Schuie, one-handed Sideshow through the gum trees. PHOTOS: SIMON MAKKER

The Australian school holidays are in full-swing at the moment and as a result there are thousands of people pouring through the gates of the Gold Coast theme parks every day.

For the next two-and-a-half weeks the Monster Energy Showtime Kawasaki team, Unit FMXer Matt Schubring, Unit FMX trials rider Jack Field and a bunch of monster-truck and stunt-biking madmen are taking over the Hollywood Stunt Show arena at Movieworld for a special MotoMonster Extreme Show.


Jack Field, 1m high Backflip over the funbox.

The show has received rave reviews from the people who have witnessed the action, and to cap it off members of the public can meet the riders in person and get photos taken with them.

"It's been a lot of fun so far," Jack says. "The crowd really gets behind us, and even though we've had to do a few shows in the rain everyone has managed to keep it upright and keep everyone entertained."

Schuie is filling in for fellow Unit rider Kain Saul for the next couple of days while Sauly rests a problematic knee. The Harley Backflipper is expecting to be back for the weekend's shows.

If you're visiting Movieworld between now and July 18, make sure you check out the show and show your support to our riders! show times are 11am, 1.30pm and 4.15pm.




Jack Field, stuntbike rider Matt Mingay, FMX legend Matt Schubring and Brad Burch give the sharpies a workout.

• By Simon M

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I just put together my new bike from Pilgrim and did a quick little edit of it being unboxed and put together for something different

There is so much chrome! This bike is one of a limited run filled with all the latest Colony goodness as well. Fully Australian bike! I'm totally stoked on this bike and it was awesome to be able to pull it out of the box and ride it!

PILGRIM PRO COMPLETE 2011
Frame: Pilgrim "Unit" frame
Fork: Colony Dagger
Bars: Colony Bull Bar
Stem: Colony Official
Grips: Odyssey Levan grips
Barends: Odyssey Par ends
Headset: Colony
Seatpost: Pilgrim Prototype 1 piece
Seat: Pilgrim Prototype fat 1 piece
Cranks: Colony Colonial V2
Sprocket: Colony Official
Chain: Shadow half link
Brakes: Colony Transformer
Cable: Odyssey
Brake Lever: Colony Transformer
Detangler: Odyssey GT-R detangler
Front Tire: Colony 1.9 Agenda
Front Rim: Colony Contour
Front Hub: Colony Clone
Rear Tire: Colony 1.9 agenda
Rear Rim: Colony Contour
Rear Hub: Colony Clone Cassette
Pedals: Eclat surge pedals alloy
Pegs: Colony Oneway cro-mo
 

• By Simon M

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Tommy Hahn and his new-look brain-box prepare for Moto 1 at Thunder Valley, CO.


Every once in a while you see a custom-painted MX helmet that makes you involuntarily bellow "phoowaarr, that's sick!"
MotoConcepts Yamaha racer Tommy Hahn's lid he used at the Thunder Valley, CO round of the 2011 Lucas Oils AMA Motocross Championship on the weekend is one such thing.

Our buddies at Tagger Designs have done an amazing job on this new masterpiece, and it has drawn reactions and positive feedback from all corners of the pit paddock. Hahn also couldn't be more stoked with the finished product, and finished the day with his season-best sixth overall finish for the day.

The Texan went down in the first turn of Moto 1, but fought back to an impressive 11th before charging hard in Moto 2 to a fifth place finish.

The series now heads to Red Bud, Michigan; a track that is a favourite of both the riders and the crowds.

• By Simon M

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Our Spanish MTB riper Andreu Lacondeguy is one of the craziest dudes in the world. In fact, if he wasn't so good at all things two-wheels we'd almost be tempted to call in the paddy-wagon. Don't believe us? Check out this awesome video the Masters Of Dirt has just released of Lako and his mates living the high life in France.

• By Simon M

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Aussie MX website MotoOnline has just released a cool little profile video with Unit's U19 MX title contender Luke Arbon. Check out what he has to say about the series, what it's like riding for the Rockstar GYTR Yamaha team and why he moved from South Oz to the Sunny State.

• By Simon M

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After last month's hectic racing schedule it has been so nice to have some relax time in America.

I love coming to the ABA BMX races in America. It is good to mix up the schedule a bit, get some different races in ,catch up with friends and the atmosphere is always great. There was about 230 heats of racing and roughly 1000 riders entered.

On my first few laps of the track I was hating the uphill first straight sprint to the first jump, although over the weekend I managed to block it out and my legs got used to it.

