PaulSmith Zan Bergeron Apedog
Emores Petty Preston Levi TylerRembold Tammy Mccarley
This page: Kyle Davies, Pedal feeb to fakie. Denver, April 2017.
Cover: Dan Pedersen, Wallride. Denver, Oct. 2017.
All photos, words, and art by Joshua Lucero unless otherwise noted.
4 - Why the fuck?
6 - Transplanted with Emores Petty
8 - Dut with the DVDetails
10 - The world as seen through the viewfinder of Tyler Rembold
14 - Magwheeling through life with Clint Zabodyn
18 - BRRR Jam Gallery
- Still Thrills 33 - Coda
Ben Linschoten starting the rail train. Denver, Nov. 2017.
Back cover illustration: Preston Levi.
WHY. THE. FUCK
Kind of what I thought during the entire process of compiling this zine. Every day there was a mental hurdle to over come in order to convince myself it was a worthwhile endeavor. Producing print media almost seems backwards in this content-saturated age. Anyone can see some of the best bmx has to offer at any point, any day, delivered directly to their eye holes through millions of vibrant, backlit pixels with precision highdefinition quality. ANYTIME. Why the fuck would someone try to compete for those precious eyeballs with the slow, arduous process that is creating a printed publication? And even then, the world of bmx zines has been growing since the demise of Ride BMX and Dig’s print issues, becoming itself a saturated market. With an endless onslaught of high quality, original bmx content, why try to add to an already overflowing stream? The answer is as simple as it gets, I just love bmx. I have for 17 years, which to me seems crazy to think about. Not much else has stayed in my life so consistently. After riding for so long I have been itching to contribute back to bmx in some way and this seemed to line up with my particular skill set. It was only a short 2 and 1/2
years ago that I moved to Denver and started feeling out the scene and getting the idea that I wanted to try my hand at compiling a zine that covered the riding going on around me. Fast forward a couple of years and here I am, on my fourth rewrite of this intro, a little scatterbrained after inhaling as much bmx content as possible and trying to put the finishing touches on this rag you’re currently reading. I’ve been looking at everything from Challenger to The Albion to old Ride BMX and Dig issues for inspiration. What I’ve found, after taking in content from a plethora of talented riders and creators, is that I enjoy every aspect of bmx and seeing everyone’s unique take on the same old hunk of steel with two wheels. In that spirit, I would like to contribute something that is both a recorded snapshot of this scene and an inclusive collective that celebrates the joy that is shared by all bmxers. Every person that contributed shares the same passion for bmx as me and with this zine I’d like to share that with the rest of the community to, if anything, get you pumped to go out and pedal. Even if only to just have some fun and ward off impending old age. Hopefully, like a fine toilet wine, this project will only get better with age. Cheers.
Emores Petty, Tires. Denver, October 2017.
Local shredder and recent Colorado resident, Emores Petty, with a word on being the new kid in town:
I remember about two and a half years ago when I first came to visit Denver. I only knew one person that lived here, Dustin Hogan, and he himself was also a transplant from the south.
That first trip to Denver I stayed at Dustin’s apartment and he took me out riding and introduced me to other local riders. I met a couple really cool dudes, Trey, Tremaine, and Jantzen, who accepted me into the sessions and hyped me up to learn so many new tricks and to try and ride different disciplines (like big ramps and box jumps, they taught me back flips). I rode around Denver for two days with these guys and left to go back to college in Kansas. At that point Denver had a special place in my heart and I knew I had to get back. Little did I know I would be living in Denver two years later. I feel like it had to be God’s Plan.
the jam we had a work event and after there was a box of leftover snacks, chips, and fruit that I took home with me. I rolled up to the jam with that box dropped it in the middle of the crowded school lot where we were riding and told everyone all food was up for grabs. Too many people were stoked on the snacks. One dude called me the “jam dad.”
Early in the jam while still at the first spot of the day, Paco did a truckdriver off a roof. The hype was real, I was so stoked! The rest of the jam I carried that hype and tried tricks at every spot we went to, on every obstacle available. It was an amazing day!
