The Bristol Press Day, Date, 2001 | A# TTHHEE TTAATTTTOOOO BRISTOL PRESS MAKING A PERMANENT IMPRESSION SINCE 1994 VOLUME 7 No. 9 Watch out for ‘crazy English biker’ By MIKE NGUYEN And that he has. With all these years in the sport, he’s Bristol, Connecticut. The Tattoo He nabbed the first place prize at the been noted as one of the best and most But he’ll have the chance to X Trials in Grand Prairie, Texas in BMX well-known bikers to come out of do so Father’s Day weekend, You don’t get much bigger than hav- vert. Europe. when he comes to try to nab ing your own signature BMX bike. Bestwick took second place in vert Now, however, Bestwick resides with another first place finish on And Jamie Bestwick, the 28-year-old at the ESPN-hosted B3 event (short for his wife in a small town in the bike vert at the Bristol X BMX champion straight out of England, boards, blades, and bikes) this year — recently got one: his own signature bike he won it last year — and placed second frame, courtesy of his sponsor, GT overall in the Stunt series. bikes. As if that’s not enough, “I guess I’m the only biker here approved “It’s pretty neat to walk Bestwick even has an aero- into a store and seeing a nautics degree. by the FAA to fly.” -- Jamie Bestwick bike with your name on it “I guess I’m the only there. It takes some time biker here approved by the to get used to it,” he said. FAA to fly,” he joked. Pennsylvania, close to the famous Trials. So has all this fame and He said he worked for Woodward Skate Park. He urged fans who come attention gone to his six years to gain the degree. The nearby park “is really neat. I get out for the event at Lake head? Bestwick won gold last to ride the best skate park ever built,” Compounce to “just try to have fun” and “be responsible Not really. year at the , and in Bestwick said. and shout as loud as you can “In the town I live in, the best way imaginable. He said he moved across the ocean Photo courtesy of ESPN when the BMX vert finals are people who know me just He pulled off the first- to live near one of the best skate parks see me as the crazy Jamie Bestwick ever turndown flair on a on.” in the world and because “there’s more “I hope to get the year-end English biker guy down BMX in the last second of on the side of TV and sponsorships in the street,” Bestwick said. his last run, snagging the title [by winning at the the States.” Trials],” Bestwick said. Bestwick was first inspired to get gold and leaving stunt bike superstars However, Bestwick said, “England is into biking when he received his own and Matt Hoffman the silver That shouldn’t be a prob- my home country. I get to ride with my lem if he continues what has BMX bike. and bronze. friends and see my family.” Photo courtesy of ESPN “My dad bought me a bike when I Bestwick has been competing profes- been a great season. Although he’s visited Bristol, Jamie Bestwick at the X Trials in Grand Prairie, was ten, and I’ve been riding since,” he sionally for a decade and has biked His goal, he said, is “to be a England, he said he has yet to be in Texas last month. said. since 1982. leader in the sport.” Will he flip for Bristol? Getting airtime Lindenmuth, who’s already qualified for the X By MIKE NGUYEN The Tattoo Games in Philadelphia, said he hopes to see the So what do the pros think about Bestwick. same “good crowds” at the Lake Compounce X when they’re hanging up there in “Watch out for the landing,” said Matt Lindenmuth has been around for a long Trials that he saw in Texas. time — and he’s only 20. “This year is going to be a big year for skating,” the air? Bruce Crisman, another biking star. The one-time champion, who has been Lindenmuth said. “Either I’m thinking ‘this is going “You need to make sure you’re Rollerblading professionally to be better than I thought’ or else coming back on the ramp properly,” since 1994, said the feeling he gets from the sport is inde- “You can’t describe the rush. Get some I’m thinking ‘this isn’t looking too said Matt Lindenmuth, an inline scribable. “It’s just one of those skates and get some air on a half-pipe is good’ and that I better brace myself skating whiz. “It all [just] happens.” things,” he said. “You can’t for a fall,’” said biker Jamie describe the rush. Get some all I can say.” -- Mike Nguyen skates and get some air on a half-pipe is all I can say.” -- Matt Lindenmuth

