https://www.kunstform.org/

Call That A Spot?

Joe Embrey and the art of making something out of nothing...

12 Dec 2018

Joe Embrey By Stu Barnaham Slab Slab Tuck

Words and Photos by Stu Farnham @againbmx

Back in December 2017 I moved from the sleepy market town of Bury St Edmunds, UK to the (relatively) bustling city of Norwich. I already knew of a few spots and at least one skatepark in the city but I was keen to do some investigating and find some new spots where possible. Now it was just a case of waiting for some decent weather to have a look around and see what was out there. 

Eventually, the seemingly endless winter of 2017/18 drew to a close. After a few exploratory missions I found a number of ‘nearly’ spots - things that looked almost rideable but they either weren’t big enough, had no run up/out or various other negating factors. Unwilling to completely write these off, I hit up Joe Embrey, knowing he’s down for a challenge and can always make something out of nothing when the need arises. I sent him pictures of the spots and he was indeed up for it. Having lived in Norwich himself a while back, it’s not entirely unfamiliar territory for him anyway. This is how the Non Spots idea began. 

But... owing to having a new baby in my life, about 30 weddings to attend over the summer, plus Joe’s commitments throughout the year, the opportunities to get the pictures were few and far between. We made it out a few times and were pretty productive - we even expanded beyond Norwich for some of the pictures. Joe always comes through so it was easy to get something each time we did manage to make it out. Plus, it was a good time so well worth the effort. Definitely glad we didn’t fall into the ‘nothing to ride’ trap that’s so easy to surrender to.

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing
Joe Embrey By Stu Barnaham Academy Railhop2

A grass landing but this was a fun one. Shooting a photo straight into the sun is always a treat too.

Joe Embrey By Stu Barnaham Courts Tyreslide

Tried and tested Norwich spot given the tyre slide treatment at the often wall-ridden bank section.

Joe Embrey By Stu Barnaham Woodward Invert

Woodward, Norwich. Ish. Possibly the ropiest skatepark I’ve ever seen. Joe gets it done over the, ahem, ‘jump box’.

Joe Embrey By Stu Barnaham Hill Bank Footjam

Nasty run-up – check. Sharp bump at the bottom of the bank – check. Joe coming through, as ever – check.

Joe Embrey By Stu Barnaham Library Wride

This spot was riddled with broken glass and a ‘colourful’ selection of Thetford’s finest citizens. Favourite was the guy that wanted to take our names, then produced a set of handcuffs before shuffling off.

Joe Embrey By Stu Barnaham Roof180

Relatively small gap but this 180 was done under pressure – locals were circling and we were pretty certain the police were being called to get us out.

Joe Embrey By Stu Barnaham Whitewall Wride

Last spot of the project, a random white wall with barely slanted kerb/bank. Lovely lady kindly moved her shiny new BMW so we could have the spot to ourselves too.

Joe Embrey By Stu Barnaham Hop Cobble Bank Euro

Just around the corner from the worst skatepark in history, we found this decent bank. All good until someone parked their car right in the way of Joe’s ideal run-up

Previous

8 Things You Didn't Know: Jordan Godwin and The WTP Doomsayer Frame

Get up to scratch on one of the most anticipated frames of this year

Next

DIG 99.9 - Book Sold Out!

Annual Collector's Edition - Featuring The DIG Awards

Related Content

Maintain Ii V Zine Promo 1

New to The DIG Store: Maintain II.V

Feast your eyes on our newest offering...

7 Dec 2017
Videos Of The Year

DIG's Top 10 Videos Of 2017

The Best From The World Wide Web

25 Dec 2017
2017 Layos Setups 20 S0 T6815

Setups Q&A - Sergio Layos' 2017 Fly Trueno

The Layos tool for slaying all transitions...

26 Oct 2017
Simple 2018 Everything

Simple Session 18 - Livestream Re-Runs & Everything You Need To Know

Results, DIG Video Highlights & More

5 Feb 2018
Metal Bomber

Born into Levangelism

Ben 'Bomber' Counter's Metal Bikes Memoirs

13 Mar 2018
Sp18 Style112 111

Productivity: Vans Dakota Roche Style 112 Pro

A Brand New Colorway in the 'For The Search' Collection

13 Feb 2018
Hoffman King Of Vert Finals January 27 1990

Why We Need To keep The UCI out of BMX, for now...

