Free Agent Clinic Edit

Back on January 20, BMX News gave some heads up about the Free Agent Clinic scheduled at Bellflower BMX.

Last weekend, the full battalion of the 2012 Free Agent team turned up to teach the skills that come as absolute reflex to them, to a bursting group of Bellflower locals.

As luck would have it, ace photographer, Justin Kosman was on-scene as well, to capture the tutelage with a sharp video edit. Justin is one of our favorite photographers, and the chance to post a BMX racing edit by him is newsworthy, in its own right.

Check it!

Maris To Be MIA in Tulsa

Earlier this week, in an interview on the Dale Holmes Podcast Maris Strombergs confirmed he would not be attending the ABA Grands this year.

I spoke with my coach after Orlando, and told him I don’t want to go to the Grands this year…He told me “let’s see how it goes after Puerto Rico, if you get some good scores, maybe you still have a chance at the title”

I’m third in points…I can go for the third spot, but that’s not really what I want to do… So, I decided to take some time off, and get ready for next year.

The Machine will be taking off to his native Latvia for the holidays, and be rarin’ to go for Reno, in Early January.

We certainly speak for a lot of the fans when we say we’ll miss him at the “Greatest Race on Earth” next week. Definitely looking forward to watching him take on the world in 2012.

Listen: Dale Holmes Podcast With Maris Strombergs

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Quick Hit: 2011 Free Agent / Rockstar COlors

Not necessarily “official release” kind of stuff, be we thought it was cool enough for a “quick hit.” Dale Holmes posted a quick iPhone snap of the 2011 Free Agent/Rockstar Factory kit on his Facebook yesterday. We see, the “Rockstar” part has grown in prominence over last year, possibly projecting a bump up in their involvement with the “Dream Team.” This particular uni belongs to “the Machine” himself (dig the rainbow stripes), but we expect all the guys will be suited up in the threads at next week’s ABA US Nationals in Bakersfield. No word when Maris will be back in the gate, though in following his Facebook, he is in the gym, and road biking. So, our “armchair othro” guess is that his eyes are on a comeback well in time to defend his UCI world title.

Who’s in that shadow? Is that the UFO Plast alien, himself?

Last Chance: Free Agent So Cal. Clinics

Back on February 3, BMX News reported that Free Agent/Rockstar would be running a series of clinics around Southern California. Well, they’re half way in to the schedule, and we thought we’d check in with Dale Holmes to see how things are going, as well as give you a little nudge on the final two dates.

Dale let the photos speak for themselves, with some great snaps from the first two dates at Bellflower and Freedom Park. A solid group of riders at each clinic, yet not TOO much of a madhouse (always a delicate mix, as you want to make sure you have some people to ride with, but also want as much individual attention from the instructors as possible).

In addition to the five-time world champ, in Dale Holmes, attendees also got time with Maris Strombergs and Cristian Becerine (as well as some special guests from the Free Agent/Rockstar factory roster). You know it’s a good day when the Olympic Gold Medalist is coaching you into better form on your gate start, then showering you with lots of awesome swag.

The best part about it is that you have not missed out yet! March 26, they’re out at Lake Perris BMX, then April 4 at Orange Y. A great opportunity to get your skills fully dialed before the Chula Vista National, April 15-17.

For more info, including sign up instructions (day-of signups are available on a limited basis), download the info sheets below:

Lake Perris Clinic

Orange Y Clinic

More photos from the Free Agent/Rock Star So. Cal Clinic Series.

Maris Strombergs and Cristian Becerine hand out goodies for BMX Clinic students at Bellflower BMX

Cristian Becerine coaches a younger group at the Free Agent/Rockstar BMX Clinic

Checking in to the Free Agent/Rockstar BMX Clinic at Freedom Park BMX

Riders Circle up with Dale Holmes at the Free Agent/Rockstar BMX Clinic at Freedom Park BMX

Photos courtesy of Dale Holmes and Free Agent/Rockstar

Strombergs to Get Signature Series Sun Rims

Today’s “Quick Hit” comes courtesy of a poaching off of Dale Holmes’ Facebook page. Sun Ringlé will be releasing some signature series gold hoops for the Gold Medalist later this year. We envision those laced to a black set of Stealth hubs, and rollin phat on a black Free Agent Team Limo.

No production or pricing info on these yet, as they are strictly proto-ala-moto.

Check in to a Free Agent/Rockstar Clinic

Announcers are fond of saying “Maris Strombergs is out there puttin on a clinic” when he is out in front of a AA main. Well, on four days in the coming months, you’ll be able to join Maris for a clinic–and won’t need a pro card to do it.

Team Free Agent/Rockstar, in conjunction with Kenda, ODI and Sun Ringlé have scheduled a tour of BMX Racing clinics around Southern California. The three-hour clinic will be taught by Free Agent factory aces Dale Holmes (above), Cristian Becerine and Maris Strombergs, and will cover a variety of track skills, as well as training tips riders can use to make their pre-race-day efforts all they can be.

Participants will get a goodie bag full of swag from the sponsors, posters perfect for the post-clinic autograph session, and entry into a drawing for a Free Agent bike and other gear.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to get small-group instruction and pointers from the Olympic Gold Medalist, a 2008 Olympian and a 5x UCI World Champion.

Free Agent/RockStar Clinic Dates
February 19	Bellflower	1PM-4PM
March 12	Freedom Park	2PM-5PM
March 26	Lake Perris	2PM-5PM
April 3	Orange YMCA	11:30AM-2:30PM

Download the clinic flyer for more information on the tour, and how to sign up.

