2018 Boh Peraza Rd
10 Jun 2018

12 Highlights From The 2018 Battle of Hastings

A key handful of many over a wild-ass four days of madness...

Source 2

Words and photos by Rob Dolecki

When you get together 48 of the world's most talented riders over 4 days, 3 phases of a comp, a massive subterranean indoor park, free food and beer all day long, after-parties, video premieres, awards ceremonies... there are going to be a LOT of highlights. Instead of attempting to list easily dozens of them, 12 key ones will suffice. "Without further ado..."

2018 Boh Osato 2 Rd

1. Dave Osato

When it was announced that Dave Osato was coming to Hastings to rep Team Hawk, I think everyone got excited. This dude as thrown down so many wild progressive moves throughout the 90s and 00s. Tailwhip to fulanu on a sub-box (16 years ago in Hastings), what more do you need to say?

Even though his bike showed up a few days later than Dave himself, he still got some riding in, and finished off his last trick with what else but a Canadian nosepick on the sub-box. The entire building almost collapsed from the crowd roar. Dave also left with a 1000 bucks for being chosen as the Rider’s Rider; well-deserved. We need more Dave Osato appearances.

2018 Boh Osato Rd

What else would you expect from Osato?

2. Clear plastic on the second-storey balcony railings

Being at Battle Of Hastings for the first time can be kind of an overwhelming experience once the contest kicks in. Not just because there’s 48 amazing bike riders all together, but the intense roar that consistently comes from the stands. It’s really, really loud. The amplified noise is thanks to the clear hard plastic zip-tied to the second story balcony railing around the full perimeter of the park that the crowd enthusiastically bangs. It’s like giving each spectator a bass drum and telling them to use it to it’s fullest anytime they feel the opportunity arises. It’s just one of those things words can’t really describe; you just need to live it.

2018 Boh Crowd 1 Rd

3. Dennis Enarson

This guy just keeps clocking those NORA Cups- two more are now added his bedroom shelf (Best Video Part, and Transition Rider). And as usual, he absolutely slayed the comp all weekend long. That double peg up the a-frame rail to whip gap during Finals was one-take casual Dennis, of course.

2018 Boh Enarson Rd

Mr. Enarson, no-holds barred drop-in.

4. Lauding The Old Vets

There was quite a mix of generations actually riding in BOH. You had the 20 year-old plaza rippers side by side with 40-something legends who rode as top talent in Backyard Jams 15 years earlier, and the respect and adulation for each and every rider was mutual. Seeing everyone as hyped to see Beringer pull a front flip fly-out as every other moment of madness during the weekend was awesome.

2018 Boh Beringer 2 Rd

Beringer...

2018 Boh Beringer Rd

letting that front flip rip in front of a star-studded audience.

2018 Boh Fids Rd

Fids.

5. Corey Walsh

Corey was well into his typical high-speed flow game at the Source Park. He kept it simple in the main bowl with nothing but tables, tire slides and signature moto whips, yet it’s safe to say he rode that wooden work of art like no one else. Highest speeds, highest transfers, and insane tire slide/ bonks on the two curved wall setups that no one else dared to mess with. Corey rules.

2018 Boh Walsh Rd

Mid-route to back wheel-bonking the top of the wall; lunatic.

6. Mr. Homan's Legends Award

With the last year or so being more about judging comps than riding in them for Van, nor filming for any video parts, some could think Van is taking it easy in his mid 30s these days. (They obviously never ride with him). He still slips into “the zone” more often than not (as evidenced at this year's FBM DIY Worlds Slab stop, and his downside double peg grind on the curved sub this weekend). It was dope to see one of our DIG issue 90 legends Mr. Homan, collect yet another award for his legendary staus 6 years on at NORA Cup, continuing to get recognition for being the bad-ass that he is.


2018 Boh Homan Rd

Homan with Old Faithful, and we love it.

7. Mad Mike Guth And Team Qualifier

Probably 95% or more of the people in attendance had never met nor seen Pennsylvania’s Mike Guth ride in person. He’s been riding homies with Joe “Butcher” Kowalski for over a decade, but has always seemed to stay below the radar, until last year’s Philadelphia Street Series Jam, where he proceeded to send some wild backwards grinds with relative ease. Then, at the first two stops of the Uncovered contest series at the beginning of the year, he turned both parks into smoldering ruins from the flames of some outrageous gap to grinds (among other moves). After securing an invite to ride on Team Qualifier after being named MVP of that series, he showed up to the Source Park and let loose an insane gap to over grind off a grind ledge. Now everyone who was there can say they too have witnessed the legend of Mad Mike in action.

