Monster Games 2008

January 25-28, 2008

Sydney Australia

Sydney’s Olympic Park

Results: 1. Peta Shepherd 2. Crystal Shepherd 3. Sarah Mitchell 4. Angela Dobbie "Boo" 5. Vanessa Brazeau 6. Leah Brideson 7. Felicity Urquhart "Flik" 8. Pip Dennewald 9. Claire Silver Jaye 10. Katrina Whalan

Thanks to Girls BMX Spot for this Story. Visit them at http://www.myspace.com/girlbmxers for more photos from the Games!

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At last years Australian BMX games it was the first for the girls to have there and had a small demo session.. This year we had the 4 own event..only 4 girls entered girls from last year and 6 others entered, so we ended up with 10 girls entering!!!

Before the comp they got all the girls to stand out the front to get there bikes and asked if anyone was planning on using the 7ft street spine..*with a small snigger* or if anyone was planning on jumping the thing.. until Vanessa from Canada put her hand up and said she was planning on using it..you could see the look in the organizers eyes..as if to say. “oh.. you guys..are..serious?” As we walked out onto the course the crowd was silent with a few whistles from guys in the crowd.. but once the first trick was pulled you could here the shocked whispers like.. “Dude did you see that?”… It was such a good feeling with the crowd taking all the girls determination so serisouly..

We started to all practice, after a few tricks over the box jump Crystal tried a nothing and ended up being thrown forward because of the roller..it was a bit of a scare because she didn’t get up right away.. She laid there for a bit trying to get her breathe back.. Then jumped back up got straight back on her bike and rode around again.. I forgot the crowd was even there until we heard a huge cheer as soon as she got back up!

We rode in a jam format riding one by one.. Crystal started out with a no foot can over the box and barspin disaster, then started to pull off some crazy stuff like superman seat grab and superman no handers over the box! Sarah started her run off with a Xup over the box then an xup fly out and a few stylish jumps over the flyout hip then ended up sycing herself up so much that she attempted to jump the 7ft street spine in the middle of the course!! Her second attempt wasn’t as good as her first but it was crazy !! Felicity did a no hander over the box a tyre grab fly out and a few airs on the vert wall..I had entered last year so I wasn’t as nervous this time round, I did tyre grab one footers.. xups, double peg stall and a few foot taps on the vert wall.

Van did alleyoop peg stalls, disasters and attempted a few 360 tyre taps over the spine..And worked her way up attempting to jump up the 9ft sub and grind across to the vert wall, she was getting so close and the crowd was all cheering her on!! Leah was one of the beginner girls in the group who did a few feeble grinds across the ledge *which she learnt that morning*!! And a few attempts for double peg stalls. Pip who also entered last year started her run off with xups over the box and a few attempts of an ice pick on the quarter and ended with trying a barspin fly out!

Claire was one of the older women of the group who also entered last year she attempted a few no footer one handers and ended her run with a fast plant on the quarter. Katrina was also one of the beginners, out of the girls and put in an awesome effort, she rolled around the park with great confidence and did a few fakie’s… Peta started her run off strong with a whip to disaster, tuck no handers and a few grinds.. and ended strong with a backflip attempt!!!! After 3 times she pulled it pretty clean then jumped off straight away for huge hugs!! The crowd went wild!!! It was the best feeling! Afterwards we all got congratulated from the crowd and other riders telling us all we rode really well..all in all it was a great day!!

Top Photo - Crystal Shepherd
Second Photo - Flik

Peta Shepherd - Tailwhip over the hip

Peta Shepherd - Grind

Pip Dennewald - Box Jump

Boo - Box Jump

Winners - Peta Shepherd, Sarah Mitchell, Crystal Shepherd

Crystal Shepherd, Boo, Flik

Sarah Mitchell, Boo, Peta Shepherd, Leah Brideson