Top 5 Most Creative Riders In BMX Right Now
By Fat Tony.
Before you even begin, keep in mind this is an editorial piece from one person here at the magazine. It’s my opinion. You are allowed (and encouraged) to have your own, and we’d love to read yours in the comments. With that said, these are the riders I feel consistently have the most unique and creative riding in the BMX game today.
To clarify a little more, when I say, “creative,” I’m referring to using a bike and obstacles unlike most other people use them. When I think of Web videos these days I picture a tuck no-hander down stairs, a 360 off of something to flat, an invert on a quarterpipe, and so on. And while there is absolutely nothing wrong with those tricks, I don’t classify them as being super creative. I feel like the riders below are breaking the mold and doing things all their own.
Aside from the five guys listed below, it is hard to think about creativity in BMX without Matt Beringer’s name coming to mind. I’ll go ahead and give him the all-time award on this one. Who else has a freakin’ water slide incorporated into their private backyard ramps and trails? Honorable mentions go to Scott Ditchburn, Shane Weston, Catfish, and Tim Knoll.
Now without further ado, in the order of how they entered my brain when thinking about this article, my choices for the top five most uniquely creative riders in BMX right now are…
Erik Elstran
I had never really heard of this Mid-Westerner until he dropped the bomb below on the Web world in July 2009, reassuring everyone that what they say is true… The possibilities really are endless in BMX. I would love to see any top pro play a game of BIKE against Erik.
Example creative trick: Spine disaster to 180 body varial to roll down the spine while backwars on the bike to ghost ride the bike up a quarterpipe to jump back on the bike when it gets to the top of the quarter. (3:00 in the video below.)
Tate Roskelley
Tate’s part in the 50/50 video back in 2008 was my first introduction to him, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Maybe it has something to do with growing up around Matt Beringer in Utah, or maybe he just has a few crisscrossed chromosomes, but whatever the case may be, Tate looks at riding BMX pretty differently than most. I wonder if anyone else has been able to replicate the crazy bike slides he did in the video below.
Example creative trick: Hop up a ledge into a one-footed manual with the other leg dragging on the ground to 180 fastplant out. (0:46 in the video below.)
Charlie Crumlish
One of the things I enjoy about watching all the riders on this list is when you see a new video part from them, you never know what they will do next. Some riders are pretty predictable…you know when they are about to do a barspin or no-hander at a certain part of the line. But when watching a Charlie Crumlish video part, not only am I clueless as to what he may do next, I’m always caught off guard because just when I thought the trick or line was about to end, he throws in one last little nugget to make my head spin even more.
Example creative trick: Nollie to slant wallride to manual to vertical smith stall another slant wall to 180 out. (1:28 in the video below.)
Karl Poynter
KQP may be the most well-known rider on this list. He’s been in the spotlight for a number of years, has gone on Road Fools and Megatour, and had full-length video parts. He uses his insane manual control, freecoastin’ skills, and ability to spin in both directions to link together super original lines.
Example creative trick: 180 up a ledge, full cab off, halfcab up another ledge into a manual to 180 off. (7:19 in the video below.)
Troy Merkle
Part of what makes Troy’s riding so unique is how he incorporates a lot of flatland moves into street and ramp riding. He’s not all one-wheeled tricks at low speeds though…he can drop hammers when needed, too. Troy has steadily been pumping out Web vids for a few years now, so it’s easy to keep his fresh riding style on the front of your mind.
Example creative trick: Pole jam icepick nothing barspin. (1:30 in the video below.)
TAGS: Charlie Crumlish, Creative, Erik Elstran, Karl Poynter, Most Creative Riders, Opinion, Orignial, Tate Roskelley, Troy Merkle
