http://www.divisionbrand.com/news/

Re Print: What the Fuck Happened to Spots?

The Secret Spot hunter tells you what he's really thinking...

15 Jan 2015

Sean Fish Hoskin BMX DIG24-2002 RW-

Now that's a spot. Sean "fish' Hoskins circa 2002. Photo by Ryan Worcester

Words by Ryan Worcster  / Originally printed in DIG 95 'The Creative Issue' July 2013

Seriously. This is bullshit. What the fuck happened to spots, and places to ride that you can’t find everywhere? If you don’t know what I’m talking about then we’re gonna have to dial your cathode ray lobotomized brain to 1.21 gigawatts to a time before the modern skatepark boom and that thing called the Internet fuelling a blended, sedated, cookie-cutter riding environment. What am I, some old jaded festering curmudgeon fuck on an S&M menstrual cycle? (I’m gonna flick you in the balls Moeller - I don’t know Moeller) That’s right, saddle up 'pardner', this ramble is like we’re going for a pedal and have no idea where we’re going, where we might hop fences, ride pools, explore abandoned buildings, find ditches, mix bags of cement, make our own spots, carry our bikes till our arms hurt, trespass on government property, break the fucking law, do something other than be pacified by the freedom-stealing-soul-sucking, fenced, contained, homogenized and surveillance substitute confines of a skatepark that breeds people that ride the same, look the same, and think the same. Please don’t make the kooks in BMX the minority, let people think you’re a weirdo, make someone mad and beat them at their own game by loving love, stepping out of your comfort zone, having fun and actually give a shit.

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing
ryan worcester BMX 2004 RA

Ryan Worcester, Leeds UK, 2004. Photo by Ricky Adam

"Please don’t make the kooks in BMX the minority, let people think you’re a weirdo..."

My preliminary observations of the modern street evolution have lead me to believe there is a bizarre “this will one up the web-based Jonses when they see how many stairs I did whatever who gives a fuck down that landing looks like shit and it probably would have looked better if you’d just straight bunny hopped it thing” going on. (Who the fuck was the rat-fink dickwad who named that action a bunny hop?) K.O.S. Over and out. If you’re going to go walking speed at some boring flat ledge all day over and over again, you might as well get a trials bike or a razor scooter with 20” wheels for your pogo grind web edit, or have your bike stolen by someone who looks sketchy because maybe if they have a bike they’ll actually ride it like it is one. Ride stupid weird shit that is an adventure to get to, just be sure you always obey the signs. It’s always no, no, and no to everything in life I’m actually not even sure what the rules say I can do anymore. But it’s just to keep us safe they say. Don’t worry it’s been disinfected and engineered and is always going to make our lives better. In the name of progress, the plastic shellacked charade of this costumed masquerade called the curtain call of humanity marches on. Head shake subject shift, that’s right, take it... who are they and when will it all make sense? Or take life by the reins and tempt the Huffy puffy MJ-12 illuminati powers that be by doing something for yourself, before it is deemed safe and spoon-fed to you, and make your own damn spot. Use cement, scrap pallets, dirt or whatever to change things for the better. Who cares if thecomeup doesn’t invite you to their birthday circle jerk. Land into grass, use a kicker ramp, do whatever you want. If it’s there ride it. - Ryan Worcester

owain clegg bmx dig57 RA

Obviously there's a lot of creative spot hunters out there nowadays from Tate Roskelly to Erik Elstran and many more of course... but this guy was one of the originals and he's still out there serarching. Owain Clegg, North West UK, circa 2007. Photo by Ricky Adam

Previous

First Look: Tom Sanders and the New United Region Frame

"I think the nine inch stand over is better for lurch-like people."

Next

Randomizer - Luc Legrand

17 random questions with one French hippy...

Related Content

Nutter Trails BMX shark bite PA 08 RD

Re Print: When Nutter Got Bit By A Shark

“It was just one of those things"

26 Feb 2015
Ruben alcantara BMX face tight VP

Re Print: DIG Legends - Ruben Alcantara

“He sees things very differently, and what makes sense to him, leaves most people scratching their head.” - Joe Rich

22 Jan 2015
BMX videos vhs

Where's The Love? The Disposable Age of BMX

Stuart Fenton talks of fickle times in BMX and dreams of a VHS resurrection

17 Feb 2015
BOB SCERBO BMX PHL RD

Re Print: One Question - Bob Scerbo

“It pretty much takes my favorite part of riding right out.”

