GRO Session

Friday, June 24th: 4pm-6pm
– Wilson Skatepark, W Wilson Ave. & Lakefront Trail, Chicago, IL

GRO Clinic

Saturday, June 25th: 10:30am-5:30pm
– Asylum Skatepark, 29850 N Skokie Highway, Lake Bluff, IL

GRO Session

Sunday, June 26th: 2pm-4pm
– Krush Skatepark, 8059 W 185th St., Tinley Park, IL

More Info at http://girlsriders.org/?page_id=9661

It’s a small world, with even smaller amounts of female riders out there representing skills.  Flatland is a progressive sport and more competitive than it has been in years. Sometimes I wonder how we girls will keep up. I don’t add that much to the pool in terms of progressive riding. I’m old school, and proud.  However, someone has to ‘man’ up to the table and lay their cards down.  I want to see a new school of female riders immerse from the pavement.  I mean Erin Donato can’t be our “C” forever.  She’s still riding as far as I know, and I see new videos of her now and then, but she shouldn’t have to do it alone.  Hasn’t she carried us enough? I was excited when Aude Cassange hit the scene. That girl could really ride. But then she was gone. Does she still ride? Some people say no, but I saw a video with her fairly recently.  I’m just assuming she doesn’t want the spotlight and prefers to stay in the shadows. I get that.  There are many girls that just don’t want the spotlight. Girls, small in numbers, smaller in presence. That doesn’t change the fact that the female world of flatland is still looking for its heroine.

Finally, I think I found someone.  A small, young Japanese girl named Jun Higashiguchi.  She’s young, motivated, and living in a country where flatland thrives. She hasn’t been at it for long, but she’s on a fast track to stardom.

I give you Jun Higashiguchi.

17 years old.

Started riding in the spring of 2009.

Now watch this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0XqsI0JPSM&feature=BF&list=UL3qmKOFn-cLg&index=8 

Pretty impressive. Jun let me in on some of her personal flatland philosophy, experience, and dreams, to be shared of course.

WOF: What was your first bike?
JH: ashura(aresbykes)
WOF: Why brakeless?
JH: To get on speedily and it's my style：）
WOF: How much do you ride in one week?
JH: If it sunny, it's everyday!

WOF: Who do you ride with?
JH: York Uno! And my frend! I like them:)
WOF: Do you ride with any other girls?
JH: There is one person.
WOF: What’s your favourite contest/Jam so far?
JH: C3jam,an cup, kog, specil element, any more！I like contest/jam because it meets everyone when going to contest/jam.

WOF: What kind of difficulties do you experience?
JH: The place where I live is rainy and is snowy. When the weather is bad, it is not possible to get on.
WOF: What kind of profession interests you?
JH: I'm interested in professional jobs.(Photographer etc.)
WOF: What other interests do you have besides flatland?
JH: BMX Street, art, etc...Anymore!
WOF: What tricks are you working on right now?
JH: hang5,elc glide, cyborg! ect...

There’s definitely a language barrier, but they say when you have more questions after being given answers there’s something special going on.  lol. Also this goes to show you that the company you keep can really attribute to your progression.  Jun is in a very special place of opportunity.  I’m so glad she’s making the most of it.

I wanted to get a really good perspective of Jun’s thoughts on being a female in this male dominated sport.  But to me it seems like she’s literally just got into this and her whole flatland career is ahead of her still.  17 year old high school girl.   Not a care in the world. Kudos to you Jun. The future of female flat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJGSOtHFhhM

Here's a rare chance to be part of BMX history!!  Starting September 29 and until November 6, there will be a full-length feature BMX movie being filmed in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Most of the filming will take place at the Catty Trails, and the producers would really love to have a female BMX presence on the set to be used as extras.  There will also be a dirt contest put on by the film (to be featured in it) taking place on Saturday, October 23rd that any girls may feel free to enter.

The film is sponsored by Kink, Animal, Dans Comp, and will be featuring many big name pros as well as the original "Cru Jones" of RAD!!

If you would like to get involved please let me know at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Check out the teaser trailer on the film's website:

http://www.accelerate-themovie.com

By now you've probably already seen Julia's promo video that she unleashed into the public just a few short weeks ago. I remember when I first saw Julia riding. It was in a flatland video she released about 4 years ago, for a girls bmx video contest.  I also entered the video contest, but I was floored to see video footage of this 15 year old girl from Germany.  She had a raw talent and passion that was so apparent it was screaming through my computer's monitor. She progressed so rapidly, and I could tell she wouldn't give it up. Ya, I see other girls ride. I see them pick up a bike and ride it a couple of times. They realize it's hard, then they use their bike as a chair before it goes into the storage closet, or into the classifieds. I knew within 25 seconds of watching Julia's video that she was a contender, that she was here to stay on the flatland scene. I wanted to be her friend. We started talking over the computer and kept each other updated with our flatland progression. Recently I asked Julia to do this interview, and learned much more about my German friend. Julia speaks english and french, too!

Basics....

Julia Preuss: 20 years young and a rider since the tender age of 14.

I asked Julia to give me a break down of her routine riding.

JP: I try to make it to the spot 5-6 times a week. I mostly ride at a basketball court in my hometown, but sometimes you can find me riding the spots in Berlin too.  Riding alone is whats up. Sometimes its`s alright but also nerve wrecking cause there is nobody who tells you what you do wrong. So I totally enjoy to ride with the guys in Berlin, it`s so much fun spending time with them at the spot. It´s always fun, if Ali B. brings his big music-trash can-player along. I love good loud beats during riding.

WOF: how did you get into flatland?
JP:When I turned 14 I got a used Felt bike, sold it later, cause I tried to ride street. During summer I started Flatland at the Mellowpark, Berlin and i fell in love with that sport. So at the end of my holidays I got a used Flatland bike with a We the People Pony frame.Thats all I remember. Over the time I changed a whole lot so now Im riding a bike that is perfeclty made for me.