Day 1 of racing was hot, humid and long! ABA races run through in a different format to anything I am used to racing. Between each race you sit around waiting for about two hours for all the other ages to race.

In the final it was a close battle between me and Alise Post from America. I had the holeshot down the first straight then she passed me in the first turn and then I passed her down the last straight to take the win on Day 1.

During racing on Day 2 a light shower came through and the track was SCARY to ride. The track is covered in soil tack coating for minimum maintenance..but when a slight bit of water hits it it's like riding on ice!!

For the Day 2 final I knew that it was going to be another battle between me and Alise. Alise got a better gate and was able to cut me off. I pulled up on her in the third straight, but she blocked me well and I fought all the way to the line. Alise won Day 2 with about a wheel-length lead crossing the line.

The night after racing a group of us went and watched the New York Yankees vs the Chicago Cubs baseball game at Wrigley field downtown Chicago. Awesome atmosphere and such a great experience.

Back home to Australia now, then in four weeks we head to the BMX World Championships in Copenhagen Denmark.|

 

• By Simon M

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Andreu: can ride.

Spanish madman Andreu Lacondeguy has snatched second at the wind-affected 26TRIX slopestyle MTB contest at Leogang, Austria over the weeked.

Lako's first qualifying run allowed him to grab second place after the gusty conditions forced organisers to abandon the finals. He started it with a Backflip Tailwhip followed by a 360 and a Backflip. After that, he impressed judges and spectators with one of his signature super-extended Supermans, a Tailwhip and 360 Tailwhip gave him the necessary points for second place.

Current Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour series leader, Sam Pilgrim finished the event in third after a solid qualifying run, while the day belonged to Canadian Brandon Semenuk, who earnt a tonne of points towards the Overall in the process.

The next gold event of the tour is this weekend's Claymore Challenge sopestyle contest at Highland Mountain Park, New Hampshire USA.

Lacondeguy (right) pops the cork on the podium.

• By Simon M

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You have seen her on the Dig Jumps, Dirty Weekend and incredibly sexy Grid Girl tee. Now get to know the girl behind the face (and bum) of the beautiful Alana Collins.

How long have you been modeling?
Almost 3 years now, I LOVE IT! As I’m a full-time uni student, I’ve had to cut back on shoots, but I am extremely passionate and always excited about modeling. Seeing my face in campaigns, brands and advertising gives me a thrill I cannot explain. Just recently, I’m tending to steer towards more fashion modeling rather than ‘bikini-girl on the beach’ style photo shoots. I have done a little acting as well, so I plan to continue that and build up a whole new career path.

Do you ride as well?
No I don’t, but id really like to get into riding, sounds dangerous ;-) Although I’ve done my fair share off UNIT shoots on bikes, which definitely counts, right?

How do you feel about riding on the back of dirt bikes?
I have actually ridden on the back of a friend’s bike before, such good fun! Scary though. I don’t think id last long going over jumps though. I’m a bit of a girly-girl.

How does it feel to be a model for UNIT, knowing that you’re on their tee shirts and in their videos promoting the brand?
Modeling for UNIT has been amazing, such a great team of people to work with, easy to get along with and just a funny bunch of guys.

How does it feel to have not only your face, but bum on the front of shirts all over Australia and the world?
Ha Ha Ha, feels great. The ‘Gird Girl’ tee is definitely one of the most sexiest/revealing shots I’ve done for UNIT, but I’m so happy with how they all turned out, and was excited to find out that that some of them were the highest selling of all UNIT tees… YAY!

What about being on so many men’s bodies?
Haha great ;-) I’ve actually seen a lot of guys wearing the shirts when I’ve been out, some recognized me, some were just so stoked and wanted me to sign their shirt, for a second I felt famous… haha!

What did your parents first think of you being a model and where they supportive?
They were surprisingly very supportive and proud; my dad went into the UNIT store the other week and said he was overwhelmed and proud to see his daughter plastered everywhere around the shop. They want me to do something I enjoy and they couldn’t be more proud of how far I’ve come as a model. It’s important to me that the people around me are comfortable and supportive of my modeling.

With UNIT’s controversial ad campaigns being shut down in the past, do you think to have gorgeous girls on clothes for all to see should be banded?
Not at all. To some extent yes, nude or pornography on tees is offensive to most, but UNIT’s tees are never pornographic, controversial yes but I think it makes UNIT more unique. The new 420 Blitz range and video is incredible and I think it’s a great new direction for UNIT, what’s wrong with raising a few eyebrows and a little controversy?

