Vans Waffle Cup 2022 24
22 Aug 2022

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 - Photo Journal

Arguably the highest level of BMX seen this year!

vans flying v clean

Words & Photos : Wes McGrath

The 1st Annual Vans BMX Waffle Cup came in strong right when we needed it most! Introduced by Dakota Roche, the Waffle Cup is a new contest that incorporates a BMX specific course with a build and design directed to enhance a strict BMX vision. Vans has always done an excellent job setting the stage for proper madness to ensue; adding 40+ of the world's best bike riders to test themselves and each other in a friendly environment, striving for greatness through and through!

Even though the world seems to be mostly back on schedule, it certainly has been a long while since we've been able to gather and ride in the name of Vans. Here, BMX coexists within the nucleus of one of the largest Surfing contests on the WestCoast and gives way to a vast new audience for BMX to be seen and recognized!

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing

The Course...

This year felt like a breath of fresh air... a course designed with critical input from some notable creatives! Starting with Dakota Roche naming the contest, "The Waffle Cup", to the Cult Crew in-n-out dumpster and to the women over at Bloom BMX for designing the center piece of the course, incorporating a lifeguard tower for that local flavor. One of the highlights to this year's course layout was the fact that it wasn't meant to be skated on right afterwards, as in years past... Designed with the intention of BMX in mind, this arena made a much more enticing course for the riders involved, allowing the ability to enjoy a course that was proportionally critiqued for biking.

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 3

Out of the sand down on Huntington Beach, the plans make it stand.

Screws, paint, tape and sweat makes up the final afternoon of build before practice begins.

Catching some shade while the paint dries.

Tools of the trade, building sturdy grounds for sturdy wrists!

Final touches before it all gets shredded apart!

The Riding...

The rumor around the water cooler come Saturday afternoon, had everyone in agreement that these qualifiers had to be the highest level of BMX in 2022. These qualifying runs went OFF like I've never seen before! Non-stop excitement for the audience and an absolutely insane example of pushing the limits of a contest. Everyone was smiling huge and the cheers seemingly never stopped... From the high air contest to the best trick battle, never was there a dull moment.

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 23

Gaspar Guendulain hails from Argentina and represents his home country very well! Always smooth and stylish, Gaspar rides away from this tire ride up the rail to 180 downside whip!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 37

Chad Kerley had some serious high energy all weekend, here he throws a 180 bar spin off the watch tower mid run!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 19

Leave it up to Brandon to sniff out the street moves right away! Feeble up the rail to drop opposite smith!

"The level of biking during the Waffle Cup was insane. I am super stoked to be a part of this new contest venture and ride with my friends!"

- Brandon Begin

Perris Benegas

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 48

Perris Benegas floats across the Bloom BMX watch tower with some signature steeze!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 52

Perris Benegas really handles the course with speed and versatility! Big tire grab at height for some audience hype!

Perris Benegas getting her sights on the course!

Perris Benegas. Style for miles!

Angie Marino

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 50

Angie Marino with a big blast during qualifiers!

Angie Marino was one of the only ladies to put her pegs to proper use throughout the weekend. Here she grinds the whole Cult dumpster to start off her qualifying run!

The only female rider to handle this wall ride over the rail! Angie Marino definitely sets the bar for womens' street riding!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 13

Angie Marino with casual pegs down the rail!

Vans Bmx Waffle Cup 2022 6

Angie Marino floating into the blue skies of Huntington Beach!

Year after year, it's so FKN RAD to see the level of Angie's riding step up!

Fan in the crowd

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 25

Matt Closson. Nose manual down the middle rail.

Broc Raiford was the first one to get pegs on this side of the watchtower. Soon after this he easily laces a hard 180 out of the double peg!

Lahsaan Kobza is always a sight for sore eyes and especially this weekend! Over-tooth and back for the fans!

Ben Wallace. Backflip the Bloom BMX watchtower.

Matt Closson showing off his park skills!

Chase Hawk just having a great time during his runs!

Dennis Enarson holds on tight as he uses this quarter to gain speed to whip over the Cult dumpster!

Dan Kruk. Pegs up to hard 360 over the handicap railing.

Chad Kerley tires up the pink railing to tailwhip off, mid line!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 24

Brett Silva definitely has a BOOST button hidden on that bike of his somewhere! Smith across to T-bog in a way only Brett can formulate!

