Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #1

Dylan Stark took a pounding trying to roll away from a tailwhip 180 at the Boozer Memorial Jam last weekend.  While he was punishing his body, someone in his posse got this footage. It's the first edit I've seen up from the weekend. 

Roughly 7 years after being paralyzed in a racing accident, Sheep Hills local from the earliest days, and all around character, Boozer Mike Brown died from his continuing health issues in August.  This Halloween Jam was originally planned to be the next Boozer Jam.  Since Mike passed on, it turned into the first annual Boozer Mike Memorial Jam.  In a series of blog posts, here are my photos, some videos from YouTube, and a few words about Mike, and the jam.  This is what BMX is all about in my book.  It was a great day at Sheep Hills.  I think Mike would have been stoked on it.

Drawing I did for Boozer Jam 2016.  But I got it to Mike late, so he ended up with it.  Josh Stricker with some classic one handed table style at Sheep.

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #2

My old buddy from the one Vision skateboard tour I drove the rig for, Chris Gentry, rappin' about Boozer Jam 2014.



Boozer Jam 2013 edit.

1080 at Boozer Jam 2014



Best Trick Jam, Boozer Jam 2016

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #3

 This is my Sharpie art take on a photo Sean Duncan loaned me of Boozer Mike Brown, clicking an X-up, over the Boozer line he built at Sheep Hills.  Sheep Hills was the most influential set of trails in the early years of the 1990's, as BMX dirt jumping evolved into its own sport.  Mike was a hardcore part of the Sheep Hills scene from the earliest days of the trails.  He was also a lifelong BMX racer as well.  He didn't jump the highest, or win double A pro.  But he was an integral part of the BMX scene that produced some of the best  jumpers in BMX history.

What jumpers?  In the earliest days of Sheep Hills, P.O.W. House (Pros Of Westminster) riders like Dave Clymer, Chris Moeller, John Paul Rogers, Alan Foster, Brian Foster, Lawan Cunningham, and Jay Lonegran were some of the top riders at Sheep, among others.  Following them were the guys who became the first generation to start jumping at Sheep as kids, the Sheep Hills Locals (SHL) posse, including Ryan "Barspinner" Brennan, Sean Butler, Josh Stricker, Freddie Chulo, and Jason and Adam Pope, Jason "Timmy" Ball, Neal Wood, and a few others.  A bit later Cory Nastazio, Chris Duncan, Stephen Murray, and Christophe Leveque were locals at Sheep.

During all that time, and for many years after, Boozer Mike was a part of the scene, riding, jumping, and putting in plenty of shovel time, keeping the trails in good shape.  He was a long time part of the riding scene of some of the best jumpers ever.

Several years ago, Mike had a freak accident while racing, and was paralyzed from the waist down.  That's a big hit to take when you're a BMXer.  Mike lived with his mom in the years after, money was tight, life was tough, and began to have health issues, and they progressed over time.  There were a few Boozer Jams over the years, to get Mike back out to the trails for a day, and to raise money to help Mike and his mom, Cathy, pay the bills.  This jam, last Saturday, was supposed to be a Halloween Boozer Jam.  But Mike succumbed to his health issues, and died in August.

So the first annual Boozer Mike Memorial Jam was held to honor Mike, October 26, 2019.  It was to raffle off some goodies to raise money to help Cathy with funeral, and other expenses, and to have a great day of BMX riding.  It was hot and sunny, 300 or 400 people showed up, and it was just a great day of BMX riding hanging out, and spectating.  The vibe was good and fun, the riding was phenomenal, and everyone seemed to have a great time.  I think Mike would have been stoked on the day.  It was a day that showed the best of what BMX is all about.  Ride In Peace, Mike. 

 "Boozer is my homeboy" T-shirt for sale.

 Boozer Mike S&M shield stickers for sale.

 Boozer Brown Ale stickers for sale.

