Leap-year

Over half of my journey is behind. Jukkis, finnish BMX boy, is going to Finland today. I have 6 weeks left. I can't understand how time has past so quickly. Thoughts about moving here are coming more clear every day. But that doesn't give me any extra days for this trip.

Where am I now? I have progressed with my riding. My journey, with learning BMX, is only in beginning. But it's good, I don't want this journey to end!

Yesterday was day of relapse. I was meant to have some easy riding. Practice techniques. I thought I would learn perfect manual and jumping. In reality I couldn't even ma the things I used to do. Today I'm supposed to have rest. I almost excited to see can I stay away from track

Little 8seconds target (in future)

Universal Studios

I'm gonna race twice at this week, so I'm gonna also have two days of rest. I took some total break from BMX by heading to Hollywood.

I didn't really know anything about Universal Stuodios, before I went there. I has been in Universal Studios at Orlando when I were 12 years old, but I can't remember anything of that. So, I would describe that as theme park. There is not normal rollercoasters, rather those are movie rides. I got to know all different staged streets, where have been filmed King Kong, Desperate housewifes.. I can't list all of those. There is so many.

One of the best was King Kong 3D. We drove in to tunnel by bus. From both sides of the tunnel was dinosauruses attacking, part of the action was that bus shaked too.. and at the end you got King Kong's slobber on your face. Meaning there was thrown real water to your face.

At the same time when you were explaned how everything is fake, they make it real more real than ever before. This was great day, but I'm already missing practicing. Tomorrow should be here already!

Good morning Finland

..your girl raced again and crashed.. That's kind of finnish song. Well I edit lyrics a bit, but anyway.

Saturday night and race on my home track. Here, in California, they use several different racing systems. Today we had 3 motos and main event. Pretty much same as in Europe, but computer decides your gate place for main event also. Like in Europe the one who had made it best in motos is the first one to pick the place at gate for main, then second best and so on.


I was thinking which way I should race; go all motos with full-power or just make it to main and save your power. I decided to go for lazy-fat-racer style, so I had all power left in main event. in the first turn I was the second. Wou, that's cool! Made the turn and someone from inside hit me from side. Next thing we were at the bottom of the turn. The other one was smaller than I. So I felt bad just stood up and continue. But that's thing what you have to do in race. I made it to finish line.


It was awesome race. Why? Probably that was the first time I was really in the race. That's a whole different feeling. After the start I were pretty much in same line with the 3th and 4th, but with pedaling everytime I could. I came out as 2nd (atleast until the first turn). But it was good to see the effect what it makes if you pedal even oce more than the others. This teached me what is it when you race and that the first turn is usually quite tough place. And I got my first BMX prize from Usa :)

Prize: Bended numberplate. Good idea!

Style of America

Land of tennis socks and indigonblue jeans; America. This is exactly what you see in movies.

Rule number 1: Americans doesn't walk
At second night in America when I got to hotel. Hotel owner asked me where did I get off the bus? I answered: at those stoplights. Man was terrified; "It's a long way to walk from there". Yes, it was 200meters (650feet).
Another examble is my neighbour at San Jacinto. She was pissed of waiting in car her husband to pack baby in car and take her to work. She is late again.. Way to work is 300meters (1000feet) 

Rule number 2: Here you don't cook your own meals
One day I was ashamed telling to Hannu that once, before they had came to California, I ate McDonalds breakfast. He told me, he had done the same on several morning! If you know Hannu, you know that is not his style!

Rule number 3: They really wear shoes inside
I can tell you, it feels bad to walk on wall to wall carpet with shoes on. I don't know what happens if it rains outside. First weeks I spend most my time with local people and couple times I found myself having shoes inside at my own home.

Rule number 4: They know only America
For me it sounds weird if someone doesn't know currency euros. Maybe it's because I'm from Europe. But still I know dollars and I know that they use yens in Japan. Other funny thing is comment: Ou, you have celcius, we have degrees. Yes, you have fahrenheit degrees and we have celcius degrees. The guesses where Finland is, are pretty funny, but that one I totally understand.

One thing is bothering me. I haven't yet find out why they don't put taxes in prices. There got to be some reason, but I just don't know it.

