Unit downhill rider Chris Kovarik is a metal head! Check out this rad edit of him absolutely tearing apart Whistler. Nobody matches this style!

• By Allan H

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The next Farm Jam is coming up soon, February 25 will see the annual event go down and we can't wait to get over to New Zealand for it!

The 2011 event was the biggest yet, and we have just finished the 30 minute TV feature for Fuel TV, which you can watch premiere at 7.30pm January 10 on Fuel TV Australia. Fuel USA will also be airing the show, but we are waiting to find out the final schedule of times.

FULL FUEL TV AUSTRALIA SCHEDULE:

Tuesday 10.01.12 - 7.30pm

Sunday 15.01.12 - 8.00am

Saturday 21.01.12 - 12.30pm

Tuesday 14.02.12 - 2.30pm

Friday 24.02.12 - 10.30pm

• By Allan H

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THE FINAL CHAPTER IN THE GIANTS OF DIRT PROJECT CELEBRATES THE LIFE AND DEDICATION OF DANE SEARLS, 1988-2011.

December 20, 2011 -- The final video release for Professional Freestyle BMX rider Dane Searls sees him successfully ride the biggest dirt jumps in history, clearing distances up to 60 feet (18 metres) on a BMX.

The Giants of Dirt Project began in 2010 when Dane Searls brought the idea to Unit Clothing, his sponsor. Over the next 12 months, together they built and tested the line of jumps in Boonah, (west of the Gold Coast, Queensland) on the farm of fellow Unit rider Freestyle Motocross Pro Matt Schubring. Sheer determination saw Dane push through many painful crashes and set backs, including the devastating Queensland floods of 2010. Dane finally completed his life long goal in November 2011, by riding and pulling tricks through the entire set of jumps. Giants of Dirt 3 is the realization of Dane's dream.

A custom built drop in ramp was constructed and the final jump in the set of four jumps measures 60 feet (18 metres) from dirt take off to dirt landing.

Two days after fulfilling his dream, Dane was involved in an accident and suffered critical head injuries, placing him in a coma for five days. Dane passed away on November 25, 2011 in hospital due to injuries sustained.

His death sent shock waves through the BMX community and he will be long remembered as an amazingly kind person and as a professional athlete who pushed the boundaries of the sport of BMX.

R.I.P "The King Of BMX Dirt" Dane Searls.

• By Allan H

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After years of hard work and organising, the QLD Moto Park opened for business on Sunday, offering an amazing new moto facility for riders around South East Queensland. The park is brain child of pro FMX riders Matt Schubring and Steve Sommerfeld, along with alot of help from Motorcycling Queensland.

For all details about the park including location, tracks, coaching and more, visit the official website at www.qldmotopark.com.au

Our good friend Chris Urquhart from www.motodevelopment.com.au was on-site for the offiicial opening, and sent through some info and photos from the day.

Hey Guys,

I was lucky enough to make it out to the official opening of Queensland Moto Park or QMP for short yesterday. QMP is located at Wyaralong so it takes me about an hour and a half from the Gold Coast, but there's some nice coffee shops at Canungra on the way through so of course I needed to stop and grab a roady!

My first impression when I turned off the main highway into the park's entrance was WOW! Full sealed road the whole way up to the gates, these guys have got it going on and I like it. As far as the moto parks go this place is the best looking venue I've been to in a long while, the grass is green and mowed and the tracks have been cut into the place really well. I'm not really into camping, but I could make some adjustments to spend the weekend out here riding and hanging with my mates for sure.

The open day started off with all the VIP's doing their thing and giving speeches. It was cool to hear where the funding had come from and really makes you realise how big of a project it is to get a ball like this rolling and how many hoops you have to jump through. After the speeches all the Council and Government crew (VIP's) jump in a bunch of Rhyno's and went on a tour of the park, while Schuie, Sommerfeld, Sauly, Crawford, Sawaski and Myself ventured to each track and the FMX area to rip it up in a demo ride. Remember most of these VIP's haven't seen a dirt bike ripping in the right environment, so they were pumped with the little show we threw together.

QMP was then officially opened, so the 100 invited riders headed out to whatever track they wanted and put themselves to the test. As far as tracks go I think there is 2 MM tracks, a kids track, a fenced FMX compound, about 40km of trail loops and a trials area so far. I believe there are plans for another MX track, Super X track and some more trail loops. How could it not be fun! The dam is full of water already and awaiting the fitment of a full irrigation system so things will only get better from here.

All in all, what a sweet day and with riding places getting harder and harder to come across my hat goes off to these guys for having a red hot crack at this. Schuie, Sommerfeld and Ray Buchanan have been busting their butts along with the help from Motorcycling QLD to make it come alive, so thanks boys.

