The concept of this article is let all of you beginner level through to pro know, the level of practise/training it takes to be a top professional rider in a contest situation, it's one thing to hit a trick once a session, it's totally another to have a trick on lock, and be able to pull it in a contest. With jomopro fast approaching followed by ninja spin the week after, this seemed like the ideal time for this article to drop. For Part 1, I interviewed the current World No 1, Viki Gomez, Matt Wilhelm, and James White and get their thoughts (with James' sarcasm) on their methods of practise, read on....
Take the combo above as an example, the week before Jomopro, Terry will be "training" like mad, he is "performing", this combo will be 5 in a rowed every session,there are four different levels of riding, "storming" "forming", "norming" and "performing" (contest level) many riders have different techniques to reach that level, many riders in the past such as Martti Kuoppa (who I believe did it first), Justin Miller, Sam Foakes, Terry Adams, all used or use this technique to be consistent.
Firstly, how do you decide what combos to practise and dial in for a contest?
Matt Wilhelm: I start off by picking individual tricks that I have a realistic chance of pulling under pressure.Then I put these tricks together into combos that look different and aren’t too repetitive.I hate when people keep repeating the same tricks.
James White: I choose the one's I have a good chance of pulling, I've being pretty much the same stuff for a good while now!...but it's better than walking through your run!!
Do you have a practise routine that you stick to before a contest? If so, what is that routine?
Viki Gomez: I have to do every combo 3 times perfect in a row. Then I can switch to the next one and like this with all the combos. Usually around 8 combos to be safe and have a backup for different floors.
Matt Wilhelm: I don’t really have a set routine. For me it’s all about keeping your brain focused.Some people do their combos 5 in a row, which I sometimes do. Some days I pick two individual tricks and try to pull them 10 in a row or try to get a 90% success rate, or whatever the goal is for the day. I’m all about setting practice goals because it actually makes riding more fun for me. When you have been riding for 20 years you need something to keep your mind from wandering.
James White: Get up 6am, prepare breakfast for my family. Take the dog for a walk. Take Kids to School. Go to work. Come home get Dinner down my Family. Take Dog for a walk. Take Kids to whatever clubs are doing that day. Check Flatmatters. Go to bed dreaming that one day, I'll be good enough to beat Matthias.
Yes definitely. In the battles you have to put more effort making the combos longer so it means you need to be ready to freestyle a little bit and improvise. I prefer 3 minute run system, but I admit I enjoyed the battles few times before. But I don’t like the KOG system where you are out if you touch the floor. It’s so stressful and unfaithful for the riders. Only the most consistent wins,but the spirit of the battle is gone. Obviously those formats are not made by riders who compete! HUH!
Matt Wilhelm: I don’t change it up too much. I might shorten up a few combos or extend a few combos, but the framework of my run is there for both.
James White: What's Practise?
Viki Gomez @ Jomopro 2010, whereas some riders are very structured in their combos, Viki has the ability to freestyle at will it seems like, you never know what combos he will throw down.
Viki Gomez @ Jomopro 2010, whereas some riders are very structured in their combos, Viki has the ability to freestyle at will it seems like, you never know what combos he will throw down.
Matt Wilhelm: Yes, but that is only because I do lots of shows. I think a good rider can adapt to less than ideal conditions.
James White: Sometimes it's wet, does that count?
Viki Gomez: Before it was the whole winter ,but nowadays I usually start one month before. I think it’s time enough to don’t hate my bike after 15 years of riding. Also contests nowadays are just a joke! I mean if I win it would be max 2000€. I can easily do this amount in 2/3 shows so I m not stressed. Before with the x games and other comps we were talking about real money!
Matt Wilhelm: I typically practice my contest stuff for about half of my session and then work on new stuff for the last half. However, if I’m riding at the warehouse in a jam circle it depends on what everyone else is doing. If
they are doing long combos and I’m working on a single trick, I will barely get any time to ride. In that case I usually end up doing combos.
James White: On the morning of the contest.
Who do you look at as the most dialled contest rider?
Who do you look at as the most dialled contest rider?
Viki Gomez: I love to see videos of Martti Kuoppa with perfect clean runs. Example the worlds 2002! Epic shit and original tricks that could kick all the asses nowadays. I like Trevor Meyer’s consistency! Moto is just water on a bike!