An Open Letter From Mat Hoffman

7 Mar 2018
Elsinore Park 3 Of 3

SETUPS: Matt Cordova

A first look at his new Verde rig

10 Apr 2018
Bsdxdig Territories No2 Paris Zinephotos 006

DIG X BSD TERRITORIES MAGAZINE - OUT NOW!

issue #2 - PARIS

19 Feb 2018
Sweet Tooth Purple Front

Productivity - Colony 2018 completes

Something for everyone

9 Nov 2017
Vita Kacha United 13

Víta Kácha - The Waiting Game

Two Years In The Making

10 Oct 2017
Heresy Alexis Desolneux Photo Sevisual

Re-Print: HERESY - My BMX Fugazi

A small fish in en even smaller pond

16 Feb 2018
https://www.vans.eu/bmx.html

Latest Content

Fbj Ti H19i Uhqdefault
Play Button

ON LOCK - B-sides | Odyssey BMX

What you didn't see

28 Feb 2026
J93 Wc Nril Nshqdefault
Play Button
9 QV6cwqpqa Ehqdefault
Play Button

Game 3 - Game of Bike Invitational

Chad Kerley vs Brett Silva

28 Feb 2026
C M Do E Do1 Jshqdefault
Play Button

VANS 'EUROSCENE' PARIS

The VANS Euro team takes over the city centre, riding iconic Parisian spots day and night...

26 Feb 2026
D VEV Uqu U8kkhqdefault
Play Button

ANTON BOTELHO - 'HEIRLOOM'

DIG LOCALS

25 Feb 2026
H Zbhi Ke Ew2 Ahqdefault
Play Button
S L Rhdgv Qmv4hqdefault
Play Button

MURRAY LOUBSER - HUNGRY

Our kinda selfie

25 Feb 2026
Bew A6pvj3 B8hqdefault
Play Button

OBSERVATION REPORT MIXTAPE

Jack Hennicke, Chijioke Okafo, Mike Brennan & More

24 Feb 2026
Kgdz X8w UGW Ihqdefault
Play Button

Shuhei Max Azuma – BSD BMX

'2Pegs Style'

24 Feb 2026
C O Hd8 Ob Tbh0hqdefault
Play Button

PRAVDA +995

Calling you from the streets of Georgia

23 Feb 2026
4bb Zd Bazm Hkhqdefault
Play Button

Game 2 – The Game of Bike Invitational

Murray Loubser vs Aryei Levenson

20 Feb 2026
P4 W Yf L9g Iohqdefault
Play Button

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Intro protec

INTRODUCING THE 2026 PRO-TEC PRO TEAM

Squad Goals

1 Mar 2026
Pravda slideshow thumb

SNAPSHOTS: PRAVDA +995

A small gallery of film photos taken during the shooting of the video.

23 Feb 2026
Stack 2025

DIG BOOK #2025 - NOW SHIPPING

THE BIGGEST BMX MAGAZINE EVER... EVER

23 Jan 2026
Cover pile Mockup GS3

GREYSTOKE issue 3 OUT NOW!

"We go 132 pages deep with a Brad McDonald photo feature, Dave Voelker interview, rare bikes, unseen photos and an in-depth look at how much noise was being made when BMX had gone quiet - AKA "The Dead School. era"

7 Dec 2025
Khe leader

PRODUCTIVITY - KHE 2026 COMPLETE BIKES

Something for everyone.

5 Dec 2025
25 photo comp web leader

THE 2025 DIG PHOTO COMP IS NOW LIVE!

OVER $1000 WORTH OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

10 Nov 2025
Battleinthe Streets 92

REPO: Battle In The Streets Jam - Vancouver

"one rider walked away with the $1000 cash prize"

27 Oct 2025
IMG 2986

Inside KHE Bikes - 44 years of BMX history with Thomas Göring

“I didn’t have a proper cutting machine at the time, so I hand-cut each peg. They all ended up different lengths.”

24 Oct 2025
Dig motobunka collection square Recovered

THE DIG X MOTO-BUNKA COLLECTION

An all new collaboration with Japan's finest

22 Oct 2025
VANS ODYSSEY 2025 COLLECTION FF RAMP 003

"The inspiration was right in front of our eyes" The story behind the Vans X Odyssey 40 Year Collab

An interview with Nuno Oliveira (Odyssey) and Justin Villano (Vans)

25 Sep 2025
07 2025 Huffy Sledgehammer Launch Project 132

Product Drop: HUFFY Sledgehammer frame

Huffy returns to BMX...

22 Sep 2025
Team kevin peraza boh winner 2025

BATTLE OF HASTING 2025 - TEAM PERAZA TAKES THE WIN

Results, Livestream re-runs, DIG Highlights & more

27 Aug 2025