leastmost.com interview

Rob Tibbs with leastmost recently did an interview with me and I'm really psyched on the finished product. Lots of cool insider info about the early years of the Hoffman empire, my ongoing battle with my knees and my life now. Thanks Rob and Steve Crandall for hooking this up. Check it our here: leastmost.com

OS BMX Reunion Wrap Up

Thanks to everyone who attended and volunteered, another amazing event! Special thanks to the staff at Woodward West, John Povah, Xavier Mendez, Dan Hubbard, Eyerus, Jeff Slavik, Ron Plumlee & my wife and daughter who gave up many hours of family time so I could organize the event. (Photo: Jared Souney)

Here's links to some of the coverage of the event:

Jared Souney

Ride BMX

Woodward West

ESPN/Action

FatBMX

Alvin Mullins photos

Josh Klavir photos

OS BMX Reunion Check-in, Schedule and Rules

ARRIVAL AND CHECK-IN INSTRUCTIONS

• Everyone must check-in at the Lodge, not the camp office. Will be required to fill out a waiver and will receive a wrist band which you will need all weekend to have access to camp.

• The invite list is closed and you must be on the invite list to attend, no guest please, the event is at capacity. This is a private event and is not open to the public. Sorry if you didn't receive an invite but walk ups or party crashers will be turned away.

• If you're not staying in Woodward lodging there is a $15 per person/per day fee. You will be able to ride and attend all the festivities.

SCHEDULE

Friday:

• Arrival & check-in after 2:00pm at the Lodge (across the covered bridge, top of the hill), don't check in at the camp office. Afternoon and evening riding session.
• Woodward West Lodge Lounge bar will open around 8:30pm. No food at the Lodge Lounge but there are a few decent places to eat in Stallion Springs. My plan is to eat at the Italian place called Papa's around 5:30, ride until 8:30 and then head to the Lodge Lounge.
• Hanger is open until 11:00pm

Saturday:

• All day session from 9:00am-dusk, the Hanger will be open until 11:00pm
• Special surprise screening at 7:00 and 8:15 in the theater at camp
• Party Saturday night at the Lodge Lounge - Woodward West doors open at 9:45pm-1:00am

Sunday:

• Check out of Rooms by 11:00am Riding areas open from 9:00am-1:00pm
• Event ends 1:00

RULES

Woodward's rules are pretty simple, but no exceptions.

1. No minors unless accompanied by a parent. You can't bring your nephew, niece, kids friends or neighbors kids. This is a tough one, and apologize in advance if this situation occurs, minors will not be allowed at camp without their parent.
2. Helmet, elbow and knee pads required, and will not be supplied so bring your own.

• *NOTE* No on-site medical will be provided, this is just like any other backyard session...except its Woodward with a bunch of old dudes who will be taking a lot of Advil on Monday.

Thanks for your corporation and understanding.

Reunion update

I had to cut off the invited guest list at 230+ confirmed attendees.

If you haven't sent in your meal form they are due by Monday, March 29th. Email me at my gmail address if you need a meal form.

Also, if you're a confirmed attendee not staying in Woodward housing there is a $15 per person/per day fee. You will be able to ride, attend the other festivities including the party on Saturday night.

T-Shirts will be available at the event for $20, proceeds go towards the party on Sat. night. Thanks to Matt Brady and Renee Lawter at Eyerus for the design and production!

Old School BMX bike show on Saturday

John Povah is helping put together a old school BMX bike show on Saturday during the reunion. Please contact me if you are attending and would like to bring a few bikes from your collection. Thanks John!

Scroll down for more reunion info.

OS BMX Reunion attendees

Crazy (partial) list of old school super heros again this year, updates in blue.

