RedLine lottery

Winner for RedLine hoodie is Nina Mattila. Congratulations to the winner!

Today I have had day. I'm trying to have atleast one day off per week. I can tell you it's hard. Everyday there is something somewhere. I had to write down to my calender what day I'm going to rest to control that I really keep the day off! Boys head to visit Supercross factory because Hannu broke a fork from his bike yesterday, before he had cut off chain :)

Bellflower

Hardcore racing continues at California. Today, day was all about BMX. First visiting BMX factory to see how bikes are made, after that some experiences at skatepark and at evening race practices at Bellflower track in Hollywood. I'm pretty much done. Tomorrow I gonna keep required day off from practices.. and BMX. Last Sunday we got one BMX:er more from Finland; Jukkis.

Planning my new living room

Well, some day I gonna do same

Bellflower

RedLine in Chula Vista

I got my new RedLine Flight Pro XL 2012. Have only good things to tell about this bike and it looks like everyone else are speaking same. Otherwise it's basic complite bike, but I changed cranks to 175mm and made ration to be little lighter.

 

I took my new biek to visit  tracks in Chula Vista. Future BMX is practice track for all and next to it is clone for olympic track, that's only for pros. Absolutely incredible place.

Future BMX

SC track

 

Third practice place

Fourth practice place

San Diego, House of Finland

Race systems in Usa

I'm feeling that I shouldn't write to blog too often. Because of that I feel I have hundreds of things what I haven't told yet, or 5, but with my memory you can exponentiation it with 20 to get the feeling how much I have to remember. (5 exponent 20 makes 298 and 15 zeros)

Yesterday, we were at Palm Springs. There was race. I didn't go for race, because I felt like there wasn't good class for me. Ok, I chicken out badly. But Hannu raced and won his clas! It was super. And it was the highest class in these races!

Here you get place to main event if you win moto. After winning moto, you don't have to race more qualifiers. If there is 3 racers they race 3 motos and winner adjudge by average. Something good, but also something bad in this system.,

Today is practicing San Diego, atleast I got one thing out of my list what I need to tell you guys and girls!

Nerd meeting at McDonalds, cos neighbour put password to his wi-fi

Orange and Whittier

My neihgours wi-fi haven't been working so well lately, so that has cost me some troubles with updating blog. Anyway survey for BMX tracks continues. At the moment I have had experience of Orange Y and Whittier Narrows.

Mostly practices are at evening, some given time on some assigned track, and it feels like you should call before you start your trip. If track is open for race but you are only willing to practice, it can be bit tacky. You are not allowed to stop on track, whole practice runs with gate-starts, that means queuing. For practice prise is around 7 dollars and 12 dollars if you want also race.

At Wednesday we were at Orange Y. It felt like going to amusement park, 'cos you needed to have wristband to get on track :)

On Thursday it was practice time on Whittier. I find Whittier most European style track of what I have experienced since now. There was made places for stopping on track, I think it's really good idea. Also staff were more friendly than at Orange.

Palm Springs

Wuhuu! Finally. I'm getting back my faith for good. Life is wonderful, atleast when you ride BMX :) Today we (ou yea, Hannu from Finland came for visit) went to Palm Springs track.


Same way as Lake Perris' track, it was different. My last experience before California has been from Copenhagen and also I do some comparing to tracks in Finland. Kind of these are more like tracks in Finland. These tracks ask for more active riding than finnish tracks. Simply; just perfect for me!

Good morning to Europe and good night to west coast!

Sugar-cakes

Last night I couldn't sleep 'cos I was thinking how awesome it would be to go to practice, to learn something new. I was "hot to trot" for this evening's practices. I had named this day as ultimate day for start to practice. Unbelievable! Our American "cupcakes" can't practice because of rain! Track is closed. Hmmm. It doesn't matter, I can practice when it's snowing so why rain could stop me. Day's program included flatland practicing and checking out the bike. Eather of those is not bad idea with new bike.

Also thumbs up for Suunto Quest (heart rate monitor). All the time I find a new necessary things from it. Latest thing I enjoyed is that coach can write to computer what need to be done. What kind of practice, time, heart rates, everything. You get it to your monitor. After practice you easily download information about practice to computer and you and coach are able to see how worked out.

