mastroni. "He's one of my best friends and it's always great time when we're out filming!"
Williams' partner: Peter Adam
"I picked Pete because we just finished working on a two-year DVD project for my bike sponsor, United Bikes, so we already know how each other works," explains Nathan Williams of his choice to work with Peter Adam for his Real BMX part. "It feels very comfortable, which is important to me when filming. Pete is also super easy going and light hearted, so that keeps the vibes nice and easy!"
"I picked Pete because we just finished working on a two-year DVD project for my bike sponsor, United Bikes, so we already know how each other works," explains Nathan Williams of his choice to work with Peter Adam for his Real BMX part. "It feels very comfortable, which is important to me when filming. Pete is also super easy going and light hearted, so that keeps the vibes nice and easy!"
Krone's partner: Ryan Navazio
"Navaz has over 20 years experience filming and editing bike riding," says Dave Krone of his Real BMX teammate. "He can adapt to situations and riding styles easily. He works hard to document all the dynamics of a situation."
"Navaz has over 20 years experience filming and editing bike riding," says Dave Krone of his Real BMX teammate. "He can adapt to situations and riding styles easily. He works hard to document all the dynamics of a situation."
Meet the Judges
Let the men who will be deciding who gets X Games medals in this year's competition tell you why they're qualified to judge, and what they're looking for in a winning video (from left to right): "I've been a pro rider for the last 18 years, with a dozen or more video parts spanning my career. I've been a regular judge at the Dew tour, Vans U.S. Open and Mongoose jams. For a winning video, I'll be looking for fresh spots, trick selection that is specific to the spots, as well as difficulty of the moves all executed with a genuine style. I also will be looking for consistent filming and editing throughout the video as a whole. Basically, a video that leaves you with that 'holy s--t, that was awesome' feeling when it's over." -- Jason Enns "I've been a professional BMX rider since 1995, and am the longest pro still putting out street parts ... I think ... To me, street is more then tricks. So for a winning video, I'm looking for someone who is out searching for new spots and ways to ride them, not someone one-upping the last trick done on popular spots. Riding street is form of exploration, of yourself, your bike and your surroundings." -- Mike Escamilla "I've been a pro rider for 16 years, competed in a dozen X Games events and have also medaled in 2010 in LA and 2011 in Shanghai. I have also filmed many video parts over the years and know first hand the difficulties, challenges, hard work and triumphs of filming a video part. For a winning video, I am looking for variety of tricks, original style, spot usage, difficulty of tricks, given the spot, and also the general "feel" of the video part. The final question I always ask myself is, 'did this video part leave me motivated to go ride?' That's the number one prize of the viewer: motivation. A great video part will inspire other riders to go push themselves and create something they can all their own." -- Brian Kachinsky "I've been pro for almost 10 years, competed in Real BMX in 2016, am obsessed with watching BMX videos, and have been a part of numerous video projects on both sides of the lens. Creativity, spot usage and proper documentation are a few the most important aspects of filming a part. Progression and trick difficulty come into play as well, but if there's not a feel or story to your video part, you're missing the point." -- Dakota Roche
Let the men who will be deciding who gets X Games medals in this year's competition tell you why they're qualified to judge, and what they're looking for in a winning video (from left to right):
"I've been a pro rider for the last 18 years, with a dozen or more video parts spanning my career. I've been a regular judge at the Dew tour, Vans U.S. Open and Mongoose jams. For a winning video, I'll be looking for fresh spots, trick selection that is specific to the spots, as well as difficulty of the moves all executed with a genuine style. I also will be looking for consistent filming and editing throughout the video as a whole. Basically, a video that leaves you with that 'holy s--t, that was awesome' feeling when it's over." -- Jason Enns
"I've been a professional BMX rider since 1995, and am the longest pro still putting out street parts ... I think ... To me, street is more then tricks. So for a winning video, I'm looking for someone who is out searching for new spots and ways to ride them, not someone one-upping the last trick done on popular spots. Riding street is form of exploration, of yourself, your bike and your surroundings." -- Mike Escamilla
"I've been a pro rider for 16 years, competed in a dozen X Games events and have also medaled in 2010 in LA and 2011 in Shanghai. I have also filmed many video parts over the years and know first hand the difficulties, challenges, hard work and triumphs of filming a video part. For a winning video, I am looking for variety of tricks, original style, spot usage, difficulty of tricks, given the spot, and also the general "feel" of the video part. The final question I always ask myself is, 'did this video part leave me motivated to go ride?' That's the number one prize of the viewer: motivation. A great video part will inspire other riders to go push themselves and create something they can all their own." -- Brian Kachinsky
"I've been pro for almost 10 years, competed in Real BMX in 2016, am obsessed with watching BMX videos, and have been a part of numerous video projects on both sides of the lens. Creativity, spot usage and proper documentation are a few the most important aspects of filming a part. Progression and trick difficulty come into play as well, but if there's not a feel or story to your video part, you're missing the point." -- Dakota Roche
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