Michael Dominguez

Eddie Fiola Bryan Blyther Scot Breithaupt Dave Nourie Ron Wilkerson Mat Hoffman Dennis Mccoy Joe Johnson Pete Augustin Oscar Gonzalez Hugo Gonzalez Robert Castillo Woody Itson Donovan Ritter Marc McGlynn Steve McCloud Kevin Martin Stephan Prantl Rich Sigur Todd Lyons Lee Reynolds Tony Murray George Smoot Gale Webb Joel Alamo Chris Moller

Robbie Miranda

Keith Mulligan

Alan Foster Andy Shohara

Jay Eggleston

Ben Ward

Xavier Mendez

Mark Gray

Sean McKinney

Steve Blackely

Wade Nelson

Albert Ocampo

Jared Souney DJ Greyboy Mike Krnaich Danny Schow Keith Mulligan Ron McCoy Warren Marchese Marty Schlisinger Dino DeLuca Eddie Roman Brad Blanchard Christian Van Hanja Dog Randazzo Steve Broderson Martin Aparijo Josh White Scroll down for more reunion info

The 2nd Old School BMX Reunion info

Dates: Friday, April 2nd - Sunday, April 4th

• Friday: Check in after 2:00 PM
• Saturday: Session all day, special surprise movie screening Sat. afternoon, party at the Woodward lodge Sat. night.
• Sunday: Session until 1:00, event ends

Where: Woodward West, Stallion Springs, CA

Who: This event it invite only. Riders must be 32+ years of age, have run tuff wheels and vector bars, know how to do a trackstand and who invented the tailwhip air. Attending riders kids*, spouse, girlfriends, lady friends are welcome and exempt from the 32+ age requirement. BMX is already too much of a dude-fest.

*All minors must be accompanied by be their legal guardian, no friends of your kids or neighbors kids. Please understand we have limited space.

Riders who attended last year are all invited, please respond by March 1st. After March 1st I will start considering riders on the attendee waiting list. Contact me for a invite request at: steven.swope@gmail.com

Fee for invited riders not staying in Woodward lodging is $15 per day/per person.

Housing:

- Hilltop rooms are $20 per person, per night. UPDATE: Hilltop is full

- Lodge at Woodward West rooms start at $90 per night. UPDATE: The Lodge is full

For Tehachapi hotels check here

Meals:

Woodward was kind enough to come up with a great option for meals during the event. Please contact me to receive the Woodward meals reservation form at: steven.swope@gmail.com

If you don't order Woodward meals your food choices are limited to Stallion Springs (1 min. drive/2 choices) or Tehachapi (25-30 min. drive/several choices).

2010 Old School BMX Reunion Weekend -April 2 - 4

I'm happy to announce the dates for the 2010 Old School BMX Reunion are Friday, April 2 - Sunday, April 4 and will be hosted by Woodward West (map).

Must be 33 or older to attend. Anyone who attended the 2009 reunion will automatically receive an invite.

More details soon.

Follow this link to coverage of the 2009 OS BMX Reunion.

Pay it Forward - support the Athlete Recovery Fund

Check this out from the ARF...

Want to contribute to the Athlete Recovery Fund? Ball Park Franks has stepped up and agreed to donate $1 each time this video is viewed in it’s entirety, up to $100,000. So forward this video to your friends, family and everyone you know and you will help raise money for the Athlete Recovery Fund. Special thanks to Ball Park Franks, Alli, Alliance of Action Sports and TransWorld Media for help in making this happen.

X Games week

X Games week (really the past month) is a crazy one around the Swope household. I've been involved with X Games in one way or another for all 15 years. First as a BMX rider, then organizer, now TV announcer and my wife is the director of public relations for X Games. Combine this with our very active toddler, several friends in town for the event and the general mayhem that accompanies XG and it's non-stop for the Swopes to say the least.

I'm very appreciative of everything BMX and the X Games have helped me accomplish and allowed me to experience. The TV announce role is especially important to me because of how difficult, complex and important it is for BMX and the riders in the event. I hope I do BMX justice...our riders and BMX in general deserves all the recognition and appreciation we can garner from the biggest stage in BMX and action sports. To all the riders competing; kick ass, have fun and keep it rubber side down!!!

Worlds 2009

I'm headed to the IBMXFF World Championships today. It's truly one of the best events in Freestyle BMX year after year, great time with great people. As an added bonus the Haro legends are putting on demo this year...a can't miss!

American BMX Pros, support this event with your attendance. The BMX Worlds should be as heavily attended by the best riders in BMX as any of the big network events. It's our chance to show the world we can support ourselves, and through our own interpretation of a massive BMX event. The parties surrounding the Worlds are reason enough to make the trip!

American BMX media, you should heavily cover this event (every year) for the same reasons listed above.

BMX'ers everywhere, you need to go to the Worlds at least once, if not to compete then just for fun and support the event.

