[Ed.’s Note: The is a weekly blog that covers sports from skateboarding to snowboarding to FMX.] The great thing about action sports is that
they evolve at warp speed compared to other sports. But, like most action aficionados, I’m still always craving more. Not just on the ramp, but off it as well. If I ruled the world, here are nine random things I’d make happen. Or at least pray really hard they would. 1. The Return of the 360 in FMX Sure, FMXers continue to push the boundaries with ever-more-daring tricks. But let’s return to the golden age that was 2003 which bore the sickest of all tricks: the 360. It’s pretty much disappeared from the action landscape. Why Because it’s so friggin’ hard to do. Think about this: Most freestyle tricks require the rider to move the bike very little in the air. They just operate around it. Even on a back flip the bike stays in relatively the same position (aside from flipping backward). The 360 requires you to muscle the bike in an unorthodox manner, and the outcome is extremely unpredictable. Not to mention the consequences of slamming a 360 can be season-ending. The problem is, if one guy isn’t doing them on a regular basis, no one else will. 3. Impartial JudgesI know the action-sports community is a tight-knit one. But is it just me, or is there something inherently wrong with having the athlete’s friends judging the comps 5. Step-Up Moto Needs a MakeoverStep-Up needs Ricky Carmichael. Or at least some type of makeover. It’s gotten a bit sloppy over the years. Here’s the solution: Embed a metal ramp in the base of the dirt takeoff so the jump doesn’t deteriorate during the competition. This way the riders get more pop off the lip and aren’t preoccupied with grooming the takeoff. Next, add at least ten feet of earth to the backside landing. This decreases the pounding the riders take upon re-entry (see R.C.) and encourages higher attempts. Finally, the idea of a rolling start, which would increase maximum height by at least 10 feet, would now be possible. Step-Up is one of the longest-running events, and these simple changes would keep it from getting stale. 6. Go Claire!Here’s hoping Claire Bevilacqua, one of the most outrageous personalities in all of action sports, lives up to her potential on the ASP Women’s Tour. Her “W” at the Tidal 9 Women’s Pro Pipeline is a good start. Enjoy the $3,500, Claire! 7. Better (Less) Security at the X GamesHave you heard the one about the action sports reporter who was stopped by security, told to “go all the way around” to another gate only to find out the guard had sent him on a wild goose chase, and was nevertheless stopped six times along the way by other yellow-jacket-clad guards who knew even less No Then you’ve never covered the X Games.
9. Who’s Up For WheeliesThe most underrated Moto-X crowd-pleaser. Of course they don’t score you any points in a run or give you a leg up during a race. But they’re just so darn cool. And the best part is everybody can do ’em. Even the ASR!