Jason German, who we have called Dogger as long as I can remember, was the man on the mic, and a driving force to make this jam happen.  Sean Duncan and several others worked with him to provide a good day for riders, old and young, and all the spectators who showed up.  Big props to Dogger and the whole crew for all their work.  Make American Bikes Again.

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #4

 The one close up photo that came out for me, S&M rider Jesse Gregory (@lilibmxwolf on Instagram) with a one footer Hannah (or maybe a griz air on dirt) type thing over Titties.  That's the name of the jump, OK, I'm not trying to be a creepy old dude, this jump has been called Titties for 25 years or so.  It's a BIG jump, the main style jump at Sheep these days.  Jesse was shredding all day long, like always.

 This was the man of the day, and winner of the best trick, even with Dylan Stark and Hucker in the mixer.  Tucker Smith fucking rips on dirt.  There's no other way to say it.  He was tearing up all day long, and pulling huge cliffhangers, and a bunch of other variations.  I saw him nail big 3's, a 360 whip, and several other variations.  I missed the peak of his cliffhangers every try, every time he would peak with his hands way up away from the bars, and only his toes on the bars.  Freakin' insane.  The cool part about this photo was the random luck of the guy with the Tucker Tire T-shirt in the foreground.  I put this on Facebook, and Tucker says he actually buys tires from that shop.  Too funny. 

I grew up in Ohio, and sledding every winter made for some fun times as a kid.  There's nothing quite like bombing down a snowy hill on a big toboggan with your friends.  But this is Southern California, the snow here is way up in the mountains, and the only toboggan you're going to see here is one like this at sheep Hills.  Classic style.

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #5

 Way back in 1992 or 93, Mike Brown, who already had earned the nickname Boozer, built this line of jumps.  That's when Sheep Hills was just getting built up into the basic layout that still exists now, 28 years later.  Since this was Mike's signature line, it got named Boozer.  Boozer Mike's signature jump was a bow legged X-up, so Dogger and Sean and crew held  bow legged X-up contest over the last jump of the Boozer line.  I shot these photos during the practice for that. 

The funny part was, a several of the younger riders weren't familiar with the term "bow legged," and we had to explain it with them.  "Do and X-up and get your knees way out to the sides."  So here are several of the bow legged X-up styles.

 S&M's Jesse Gregory, the only woman in the contest, was the first to get the idea, and was doing the best ones in practice.  But then a couple of the guys figured the trick out, and edged her out in the contest runs. 

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #6

 Epic Leary over the hip that heads into the side of the Titties landing.

 Here's a guy flipping out over Titties.  But then, most of us guys do.

 Great MTB style over the hip.  Bummed this photo washed out, because these just looked so cool.  Only one I got a decent shot of, and the photo quality sucks.  Oh well.

 Kicked out crossed up style over the hip.

 Big 360 over the big jump.

For years, there weren't many girls at Sheep, except the occasional girlfriend du'jour of a rider.  Now girls are riding, little girls like this one, and ones that seriously shred, like S&M's Jesse Gregory.  Kinda cool that it's not a boys only game these days.  Male, female, old, young, grey alien or unicorn, if you want to ride, go ride.  This girl could be a major shredder some day, you never know.

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #7

 Bad photos of the best trick contest at the end of the day.  Riders included Mike "Hucker" Clark, who pulled his first front flip over Titties.  Dylan Stark was also hucking it, an Tucker Smith was shredding all day, and he ended up the best trick winner.  For some reason I don't understand, all my photos of best trick sucked, soft and fuzzy, like when Playboy and Penthouse photographers used ot rub Vaseline on the camera lens for photos back in the 1970's, to get the weird effect.  But these shots were so rad, I had ot share them anyhow.  Upside down, corked out 3.

 Turndown 360.  Kuh-LICK!

 Decade.

 Sideways, seat grab no footer.

One hand, on footed corked out bail thing.