"This felt much more like a heavy session with all of my favorite riders, then it felt like an actual contest! Which set the stage for some proper gnarly biking!"

- Brett Silva

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 49

Josh Dovey certainly holds up to the crew standard, FAST AND LOOSE! Here is an alley-oop 270 one-footed invert across the channel!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 31

Another angle of the same thing, Josh Dovey is really on some crazy level! Big air, no fear!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 39

Dovey, Thoelen, Wallace and Enarson all sit atop the course and gaze upon the best trick battle!

Vans Bmx Waffle Cup 2022 67

Ben Wallace. 360 look back over the Bloom BMX watchtower!

"Ben Wallace was cranking backflips and 360 variations all weekend, I couldn't resist to shoot at least one on film!"

- Wes McGrath

The Winner's Circle...

Men: Kevin Peraza takes 1st place. Johnny Raekes in 2nd and Colin Varanyak in 3rd.

Women: Perris Benegas takes 1st place. Angie Marino in 2nd and Nikii Fuentes in 3rd.

Best trick winners: Chad Kerley, Matt Closson and Pat Casey

Highest Hop winner: Dan Kruk

High Air winner: Josh Dovey

Rider's Choice Award: Dennis Enarson

RAD Award: Dustin Orem

Vans Bmx Waffle Cup 2022 66

Kevin Peraza with a big smile as always! On his way to the first place podium!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 40

Steve Van Doren handing out that cash!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 61

Perris Benegas, Angie Marino and Nikii Fuentes are all smiles during the award ceremony!

Nikii Fuentes takes 3rd place, rightfully so.

The look on Perris's face when she knew she clinched 1st place for this first annual Waffle Cup!

Dan Kruk wins the Highest Hop award smiles all the way to the bank!

Josh Dovey, simply said, WINS the high air contest!

Dustin Orem takes home the RAD Award! Dustin is the pit crew, bike mechanic and official good energy hype man! We can't ever have a solid contest happen without Dustin shining his love and support!

Chad Kerley, Matt Closson and Pat Casey all share the Best Trick winners podium!

Rider's Choice Award presented by Steve Van Doren!

Dennis Enarson takes home 4th place this year but as always a crowd favorite, he takes home the Rider's Choice award this year too!

Vans Waffle Cup 2022 62

Kevin Peraza, Johnny Raekes, Colin Varanyak get the winner's treatment this time around! CONGRATS GUYS!

Watch our exclusive "IN THE CUT" video and more by Rob Dolecki NOW to check out all the action the weekend had to offer!

Related Video

2022 VANS WAFFLE CUP FINALS - DIG 'IN THE CUT'

Pereza is a madman... - More Info

Related Video

2022 VANS WAFFLE CUP - QUALIFIERS - DIG RAW

Next-level madness... - More Info

Related Video

2022 VANS WAFFLE CUP - FIRST PRACTICE - DIG RAW

First licks on a sick course... - More Info

Vans BMX 66 is an Official DIGBMX partner...

Previous

10 Photos of Sergio Layos That You Really Need to See

"you have to drop in from the other side and pedal till your eyes want to pop out of their sockets"

Next

BLOOD SWEAT & TROWELS: 9th & Poplar

We wanted it to be everyone’s spot, not just “ours” - Joe Camporeale

Related Content

Dennis Enarson Highlights 2019 Rebel Jam
Play Button

Dennis Enarson Highlights - 2019 VANS Rebel Jam

Winner winner Chicken Dinner

30 Jul 2019
Screen Shot 2022 08 01 At 3 05 28 Pm
Play Button

2022 VANS WAFFLE CUP FINALS - DIG 'IN THE CUT'

Pereza is a madman...

1 Aug 2022
Wafflew Cup Qulaifier 2022
Play Button

2022 VANS WAFFLE CUP - QUALIFIERS - DIG RAW

Next-level madness...

1 Aug 2022
Vans Waffle Cup 2022 Felix Prangenberg 002
Play Button

2022 VANS WAFFLE CUP - FIRST PRACTICE - DIG RAW

First licks on a sick course...

