  |
|
Being a top BMX dirt jumper has its advantages - one of them is being invited to competitions all over the world.
The Japanese King of Dirt is a perfect example.
The contest promoter chose three pros to represent USA at the event; Todd Walkowiak and Chris Doyle ride for DK/ 1-800-COLLECT.
|
 |
 |
|
  |
Day one
by Todd Walkowiak
|
After thirty-one hours of traveling we finally arrived at our cabin. It was now about 2 a.m. and everyone one seemed pretty beat. We each grabbed a space on the floor and hit the hay.
|
Day two
by Todd Walkowiak
|
We woke up around 9:30, after eating and snaping some photos we rode the dirt jumps. To any rider the jumps looked sketchy, but when we started riding we decided that they were going to be some of the most fun contest jumps we have ever ridden. We participated in a show that consisted of us three and two Japanese riders. |
|
|
|
Everybody rode awesome doing stunts we have not done in a while. Perhaps, the best part of this show was the fact that the crowd actually got loud when they saw something  they liked (unlike back home). After riding for almost the whole day we went back to the cabin showered and attended the "Bicycle Party", where we ate dinner and hung out with some of the friends that we made. Afterwords we went back to the cabin watched T.V. then went to bed.
|
|
|
Day three
by Chris Doyle
|
For some reason we woke up around 6:00 a.m. We couldn't understand the T.V. and there was nothing to do so we laid in bed for about three hours.We went to practice and we were all sore from the day before, so riding wasn't all that great. The contest finally started and riding was crazy.Almost all of the Japanese riders were good but fell two or three times. So we all knew it would be easy to score top three. Brandon busted with his normal style, big supermans, no footed x-up to no footed can can, 360's and a big 360 one footed table top which he probably learned that day. He finished third. Todd rode awsome as well: truckdrivers, noth ings, 360's and tailwhips are what his four runs consisted of, not to mention always tricking the first set. He got second. I (Chris) won doing my normal tricks, truckdrivers, nofooted can-cans and a knewly learned trick, a 360 one handed x-up to x-up the other way. Personally I think we all deserved first place but they couldnt let all of us win. So we all split up the money evenly and all ended up with $400, except for me who got and extra 80 dollars. After the contest we headed out for Tokyo which was a long five hours away. We stayed at the Tobu Hotel which happened to be in the middle of one of the greatest cities we have ever seen.
|
|
Day four
by Chris Doyle |
Today was pretty laid back, we woke up ate breakfast and went out to look at Tokyo. We walked around and looked at stores, it was pretty boring but different. Around noon we got picked up and taken to some electronic's stores and after that we ate lunch at Denny's. Shortly after we went around to the different bike shops and did some street riding with the locals. After street riding I (Chris) got a stomach ache and went to sleep. Brandon and Todd went out to eat and look around some more. Todd finally came back when he found something to satisfy his hunger-Todd loves chicken.
|
|
Day five
by Brandon Pundai |
Chris and Todd decided to let me (Brandon) write the log today. They were too lazy to do it themselves. I had a room to myself while Chris and Todd shared. Chris decided to wake me up at 8:30 a.m. This was two hours too early. Breakfast was the same, runny scrambled eggs, ham and toast. The crew picked us up about 11:00 to go to the trails. We were tired, sore and not knowing what to expect, One hour and 30 min. later we arrived at a local bike shop. The respect that we recieved was very appreciated. On to the trails.
Todd and I got out to check it out. Chris is lagging behind. We are introduced to the locals and begin to ride. Two runs later we hear a bang. Guess who's tire blew up. Laughing at Chris we keep riding. It took about twenty tries to make it through the section. Chris' tire was now fixed and about forty runs and three hours later he makes it through. It needs to be mentioned that these were the hardest trails we have ever ridden.
The trail session was over, we say goodbye and head out for the skatepark. On our ride I became sick as well as Chris and Todd being sore. We get to the park and by that time I was seeing stars. Those two immediately began to ride. Riding looked to be fu n as I watched from the sidlines. It showed that this was the Japanese riders strong point. About one hour later I joined in. Wallrides, transfers, airs and grinds is what the riding session consisted of. Later we find out we are doing an interview with the ESPN Japan. This was Shoe-G's show. The questions were answered and we were filmed. Totally exhausted the day of riding was finally over. We all head out to eat Japanese food which was great. Pay for the meal and goodbyes were said to some of the coolest people I've met in a while. Back to the hotel we went for a goodnights sleep.
|
|
Day 6
by Chris Doyle |
Our last day in Japan. By this last day you couldn't even imagine how tired we were. All of the riding we have been doing this week had finally caught sup to us and we didn't even have enough energy to do some site seeing.We went to I think two stores bought some gifts for the folks back home and went to the airport. Everyone decided that this was definitely one of the best trips we have ever been on and we waiting for our next chance to go back. |
|
|
|
|