What is the best thing about modeling for UNIT?
The exposure and new experiences I’ve gained, seeing my face and bum on the shirts of men around the country pretty much tops the list of best things about modeling for UNIT haha!

What is your favorite UNIT tee so far?
I love Kat Cross’s ‘Saturate Tee’, if I was a guy id buy it, actually I’d probably buy it and wear it now (She’s hot!). My favorite tee that I’m featured on would have to be ‘Dirty Weekend’, apparently its sold amazingly!
 

• By Allan H

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The Unit BMX team recently roadtripped to Cam's Jam, along with special guests Anthony Napolitan and Colin Mackay, and the results were hilarious! Lots of laughs and good riding down the East coast of Australia. Check it out...

• By Allan H

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This past Saturday, the second round of the Crusty-affiliated Extreme Freestylers FMX show went down in Paris, France. The ramp-to-ramp course was set up on the grass of the Charlety Stadium, which is mostly known for hosting huge soccer games and other stick and ball-type sports. After rain hammered Paris the entire week leading up to the event, the erratic Parisian weather finally let up and led way to a storm of heavy metal, Jackass-esque entertainment, DJ's, babes and of course, FMX.

Unit riders Tom Pages and Brody WIlson were on hand to throw it all down for the French crowd!

Read the full story and check out the awesome gallery over at ESPN.COM/ACTION

• By Allan H

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Rounds 7 and 8 of the European BMX Championship were held in Winterthur Switzerland over the weekend.

Having the recent World Cup held in Holland last weekend my coach Wade Bootes decided it would be good for the Australian team to stay in Europe an extra week, collect UCI world ranking points and get world cup level race competition.

The week in between these two events the Australian team spent three days training on the Copenhagen (Denmark) track in preparation for the BMX World Championships being held there in seven weeks time.

While we were there Sam Willoughby, Khalen Young, Luke Madill, Lauren Reynolds, Rach Bracken, Melinda Mcloud and myself ran a coaching clinic for roughly 60 local Copenhagen riders from all ages.

It was nice to come back to Switzerland again this is one of my favorite places in Europe.

The level of competition at these European rounds is very hard..with the Australian girls being here and Columbians it was World Cup racing without the Americans.

Day 1: I was riding good in my races leading up to the semifinal where I didn't have the smoothest lap and lost a photo finish for fourth qualifying spot for the final and didn't progress through into the final.

Day 2: The whole Australian team was feeling feeling pretty worn out after the last two weeks we have practiced and raced in Holland (where I made the shadow squad for the Australian Olympic team!) then rode for three days in Denmark then practiced and raced again in Switzerland.

I won all of my races leading into the semi final where I we drew four of the top five girls from the last World Cup in Holland.

I came fourth in the semifinal, progressing through to the final.

Mariana got out in the lead early with Magalie pushing me wide on the 1st turn I slotted into 3rd place. I almost passed Magalie on the last corner but couldn't quite pull it off and ended up with 3rd place on the podium :)

Results:
1st: Mariana Pajon COL
2nd: Magalie Pottier FRA
3rd: Caroline Buchanan AUS

The countdown has started to the BMX World Championships being held in Copenhagen Denmark in seven weeks time. Next stop for me America where I will compete in Rockford near Chicago in 2 weeks time... will keep you posted!

• By Simon M

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Freestyle motocross veteran Matt Schubring, has branched into toy-making, with his new line of ‘Little Schuie’ figurines.

‘Schuie’ has been one Australia’s best known FMX riders, since the sport's early days and is Australia’s longest serving ‘Crusty Demons’ tour riders. In 2004 he was the Australian FMX Champion.

Now in the later stages of his FMX career, Schuie has branched into multiple business ventures whilst still riding at the top level of his sport. Noticing an opening for an FMX-specific kids' toy, he began researching international manufacturing and combined this with his own sponsors and colours to create his first toy for the market place.

“It’s been a long time in the making to get this link of toys unde rway; I hope to have a full replica mini take-off and landing ramp in the future and get kids as young as eight practicing their tricks and hopefully getting into FMX.” Matt Schubring said.

“We’ve already began working on improving what we have moving forward. There’s a lot to think about, but I’m really enjoying the challenge.”

Schubring will take on the role of ‘distributor’ for Little Schuie Toy Co products, with the aim of moving the toys into dealerships and stores around Australia. All enquiries can be made via email on schuie@windowslive.com or by calling 07 54 632 402.

• By Simon M

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