Tomorrow I'm heading to LA. First local BMX happening. Well, first I have to see if weather-allmighty mixes things up. (By the way, the reason why they don't race here, while it's raining, might be also because of tracks, not only sugar-cake Americans)

Chaos

Damn, I woke up at 20 to 6 at evening. Earlier I had been told that today is gonna be practice on Perris track at 6. I grab my staff and left the house. I tryed to find my way to the track without gps. But couldn't make it. Finally I turn down to the road witch leads to track. I saw many cars on the road and some police signals flashing. I wonder should I continue, 'cos I still had wrong plates and not insurance on my car. I had to take the risk to not miss the practises. When I get to the car mass. I saw that there wasn't lights on track and plenty of people with BMX clothes on waiting at entry.

Property owner didn't let riders in, because ABA had pull off the sanction and there wouldn't have bee any insurance for riders. If something would have happened property owner would be responsability for that. What a fight. Policeman solved situation by saying that if we buy a insurance we are allowed to use the track. No one looked happy. So I swing my sweet honda heading back to home. Next week I'm gonna start racing BMX for real.

After this chaos I decided to make clear what are my options for practicing in Southern California. I made "wallpapers", so in future I know when and where I can practice or race :) I'm proud of myself

Lake Perris BMX

With huge excitement, I'm waiting for information about track. Today was hold some meeting between USABMX, ex ABA, and Lake Perris BMX.

Yesterday I went to track to get some correct information. As far as I have understod USA BMX sanction has been revoked. It means if the sanction has been revoked they don't have any incury for things happening on track. Track tries to remain open, but insurance concerns will keep many riders away. So it's not gonna be open without riders.. Point is that you are not able to ride on track just by yourself. There has to be some practice or race that you can use the track. Because of that some tracks are open 2-3 times, couple of hours/week. All this just because iscurances are such a big mess in USA.

Actually my purpose was to practice on track. I rolled the track couple times. Track was different to what I have seen, but on the other hand, it was nice! To my annoyance I was way too tired to practice and I left the track before anyone asked me to pay :) it would have cost 7 dollars. I give better analyze of the track when I have riden on it little more.

One week has gone with permission works. Now I have real teenagers Honda. It was great deal; car for 900dollars. I already got bigger offer for it, when I was got plates. Buying a car wasn't that difficult. Just finding a car made it uphill.

Information for buying car: In California anyone can buy a car. You need to put car on your name in DMV office. That's costs about 50dollars. You also need to have smog check report, it's also around 50dollars. Car can be on anyones name, you don't even need to have driver's license. Only insurance company might reguire driver's license. Important thing to check is that registration has been payd! On my car, registration was payed, but the car had Wyoming's plates. I needed to pay registration and new plates for California. Price was 140dollars and I already got smog done. Remember say car price as low as you can to avoid high taxes.

Examble about registration fees: I was menth to borrow one other car. I went to put registration on and find out that there was registration fees for over 700dollars! Probably no one is going to use that car anymore, they gonna sell it in parts. Only because of non-payed registration fees.

Astounded

MAN! Yesterday I went to bicycle service center to show my bike. Guys told me that it's not the year model I was told. I hope I'm able to get my money back, or atleast some of those.

Anyway biggest news was the shop-assistant told me that track of Lake Perris BMX is closed. Just when I have got my things rolling, comes news like that. But if it's true, it doesn't matter. I can take my staff and move to somewhere else. Chula Vista and Ventura are already in my mind. Assistant also said that I shouldn't go on streets by myself. Atleast I should carry knife with me! KNIFE!


Lottery is still on. It's easier to take part now. I was reading my father's blog (2012xo.blogspot.com) and I recognize that it's was quite hard to write comments. So I fixed that. Also couple signings via email has been accepted :)

http://bmx2012.blogspot.com/2012/01/redline-ja-fox.html

My first RedLine

 

Couple day I have been living at my sweet neighbours. So thing are starting to work out. Finally I have my first bike. I was trying to find bike which would be as much as possible similar with the bike I gonna havev when I go back to Finland. In Finland I'm gonna get RedLine Flight Series Pro XL 2012.This is same bike, but different model year.

It's funny how this older model forexamble weights less than GT Speed Series 2011 model.

