BMX in South Africa

Jason Watts states about his South Africa experience:

“My South Africa trip was incredible but also risky at the same time. A lot of countries around that time were starting to close their boarders because of the corona virus. I felt as tho it was a once in a life time trip so just sent it and I wasn’t disappointed one bit.

Greg set up the most bad ass trip with some of the best dudes. We got to ride some incredible spots, eat so good food and see so many crazy situations and animals.

Even tho the trip got cut short and I had to fly home early, I still had an amazing time and recommend anyone if they get the chance to ride any sorta bikes in South Africa, DO IT!..

One of my favourite go to tricks is a one foot tabes and even better was to be able to make the locals stoked while doing it. Most people who where watching have never seen bmx before and seeing the smiles on there faces was awesome. This session is one I’ll remember for years to come.

Flair tabes – Funny that I only usually do this trick a couple times a year and usually always at a drain for some reason. This setup in the middle of no where was too good not to give one a go and it turn out nice thank you Wayne for the shot

Last call to lockdown

Now enjoy watching the beautiful vibes of this trip and country.

Jason rides with the Dawn Flex Helmet

Read more about Jason Watts in our Q&A

Follow Jason on Instagram

The Olympic Games were not to be

But the Games were not to be. On March 6, with a quarter of the world’s population in quarantine, the IOC postponed the Tokyo Games for the first time in its 124-year history. Shinzo Abe, the PM of the host nation, promised that they would take place “no later than next summer” and athlete’s the world over breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Having watched the level playing field of the Games evaporate under lockdown and through and illnesses the postponement was long overdue and finally athletes like Anthony take their foot off the gas, settle into lockdown and recalibrate their sights on summer 2021.

TSG caught up with Anthony, at home in France, and asked him about the postponement of the Tokyo Games, how it had affected his plans and aspirations and how he was staying positive in lockdown.

Anthony before the lockdown when the world felt just normal.

How do you feel about the postponement of the Tokyo Games to 2021?

The postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games is very sad because the athletes have been waiting for the event and preparing for it. It has impacts us a lot but I must look at things in a positive light: I will be able to work hard for the next year and get ready for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.

With the disruption to training and qualification process it must have come as a relief to finally have a clear decision made to postponement of the Olympics?

Obviously, this situation has affected our training and preparation greatly but the decision to postpone the Olympic Games to 2021 was inevitable. Really, we were waiting for the decision so that we could recalibrate our training properly.

How had Coronavirus affected your training and qualification schedule before the postponement?

It had a big impact and now I cannot ride as the BMX parks are closed and we cannot train. I am continuing my physical preparation at home because it is important to stay in shape so I am ready to ride at the highest level once all this is over. For the Olympic qualification, all the qualifying competitions were postponed or cancelled, so the date of the end of the qualifying period might also been postponed to 2021. This is so that the countries that had as yet not qualified can try to qualify.

Staying fit during the lockdown.

Would it have been inappropriate, in your opinion, for the Games to proceed as planned? And had they gone ahead would you have had reservations about taking part?

Indeed, given the situation the main priority has to be health of the sportsmen, the staff and the public. And, at the moment, it is also the health of the whole world that we need to worry about. I think given the world situation, it is better that the Olympic Games takes place in 2021.

One option being discussed before postponement was to hold the Games without spectators. The charged atmosphere of a packed stadium must be a huge incentive to perform up to and beyond your limits: Would you agree?

Yes, when there are spectators the atmosphere pushes us to excel and exceed our limits. Without spectators the events are not the same. This was the first time that BMX Freestyle will be represented at the Olympic Games and it is a historic moment for our sport. I think it is very important that everyone benefits from this event and that it takes place in the best possible way for both athletes and the public.

Do you feel that by postponing the games all athletes will be able to complete on a level playing field in the summer of 2021?

The postponement of the Olympics gives us one year to prepare and this is the same for all athletes, as we are all in the same boat. We are waiting for the decision of the IOC with regard to the change in the qualification procedures and are hoping that this decision will be fair and even-handed for all countries.

it is important to move forward.

How are you staying in touch with your team and training partners in these unprecedented times?

I try to keep in touch with my loved ones on social media and phone. The French team organizes videoconferences with its athletes twice a week with staff. This is to do our physical preparation sessions and also to keep in touch. Also to maintain my physical condition I play sports at home. I have several sessions per week, including stretching. But it is also important to stay healthy in your mind and keep up your moral and a good pace of life.

What advice do you have to athletes and sports fans around the world?

For me, I am extremely motivated, I have specific objectives and I know what I must do to achieve them. This situation is a test of life and as always it is necessary to overcome and move forward. I think it is very important to keep in shape by doing regular physical activity at home; to stay in touch with loved ones; and staying motivated. It’s a complicated time for the whole world, but you have to keep a positive mind, as it will all be over soon.

TSG would like to send their best wishes to everyone out there in lockdown. We will all be out riding, skating and biking soon. But in the meantime stay safe, stay fit and stay positive. One love!

Want to know which TSG products our riders use? Watch our What I Ride playlist on youtube.

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From what I have read competing at FISE Montpellier in 2019 was like a ‘completing the circle’ moment for you: Is this how it felt?

It was a very intense moment for me because I discovered BMX freestyle at FISE de Montpellier 10 years ago and my first competition was at FISE de Montpellier; so finding myself in the BMX Park Pro final 10 years later was incredible for me.

Can you remember how you felt watching BMX from the stands as a 10-year-old? And did you make the conscious choice then to be a pro BMX rider?