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #8

 Up top, Boozer Mike's favorite trick, an X-up, over the Boozer line that Mike first built in 1992 or so.  Also one of my favorite photos of the day. 

Just above, I backed up, standing between two jump line runways, to get somebody jumping this gap over the pump track line.  Instead, I got this epic shot.  When you come to the trails to ride, this is what you don't want to do.  Dead Sailor to downtube hang.  Hey, we've all done it, but not on a jump this gnarly in most cases.  Below is the next shot.  He got out of it well, and walked without serious pain.  That's always good.  When you survive it, it's kind of cool when there's a photo.  Like that Halloween meme that's been on Facebook this week... Willie Makit?  Betty Wont.

 Back in the day, these lines were called French, Office, and something else.  Now the pump track line goes sideways between the first sets of jumps, and these jumps look way more professional and manicured than way back when.  Old School double A pro, P.O.W., and another of my old roommates, Alan Foster, was flowing through here like it was nothing.  Alan's still got it. 

Most riders weren't, this is still a serious set of lines, and not many others were jumping them.  Alan also donated one of his old Schwinn factory uniforms for the raffle.  Serious BMX history folks.  By the way, Alan had a little brother who was a pretty good rider as well.  Damn, what was his name?  Oh yeah, it's this guy.  He was an Sheep Hills local as well in the early 1990's.

 Freddie Chulo's slightly heavier stunt double was there all day as well.  You know, in case he was needed.  Classic Boozer Brown Ale T-shirt in effect.

 There was a skid contest, judged on distance plus style.  The winning skid was like 60 feet... one handed.  This kid jumped in and gave it his best as the last guy in the skid contest.  Good try for a little dude.  And not one adult was yelling at him to "PEDAL, PEDAL, PEDAL!"

View from the cheap seats.  This is where I sat down when my fat ass got tired (I did walk to Sheep from the bus stop at Brookhurst and PCH).  Just liked the way this looked with the S&M logos lit up in the canopy, and the riders jumping in the background. 

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #9

 This jump, now the main big style jump at Sheep Hills, is called Titties.  So don't get mad at me parents when you read "Titties" or "Tits" in the rest of these posts.  Not sure who this rider is, and I missed the peak of the trick, like I usually do shooting with a phone.  But here's a no footed seat grab over Titties.  Make up your own joke there you dirty minded fool.  Boozer banner on the landing in fill effect.

 BMX dirt jumping is a fringe activity born out of Generation X.  That makes the Booze Mike Memorial Jam an Old School Gen X counter culture event.  And that means big, old guys, on a smokin' hot day, in black T-shirts. 

 Not just a locals only event, there were real, live serious photographers there all day.  So, unlike my blog posts here, there will be really good photos of the event somewhere soon.

 Lifelong dirt jumper, S&M Bikes warehouse manager, and my onetime roommate, Jason "Timmy" Ball.  When he first showed up in Huntington Beach, as an 18-year-old young buck from Colorado, Jason was introduced to BMX industry legend, McGoo.  The story I heard later that night was that McGoo said, "Jason, there's too many fucking Jasons around here, from now on you're code name Timmy."  That was about 1993.  Twenty five plus years later, he's still called Timmy.  But then, I'm still The White Bear.  Timmy got a lot of riding in Saturday, as always.

 I just liked this helmet sticker assemblage.

 Listen up fuckers...

Young, old, little wheels, big wheels... whatever.  Just ride.

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #10

 I'm an old Has Been industry guy, I'm fat, I don't have and I don't have bike right now.  But I'm a guy who has been wandering by Sheep since before it was even there.  I used to jump the jumps up where the condos are now, before Sheep.  I didn't know Mike near as well as the hardcore jumpers from Sheep.  But I knew him.  My reason for heading down there was to make a small contribution to the cause, in my own way.  My Sharpie are has gotten pretty decent, so I drew this Mike Brown Bow Legged X-up Ale bottle, and I mounted it on a skate deck, the new direction my work is taking.  This is Mike mom Cathy with the deck. 