Right after I had bought this I found also Flight 2011 model. Big guestion is that will I get taxes back for the things I have bought when I leave USA?? Like russian people get their tax-money back when they take products they have bought to Russia. I really appreciate if someone can tell how those things works out.

California sunshine

To create right feeling I'll write now; clock is 3.21 a.m. As a positive news I can tell you that I have found a nice apartment. To get tenancy contract done, I had to sign 8 papers, forexamble promise that I don't bring bedbugs to the apartment!

Shops has got closed already so I couldn't buy pillow, blanket etc. That's pretty small worry compering to that it will take couple days to get electrisity on. I'm wearing 3 pants, 2 shirts, jacket and gloves, but I can't get sleep cos I'm freezing. More positive thinking, please. First time in my life, I feel it's good to have wall-to-wall carpet. Lady who rented the place to me borrowed me blancet and flashlight. I also found some tissues from my bag, so I'm able to use toilet.

Renting a apartment turn out pretty hard. To rent a room from some alcoholic's house would have been easy. When you want to rent appartment, it's always required to check your credit. For that you need to have american social number. My tenancy contract was made by someone else's name. Same thing with electricity and gas contract. And it seems to be really common.

Couple songs are playing in my head: I'm a big big girl in the big big world, it's a big big thing if you leave me.. Well I enjoy the feeling that I'm able to fight my way through this :)

My new friend

Furnishings needed..

Mac Donalds plate and spoon in use :)

picture from my doorstep

Lost in LA

After I have travelled to LA more that 24h, next challenge was to find a motel. I had booked a motel in advance cos I thought that I need to have some place to stay first night. Motel was located in Hemet, about 2hours drive from airport. I was told (many times) that public transport doesn't work in USA. But I couldn't take that without trying. And would have been waiste of money and time, because then need to take that car back to airport.

I started my way to city. I was menth to change to train but suprise suprise there wasn't any transport to Hemet after 6 o'clock. First bus would leave at 1 a.m. And it would drive 2h to wrong direction. Then would have to change to another bus which would leave at 9 a.m. My phone wasn't working. Laptop battery has run out...

I toppled at one corner in railway station. I was done and I thought I could sleep there. After a while guard game to kick out those who didn't have ticket. So I and all other homeless persons had to go out. Winos showed me where the nearest hotel is. I'm happy that I took a room and got some sleep.

I got to tell you, that it's amazing how much half an hour on internet changes your feeling. Let alone good conversation with some normal person. Walking to the place when you know where you are heading. Few coins in pocket so you are able to call. Even if you don't have any local numbers, calling home can feel like a mirracle. I think I don't need to mention what good sleeping does.

I put some pictures when things come little easier.

p.s. I'm in LA

Last 24h before the trip:

I have always dreamed that we could spend christmas in American style. Meaning that we open present at morning. Now I got it. At morning I heard voice of doorbell. Fox's equipments came. After this oppening session I can tell you that American christmas is for me!

I grab some breakfast and head to run things. For a first I go to MOT test, and my sweet car passed that. I can't belive it. Then I went to get signature for renting contract. Pick up RedLine staff from bus-station (christmas keep on rocking), visit graveyard. And the last I went to vote for Finnish president election. Awesome beginning for day by empting to do list.

Clock is 2.00 p.m. I'm waiting for to get nervous, so I'm able to get packing done. But it's not coming, things are not rolling. It's good time to go to visit friends.

I'm back at 10.00 p.m. Still I haven't packed. I start to be scared to get everything done. I load USA maps to my navigator. Get luggage is done at 00.30 p.m. So there is still one hour time before I have to start the trip.

I go to Helsinki Airport by bus. My plane takes off at 7.50 a.m. Right at the moment I'm sitting in the airoplane heading to the longest trip I have ever made. Next 90 days name of the game is BMX Racing!

London

RedLine and Fox

Finally I can make public my new sponsor deals with RedLine and Fox. Personaly I'm really happy for these deals. Both brands are leading-edges on their own sectors! In the future I will race with RedLine bikes and Fox equipments. You got to like this!

At first I would like to raffle RedLine hoodie. You can take a part in raffle with commenting this text. Write your name in comments and you are in. I'm sorry to tell but we are able to deliver products only to Finland. On 31th of January I will publish the winner in my blog. If you write your email address or phone number I will also inform you personally.