Upon moving to Denver July 2017 (technically I moved to Lakewood), I would ride my local park Clement Park, where I met Mowgli, Micah, and some other local riders. I went to Clement everyday after work and on the weekends because it was close and that was slowly becoming my “home park” and favorite park. Every now and then I would branch out and go to Denver Skatepark where I would ride with Devin “Masterchef” Burks, Danny Camacho, and at the time a young Paco (Brian Quintana)! It was at D Park where I landed my first back flip on concrete and was challenged in so many ways by the young shredders. It was also at D Park where I met Mario Carrasco who runs the @ABQDNV Instagram account and who also does soooooo much to keep the BMX scene from Denver all the way to Albuquerque thriving and growing. Mario also told me about the ABQDNV street jam that was going down July 22nd.
The street jam was the first time I was able to fully dive into the scene and meet riders from around Denver and surrounding areas. The day before
That day I knew that I moved into a dope bmx scene. I truly feel blessed to be apart of the Denver bmx scene. I have experienced living where there is no bmx scene and I know others live their entire life wishing they could be apart of a BMX scene like the one we have here in Denver. From the first time I came to visit Denver and even to this very day, I have been accepted, supported, pushed, motivated, invited, promoted, complimented, hyped, etc. I am thankful for being able to build great friendships and connections here in Denver that I will have for life. Although every person, place, or thing has it’s cons; The Denver bmx scene and all those out here keeping it real for the scene made my experience diving into the Denver bmx scene one that I will never forget!
Shout out to Animal Bikes, Haro bmx and Remnant Street Wear for keeping me rolling around Denver on the bike! Huge THANKS to Josh Lucero for the opportunity to be a part of The Occasion Zine!
Much Love,
Emores Petty
P.S. Check out my YouTube channel (Emores Petty) and follow me on Insta (@emorespetty) to support and follow along on my many adventures!
DUT’SCOMP
If you haven’t seen this DVD by now, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Dustin Arp and all of the DUT’SCOMP boys put in some serious work in the streets and the finished product is a testament to the level of riding and camaraderie in the Denver scene. What went into the making of a modern scene video? We asked Dut himself to fill us in on the ins and outs of his latest release.
What is DUT’SCOMP?
DUT’SCOMP was a joke that turned into a full-length video. DUT’SCOMP (Dut’s Companions) is just homies riding bikes together and enjoying the good times.
How has the reception been for the DVD?
All the feedback I have received has been super positive. I feel like we have something special going on in Denver right now and this video has opened peoples eyes to that.
How was filming and editing this DVD compared to 2014’s “Good Day Bad Day”?
I would say this time around things went a lot smoother. I feel like my filming has developed a lot since GDBD and I organized the clips on my computer a little better this time.
How long did you spend editing? A month and a half.
What was the wildest thing that happened while filming?
For me personally it was breaking five ribs. That was a bummer. Other than that, I would have to say the day Paco (Brian Quintana) filmed his two enders. He was on one that day and all the homies were out to support him. Still can’t believe he got both those clips in one day. Kid is insane.
You’ve been on the bike a lot longer than most and still
managed a ridiculous part. What do you do to keep your riding at this level for so long?
I have an insane love for bmx. I love riding now more than I ever have. I know that I am not getting any younger so I try and ride to my full ability while I can. I would be lost without riding.
What are your favorite types of spots to film/ride?
My favorite spots to film at are any spots that the homies are excited about and ready to pop off on. Riding wise, my favorite spots are unique rails and any grind to grind setups.
The DVD has a pretty bangin’ soundtrack. What influences your music decisions for each part?
I am always on the lookout for songs I feel would be good for a video part. I had a lot of these songs picked out for a while and just tried to use the right song with the right rider. Sometimes the songs I think will be good don’t fit the riding, so you gotta try something else.
How does Ben (Linschoten) hop so high?
I don’t know man, he just has the gift.
Is Paco superhuman?
Yes I believe he is. Paco is one of those people that no matter what he chooses to do, he is good at it.
Any advice you can offer to new filmers? Have fun and do your own thing.
What can we expect from DUT’SCOMP in the future?
Might be dropping a few shirts this summer. As far as videos go, we might start working on another full-length summer of 2019.