30 Jul 2022
Raiford Hilder Rebel Jam
Play Button

Odyssey - Broc Raiford & Boyd Hilder at Vans Rebel Jam 2019

Odyssey do Huntington Beach

2 Aug 2019
Rebel Jam 19 Best Trick
Play Button

2019 Vans Rebel Jam - Best Trick

A Minute 30 of Bangers

31 Jul 2019
2019 Vans Rebel Jam Hb Finals
Play Button

2019 Vans Rebel Jam HB Finals

Check it out for some of the biggest trophies since the BMX race days!

29 Jul 2019
https://www.danscomp.com/

Latest Content

Dk Po Jwj Hf U Qhqdefault
Play Button

Between Sea & Pine 7

The Copland Bros Return

31 Mar 2025
P8 Rm X VC9 Lkhqdefault
Play Button

IN THE CUT - JULIAN ARTEAGA | CROWN JEWELS

"YOU'RE GIVING ME ANXIETY!"

28 Mar 2025
Mv Ic4 Id U8 Q Yhqdefault
Play Button

THE LAST SESSION - VANS COMBI BOWL

The official send-off!

28 Mar 2025
O Psno Pw L Bt4hqdefault
Play Button

Source BMX: Chris Doyle Bike Check 2025

S&M MOD Build

28 Mar 2025
C kz4 H1 Bz Ihqdefault
Play Button

POST TIME - Full Video

Florida's finest

27 Mar 2025
Ghidm Gqutchqdefault
Play Button

RIXIN BIKES: JACK HENNICKE BIKE CHECK

A walk through of his current Rixin/Merritt bike build.

27 Mar 2025
To ENLV Uknnshqdefault
Play Button

AANGLES / Denim Cox

Flat out!

26 Mar 2025
Dtpm9v F5vpshqdefault
Play Button

The Backbone Zone - Alex Liiv

"From hucking & hoping to finding a mature approach to life and BMX"

25 Mar 2025
Q Dn Hdawx WB Ehqdefault
Play Button

"SLEPT ON" - Devon Anderson

Couple years of stacking

25 Mar 2025
C D9 Z Zhz Az8hqdefault
Play Button

These BMX trails videos were way ahead of their time

Dave King, Matt Priest, Bob Manchester & More

25 Mar 2025
6s Kwlq Bvg6shqdefault
Play Button

XYLOPHONE

Spain / USA

24 Mar 2025
Ih J Jbtwn F Uohqdefault
Play Button

Zach Bearley MABII Section! - Kink BMX

Mediocre At Best II Sneak Peek

24 Mar 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Features

Manny Kilpack Elf Handoff Ektar100 35

SHAWN 'ELF' WALTERS & THE MAKING OF 'DOUBLE OR NOTHING'

"As long as I’m healthy and into it, I see no reason to slow down."

17 Mar 2025
SS 2025 digbmx mcgrath 37

Simple Session 2025 – In Photos

Celebrating 25 years strong!

14 Mar 2025
Francina 03 RGB Raisa Abal

HIGH FLYERS - AN INTERVIEW WITH FRANCINA FERNANDEZ

"Little Francina would not believe everything that is happening now in my life."

13 Mar 2025
Jack Miller vans intrv leader

HIGH FLYERS - AN INTERVIEW WITH JACK MILLER

"One time I took the day off school and went to the skatepark and snapped my knee..."

24 Feb 2025
Yanosharches 1 sur 1

HIGH FLYERS - AN INTERVIEW WITH JANOSCH KLAUS

"My close friends inspired me the most."

21 Jan 2025
Will and NJ

BMX AFTER 30 - The Hard Dad Jam

"Watching old friends step into the unknown..."

8 Jan 2025
Mankind Catalog Cover jpg
2024 E FISE WOLVERHAMPTON 0009

E-FISE Wolverhampton - In Photos

6 teams and one untapped UK city

3 Oct 2024
KG drone shot

KEEPING IT LOCAL - 20 YEARS OF KELVINGROVE SKATEPARK

Happy Birthday to our local Glasgow park.

18 Sep 2024
Jamie Pipe Tribe

A Brave New World - The history of KHE Bikes, Part 2

Taiwan, a pornstar, and innovation in a can

18 Apr 2024
Dragon Higa gap to manual copy

PROJECT X

This is Project X - This is BMX

9 Apr 2024
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