Freerider MX Magazine – hub for all freestyle, FMX, motocross, supercross, freestyle, dirt biking, race events, videos & news

Killer line-up for Farm Jam

Wednesday, 03 March 2010 14:30

Dan Frew showing the BMX boys how it’s done

The athlete line-up for this weekend’s 2010 Farm Jam in the deep dark south of New Zealand is the biggest ever, and the event is set to go off!

At this stage the Unit FMX competition has a star-packed line-up for the 90% natural-terrain competition, including Red Bull X-Fighters winner Levi Sherwood (who has confirmed he’s good to go after coming back from a knee reconstruction), Red Bull FMX Battle winner Nick Franklin, Australians Steve Sommerfeld (heading over for his second time after falling in love with it in 2008), Joe Sheppard, Rhys Hillier and the legendary Jake Bowen, who’s making his first return to FMX competition since 2003..

Not to be outdone, Kiwi lads Liston Borrie and Trent Garton are driving more than 24 hours from the top of the North Island for the event, where they’ll go up against local riders Callum Shaw, Farm Jam regular Blake O’Connor, and of course, event organiser Dan Frew.

Now typically a freestyle comp involves a steel ramp and a big pile of dirt to land on… but that’s where the Farm Jam is unique. The course is a 12-jump dirt circuit, with two steel ramp options for those cats who want to throw Backflips into their runs. There’s also a new 150ft step-up over a hill added this year, which will definitely help sort the men from the boys.

But the FMX isn’t all the Farm Jam is about. Hell no… not by a long way! For the first time ever the Frew brothers are planning a head-to-head motocross race around the spectacular freeriding course, a pitbike race, and there will be an all-in Best Trick competition where the FMX riders will go up against the BMXers and mountain-bikers in a cross-discipline contest to see what really is the best trick on two wheels.

Brett Frew sampling the new pushy course with a 360 transfer

For 2010 the Frews have also completely redeveloped the BMX park into a tombstone, transfer and hip-infested dirt course that leads into a new dirt halfpipe-style bowl thingamajig.  The best of NZ’s pushy riders will be there to tear the place a new bumhole, and we’re expecting some insane stuff to go down among the deadly treadly crew.

Dan Frew says provided the weather is fine – and it’s certainly looking that way at the moment – they’re expecting around 2000 local spectators, at least three film companies, six magazines (including Freerider MX) and a Unit/Red Bull helicopter capturing all the action from above – to converge on their usually peaceful farm this weekend.

For those interested in checking out the event (and face it, unless you’re bankrupt or are getting married on Saturday, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t) gates open at 11am on Saturday, with the action kicking off at 1pm. Door charges are $20 for adults, $10 for kids under 12, and free for the groms under five. Keep your glass and dogs at home, and bring your own picnic, although there is food and merchandise available to buy.

The Farm Jam is signposted from Browns and Centre Bush in central Southland, so we’ll see you there!

If you can’t get there, make sure you either follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/FreeriderMX, or become a fan of us on Facebook, as we’ll be posting live results from the comp as they happen.

The new 150-footer on the moto course will be a popular hit