Author Topic: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland  (Read 9111 times)

Offline Hugo @ Portugal

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #30 on: April 17, 2020, 09:44:45 PM »
I am uber curious to know the views of the guys who started it all, Kevin Jones or Day Smith are two that pop in my mind. I wonder how they witnessed the evolution of the sport and how to they think their riding compares to the current standards.




Offline royc

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #31 on: April 18, 2020, 01:54:58 AM »
Those two eras (Kevin's AFA days and Day's X-games time, respectively) would be interesting to hear from. I started competing in 1984, and at the time, the barriers to entry seemed higher on ramps than flatland. With street and dirt and such, it doesn't seem that way now (which was part of my argument in the ESPN piece).
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Offline mal

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #32 on: April 18, 2020, 11:51:20 AM »

I tried to write a bit about this a while ago. Found it here:
https://www.espn.com/action/news/story?id=4263334
Ι agree with the article 100%. It also agrees with the thoughts i had writing this topic that it is totally discouraging for a newbie to start brakeless after seeing and admiring the pros who do it.

The one thing that confused me a bit is about Kevin Jones,where it says that some people say Kevin Jones killed flatland.
Where does this come from,i never heard anyone saying this.

Kevin Jones invented modern flatland as Rodney Mullen invented modern skateboarding.Flatland would have been a funny gimmick between basketball quarters without him.

Can you enlighten me on this one?
« Last Edit: April 18, 2020, 11:54:52 AM by mal »

Offline royc

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #33 on: April 18, 2020, 02:17:25 PM »
There was an article online years ago (I can't find it now) claiming that Kevin killed flatland by making it a secret, solitary, parking-lot activity, as opposed to a spectator sport. That's all I can remember of their argument. Anyway, that's what I was referring to in the ESPN piece.
"Came from the concrete, takin' chances." — Future
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Offline DaddyCool

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #34 on: April 19, 2020, 11:29:03 AM »
About the idea with the two bikes: I also did this.
http://www.global-flat.com/smf/index.php?topic=61962.msg465108#msg465108
The bikes changed a little bit since then but basically they are like shown. I really recommend to take care for the weight and weight distribution because otherwise they will feel too different.

Offline DaddyCool

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #35 on: April 19, 2020, 11:38:20 AM »

I tried to write a bit about this a while ago. Found it here:
https://www.espn.com/action/news/story?id=4263334
That is interesting royc! I also quickly checked your website, this is intersting as well  :)
Somehow I think Kevin's contribution to flatland led to the complexity level that makes it not understandable for the audience. That is a "problem" so to say, but of course we can not blame him. Yesterday during my session I thought "This hitchhiker feels so good, without Kevin I would not do this...". So in the end I am grateful for this contribution. I would say we need to live with the fact that nobody understands what we are doing.

Offline Rufus

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #36 on: April 19, 2020, 12:55:09 PM »
"...we need to live with the fact that nobody understands what we are doing"

This is so true.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2020, 12:59:42 PM by Rufus »

Offline Rufus

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #37 on: April 19, 2020, 12:58:42 PM »
Also, for a beginner, watching a flawless link might seem encouraging, but the reality of endless repetition and failed attempts needed to achieve it usually works in the opposite way. I can see why very few new people get involved. Maybe this is one of the charms of the sport.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2020, 03:53:30 PM by Rufus »

Offline BlutoBlumpkin

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #38 on: April 19, 2020, 02:56:18 PM »
Anyone at all, from any era that rides brake less has always been astounding to me. I don’t even like coasting around my neighborhood without brakes and a rotor, let alone doing tricks.


Don’t get me started on left hand drive bikes and these new geometries! You crazy kids!!😂

Offline royc

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #39 on: April 19, 2020, 08:15:25 PM »

I tried to write a bit about this a while ago. Found it here:
https://www.espn.com/action/news/story?id=4263334
That is interesting royc! I also quickly checked your website, this is intersting as well  :)
Somehow I think Kevin's contribution to flatland led to the complexity level that makes it not understandable for the audience. That is a "problem" so to say, but of course we can not blame him. Yesterday during my session I thought "This hitchhiker feels so good, without Kevin I would not do this...". So in the end I am grateful for this contribution. I would say we need to live with the fact that nobody understands what we are doing.


Thank you!
I don't think being relegated to obscurity is so bad. It keeps most of the knuckleheads away anyway.
"Came from the concrete, takin' chances." — Future
http://roychristopher.com

Offline Hugo @ Portugal

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Re: Opinion: The brakeless trend is killing flatland
« Reply #40 on: May 05, 2020, 11:11:56 AM »
I believe that who says Kevin Jones killed flatland means that because he was the first to start nailing down very hard tricks and combos. I guess he took flatlands technicality to the next level but was flatland ever supposed to be less than very hard to master? Every year someone comes up with a harder way to do an hitchiker or to link two tricks...
« Last Edit: May 05, 2020, 11:13:46 AM by Hugo @ Portugal »