Matt Wilhelm: Terry Adams is the most consistent because he can ride in the worst conditions on any bike and pull every trick. He rode someone else’s bike at the World’s one year when his bike was lost by the airlines. It even had zero offset, which he didn’t ride.
James White: Me or Matthias, it's hard to decide!
Matt Wilhelm is a machine!, throwing it down in 3 min format at the BMX masters 08.
Viki Gomez: The best way is to ride 4 hours a day. 2 hours in the morning just for contests stuff and 2 hours in the afternoon for my self, for my life and for my only reason to ride: Progression .Many days I pulled new tricks that I never do again either,because I can’t or because I forget them! I know I should film them but I just sold my video camera! Hahaha. Gotta get a new one and try to remember those tricks and film them.
Matt Wilhelm: For the past few years I have been thinking about hanging up the competition side of riding, but I still do love competing.I’m kind of getting tired of the battle format, because it doesn’t push progression at all.It pushes consistency.Just recently I was watching an old video of the 2001 X-Trials on Flatmatters where I pulled the Blender Bike-Flip for the first time in a comp and ended up winning my first Pro comp. The format of the
comp was best of the 2 runs counts. At that time I had that trick about 1 of 10 tries at best. Now with a battle format I would never even consider trying it in a comp because not only does every run count, but I would also have to pull it in 4 separate battles as opposed to just once in a single run. I always have felt contests slow the rider’s individual progression, and I am really feeling that lately.
James White: I don't......I juggle trying to fit riding in my life.
Viki Gomez: I do 3 in a row system cause 3 is a better number for me. After 10 days I should be able to do them all the time with out feeling that I wanna kill myself and stop riding.
James White: I've never done five in a row of anything in my life!
Viki Gomez: I would say whiplashes. Front and backwards. I always start warming up with this trick. For me it expresses the balance of my self everyday.
Matt Wilhelm: When I wasn’t doing 400 shows every year and driving 40,000 miles I used to hit the gym regularly. Now since I’m so busy I have to decide between the gym or riding. We obviously know which one I choose. I’m constantly on my bike all day. I have a show almost everyday at 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning, a show in the afternoon, and then riding at the warehouse at night. My metabolism is constantly running all day.
James White: I'm trying to train my Dog, not sure if that helps.
Viki Gomez: When I hate my tricks, my bike and my life in general then I m ready to go to a contest and feel like a consistent pussy. Sorry to say that but I feel like this sometimes when I go to a contest and I just pull my tricks with out trying new shit so I don’t break the ”consistent harmony”. It wasn’t like that in the past...but contest nowadays have a space of 5m x 5m and most of my friends I use to session with are gone. I talk about Martti, Nathan, Phil, Kotaro, Yanma, etc... I just cant session with everyone now cause I get depressed sometimes. No hard feelings for everyone but I come from those good times with those good fellas and with out them I rather to practise alone! Old school? New school? I would say True school!
Matt Wilhelm: When I know I can go out on the contest floor and pull a combo first try with no warm up.
James White: I was born ready!!
James is a natural talent, family man, gets out when he can, and as you can see, loving it more than ever!
James is a natural talent, family man, gets out when he can, and as you can see, loving it more than ever!
Do you have any superstitions going into a contest?
Viki Gomez: The less I think and stress the best I ride. So I try to enjoy my time more in some trips and have a good time.Last year from the 8 comps I went I just enjoyed Fise, Barcelona and Vigo contests. And mostly because some of my good old homies were around!
Matt Wihelm: Not anymore. I’m also lucky in the fact that I ride best at the beginning of my session. I don’t need to spend an hour warming up. The only little superstition is that I ride much better when I sip on coffee throughout my session. I don’t think it’s a superstition if I can prove that it works.
James White: I remember Brian Tunney saying in an old interviw he thought of Sex to stop him messing up. Ever since then, when i go to a comp i get a mentalpicture of Brian Tunney (complete with bum bag), thinking about sex....Awkward!
Part 2: coming soon....
Part 2: coming soon....
18 comments:
hahahhahaha o man o man, that guy whitey... he's mental healthy, matt is a cowboy and viki has always been a crazy bull, never know he's next move! this article/blog must be nominated for the next Mora cup!!! i enjoy Flatmatters every day! cheers people! and well done Effraim
Glad you enjoyed the article Navid, this is for you all out wondering what it takes to be a top pro, Whitey is a character! Some great/interesting tips from Viki and Wilhelm!