Mark Burnett has been long overdue for invites to the bigger comps, and he definitely showed why he deserved to be in the mix (even if he thinks Fathead isn't funny). Local young-gun Stuart Chisholm was shinin' too.

2018 Boh Guth Rd

Leave it to Mad Mike to find the most absurd gap to over grind in Hastings.

2018 Boh Guth 2 Rd
2018 Boh Chisolm Rd

Stuart Chisholm, cranklfip drop-in.

8. Qualifiers Last Trick

At the end of everyone's second run during Qualifying, all were encouraged to give it their all on one move, with basically no time limit. With pretty much every one of the 40 plus dudes attempting to send it, it turned into quite a long day. Some may have looked at it as a semi-low due to the excessive time taken, but, man, no one was holding back. And most dudes ended up getting their move in the bag (even if some took a while). There were countless highlights just from that aspect alone; easily one of the most stand-out ones being Gary Young's downside double-peg to wallride around the curved wall bowl corner... ??!!!!

2018 Boh Dugan 1 Rd
2018 Boh Martinez Rd

Old dog, new trick- Tnez with a personal new one in the form of a 360 whip to fakie.

9. Cult's "It's Later Than You Think" Video Premiere

There were enough rowdy BMXers packed in a very unprepared uppity theater (much to the management's dismay) to require two showings of Cult's latest full-length effort, "It's Later Than You Think". And despite a few technical glitches, the video went off. Walsh's opening section matches up to his bowl riding at BOH (see above), and Andrew Cast, Hawk, Dak, Ricany and Dehart's sections are top notch, and Veesh effectively spliced in riding from the rest of the crew throughout the feature. DIG maestro Fred Murray also had some cracking photos on display shot on the last team filming trip in the UK. Bonus highlight- AK clips in the video, and in the flesh at the premiere!

2018 Boh Cult 1 Rd

Quite a pool of talent represented here, on many levels.

10. Best Trick At The Buzzer

Sunday's 25-minute Best Trick jam started off pretty moderately paced. Good etiquette was present, everyone was getting in their attempts, and it was pretty relaxed. Then suddenly, like a switch was flipped, the last five minutes got pretty intense. Everyone was trying to get their last licks, and the frustration was building both from not riding away from an attempt, and also the chance to get in another shot was becoming a futile effort. Yet, just as the buzzer went off, both Garrett Reynolds and Sam Jones simultaneously rode away from their moves; you couldn't even tell who was cheering for what. At the end of the day, it was Sam and his 360 over rail to toothpick that took home Best Trick; wildness.

2018 Boh Spriet 1 Rd

Justin Spriet and that butter crank-arm grind over the full length of the A-frame rail.

2018 Boh Godwin 1 Rd

No cares- Jordan Godwin during the Best Trick jam.

11. Garrett Reynolds In General

Nothing new, or really needs an explanation. Between the outrageous plaza edit (see below), Best Trick at the buzzer (see above), and Finals pulling video game moves back to back (topped it off with a double truck to ledge smith to hard 180) , GR turned it up a notch this weekend, as usual, and the skilled greatness that burns in him delightfully blinded everyone who was fortunate enough to live it.

12. Team Hiam Plaza Edit

Not really sure how it’s possible to film all of that wizardry in the span of 60 minutes. Yeah, 60 minutes. WTF. Reynolds and Hiam; wow.

Previous

Ben Lewis - Life After LIfe

Dealing with Parenthood as a Pro Rider

Next

Leandro Moreira - Then And Now

10 years deep with the the South American trail boss...

Related Content

Garrett Reynods By Kevin Conners Lw9 A0366

Garrett Reynolds - One For The Bucket List

How One Photographer Finally Got To Shoot At 'That Dave Young Spot'

2 Nov 2016
Jones Swampfest Interview Rd 3

Taking The Reins: Trey Jones On The Florideah Swamp Fest

The story behind that epic no-budget DIY jam...

12 May 2017
Dig Ignition Six Devon Smillie Low Res 1 Graphic

IGNITION 06: Devon Smillie

“I was basically brainwashed in the best way possible.”

13 Dec 2016
Boh Feature 1

After Effects - The Battle Of Hastings

This subterranean UK park became a sanctuary of mayhem; a fucking cocoon of chaos...

29 Dec 2017
Dig Ignition Two Chad Kerley Pavia W Graphic

IGNITION 02: Chad Kerley

"I’ve always looked up to the rail shredders..."