Strombergs Sidelined in Grands Pro Set Slam

Maris Strombergs was sent to the ER this morning after a major crash over the pro section in the first round of qualifiers for this evening’s Pro Spectacular. Early reports out of the Free Agent tent, via VintageBMX.com, are that he has a broken wrist, and a possible concussion. If true, these injuries would surely render him absent from staging for the balance of the ABA Grands weekend.

The big question now is “What about the title?” In the BMX equivalent of “electoral math,” Maris still has a chance at it, even if he is drinking a Rockstar on the sidelines as the three pro mains unfold on Sunday. But, that seems like a lot of “if/then/else” that has to happen for the blue sky of the so-called “quint crown” to show through.
UPDATE: Following Firday evening’s Pro Spectacular, the title is now down to Sam Willoughby who retained, and improved upon his points lead with a win, and Marc Willers who, with his second place, has edged into the “Zone” where an upset of Sam’s points stronghold is mathematically possible on Sunday.

Maris is, of course, not the only points leader leaning on the fence this ABA Grands. BMX News has been reporting the on-going events in the injury of Womens’ points leader, Alise Post, after a freak accident in the final lap of a late Monday practice session in Chula Vista.

BMX News will be tweeting from the infield of the Pro Spectacular/NAG 5 Challenge this evening, as well as the full day tomorrow and Sunday. Follow BMXNOW for the latest, and send your questions to @bmxnow as well. Also, for those of you at the race, use hashtag #10ABAGrands for your tweets.

We posted a brief “appetizer” photo gallery from Thursday’s Elite practice (which was where we snapped this Maris photo on the first straight).

View Photo Gallery Now

Maris Says: “I’m Not Done Yet”

Depending on who you talk to, there could be as few as three or as many as six active titles in Elite BMX racing. To some, a title and a plate are synonymous. If you can’t run a number one after winning it, then it doesn’t carry the same juice. By that standard, of course, winning the Olympic Gold Medal is the same as winning a State Plate…so not sure if we’re down with that (although it would make sense for the the reigning podium athletes from the last Olympics to be able to run 1, 2 and 3 at the next one, if they qualify).

Well, wherever your measure, if there is a title to be won in 2010, you’ll find Maris Strombergs at the top of the list, either as a top contender, or as the end-of-the-party winner. Here is the list of what Maris has going on:

2010 UCI BMX Elite Men’s World Champion
2010 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup Champion
2010 NBL Elite Men National Number One
2010 UCI North American Continental Champion

When interviewed after crossing the line first to win both the Frejus SX and the overall title for the year, Maris said “I’m not done yet!” This was obviously a not-so-subtle nod toward the next summit he must attain, the universally-coveted ABA National Number One Pro title.

And as a cherry on the Sunday, he was also recently voted RideBMX 2010 NORA Cup Racer…and of course, he is still reigning Olympic Gold Medalist.

Many these days are calling him “the Machine.” But maybe a more fitting moniker would be “The Titleist.”

—Mike Carruth

Interview: Maris Quenches Thirst For Worlds Win

Maris Strombergs had a remarkable weekend in South Africa earlier this month. Having never lost a lap on Saturday, and selecting lane 8 every time he had the opportunity to do so, BMXNEWS was eager for the new world champ to land in California (his adoptive home), to talk with him about how it all came together. He talks about the up & comers in the class, and also about the thoughts that were going through his mind as he was racing the biggest lap of the year (so far, at least).

It’s a great interview that give us a rare insight into both the serious and the playful side of this amazing athlete.

Listen Now

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Thanks to Dale Holmes for helping us get the interview set up, and to Stuart Harrison at HRP Designs for supporting the Announcers Tower series.

Interview: KB on “Hurry Up & Wait” Healing

When one has reached the heights of a profession that Kyle Bennett has reached, the pressure to improve, perform and stay healthy is ever-present. More often than not, these concepts are at odds with each other, yet all are essential. The fear is that there is always someone grinding out one more sprint, doing one more of something, or one less of something else…and walking between the raindrops on the dozens of injury risks that lie in wait for any top-performing, present-day pro.

For Kyle Bennett, things seemed to be sizzlin right along this summer. He was solidly in the top 10 (closer to the top 5, really) in the ABA standings, he was on the funded USA team for the World Championships in South Africa, and he was training well. Save for a little setback in the semis in Salt Lake (which was said to have rung his bell quite a bit), it was going to plan.

That plan changed on Saturday, July 10 when, as he Denzel Stein and Donny Robinson were doing laps at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Kyle over-jumped one of the sets on the third straight. What happened next changed the fate of Team USA BMX for 2010, and left both KB and dR in the hospital for several days.

In this episode of Announcers Tower, Kyle talks about the day of the accident, how it happened, and how he’s doing 10 days after spending a week in the hospital. He also looks to the future with the positive attitude of a champion, and makes it clear that he will be in the mix for quite some time to come.

Listen Now

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We really enjoyed doing this interview, and were very glad to hear the pep in Kyle’s voice, despite the injuries, and the disappointment of being sidelined for the 2010 Worlds. Thanks to Kyle for joining us! We look forward to keeping an eye on his progress, and eventual return.

KB and dR, fresh from the nursing ward, hit the beach with a cropped-out Denzel Stein and Corben Sharrah. (Photo courtesy of Donny Robinson)