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Above: Tyrone Edwards made this spot look like his second home.. Photo: Tyson JP

What a treat it is to ride something that you've helped build. That's the reason why we love trails so much - you put in the effort and you reap the rewards. 

This is exactly what's happened over the last couple of months, thanks to a dedicated crew of BMXers who love to build their own scene - quite literally - and 'creted up a new spot.. A full blown bowl, complete with spine and box jump, as well as plenty of other fun elements.

The spot is incredible, and far exceeds what most think of when they think of a DIY concrete spot. But more important than the actual transitions is what the spot stands for.. That you can truly make things happen if you dedicate yourself, your time, and do it yourself.

Who knows how long it will last, but a big thanks goes out to everyone who helped lay foundations, shovel concrete and make something that was just a conversation, into a reality. You know who you are.

A small jam was thrown to commemorate the build, the crew got some clips and Troy Harradine edited it up while I shot a few photos. Enjoy.. And hopefully this inspires you to get cracking on your own spot, big or small!  

- Tyson

Let the shaping commence.. Some of the crew making it happen while the 'crete was wet.

Weaponhead making the hip beg for mercy! He destroyed it! Photo: Tyson JP

Tyson letting the hands fly. Photo: Troy Harradine

Some crew made the trip down from Sydney to break in the spot and Chowgy was one of them. Hip hangin' over the hip. All style.. Photo: Tyson JP

Don't think for a second Jack O'Reilly is all icepicks and big rails.. Look at this table across the channel! Epic. Photo: Tyson JP

A few of the crew loungin' at the newest pool in town. Photo: Tyson JP

Riding street and finding spots is a good time, especially with some crew around - so we thought we'd get everyone together to ride some street in the city.

A few of the team dudes are always cruising the city and often talk about getting more frequent street rides happening. We caught word of regular BMX street rides happening in Melbourne with the Focalpoint crew, so we took some incentive from those guys. 

Canberra city has got spots too, plus who knows what we'll find.

Meet up at Civic skatepark and we'll cruise some spots from there. We'll take some photos and maybe get some clips.. See ya there!

Jack O'Reilly riding one of the spots Canberra has to offer.. Photo: Brendan Boeck

Jack and that crazy gap to nose wheelie. Raine Turnbull photo

Jack O'Reilly was relentless while filming for the Back Bone Video. Jack went out and worked his ass off finding spots and filming gnarly stuff, weekly for 18 months, and it shows in his part. Big rails and heavy tricks, filmed almost exclusively in Canberra.

We're stoked to have Jack bring in the final section of the Back Bone video and he is a long way from done finding gnarly spots and shutting them down.

If you haven't checked out Jack's top fives which features some amazing photos during the shooting of the video, go hit it now.

Filmed and edited by Brendan Boeck with additional filming by the crew.

Above: Van Homan, rail fufanu at the banks. Screenshot taken from 'the best video part of all time' - Criminal Mischief. The video came out in 2001, which puts this clip at 16+ years old.

This post is something that is almost too weird to comprehend - if you don't ride BMX that is. How a small, steep, banked piece of concrete with a railing on top can be so revered.. especially when it sits within a housing complex that most citizens wouldn't dare step foot in (unless you happen to be one of those citizens who is trying to score hard drugs). 

The fact is, that the bank setup at Bega flats has played a big part in BMX for almost two decades and as of right now, thanks to city development and gentrification, has been demolished and is no longer.

BMX riders from Canberra and afar have found themselves here at the Bega flats banks at some point, as the spot sits across the road from the city skatepark and you can't help but see it as you're sitting on the deck of the mini ramp. Most of the time you're pretty quickly greeted by irrate junkies and a bad vibe, so many Canberrans don't count this as a go-to for a session, but nevertheless, locals like Pete Majoinen, Michael Puniard and Zac Miner (among others) have stamped their mark on the spot over the years.

Zac Miner in Troy Charlesworth's Epic Invasion video.

For travelling BMXers eager to film, the Bega flats bank been host to some of the greatest to ever do it. Mike Aitken, Dennis Enarson, Ronnie Napolitan, Josh Harrington - as well as Van Homan scoring two clips at the bank for his Criminal Mischief section (AKA the best section of all time).  

Dennis Enarson, overpedal to barspin in the Haro Australia video in 2010.

Mike Aitken, pegless icepick to fakie from Sentenced to Life.

The Bega flats complex have been torn apart in the last few weeks and it was only a matter of time until the bank itself was going to be no more, so Jack O'Reilly and I made it a point to get in there, shoot some photos and take one last ride on Sunday. It was a strange experience, it's the quietest it's ever been in there riding the spot and to be honest, probably the longest I've ever been there. While the trick we shot was far from the most progressive, it is a crazy feeling to look at it even just days later and know that it will be impossible to do that again.

The demolition of the Bega Flats bank is a reminder of just how good the experience of searching and riding spots is; find it while you can, ride it while you can, take nothing for granted and enjoy the memory.

- Tyson 

The bank as it stood on Sunday 25/6/17. No rails and no sub-rail.

The banks, this morning.

Downside whip, last time ever. Jack O'Reilly photo.

The big hanger to drop on Northbourne, Canberra. Photo Nick Gascoine.

Jack O'Reilly is one dedicated dude. Not just when it comes to riding, but with everything in life. The dude has laser focus. He is determined. I mean, how else could someone commit to going out and filming gnarly big rails consistently without having focus like Jack does?

While everyone else was tripping over themselves, trying to pull together their part in the Back Bone video when the deadline was looming, Jack had been putting in work consistently for 18 months prior, with what he had to do next already planned in his head. And he'd get it done. All this while working 5, sometimes 6 days a week as a plumber.

One of the gnarliest street riders we've seen, but also the dude who'll come up to the trails now and again and get through the line first go. He also has fine taste in BMX, music and other things in life. Get a glimpse into a little of what makes Jack tick below.

Places on the bike:

• ANU
• UC
• Melbourne
• Sydney
• Hastings

This rail doesn't get messed with too often.. In fact, I don't know of anyone apart from Jack doing anything but a double peg down it. Jack, big feeble on a narrow 16 stair. Jack Gruber Photo.

Places off the bike:

• Broulee
• Byron
• Crescents head
• Milton
• Back Bone

Jack with one of the most serious nose wheelies ever. You have to gap out and the ledge is that weird length that doesn't allow you to half ass the nose and correct into position. You just have to jump straight into the position and if you flip, you're falling ten foot. Raine Turnbull photo.

Music to ride to:

• To be honest, I find it hard to listen to music whilst riding... soooo none.

Music to hang to:

• Beast of Bourbon - Psycho
• Sydney City Trash - Whiskey In The Sun
• Nick Cave - Knockin' On Joe
• Drunk Mums - Dirty Birmy

Gnarly skinny ledge ride, Kingston. Nick Gascoine photo.

Bike parts:

• Division hub guard
• Eclat Bondi rims are hard to beat
• Odyssey Trailmix pedals
• Division C bars
• Division Lanark frame

Tricks:

• Over crooks
• Nollie ice
• A Ty Morrow oppo 3 or tail whip
• No footer to table

Dived into the overcrooks, UC. Jack Gruber photo. 

Riders:

• Calvin Kosovich
• Brian Kachinsky
• Ty Morrow
• All the backbone dudes; Russell, Tyso, Jack, Zac, Jeff etc etc

BMX memories:

• Traveling around Europe with Rob Pak
• Division trip to Brisbane
• Most recent trip to Melbourne
• Back Bone trip to Kempsey
• Back Bone trip through country Victoria