 While I'm not riding now, I'll get there again, and I spent 20 years of my life riding BMX bikes nearly every day.  People were stoked on the drawing, and I was stoked to help the cause a little in the way I could.  And also, it was just a damn fun day to hang and watch a few old riders, and a whole bunch of the younger ones, bust out and shred.  It was an epic BMX day.  I'm sure Mike was stoked, looking down from his perch, wherever that is. 

I think this one of the bikes that got raffled off later on.  The three raffles for $1 a ticket, $5 a ticket, and $20 a ticket (for Mike's rebuilt bike, and much to my surprise, my art deck).  A lot of people won amazing prizes for a small price of a raffle ticket. 

Boozer Mike Memorial Jam 2019- #11

 Sheep Hills, located in the sketchy oil lands between Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach California.  Personally, I first walked over wobbly rocks across the creek, and back a little rabbit trail that headed into the brushy lands in 1988, looking for a mini-ramp some of the skaters of Vision Skateboards told me existed.  I never did find that ramp.  But I walked through the 10 to 15 foot high, small, brushy trees, down a skinny trail, hoping I wouldn't step on a rattlesnake.  About 100 yards back on that trail, the trees suddenly opened up into an open area.  My first thought was, "Man, this would be an awesome spot to build jumps." 

Back then, in the 80's, the main problem with building jumps was that whoever owned the land would usually plow them within months, or maybe a couple of years.  There weren't that many BMXers, and we tried to find little chunks of land that nobody wanted to build jumps on.  Back then, most jumps were small, a foot high, two feet high, or a ditch jump where we'd roll in and flyout the other side to flat.  We'd find a little piece of land, build a few jumps, and ride them while we could.  Most places (in Idaho and then California, for me), we'd show up one day, and the jumps would be gone.  So when I saw this big open meadow, in this piece of bottom land nobody cared about, it seemed perfect to build jumps. 

I actually went to the HB swap meet the next weekend and bought a shovel.  While I worked in Costa Mesa, up on the mesa above where Sheep Hills is, I lived off of Warner Avenue, on the opposite side of Huntington Beach, so I built up a flyout jump in the Bolsa Chica wetlands, close to my apartment. 

In 1989, I rode my bike down 19th street hill after work, past the little skate ditch at the bottom of the hill, and through the wide area that leads to Sheep Hills.  I rode right by, and would hit a whole series street spots on the ride home.  There was a little tabletop jump by the creek, I'd hit that sometimes.  But I never got a shovel to that area. 

Two years later, hanging out with the P.O.W. House guys, they told me there were some new jumps in Costa Mesa.  I rode down there with them, and this new spot, Sheep Hills, was exactly the spot I had walked into a couple years earlier.  The jumps had been around a year or so then.  That was when the three berms were the set up, before most of today's trails had been built.  On any given night back then, a dozen or so riders might have been there.  It was a great place to build jumps.  But it still blows me away that Sheep Hills still exists 29 or 30 years later.  These photos are a look around at the scene as I walked into Sheep for the first annual Boozer Mike Memorial Jam last Saturday, October 26th, 2019. 

 Mike was one of the earliest riders and builders at Sheep, and an integral part of the scene.  I didn't know him near as well as the riders hanging and riding every day.  I'm a Has Been freestyler, who would roll by now and then and hang and hit whatever little jumps existed, if any.  Sheep Hills played a huge roll in BMX dirt jumping becoming an actual sport.  The P.O.W's, the SHL crew, the guys like Cory Nastazio and Chris Duncan, many of the most influential dirt jumpers of the 90's and early 2000's rode at Sheep or were locals.  During all that time, Boozer Mike was one of the guys there all the time.  So it was cool to hear about this jam happening, to honor Mike after his death in August, and to help his mom with the bills and everything involved.