Freestyle BMX

Before noon, at the hottest time of the day, I putted on my pads. I had to get racing practices done, because we were about to leave the house. It was my Jukka's birthday and he was taking me to his friend's, Ben Snowden's, home.

There I got to know some freestyle BMX with World's top riders. I only jumped to pillow-pile, but got to say it was really exciting! I think I stopped BMX when I was kid, because I found freestyle BMX too scary (in Finland we didn't have any other BMX at the time). So hope I those fears are history now.


Look at the pictures and you will see how awesome the place was.

Parkcross

This trip has been one big adventure of emotions. Today I read one old message which I had sent to my friend; Do you have any idea, who would like to play with bikes with me? With that message I traveled 15 years back, to the time when everything started. Fixing and riding bikes was big thing when I was kid. I'm still amazed that the "parkcross" what we road, which we created, is a real olympic sport. I can't remember why I ever stopped racing parkcross. Maybe tracks became too small were, I was ashamed to play in park with younger boys, or probably boys grew up and left me and my bike alone in park.

I remember that my dad was bit annoyed for the bikes I "fixed". But I got to say for all dads who reads this; let your children build up their own bike. I think my bike was the coolest in the neighbourhood. I got handlebars from track bike installed upside down..

And when it rained we used to went out to ride on side's of the streets, so water splashed all over. 

Back in times, BMX racing used to have own class which raced with bikes with sidecars. Finally I got to try out one of those bikes. It was so cool that I have to build my own sidecar BMX when I get back to Finland. Being the monkey, meaning the one in sidecar, is whole new story. Sometimes you have to run and push the bike or pump or lean. It was weird how you control the bike with leaning, not that much with normal handlebar steerin. Hard to explane, you can come and try when I get my bike done.

BMX with sidecar

RedLine Cup

Hi you all! Sorry I haven't been so active with the blog lately. You see, we had big race at my "home track". All my time has past with practices and helping out with everything what comes to setting up the RedLine Cup.

There is a short video on FOX Head Finland facebook site, how did it went.. And those who don't use facebook, let me know if can't get that video open.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/FOX-Head-Finland/137079376302366

RedLine team

RedLine is not only a bike. I have get to know new people just because they race on RedLine team. First tough little rider I met in Chula Vista. Little guy named Logan Ellis. He won his races for good. Logan races in RedLine Challenge team.

Next RedLine rider I met was Shawn O'gorman. He had game to see track of Palm Springs. Old guy has painted his bike to fit old school style. And old school is my school :)

Last but not least; I also would like to tell you that Swedish RedLine lady Caroline Hindmo has been selected to UCI camp. UCI camps are hold in World Cycling Center in Switzerland. Caroline is going to be there for 2 months practicing BMX. I'm really excited for her! Link to UCI camps.. http://www.uci.ch/templates/UCI/UCI2/layout.asp?MenuId=MTU1MDE&LangId=1

Kearny and thoughts about tracks

This time I was in San Diego and testing Kearny Moto Park's track. When I get to know more tracks I build up better image of that what kind of bmx I like most. BMX is always fun, but tracks makes huge differences to sport.

I can't judge Kearny's track, because it was soft after rain. Anyway I got the feeling that profile of Kearny's track was bit flat. When track is flat it means you have to pedal more. Like in track cycling. Track cycling track is flat so you have to pedal all the time..

When profile gets bigger, you need to have more speed to be able to use track for getting more speed and getting more joy. There have to be more space between big jumps than smaller ones. You have to go faster to avoid jumps turning out uphills. If that happens joy becomes sorrow. LOL, that line was probably from my thighs. Anyway that how it goes. When jumps are more distant, slower rider doesn't get the feeling of racing.

Objective goal would be having a track where is something for everyone. Big jumps for those who rides fast, but also very important would be functional lines for smaller and slower riders. It's totally different thing to practice manual if the target is getting one meter or 4 meters done. Specially this holds true when you are practicing to jump. Mostly it matters with feeling of riding, if I would have tryed my first time BMX on Copenhagen's track vs. at here, I would have got whole different feeling of it.