Lindenmuth com- “Some of the other sports like petes mainly in aggres- and biking have taken more coverage than inline, Rising young biker sive inline vert competi- but this year is really going to shine [for inline],” tions, or what is some- said Lindenmuth, who is sponsored by times referred to as tran- Rollerblade. sition skating. “We’re a fairly new sport,” he said, “and we “It’s faster and more went through our growing pains.” aims at weekend win power [than street or Lindenmuth said that if people “give their park]. It flows more,” he attention to inline, they’re going to see a lot of By MIKE NGUYEN When he turned 21 recently, he said, he just said. good stuff. I’m excited, even.” The Tattoo went camping. Lindenmuth, who Camping seems pretty tame for a biking star places near the top of When he’s competing on his BMX bike, Bruce who’s just gotten off the Dave Mirra BMX tour, nearly every major event Crisman flies up ramps, spinning full circles on grabbed a second Tattoo photo in which he competes, his back wheel while hanging on with one hand. place finish at the Matt Lindenmuth nabbed a fifth place in Texas X Trials vert at the X Trials com- and turned fully petition in Grand Prairie, Texas last month. He professional just came in first overall in the Aggressive Skating “I’m so thankful that I get to a year ago. Association in 1998. do this for a living.” Crisman may He said he didn’t expect such success when he be fairly new in got started at the age of 14. -- Bruce Crisman the lineup of “I never had any intentions to go far,” pros, but he’s Lindenmuth said. already beating But he’s ready to go farther. And then he really gets going. out tough compe- Photo courtesy of ESPN “I’m 20 right now, my body is holding up,” he “I do it for the love of the sport, definitely,” he tition and gaining Bruce Crisman said. “I don’t see myself leaving the industry.” said. recognition. If and when his body gives out, he said, he Crisman may be one of the top professional He said he was inspired to get into BMX after hopes to start an inline-oriented company to keep BMX street riders in the field, but he’s still a reg- viewing multiple BMX videos and reading BMX himself in the business. ular guy. magazines. The Oregon native’s been participating With his successful career, Lindenmuth said, and competing in top competitions “I’ve been spoiled, I guess.” since 1994. He said he’s thankful for all of it. Crisman placed third overall last “I’ve made some of my best friends in skating,” year in the Hoffman Sports he added. Association Bicycle Stunt Series in For now, he’s touring the nation with the the park category — which is like a skaters’ association, promoting his sport and giv- street course but has more of a skate ing demonstrations to keep himself busy. park feel. That’s a good showing for a When he has time for a break, he goes back to competitor’s first full year as a pro- his home near Woodward Skate Park in fessional. Pennsylvania. Crisman loves the sport enough to “Woodward’s a heaven. It has the greatest give lessons and demonstrations regu- atmosphere. There’s every ramp and pipe you can Photo courtesy of ESPN larly at Woodward Skate Park in ever imagine,” Lindenmuth said. “It’s kind of like Matt Lindenmuth at the X Trials in Grand Pennsylvania. one of those utopias.” Prairie, Texas, last month. But, he said, his favorite park to skate in is the just-as-notable Portland Burnside Skate Park in Oregon, near his home. More X Trials Competing in Dave Mirra’s nation- wide BMX “supertour” this past year, info online: he said, “was very good, very excit- ing.” With all his newfound popularity, ReadTheTattoo Photo courtesy of ESPN he’s still grateful for what biking has After devoting three and a half given him. Bruce Crisman at the X Trials in Grand Prairie, Texas last issues to the X Trials, you’d think “I’m so thankful that I get to do month. The Tattoo would have the sense to this for a living,” Crisman said. call it quits. But no. Our student journalists will be out in force this weekend at Lake Compounce to bring the story of the While at the X Trials... event to loyal readers. We’ll be out there talking to ath- The professionals have some advice for weekend, he said. “It’s been plaguing me for letes, judges, spectators and anyone spectators this weekend. awhile now and since I’m already qualified else we can find to give the full fla- “Go to all the stores and grab as much for the Games, I’m going to try it again in vor of the greatest professional sports event to hit Bristol in years. free stuff as you can,” said bike star Jamie Bristol.” To keep up to date, check out The Bestwick. Bruce Crisman, a BMX biker, said every- Tattoo’s ever-changing web site — Matt Lindemuth, an inline skater, said one should just “have a good time.” www.ReadTheTattoo.com — all week- people should “go out there and watch” the “Smile a lot,” added Bestwick. end. We’ll update it as often as we athletes show off their best. They want to hear a lot of support from can to deliver stories and the results. The web site will also have all the “You’ll be surprised at all you see,” he the crowds, too. information needed to know what’s said. “I do not like doing silent shows,” said going on and how to see it. One of the best moments could come flatland biker Matt Wilhelm. Admission is free and the show should be terrific so c’mon out and from Lindemuth himself. “Cheer your butts off,” said Lindenmuth. Katie Jordan / The Tattoo “I want to land my double backflip” this -- Mike Nguyen have some fun! WWW.READTHETATTOO.COM The best teen journalism in America. For questions, comments or to join, contact advisors Steve Collins and Jackie Majerus at 523-9632.