Safe Riding,
Urky

 

• By Allan H

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Our buddies from Vurb teamed up with film producer Kyle Cowling to create this really indepth and eye-opening video about the otherside of being a professional FMX rider, featuring Unit team rider Brody Wilson. We spoke with Kyle about the production, and he was nice enough to hook us up with this write-up about the project, what it took to produce, and what the original idea was behind "From The Otherside".

It’s been a little while since I’ve worked on any projects that really focus more so on the behind-the-scenes aspect of Freestyle Motocross other than just the riding itself (I think The Catalyst featuring Adam Jones that we shot in April of this year was the last behind-the-scenes project I shot). I’d been kicking around the idea of embarking on another behind-the-scenes/in-depth sort of FMX film for a couple months, but I wasn’t sure what the full concept would be. However, after recently joining to crew at Vurb Moto, ideas and shoots seemed to instantly fall into place. My first shoot with Vurb was out at Jimmy Fitzpatrick’s house (Fitzland) with Derek Garland, Doug Parsons, Fitz, Rich Kearns, and Taka Hagishino. Once we wrapped up the day, Kearns and I decided to meet up with Unit Clothing’s FMX rider, Brody Wilson and his girlfriend Lauren for dinner. Once at dinner, Brody and I started chatting about things, and I told him I had a few ideas for a new film, and asked if he’d be interested in joining forces with me to make it happen. Brody kindly obliged and a few days later we got to work on things.

The goal for From The Otherside was/is to show whom these people is away from their dirt bike. I also want to show the general public that FMX isn’t what it was when it first started: partying, drinking, etc. Clearly FMX riders do not have to be on as strict a training regime as Supercross and motocross racers, however, at the level guys like Brody are riding, you’ve got to be in both physical and mental shape to make sure you’re coming home in one piece at the end of the day. I’m not sure that most people realize that a lot of these guys in the FMX business either go to the gym or do have trainers and put in a hell of a lot of work to be the best freestyle motocross rider possible. Thus, the vision is to show what a person like Brody does on a daily basis to keep sharp on his bike. Whether it’s hitting ramps, doing laps at the track, going to the gym, or riding some BMX trails; we covered it all and then some.

An angle that I really tried to take advantage of was Brody’s girlfriend, Lauren. I can’t even begin to imagine the mental stress she must go through while watching Brody huck himself about over a 75-foot gap, upside down. The girlfriends and wifes of FMX do a lot for their man from scheduling shows, booking flights, to supporting them at contests and taking care of them when they’re injured. I wanted to capture some of what Lauren’s perspective is being in such a unique relationship at only 21-years-old. Think about it… Most 21-year-old girls are out living it up with their other girlfriends at bars, clubs, etc. Lauren… She is going to college, working, and also doing everything she can to support Brody in his career. She’s mature beyond years, and I feel she did a great job on giving fans and outsiders of this sport some interesting perspective on what she goes through.

We spent two days filming this project for Vurb Moto. Our first day was at spent on the ramps at Ronnie Faisst’s house, which I can’t thank him enough for allowing us spend the morning in his backyard filming. From there we spent the rest of the day doing interviews and filming lifestyle shots at their house in Temecula, CA. Day II, we started around 10:30am and finished at 10:30pm! We went to Starwest MX Park in Perris, CA to film Brody spin some laps and then we headed over to these badass BMX/mountain bike trails with Kearns. I was definitely impressed with Brody’s skills on the BMX trails. I don’t think the camera justifies how big a few of those hits were. Afterwards, we did a few more interviews at home before heading to the gym where we captured Brody getting in a work out. From there, we finished the evening at Brody’s to capture a little more lifestyle footage of Lauren cooking dinner, etc. As for editing? Three days were spent piecing this thing together and the hardest part? Finding the right music, but I think what I came up with fits perfectly with the story.

Everything we shot is a typical day for Brody, so I was excited he likes to keep busy whether it’s with FMX, moto, BMX, or going to the gym. Overall, I hope people enjoy what we created and, most importantly, I hope it shows those on the otherside of the fence, spectating, what these top FMX athletes go their to be at their best come X-Games, Red Bull X-Fighters, or a Dew Tour event. They deserve a hell of a lot more credit than they’re given, and I hope From The Otherside helps achieve that goal.

• By Allan H

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Network 10 recently caught up with Kyle Baldock to chat about his big year in America, as well as the highs and lows along the way. Kyle is truly an inspiration to up and coming riders, and we very proud to have him on the Unit team.

• By Allan H

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Make sure you head out and buy your own copy of the new RIDE BMX magazine when it hits the stands in the next few weeks. Dane Searls has a massive article about his riding and the Giants Of Dirt project, that he finished up just days before his tragic passing. A true legend and visionary.

R.I.P Dane, the world will never forget what you achieved!

• By Allan H

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