Check out some of my favorite photos from the 2005 Worlds in Prague on my flickr page.

Check out the Words live webcast on freecaster.tv

Shoots Brah!

Check out the latest project from good friend Big Eyeland and S&M Bikes.

International Old School BMX Reunion & Show

Steve Brothers, Alvin Mullins and the guys over at os-bmx.com are again organizing the International Old School BMX Reunion & Show.

I've heard 100+ entries for the old school BMX bike show. Dave Voelker and Dan Hubbard are bringing their ramp/show set-ups and several old school pros will be in attendance. I can't wait so see the Lord Voelker Super Finish on his own ramps! This event is a can't miss for OS BMX'ers if you are in the Southern CA area.

Video of last years event click here.

When: Saturday, June 6, 2009

Where: Peck Park, Arcadia California

Time: 8:00 am - 3:30 pm

Mike Vincent benefit auction on ebay

Odyssey put together a Mike Vincent benefit auction on ebay. Help out a great guy with a much needed eye surgery.

Read about Mike here.

Auction items include several signed by Mat Hoffman and a new complete bike from Sunday/Odyssey.

OS BMX Reunion video

Dave Metty, director of Woodward's digital media program and Woodward Films, posted a nice piece he put together from the reunion, check it out here.

Thanks again to everyone who volunteered and attended. I've never received so many thank you notes and positive comments from any event I've been involved with. It's on next year for sure!

Remaining shirts and poster prints for sale

Hello everyone,

I have a few remaining t-shirts and several of the unsigned poster prints for sale on ebay. Click here for a link to my items. Proceeds from the sale of these items go towards the reunion event expenses.

The posters signed by everyone who attended (THANKS!) the reunion are being mounted now. The signed/mounted posters will be sold at a later date. 100% of the proceeds from the signed/mounted posters will go to BMX charities including Mike Vincent, Stephen Murray, Athlete Recovery Fund and Eddie Roman's son who was recently born with a birth defect.

OS BMX Reunion media

Great weekend for sure! Links to media from the event:

FatBMX

Mike Ardelean post on Defgrip

Matt Brady flickr slideshow

Michael Wikan flickr slideshow

Jared Souney

Defgrip

VitalBMX

Alvin Mullins photo gallery

Steve Blackey photo gallery

Dennis Dowling

Brian Tunney pre-event post on ESPN.com/action

Richard Bailey photo gallery

Aaron Foley photo gallery

ESPN video report

OS BMX reunion weekend info quick links

Woodward & event Rules and Regs., check in info click here

Event Schedule click here

Lodging is sold out but click here for hotels in Tehachapi

Woodward lodging check in info if you already have a confirmed reservation click here

List of confirmed attendees click here

See you this weekend, going to be great!

ESPN Action Sports-Brian Tunny Blog

Brian Tunny asked me to do an interview about the Old School Reunion for his blog on ESPN/actionsports.com Read it here... thanks for the kind words Brian!

Woodward Rules and Regulations

Woodward's rules are pretty simple, but no exceptions, period, so don't even think of asking.

1) EVERYONE needs to check in at the Woodward West Lodge front desk to sign Woodward's waivers. Everyone includes kids, spouses, girlfriends etc. even if they are not riding/skating. After you check in and sign the required paperwork you will receive a wristband. No wristband, no access to camp, no riding, no exceptions. If you are caught riding without a wristband you will be asked to leave.

2) No guests unless you/they have received an invite confirmation from me. This is a private event and not open to the public. The event is at capacity and I can't add any additional guests or send additional invites, unless it's Mike Buff or Brian Deam. I apologize to anyone who waited until the last min.

3) No minors unless accompanied by a parent. You CAN NOT bring your nephew, niece, kids friends or neighbors kids. This is a tough one, and apologize in advance if this situation occurs, minors will not be allowed at camp without their parent.

4) Helmet, elbow and knee pads required, and will not be supplied so bring your own.

No on-site medical will be provided, this is just like any other backyard session...except its Woodward with a bunch of old dudes who will be taking a lot of Advil on Monday.

If myself or Woodward staff (and hopefully I can count on some of you) catch anyone breaking the rules, they will be asked to leave. Sorry for the strict enforcement but please respect Woodward rules and polices or we may not be allowed back. Thanks for your corporation and understanding.