Dustin
Arp. Tucson, AZ 2016.
Photo: Zan Bergeron
“KID”
When I first started riding with Tyler “Kid” Rembold, I was floored at the way he casually handled big setups. Then I discovered Kid’s instagram (@dtrembold for the curious) and saw his photo work in zines like Challenger and Pushitastop, watched some Word videos and quickly recognized how talented this individual is. After he submitted some photos for this zine, I knew I had to feature his work and what better way to do that than a Q&A. Ahead you’ll find a small sampling of Kid’s photography and a few words on one of his many talents. -JL
Age? 27
Where ya from? Louisville, KY.
How long have you lived in Denver? Just under a year.
Why did you move here?
I’d visited a few times before and loved it. The riding scene here is unique and thriving to say the least. My friend Rob DiQuattro had encouraged me to move here for a while, and a long time passed before I started to actually consider it. When I finished school, I knew that moving away from Kentucky would only get harder if I waited. Luckily Rob and Derek Cano were willing to let me come out and stay with them indefinitely, and that was the push I needed.
How did you get such a cool nickname? I was the youngest in the crew at the time. My boy Phil
Bossmeyer always called me that and it stuck pretty quickly.
What do you think about the state of bmx media these days?
I’m really stoked and proud of the state of BMX media as a whole right now. There’s some garbage out there, but it stands out and is easy to avoid. Even though most (all?) of the major magazines I grew up reading are dead, mad people who care about riding take it upon themselves to create quality, tangible media on a regular basis. I feel like BMX as a whole is being represented by the actual riders more than ever. I think the same thing applies for videos, and it’s a beautiful thing to be a part of. I don’t think most bike companies are making fulllength videos anymore, but the scenes themselves are making more videos than ever. The people who are doing the riding are the ones making zines and videos that will represent our culture and what we do. I don’t miss Slim Jim ads.
What are you looking for when you go to shoot a photo?
I’m a sucker for golden light and people having a good time.
I70 gas station. Nov. 2017. West Kansas
Favorite photographers/influences?
Jim Bossmeyer, Jeff Z, Scott Marceau, Matt Price, Mike Blabac, Dolecki, Ryan Navazio, Bob Scerbo, Joe Cox, Guts.
At what point in a session do you put down the bike and pick up the camera?
I’m usually more consumed with riding than shooting photos, but if I think something is about to happen that might make a nice photo or just needs to be documented then I’ll set the bike aside. I’ve had to adjust quite a bit to the scene here in Denver. So much incredible riding happens all the time here that it’s impossible to catch everything, although I’d like to. I try to remind myself of this pretty often so I don’t beat myself up too much for missing photogenic moments.
Favorite thing to shoot?
Riding and all of the circumstances that it entails are by far my favorite things to shoot. Although I dabble with other subjects sometimes, the primary reason I shoot photos is to remember the moment. Riding brings with it a hell of a lot of moments that are worth remembering. I’m also drawn to older or dying architecture. I think a lot about how quickly urban landscapes change and how in a hundred years our physical environment will be vastly different if not completely unrecognizable. I think photos are one of the few things that can give us an accurate peephole into a particular time and place.
Favorite person to shoot with?
Any of my friends, but maybe Phil the most. He’s down, patient, and enthusiastic, no matter how much work (or waiting for me to set up flashes) it takes to get a photo or clip.
Chillin at the spot. Feb. 2018. Denver.
Derek Cano, nose. Feb. 2018. Denver.
How did you happen on your first camera?
Left: Derek Cano. Wall ride. Denver, Feb. 2018. Right:Ben Lenschotin. Polejam 180. Denver, Oct. 2017.
Bottom: Derek Cano, way up. Denver, Feb. 2018.
I dabbled with a Hi8 Camera, a cheap point-and-shoot, and disposables when I was a kid, but I didn’t get my first “real” camera with adjustable settings until I was in high school. An electronics store near my school was going out of business and they had a Sony a200 on display that they were letting go for cheap. I donated plasma twice that week to get the last $75 I needed to buy that camera.
What’s in your current kit? What’s the best thing about your favorite piece of equipment?