5 mins before my run I land on my face and I tend to do well
This article is tops. Effriam, thanks for your time to get this article rolling! Loved every second of it. Viki, Matt James, you guys are super down to earth.
I agree with the lack of Progression aspect of contests favoring constancy over new tricks...
@Salvador... It does seem to be that way haha..
@lachlan, thanks for your comment! Personally as Matt said I like the two run format, we ran a 2x 3min run format at King of Southsea last year, and I didn't hear any complaints, best run counts, it brought out the best in everyone.
If you reading this, and sat there wondering well hey how do I get to that 5 in a row level, its obviously a lot of work, I used to do it.
And how I did it, was begin with pulling a combo once a session, twice a session, up till ten a session. As you are doing this, you will of course pick up your consistency. When you feel you are ready, start shooting for 2 in a row.
The levels of performance go something like this: (more explanation than in article).
Storming- Having idea and trying to make it happen, you may be coasting into a steam, but unable to get in or out.
Forming- You start getting the steam maybe once a session, forming a basis to be motivated every session, i'm gonna get this trick.
Norming- It becomes normal practise that you land the steam every session, start mixing it up.
Performing- You are consistent enough, and riding at high level all the time, i.e, Matthias Dandois, Terry Adams, Matt Wilhelm, etc.
Gotta love the English sense of humour ,Sarcasm is in our blood yes James that made me laugh haha ,great insight into how the others prepare before comps etc, look forward to Part 2.
cool article
I would not doubt what James white really do... it could happen!
e,
this is the kind of flatland journalism i'd like to see on this site, reminds of when i used to go out of my way to find Ride UK's here in the states just to read your articles, keep it up!
Really enjoyed reading this article. I'm not much of a contest rider but have often struggled with consistency - never thought of trying 5 in a row but now I will!
It's great to hear these guys talking about the concepts they use to carve up their riding life, and also the doubts and challenges they've had.
More of this please!
Maybe you can do an artice on flatland nutrition. lol. half the dudes live on a diet of cheeseburgers / soda and pizzas tho...so it might be more helful
@ Joseph and carter.
Thanks for the comments. Plan lot more stuff like this, just takes time collecting all the info...so hold tight for the next episode.
Take your time carter with 5 in a row, work up to it, I actually found it really enjoyable. When you are repeating all the time, it can stress you out, thin line, between enjoying it, and burn out.
lol wtf . an article about flatland nutrition isnt a good idea????!!!
yeah keep promoting energy drinks likes redbull/monster and alcohol/marijuana buddy.
and i dont understand why everyone needs to do this 5 times in a row thing?? some people just want to enjoy riding and learning new tricks, NOT EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE A CONTEST RIDER!!!
whats the point saying anything anyways, its just going to be ignored - even when you make a good comment its ignored,
Not ignored at all tdot, but I am keeping this on the topic of contest preparation, not everyone does "5 in a row", as I said at the start of this article, this is for beginners, guys are on the come up, who maybe wonder "how do I get consistent?".
Look at some of the guys who have used that "5 in a row" system" these are some one of the heaviest hitters in recent times:
Martti Kuoppa.
Justin Miller.
Terry Adams.
Matt Wilhelm.
Sam Foakes.
All those guys have won numerous "big" contests, there maybe others I don't know about.
Correct also that not everyone needs to be a contest rider, but this about contest preparation.
It is what it is.
no problem...i still think a good article on nutrition is a good idea.
Lets be honest - at 99% of the jams - they push energy drinks
and 99% of the riders are guzzling them down like water.
and you cant tell me in all honesty that this is a healthy habit. aside from the fact that its dehydrating and loaded with sugar. \\\
I know this is an article about contests - but i dont know where else to pitch this idea (i dont have ur email) - im interested in knowing what some of the riders are eating/ drinking. but unlike you i dont have any of their contact info - nor do i belong to the flatland social network.
so anyways. plese lmk if its a goood idea for an article or not. tx
Totally agree energy drinks are not good at all for riding, I can't drink any energy drinks and ride, i end up shaking like a leave.
Def a good article for the future!
i'm pretty sure googling an ideal athletes diet is the quickest way to find out ideal nutritional requirements for those w/out hot hands... weed is an essential nutrient ya know
Great article, James is the man!
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