When I was 10-years-old and watching BMX pro riders I was very impressed and I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. For me it was a goal and also a clear choice.

Anthony in front of Bart de Jong’s camera (FATBMX)

 

Seems like Skatepark Sérignan is quite the incubator of talent: What is it about the place or crew there that helped the likes of you and Laury Perez?

The BMX Park of Sérignan is indeed a land of champions. In the club we have 7 riders in the French team, and all the young people of the club win competitions in their respective categories. So yes Sérignan is a land filled with young talent and it helps a lot on a daily basis in progression and training!

Judging from the promises of cash and expansion it seems like the success of you guys and the park has woken up the regional government to the fact that skate and BMX is a positive thing that should be encouraged: Who would have guessed it?

Yes indeed the city of Sérignan, the department, the region, as well as the French cycling federation support us and accompany us in our projects of enlargement and development of the club. It is very important to support the professional athletes of the club but also allow young people to progress in safety on structures that are suitable for competitions so that they get to the highest level.

You must be stoked to have been selected to represent France at the Japan Olympics? And do you have any reservations about including such a freethinking ‘sport’ as BMX in The Games? 

It is a great pride for me to have succeeded in qualifying France for the first Olympic Games in BMX Freestyle Park, and a great pride for me to represent my country in this competition. I think that for our discipline it is a good thing because our sport is still little known to the general public and I think that with events like the Olympic games which reach the public of the whole world the sport will evolve and more young people will start BMX. Also more clubs will be created, as well as Skate and BMX parks and so develop BMX and its industry. So yes I think that it is a very good thing that our sport is finally recognized and represented in a legendary competition such as the Olympics.

And on the subject of the Olympics, what do make of your chances going up against Logan Martin?

Logan Martin is an extremely talented athlete and a sportsman whom I greatly respect for his level in BMX, his enormous daily work to get there and for all the titles he has won. But in a competition he remains a competitor like all the others and I work hard daily to be able to compete with athletes like Logan Martin.

If you bag a medal at the games you trophy cabinet is going to be pretty full: Out of all of your successes, including French Champs, and being the first ever European Champ, is there one contest that stands out in your head above all the others and why?

All the competitions are very important for me. I approach them all with the same desire to give the best of myself. That’s what I did to become champion of France and champion of Europe. I am very proud though to be the very first European Champion in the history of BMX freestyle.

Somewhere I read that your favourite BMX edits were of Drew Bezanson, which is understandable: Who else has been an influence on your riding, tricks and style on your pedalling journey? And are there any other riders whose edits you watch on repeat?

Yes, for sure, Drew Bezanson has been an influence on me since I started BMX; I’ve always admired his commitment and risk-taking. I’ve also always admired Kyle Baldock for his incredible tricks! Truth is I just like BMX, and I get inspired by all riders and their unique styles.

What was it like to come back from you monster crash in 2018? Some professional athletes even go as far as getting psychological get rid of the ghosts an accident like that; was it something that you considered?

After my accident in 2018 it was very hard psychologically to return to the highest level with a permanent fear of injury. With time, determination and support from my loved ones I managed to leave this bad period behind me and now look forward to the objectives that I have for national and international competitions.

You take the responsibility of being a professional rider in every sense pretty seriously, from you riding to your online presence: is that a fair statement?

Of course, I try to show a good image of our sport and to be as flawless as possible. I think it is important to have a healthy image for young riders.

On the subject of slams you must be pretty stoked to signing up to the TSG global team and having their protection to keep you safe?

It is an honour for me to represent this legendary brand. I think TSG represents excellence in terms of protection and I am stoked to be able to encourage other riders to put on protection.

Is there a bit of protection that you never ride without?

I never ride without my protection, which includes helmet, gloves, knee pad, shin protectors and ankle protectors. I just never ride without my protection.

In closing do you have any shout outs you would like to make?

I strongly recommend that young riders protect themselves well to avoid injuries and keep their body healthy so they can ride BMX Freestyle for as long as possible!

Check out Anthony’s rider profile.

Jeanjean’s love affair

From that day on his line through life’s rhythm section was set – he was going to be a pro BMXer: “I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life,” says Jeanjean. “For me it was a goal and also a clear choice.”

Jeanjean now joins TSG’s star-studded pro team: “We are so pleased to welcome Anthony Jeanjean into the Ride TSG family,” says CEO Ruedi Herger. “Not only is he an outstandingly skilful rider and competitor but he is also an incredible role model for BMX riders, present and future.”

Anthony’s BMX career is in full swing

Jeanjean burgeoning stash of trophies includes the first ever European freestyle BMX Championship crown; French BMX freestyle gold; and in 2019, after coming back from serious injury, his career came full circle with a win at the FISE Montpellier. “It was a very intense moment for me,” says Jeanjean. “Because I discovered BMX freestyle at FISE de Montpellier 10 years ago and my first competition was at FISE de Montpellier.”

All set for the Olympics

This year, he will lead the French BMX team, including fellow riders from his home stomping ground of BMX Park Sérignan, to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, to battle with the world’s best riders for a gold medal. “It is a great pride for me to have succeeded in qualifying France for the first Olympic Games in BMX Freestyle Park,” say Jeanjean. “And a great pride for me to represent my country in this competition.”

TSG are honoured to sponsor Jeanjean and keep him safe on his two-wheeled journey with their first class protective kit. “If anyone has the grit, skill and determination to win a medal at the Olympics it is Jeanjean,” says Ruedi Herger. “We wish him the best of luck.”

Anthony rides safe with this TSG gear:

Want to know more? Check out Anthony’s rider profile.