Fujifilm Instax Wide 300
Sony A7rii
Rokinon 35mm f2.8
Rokinon 12mm f2.8 fisheye
Sony 55mm 1.8
Minolta Maxxum 7000
Minolta 50mm 2.8 Paul C Buff Cybersync receivers and trigger 2 cheap eBay off-brand flashes IPhone 6
2 Sony XR-160 dad cams Opteka 37mm .3x fisheye Opteka X-Grip Opteka LED light
Thoughts on photography in the social media age? I think photography right now is abundant, for better and for worse. The internet/social media holds an endless supply of amazing photos from a million photographers that I’ve never heard of. There’s a ton of trash out there too obviously, but it’s easily avoidable. The fact that almost every person in America has a pretty dialed point-and-shoot digital camera with them at all times is pretty crazy to me.
Kid has a knack for capturing moments. This is just a small collection of photos he sent through in no particular order.
Featuring Joe, Paul Smith, Rob DiQuattro, Jacob Hinton, Derek Cano, Ross Albreski, Chris Zidek, Wayne Westwood, and Erik Elstran.
MAG WHEEL GUY
Harvesting Spring water, Ward, CO
Photo: Tyler Rembold
Meeting Clint Zabodyn, aka THE Magwheel Guy, was a turning point in the way I view bmx and my approach to riding a bike. Clint just does his own thing, whether it’s gratuitous brake use in the streets, running a mag wheel, or making his own homemade goodies, you know it’s always a genuine endeavor. Clint grows some potent weed that he busts out at every session and even has his own strain as of this writing. He’s a guy that’s been around a few different scenes, staying low key and making moves, and has now made his way into the Denver scene where I’d say he’s found a pretty good fit. Always ready to impart any wisdom he can and more than willing to fufanu anything in sight, Magwheel Guy is a welcome addition to any session in the mile high city. -JL
Now a few beers and a smoke with the man himself.
Age: 32
Hometown: El Campo, TX
Years riding?
Since I was eight. So twenty-four
How did you get into bmx?
My brother, who was four years older and my cousin who was in between us and both of them got me into it. It was sick, he had a crew and it was all rich kids in town who had dope bikes but no one rode and we actually rode. So it was funny for a while. And of course we were the only people to ever stick with it.
Run me through the setups, how did you get to the magwheel, no pegs, rear brake?
I started riding like everyone else. I had front and back brakes and four pegs. I had mags on one of my first bikes. First couple of bikes actually. My first bike was a shitty department store
bike, but then I had a Dyno Comp splatter painted with GT mags. When I messed that up I got a Hoffman Big Daddy and I was hyped. Old school setup. Then I went left side pegs only with brakes forever, gyro forever. And then I was always gettin’ hurt. I was like, yo, I’m taking everything off, starting fresh. I did that in like 2005. Six or seven years ago I put brakes back on and they’re never coming off again. The mag has been on forever. Since about 2006. I was bored as shit because I hurt my knee. I couldn’t ride for like a month or two. I was like, I’m going to buy two mags and just put on front and back mags. They were cheap at Albe’s so I bought the set and the back wheel is whack. You can’t 180. It just flexes. The front flexes, but at least it doesn’t flex like having two. Naturally the back one went off after a month or two of mags and the front one just never came off.
What made you move from Austin to Denver?
Shit, Colorado’s dope. Best place. We had visited. We had been around, I had lived in Oregon. Wanted to make a move back to Seattle or somewhere back to the northwest but, we’ve always visited here throughout the years. It seems like one of the better places to live. You can ride almost year round, the weather is dope, the mountains are the best.
You’re always in the streets finding spots. What are looking for when it come to something to ride?
It’s a hunt. I mean, theres the obvious bank spots. Got to search for the bank spots. But, the first thing I hunt for is almost anything to hit my sprocket on. From there it’s anything to use my brakes. Any kind of weird thing sticking out of a bank. haha.
