https://shop.sundaybikes.com/collections/sunday-frames?utm_medium=banner&utm_source=dig

MIke Aitken - Day 1: 'Empire East' (2000)

12 Days of Aitken

14 Dec 2016

Produced by Stew Johnson / DIG X Fit Bike Co

Up first in the 'Twelve days of Aitken’, which is a retrospective look at Mike Aitken’s BMX career as seen through the eyes of some of those who know him best via a selection of his hugely influential video parts, is Mikey’s section in the Erie, Pennsylvania-based video “Empire East.”

While transitioning from his first sponsor of Bully to the geometrically exaggerated-shaped frames of Mosh, a 16 year-old sharply opinionated visitor from Salt Lake City by the name of Mikey Aitken spent the summer of 2000 in Erie, Pennsylvania. While riding with the heavy-hitting crew that called Erie home at that time, he filmed a video part with Jim Winschel primarily at Buck’s Trails and Jim’s infamous backyard trails (which had gained notoriety around this time after hosting a stop in Road Fools 4). Chris Doyle and Kris Bennett provide commentary and a little insight into witnessing Mike’s casual slaying of the enormously long jumps at Winschel’s, which would still be pretty significant by today’s standards. The time period documented in "Empire East" is where Doyle and Bennett got a firsthand look at the blossoming Aitken’s natural riding talent and rapid progression that would eventually evolve to legendary status. -RD

Previous

Derek Dorame - Quick Fix

One Hot Minute

Next

Thank You - Jared Duncan "4 the Kids"

You Should Be Dancin' After This!

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

Related Content

Aitken Day 8 Site
Play Button

Mike Aitken - Day 8: 'FIT LIFE' (2007)

12 Days of Aitken

21 Dec 2016
Aitken Youtuvebe Thumb
Play Button

12 Days of Aitken - Trailer

Your early Xmas gift from DIG x FIT BIKE CO

13 Dec 2016
Dollar Bet Friends 1 A
Play Button

Dollar Bet BMX DVD - Friends 1

SLC legends and up-and-comers all in one section...

6 Dec 2016
Aitken Day 11 Site
Play Button

Mike Aitken - Day 11: 'Anthem II' (2010)

12 Days of Aitken

24 Dec 2016
Mike  Aitken Fit Life Bmx Street David Bowie
Play Button

VIDEO VAULT: Mike Aitken FIT Life

An ode to Bowie

11 Jan 2016
Aitken Day 3 Site
Play Button

MIke Aitken - Day 3: 'F-iT' (2001)

12 Days of Aitken

16 Dec 2016
Road Fools Top Ten Screen 8
Play Button

Road Fools Top Ten Moments - #8

Fuzzy's Backyard and a Young Mike Aitken

8 Apr 2016
Nrkjfj Xh67 Ihqdefault
Play Button

'F-it' Full Video

Flashback to Fit's first full-length...

2 Jan 2015
ElectronicalCover-wide
Play Button

Odyssey Electronical Full Video

Chase Hawk, Mike Aitken, Taj Mihelich, Gery Young, Jimmy Levan and all the crew back in 2008

16 Oct 2015
J69yz TZ8m G Mhqdefault
Play Button

Mike Aitken - 'Electronical' section

One of the greatest of all time...

13 Feb 2015
https://www.profileracing.com/

Latest Content

Street Station Lyon 25 mcgrath 70

BMX Street Station 2025 x 'CASH UP' PHOTO JOURNAL

The Bros Bike Store is back to take over Lyon yet again!

16 Jun 2025
Big boyd black

Product Drop - ODYSSEY BIG BOYD RIMS

Boyd Hilder signature BIG BOYD rims in Black and Coffee.

11 Jun 2025
LOW Street station Saturday Jarvis 1 copy

MONSTER ENERGY 'CASH UP' 2025 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Another Year - New Locations - Even More Jams!

26 May 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

26 May 2025
Vans 11 27 21 014 Bruno Gap wall

BRUNO HOFFMANN INTERVIEW - 'FOREIGN'

"I think the scene is doing good..."

21 Apr 2025
RIXIN BIG APPLE ANGLE RAW ON WHITE 2500

PRODUCTIVITY - RIXIN Big Apple Frame

Billy Perry's signature frame - Built around what he needed.

8 Apr 2025
Swampfest 2025 mcgrath 9

Photo Journal: Swampfest 2025

Mud, sweat and beers.

26 Mar 2025
Rad teaser

Rad Day 2025

Anniversary movie screenings and RAD documentary release.

18 Mar 2025
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
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

DIG Partner stores

More Videos

Yp XYP Oh Hz Eghqdefault
Play Button
KW0 O Pw5tmtshqdefault
Play Button

Drain The Tank

North East Bad Boys

10 Jul 2025
Q7 J3 Zb Eo T Hwhqdefault
Play Button

Source BMX: Kevin Peraza / 10 Questions

Questioning KP

10 Jul 2025
S Eut J Aae0d Mhqdefault
Play Button

THE SMALLWOOD PROCEDURE

Antonio Smallwood coming through in a BIG way!

9 Jul 2025
Z S8 R Ncq Aabohqdefault
Play Button

Tomorrow Land - Alex Donnachie

What's it called? Cumbernauld.

9 Jul 2025
3 Vhw KS4 L Ahqdefault
Play Button

Kevin Peraza Source Park Lock-In

With guest clips from Ike Duly

8 Jul 2025
Ti Ny904etw Yhqdefault
Play Button

OVERGROUND LDN | 'CASH UP BMX'

16 Floors Up!

7 Jul 2025
Q2tv0437 A Hchqdefault
Play Button
Bg YIE Jy Pc3whqdefault
Play Button

Source BMX: Grant Smith Bike Check 2025

The BSD bossman (aka Specky Mcgackey) gives you the lowdown on his BSD Freedom ride

4 Jul 2025
Greek thumb
Play Button

ADIEXODUS - Full Video - GREECE BMX

Athens scene

3 Jul 2025
Qqs Vv8dj5v0hqdefault
Play Button

BMX Direct Thailand Interviews- BRUNO HOFFMAN - (EP5)

"We checked out a couple of spots around the city, ate spicy food and got some massages"

2 Jul 2025
5 U Bkt Mr AI Pwhqdefault
Play Button

Still Tickin': A BMX Trip to Ray's MTB

15 year BMX reunion

2 Jul 2025