4 Apr 2016
Benny L By Fooman 110

Ben Lewis - Life After LIfe

Dealing with Parenthood as a Pro Rider

4 Jun 2018
2018 Illingworth Interview Sa Rd 10

"The division is unreal" Catching Up With Greg Illingworth

SA's high-speed golden child gets political...

3 Sep 2018
Dig Ignition Five Dennis Enarson Low Res 1 Image

IGNITION 05: Dennis Enarson

"There have been some really dark times for sure..."

7 Nov 2016
https://www.profileracing.com/

Latest Content

2 Ek Dv O Ig5n4hqdefault
Play Button

HRISTO ILIEV IS VERY GOOD AT BIKING!

Hitting the streets of Bulgaria

19 Mar 2024
6c2 B7 Z Euk4chqdefault
Play Button

Kanode Knows - Mike Mastroni

Talking creativity, on and off the bike

18 Mar 2024
5 Cqu E Bo Ija Ehqdefault
Play Button

'LOST IN TRANSLATION'

MARWAN AYARI - DIMITRIS PAP - NICO ESTEBAN

18 Mar 2024
X Z2zqyx JS8 Ehqdefault
Play Button

JACK GRUBER | UNITED ‘A while between drinks’

Canberra and Melbourne

18 Mar 2024
Gg B Xdx Hq EB Ihqdefault
Play Button

Source BMX: New Teamrider!

Das New Rider

18 Mar 2024
R6 Yfqo Kvhiwhqdefault
Play Button

Jordan Richardson - 'SPROUT' - Eclat

Cali AM action

18 Mar 2024
D Lh0g8 D Enl8hqdefault
Play Button

RIDING HURRICANE SPOTS WITH TREY JONES

Floating pools, broken concrete slabs, and toppled stair sets

16 Mar 2024
Y6njc H Wd Zf8hqdefault
Play Button

THIRTY - KINK BMX

Sit back and enjoy 25 minutes of the really really good stuff

16 Mar 2024
HWX0v Hu O Ho8hqdefault
Play Button

LUX BMX BIKE ADVICE - How to Bunny Hop with Tim Storey

Learning the most crucial BMX moves.

15 Mar 2024
N Tx M4 R Nij8ghqdefault
Play Button
T Fs R Oz F Eoe Uhqdefault
Play Button

FIT PROxFILE: MAX MILLER

Breaking down Max's last six years

15 Mar 2024
Z Vag X0 Idso Ehqdefault
Play Button

BENNY ABEYTA - LOVE LETTER

Flat out

15 Mar 2024

DIG Partner stores

More Features

WILL JACKSON SOUTHPORT OLDHAM SESSION SHOT BY KANO KANE 2

WILL JACKSON - THE 'MUSCLE MEMORY' INTERVIEW

"I got my first WTP frame at the back end of 2001. Half a lifetime ago."

21 Dec 2023
Simple session 2023 boyd hilder 9

Simple Session 2023 Photo Journal

23 years and counting...

27 Sep 2023
BOH RAIL JAM 2023 47

Battle of Hastings - Photo Journal 2023

From the beach to the basement of Source Park

12 Sep 2023
Trey Jones Pocket Air1 Aguilar 2023
20230804 DIG GLASGOW 0028

30 YEARS OF DIG EXHIBITION & BSD Jam - In Photos

Jammin' and premierin'

11 Aug 2023
20230421 OHIO 0218

Postcards from Ohio - Photo Journal

3 cities, hundreds of spots

9 Jul 2023
45 dig 93 by dolecki LYNN 250 POSH

Trails Closed - The End of Posh Woods

Why the legacy of Posh will absolutely endure

14 Jun 2023
2nd angle Zack Scott DIGBMX 4

The "Full Coverage" Interview

Never underestimate the camera guy!

8 Jun 2023
Robin in Split Croatia Photo Kieran Cooper 7

Robin Bourhis “From Engineering to Riding”

The story behind his WTP 2023 Video Part

26 May 2023
Darty burnslow digbmx 12

Darty in the Ditch 2 - Catching up with Brett Silva

Austin comes together to ride and remember...

23 May 2023
Chocolate truck by rob dolecki CT 9 NIRANONTA R HOP PHL ADJ

TIME DOESN'T MATTER - 10 YEARS OF CHOCOLATE TRUCK

Capturing timeless clips in the city of brotherly love

18 May 2023
High desert and jordan

Sturdy Wrists - Jordan Richardson & Cody Nemeth (AKA High Desert)

A pretty cool recipe for a solid attitude

23 Mar 2023