Copenhagen's track is top of the world at the moment. It's totally different speed what pros gets on it. But looking at the Olympic track for 2012 olympics, it's one step higher again. It's already bit extravagant. Track is absurb! It's awesome that someone can ride it, but what next? What is the top for elite riders? Or the safety of the sport?

This is only my little opinion about things. I haven't said it aloud earlier to avoid insulting anyone. I support these "small tracks". Riding these is fun. It feels like that tracks are joking with you. And I like those jokes!

Supercross

It's was time for American style show night! If NHL game is good show, supercross fights in different league. There were colorful lights, fireworks, shooting t-shirts to crowd, and let's not forget the motocross show. Awesome jumps got some more flover when you took some to cheer for.

I was almost able to forgot those over 40 pages of notes what I had in my backbag. I have made those during this trip. These are about things I have to get done, and things what I have to remember about BMX. And also many pages about things what I have to remember to tell in my blog. Anyway, all bullets for today have run out and it's time to rest. Mirracles in America continues tomorrow!

Pedal pedal pedal!

I had been wanting to take part to Richie Anderson's clinic already since I was only planning my trip. I don't know why. I didn't know anything about the guy, only that he's somekind of BMX legend. There is Richie's clinic every wednesday at my "home track", so I decided to give it a try.

Before practices I asked Richie if I could have photo with him. I would have to have payed for that and prices had gone up.. Suddenly I wasn't interested of the photo anymore.

Clinic last 3 hours, so I'm not gonna explane all things what we did. But all the time point was on pedaling. Whole clinic was about motivating. Richie talked all the time, he remember everyone by name and there were lots of us! He pushed for more. Also he got huge ego with him all the time. Some comments forexamble; Are you Champion, no you are not, who is Champion here, that's right I'm the Champion!

Well, what did I got from clinic. Tips for technique was given that much. I got few because I pressed him to give some. Atleast for time to time you need practicing like that, you concentrate only on going as fast as you can. You concentrate to pedal in every sincle place you are just able to. Before I thought that there is not place to pedal on the rhythm section or on last straight. Now I feel that almost whole last straight can be pedaled.

Interesting thing from the clinic was that you weren't allowed to jump. Richie made clear that you go faster on a ground. From ground you can get more speed and jumping is only unnecessary risking. Actually you had to do push-ups if you jumped!

First impression wasn't that good, but anyway I learned things which are worth of gold, about pushing myself to do more..

Disneyland

Make sure that vibes stay high I spent monday at disneyland:

Flavors of life

New home at Whittier Narrows BMX track. At morning when I woke up. Hannu had went to take Jukkis to aeroport. I was locked in at BMX track! How cool is that! :) You all are welcome to visit me here. By all I mean all. I hadn't met Jukkis before he came here..

Yucca Valley

Seventh track during this trip. There was nice rounded shapes. Which made pumping feel nice. Now I'm in hurry, so I'm only gonna send some pictures. It's funny how days turn to night everytime too fast.. And this far I have used all the time to BMX.

That's my notebook what I'm gonna do when I have free time. I think you can understand almost all of them :) Looks nice to me!

Wheelie

Hi Wheelie. Nice to see you. You look better than the last time..

I had wonderful day. It was first time in USA that I was able to practice during day time. The man who runs Whittier track gave me key to the track so I'm able to practice when ever I want! Can you belive that!! Soon when we had gotten in some park-workers came to throw us out. But I had locked the gate from inside so they couldn't get in. Bohhohoo. Well, I went to explane that we are allowed to be there and they were cool with that.

I have had ever-sweet wheelie with me on track. Well my friend can't take my wrong vocabulary anymore and since now I try to use right words: Wheelie is the one where you pedal at the time when you have front wheel up and manual is same without pedaling. Expession "wheelie on front tire" (= nose manual) was too much for my friend :)

Anyway, on yesterday I took a big step in learning manual. Riding my bike was fun and nothing to complane. I have noticed that people doesn't want to hear if you are doing well. Anyhow I take a risk and tell you: When we were driving back home, I think I was in some trance. I was marvelling with my eyes wide open. I just sitted in car and think that I might be the luckiest person in the world.