What’s it like riding spots here compared to back in Texas? It’s way different. There it seems like everyone’s out to fucking do something at the spot. Here it’s more heavy sessions. The spot just gets murdered by everybody ten times over. It’s different. There people are like “oh, I’ve ridden that spot a million times” or “oh, this and this and this has been done here”. It’s like, yo we don’t care here. It’s a little bit different mentality in Denver.
Top: Bump wall. Denver, June 2017. Below: Quick pre-sesh bowl. Aurora, CO. June 2017.
It’s 2018 and you have zero social media, what’s up with that?
It’s just one of those things, I’ve just never cared. I’ve been impartial my whole life, been around since people were doing Live Journal and Myspace. Even back then, I was like y’all people are spending so much time looking at other people’s shit and I just didn’t fucking care. Everyone knows a good chunk of people on that shit are full of themselves, but it is what it is.
I know you lurk instagram from time to time and have your own hash tag, but no accounts of your own.
Thank Charlie (Crumlish) for that. I lurk, or I used, not so much anymore, the BMXFU account. I’ve never felt the pressure or the want to do social media, you know. I see who I see and I talk to who I talk to.
You’ve made a few DVDs in your day, like Solid Steel and Fully Cocked. What’s your take on the DVD vs Youtube edit that is modern BMX?
I have certain things I want to do in DVDs and certain things that it’s like, yo I’m just out riding, fuck it. Anything where your homie pulls out the camera and it’s like I’m going to try this for a little bit, might go to war. Might not come out of it feelin’ too good. That’s the DVD clip. Like the one where it fuckin’ scares you. So that’s always gonna be the best thing to watch. The Youtube edit’s tight, you know. I’ve made so many videos both ways. I’ve made two DVDs and probably like 60 edits. Everything has its place but DVDs are sick. A DVD clip is that little extra.
You’re kind of the go to guy in the scene fro health conscious food. How did you get into healthier food and making your own kombucha and stuff?
My mom cooked for me growing up. My grandma did a lot of home cooking. I was always helping them growing up, so I always had hands on experience. I worked at a vegetarian food factory in Austin doing recipes, so I got really into cooking when I was about 24. Really went full throttle then, and
Top: Wall tap/ fufanu. Aurora, CO. Nov. 2017.
Photo: Tyler Rembold Right: Over and out. Denver, CO. June 2017.
from there I just kind of got into, like, taking all these weird powders and drinking all this crazy shit. I’ve just been making kombucha for a little while now and trying to drink the best water I can get.
With 24 years of riding under your belt, you’ve seen the ups and downs, people saying it’s on the decline. Why won’t bmx die?
It will never die, man. Everyone loves riding bikes. They’re just good to ride around for transportation and then you can just bump curbs, you know. You can be fuckin’ 50-years-old and still riding a cruiser and do that. You can still be shreddin’ when you’re old and that’s tight. Bmx has gone back to DIY and it’s way more local. You get to see each scene now instead of just what pro did this at this California spot. The local scenes are different now. Everyone is motivated to do shit.
Above: Wall ride. Denver, CO. Feb. 2018. Photo: Rembold Next page: Steep and sweet. Aurora, CO. June 2017.
BRRR BRRR BRRR JAM JAM JAM
Hot on the heels of the Dut’scomp premier, the ABQDNV’s BRRR Jam took to the streets of Denver, on what luckily turned out to be an unseasonably warm early-March Saturday. If you’ve been to a Denver jam before, you know there’s always a heavy crew rolling from spot to spot. BRRR Jam was no different. The usual heavy hitters were in attendance, a long with some new faces that were ready to take full advantage of the warm weather/classic Denver spot combo. Rolling about 50 deep, with at least a quarter of that being hung over from the premier the previous night, the jam kicked off at the infamous East High School E. One would think that a crew that big would attract the attention of the police, but midway through sessioning the first spot the cops stopped by for a friendly ‘hello’ before continuing on their way, none the wiser to the destruction happening at East. A few minutes later, ABQDNV’s Mario Carrasco called out the next spot and everyone got on their way, stopping traffic and taking videos on the ride. The next two spots were quite a treat, both of which have been used and abused by many a bmxer, but as it is with jams, new riders brought new moves to old spots. After everyone got their fill of spots and Mario had sufficiently showered riders in dollar bills, the jam wrapped up at the DIY where it got wild (check the BRRR Jam video from Elevated Perspective). BRRR Jam, like all Denver jams, brought out the best in the scene and stands as a testament to the brotherhood that is bmx. Enjoy these photos from the good times out in the streets and be sure to make it to all of this summer’s jams to keep the good times rolling.
