We are headed back to Ohio Dreams this Saturday to finish up the Finals one more time in the Battle for Midwest BMX! I have been all over the place lately and my time has been limited with keeping up on everything. I will have the series points updated very soon! See you all Saturday in at Ohio Dreams!
Aiden Amburgey Roasts a Flair at The Battle for Midwest BMX | Photo: Matt Hakey
The th year in The Battle for Midwest BMX officially kicked off in Fort Wayne, Indiana at The Fort Wayne Indoor BMX & Skatepark sponsored by Wonder Wheels BMX & Summit City Bicycles. The weekend started off on Friday night with a practice session to help get some of the new folks used to the unique layout inside the Fort Wayne Indoor.
The day began with a 2.5 hour practice session, Alec Rutherford was attempting to win practice but we never actually judged practice! After practice ended we moved straight into the contest. Beginners were up 1st and the butterflies were tearing up everyone’s stomach for sure. Once we got the butterflies out, Ethan Webb ended up taking the victory with various 1 footed moves and a few Steve Questa inspired wall rides was enough to take the top spot. Congrats to all the beginners who stepped up and participated in the Battle Contest!
Video By: Ryan Mayo
The 2017 Midwest BMX Season doesn’t stop after the Battle Series takes a summer break. We move on to support a fellow rider who took an incredible crash six months ago and remains in recovery. We will gather in South Bend, Indiana for help raise some $$’s for Scotty to help defray some of those outlandish hospital bills. Come on out and support Scotty Cranmer and all the riders at the 6th Annual Kitchen PRO/AM. #STANDWITHSCOTTY – FACEBOOK EVENT HERE
This years Battle Series Contest is coming to a head once again as we get geared up to take over Ohio Dreams Action Sports Camp for the Finals on April 8, 2017. This day is significant to me as it will be my 43 birthday, and I couldn’t imagine spending it with anyone else other than BMX Family! This year has been nothing short of amazing riding by the over 140 entrants. The Series Battle in all 3 of the points paying classes is up for grabs as we have some tight ones, keeping in mind that the winners from these 3 classes will receive a free week of Camp compliments of the fine folks over at Ohio Dreams!
Click Here for the Complete Standings — Click Here for a Google Map to Ohio Dreams
Beginner 1. DJ Martin - 18 2. Jonathan Morrison - 17 3. Gabriel Pearson - 14 Intermediate 1. David Ousterhouse - 20 2. Ben Weber-Kramer - 17 TIE 2. Grayden Schneider - 17 TIE Expert 1. Tyler Hill - 21 2. Brandon Collette - 20 3. Sonti Charles - 11
DJ Martin from the 2016 Visit!
Stop #3 began for most with a healthy drive to Wedgewood Ramps in Youngstown, Ohio. The park is a family owned and ran facility, we were greeted by owner Russell Kaye and his son, Russell Jr. The Kayes are very warm hearted and super down to earth people, I personally think that everyone should give them high fives for what they do every day for the scene, and for the fine folks in the Youngstown area.
We arrived 15 minutes before the contest was set to start due to some flat tire shenanigans at our lunchtime pit-stop. Grandpas Cheesebarn in Ashland, Ohio is about half way and the grilled cheese sandwiches from the deli are served on a take home Frisbee, it’s a must stop if you happen to be in the area. The Classes were stacked as we had over 50 entrants in total for stop #3, not to mention a posse of family’s and friends from Canada. Joyride 150 in Toronto is putting out some top-notch up riders and we all love to see them ride and cheer folks at our events.
The Beginner Class was no exception, 16 fine young ones were ready to rock the park as we broke them down to an 8 man final. In the end the class podium was completely covered with our supporters from the great white north. Team Canada took home 1,2 and the 3rd spot in beginner, huge thanks to everyone from Canada for supporting some midwest BMX!
Eddie Rovi – Winner Expert Class
The Battle for rages on as we made the trek to South Bend, Indiana to visit the gigantically amazing skatepark the Brett Banasiewicz built nearly 6 years ago. The fine folks at the kitchen hosted yet another amazing event for both AM’s and the visiting Pros were in town for a crazy finals that went down on Sunday directly after the #RideforGlenn Street Jam.
