ACT JAM 2025 was next level.
Even after 12 years, ACT JAM keeps growing and growing. This year, we were able to close down one of the main streets in Canberra, taking the jam to the general public, and showcasing real deal BMX, on our terms.
Day one of the official event was pretty crazy - and not just because of the riding!
We had the street booked as an event space from 6am, even though the jam started at 4pm.
Needless to say, arriving at 6am and still seeing cars parked on the road, and cars driving up and down the road... It started to feel a little daunting. Especially when the traffic management didn't arrive until hours later.
Regardless, the crew worked with what they had, full DIY BMX style. BMX definitely gives you that; the "this is hard, but I'll find a way." The BMX mentality.
Everyone was still able to make it happen and the jam started on time!
The Feature Events
This year's ACT JAM was broken into 7 feature events.
Day one had the Pyramid challenge, the Curve Wall Challenge, and the Tower of Terror Challenge. We also were able to bring the bonus challenge, the Pull Back or Die Challenge, which closed out the night.
Jimmah took home a lot of cash from the Pyramid challenge. Gap tooth, gap smith, gap wheels, gap manual; all laced perfectly.
Boyd Hilder also did a rad up rail gap across feeble 180, which was so dialed.
Curve wall also got worked by Boyd too; he did a nose wheelie up the bank, to curve wall tailwhip, I think he did bar wall whip, and a gap manual, to curve wall, whip. On fire.
Jason Watts and Josh Dove were both eyeing up trying to flip out of the curve wall. It might be one for next year, but it was awesome seeing them both trying to figure it out. The fact that Jason did a no hander gap-to-nose wheelie on the pyramid, right before the curve wall three he did after, was so nuts.
I can't remember who was with Cal Eggington, but he and someone else (sorry I forget who it was!) did an over-under wallride that was so sick.
Jonny Mackellar did just about everything both ways too, it was awesome to watch. The dude has so much bike control.
The last challenge was the Drover Projects Tower of Terror challenge. We started with a basic hitching post, which lots of crew destroyed. Once the extra extensions went on, it started getting hairy real quick! Highlights for me was Pete Mayer, who hurricaned the hitching post, fufanu'ed the extension, 360 tapped the big extension, as well as fufanuing it. That dude is a beast.
Johnny Mackellar and Izac Berryman both handplanted the big extension too. This extension was 2 metres on top of a 2 metre tall box jump, making it almost 14 foot tall!
I can't remember exactly, but I think Josh Dove jumped it backwards? Dovey was putting on a show all weekend. He also aired the extension at least 7 foot out. It was badass.
So was Corey Walsh - I think he claimed the highest air on it - ripping a table at 8 feet out. Go check the highlights video for that!
Izac did a lot of tricks all night too, but when the Pull Back or Die challenge came out, he immediately set to work, trying to front bike flip it, which seemed impossible!
While Izac was trying that, dudes like Sean Gardener 3-whipped it, a bunch of gnarly dudes pull back and flipped, and Jonny Mackellar did pull back 360s both ways, as well as pull back, alley-oop 360s. Both. Ways. Termite is on another level.
Izac came through for another front bike flip attempt, this time, getting his feet on but looping out on the landing. He seriously went from looking like it would never happen, to now, the crowd and everyone were hyping him up.
Next attempt, he threw the bike out, and got it back under him, riding away. The crowd went bananas and it ended the night in such an epic way.
Day 2 is coming up next, but just want to take a second to mention that, a lot of crew helped to make ACT JAM what it was this year.
A massive thanks to:
The build/event crew led by Jason Watts, Mikhayla Robertson, Josh Dove, Tom Russell, Ellis Lloyd
The Seen Co led by Shane Darwin, providing 3 days of live stream
The media team, Cam Pianta and Troy Charlesworth
Photographer Kiowa Sioux, who shot all these epic photos.
Rhys Williams and the crew who helped dial in Hillfire trails
Pete Mackellar and Xave Koen for their help MCing
Anyone who helped paint, load/unload ramps, clean up, pack up - it means a lot!
ACT JAM 2025
Supported by the ACT Government's City Renewal Authority