Left: Mario Carrasco, can-can wallplant. Right: Devin Burks, footjammer.
Andres Velasco, rail ride to bar.
Derek Dorame, polejam to whip.
5Preston Levi going the distance.
Somehow Dan Nielsen stuck this tooth.5
Clockwise from top: Dallas Martinez and one hell of a fakie wall ride. Martinez post wild fakie wallride. Johnny Atencio rolling out of monster of a wallride 180, going in as he did at every spot. The jam all crewed up in the alley watching people go in and avoiding soccer moms running Saturday errands.
STILL THRILLS
Ryan Cramer, wall ride 180. Denver, CO. February 2018.
San Diego, CA. February 2018. Photo: Apedog
STILL THRILLS
Ross Albreski, Switch wall ride. Littleton, CO. January 2018.
The lineup. Denver, CO 2016. Photo: Apedog
Ryan Cibulski, lookback, Morrison, CO. 2017.
Photo: Zan Bergeron
Devin Burks, switch rail. Denver, CO. 2017. Photo: Preston Levi
STILL THRILLS
Top: Kyle Davies, rail hop. Denver, CO. April 2017. Below: Kyle with the pre-game pets.
Paul Smith, proper tuck. Littleton, CO. January 2018
Left/Right: Mike Meister, Lubbock, TX. December 2017. Photos: Paul Smith
STILL THRILLS
Top: Preston Levi, pedal feeb over the cake. Las Vegas, Nevada. January 2018. Photo: Tammy McCarley
Below: Derek Cano, gap to switch feebs. Denver, March 2018.
Mike Meister, pegs. Amarillo, TX. December 2017. Photo: Paul Smith
CODA
Being a bmxer, more specifically, one who mostly rides in the streets, one exposes themselves to far more strange and exciting situations than the average nine-to-five citizen. Case in point: this failed car robbery in a Denver suburb. While out with a small crew cruising from spot to spot, we found ourselves in the middle of this modern street drama. In the top photo, you can see the car theft victim riding in the back of a truck speeding towards his stolen vehicle with, what I can only assume, is a Good Samaritan by his side. As we neared the stoplight the drama quickly unfolded. The Good Samaritan and a woman (maybe another Good Samaritan?) surrounded the stolen car and smashed the windows, dragging the offender out onto the sidewalk (middle photo). Of course we slowed to a crawl so I could shoot out the passenger window as the woman and Good Samaritan performed a quick and dirty citizens arrest as they waited for the police. All of this
was going on as the owner of the stolen vehicle yelled at the perp from his now, busted vehicle (last photo). Without the constant drive to explore on my bike, I would have never witnessed this little piece of harsh reality go down in front of me. Getting out and pedaling has granted me small windows into the lives of complete strangers and everytime I step on that 20-inch machine I come away with a new understanding about the world around me. And for that I am grateful.
Founded January 2018
Lead Editor and Art Director: Joshua Lucero
Photo Editor: Joshua Lucero
Copy Editors: Joshua Lucero, Paul Smith, Elizabeth Carpio
Shitty Marketing: Joshua Lucero
Printing: Nicholas Schum
Contribute to The Occasion
Send 300dpi high-resolution images, stories, art, or writing to luceroj87@gmail.com
The Occasion will only publish content that has not been published elsewhere previously. This means instagram and your blog, dawg. Save that shit.
For ad inquiries please email Joshua at luceroj87@gmail.com
I love the Denver scene and would very much like to continue contributing to it in this small way. Anything that helps toward that goal is greatly appreciated, whether it’s buying ad space, content contributions, or letting me sell the zine at your spot. Thank you to everyone who picked up a copy or helped along the way.
“Fuck god damn social media!” - Clint Zabodyn
Cruising abandoned buildings with Ben, Derek, and Rob.