The weekend was action packed with BMX family’s and supporters alike in attendance. Saturday we saw all the AM Classes ride, Sunday was Girls, Old Fools, The Glenn Salyers Street Jam, we wrapped the day up with PRO Finals.
Thank all of you who support these events, we plan to make this series bigger and better over the years.
Beginner / Intermediate / Expert Judges Josh Orr - Nick Summerlot - Mark Flip Girls Judges Josh Orr - Bill Nitschke - Mark Flip
Photos / Video
Teddy Pieper / TedisGraphic.com
Special Thanks:
Brett Banasiewicz & The Kitchen Volunteers
Bill Nitschke
The Roberts Family
Results:
7 Year old DJ Martin – Winner Beginner Class!
The Battle for Midwest BMX continues at stop #3 in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the Fort Wayne Indoor BMX & Skatepark. The support was very stong as BMX’ers rolled in from all over the Midwest to show off some BMX Freestyle!
The day began with a meeting with all the riders to go over the format for this years Battle at the Fort Wayne Indoor. We decided to do the 1st run in the street section of the park, then the 2nd two runs in the park section of the skatepark. We moved the crown from one room to another in order to promote healthy living and also to ensure everyone in attendance got their steps in for the day.
Thanks to everyone who made it out for some good old fashion BMX and conratulations to the all the competitors at this years Stop #3 in Fort Wayne Indiana!
The Battle for Midwest BMX pushes on to the Buckeye state for stop #2 this weekend at Ray’s MTB’s flagship location in Cleveland Ohio. The day is filled with 2 wheeled fun for absolutely everyone. Get out of the cold and into some fun this weekend, we hope to see a bunch of smiling faces for the 2nd annual PRO/OPEN KOR!
Full Schedule for the Day – Click Here
Need a place to stay? – Click here for Ray’s Hotel Deals
Additional Fun: Foot Down / High Jump / Best Transfer / Best Trick
Pricing:
Amatuer Classes Start at 2pm – $26.99 is the entry fee to ride Ray’s all day, want to enter the contest? Just sign up, no extras
Pro/Open Start at 8pm – $50 gets you in for the day – $30 of the $50 goes towards a cash payout to the top 3
Dylan Densow – Milwaukee Winner for Expert (Rookie of the Year)
Stop #1 held in the 110,000 sq. ft. playland known as Ray’s Bike Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is officially in the books!
The day began early with a warm greeting from the staff at Ray’s. The Wisconsin crew is an amazing group of people and I cannot thank them enough for the amazing hospitality they showed us over the course of the entire weekend. Derek Slates & Jeff Downham run a clean and fun environment, providing a safe place for absolutely anyone to ride a bicycle indoors. Guaranteed to be the most fun you’ve had in years.
The Densow boys sign up for the competition as Jeff and Nick answer questions about the days events.
Registration ran from 9am-2pm so we took advantage of this time to indulge and explore the facility. Which in our terms is Ride it, and ride it hard! I personally had a blast, my crew of goons also had an amazing experience. Lyle (Ex-Amish) rode his rental bike so much through-out the day he could barely walk. When 10$ Bill Livingston wasn’t helping out judging, he was on the course with Teddy Pieper (The Battle Series Videographer) doing lap after lap. Before we knew it, the 2pm start time was upon us and we got straight to the business at hand.
Judges: Andy Hundley - Brandon Hoerres - Chase Pauza - Bill Livingston Photos: Josh Olszowka
Schedule for this Saturday at Ohio Dreams:
Doors Open at 10:00am
10am – 1pm – Open Practice
1:30 – Beginner Heats
2:30 – Intermediate Heats
3:30 – Pro/Open Class Heats
5pm – Finals Start (All Classes)
Award presentations directly after finals for all classes
Pro Open Class Pay Out = 100% – 1st 50% – 2nd 30% – 3rd 20%
Entry Fee: All Classes $20
HOTEL INFO
Best Western Richland Inn Mansfield – Mention “Ohio Dreams” for a discounted rate
419-756-6670
bestwesternohio.com/hotels/best-western-richland-inn-mansfield