12 Feb 2015
Cam WOOD BMX SLASH SNWBRM UT ADJ

Re Print: Getting Creative With Cameron Wood

"People can call it what they want. We're not really skiing; we're bike riding"

29 Jan 2015
WIZ BMX 2009 RD 1

Re Print: Wiz - First Time For Everything

Dedicated to the riders who have truly influenced bike riding

19 Feb 2015
Rich forne roof RA

Re Print: Rooftops... and everywhere down below.

Without doubt, the most difficult article I have ever photographed for DIG...

5 Feb 2015
https://www.kunstform.org/

Latest Content

8w8 G k2fs7khqdefault
Play Button
V 2 Td Od3a X Ehqdefault
Play Button

MENS FINAL TOP 3 - SIMPLE SESSION 25

Rim Nakamura, Jordan Clark & Boyd Hilder

9 Mar 2025
Hf Rhg46 P6 Ywhqdefault
Play Button

DAY 2 LIVE STREAM | SIMPLE SESSION 25

SUNDAY LIVE FROM TALLINN

9 Mar 2025
Simple thumb 25 option sister
Play Button

SISTER SESSION TOP 3 HIGHLIGHTS

Kim Lea Müller, Miharu Ozawa & Perris Benegas

9 Mar 2025
Hf1 Chlapzy Uhqdefault
Play Button

FLAT RAIL | SIMPLE SESSION 25

CASH FOR TRICKS

7 Mar 2025
V7 Z1 VYK Djz Mhqdefault
Play Button

DAY 1 LIVE STREAM | SIMPLE SESSION 25

SATURDAY LIVE FROM TALLINN

7 Mar 2025
Simple thumb 25 practice
Play Button

PRACTICE | SIMPLE SESSION 25

Day 1!

7 Mar 2025
Simple thumb 25 best trick
Play Button

BEST TRICK | SIMPLE SESSION 25

The 25th anniversary

7 Mar 2025
T LC Ld Cp Pbd Ihqdefault
Play Button

Video Vault - Jason Enns - On The Clock

Hip-hop Jason

7 Mar 2025
Y88 B Xbytc3whqdefault
Play Button
Mb Lp0x D554hqdefault
Play Button

JOSH CARRASCO - LR2: CHICAGO BLUES

The fourth and final section

6 Mar 2025
Mfl O Ubah2 V Ahqdefault
Play Button

Source BMX - Shane Halahan Bike Check 2025

Transition ramblin'

6 Mar 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Expert Top 3 Roll On crop

REPO: Keeping it local at the UK 'ROLL ON' Flatland Jam

"My desire was to give something back" – Mike O'Connell

5 Mar 2025
Snow Fight – Naoki Gaman2

20 Tips For Surviving Simple Session 2025

Check yourself before you wreck yourself!

20 Feb 2025
SS finals samples 4

SIMPLE SESSION 25 WRAP UP

Highlight videos, results and more

19 Feb 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

18 Feb 2025
Stack

DIG BOOK #2024

AVAILABLE VIA THESE BIKE SHOPS AND DISTROS

30 Dec 2024
New dig apparel main image

NEW DIG BMX APPAREL

Available now

27 Dec 2024
30 YRS POSH BOOK MNTN V V 004

(Almost) 30 YEARS OF POSH WOODS

Now available for pre-order

24 Dec 2024
BSD Grime Safari Reed Stark Austin 6

Reed Stark - A Photo Safari

Safari Forever...

6 Dec 2024
Et FW24 Dig Magazine Collab Shoot 031

Introducing the DIG X ETNIES Collection

Celebrating a 25 year partnership

7 Nov 2024
24 photo comp web leader

THE 2024 DIG PHOTO COMP IS NOW LIVE!

OVER $1000 WORTH OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

15 Oct 2024
Greystoke issue 2

GREYSTOKE BMX MAGAZINE - ISSUE 2 OUT NOW

132 pages of tangible, hold-in-your-hands BMX print media.

11 Oct 2024
SUNDAY Silvawave Frame 3 Q web

PRODUCT DROP: Brett Silva's signature SUNDAY 'SILVAWAVE' frame

"It was only a matter of time before Brett got to call the shots."

26 Sep 2024