I came across this and thought you guys might be interested.

http://krtschmidt.com/?p=1263

Yeah that is sweet.... who would have thought........ Blyther is one of the raddest dudes that ever lived.. Still is...

I never realized Blyther was only two years older than me. (Unless this article was published a few years back). It's really cool. I also didn't realize he was in a cop uniform until I read that part in the article.

I knew Blyther had broken his neck a while back but the article says he did it doing a backflip off a dunebuggy tire? HUH?

"Blyther broke his neck in a freak accident doing back-flips off a dune buggy’s wheel."

I love the way non-BMX journalists describe BMX. Classic.

"Brian Blyther dipped down into the bowl, gathering speed, then flew several feet in the air on his bicycle"

"Several young skateboarders...waiting to flash their skills took notice of Blyther’s aerial displays."

"As [he] twisted his bike in the air, doing a '180'"

"After a few quick maneuvers...including a peg stall that ended with Blyther hanging on the lip of the bowl balanced on the three-inch metal tubes protruding from his wheels"

Actually, I didn't think that description was half bad for a non-BMX journalist. Actually, it sounds like a guy who knew what was going on and had to dumb it down for a non-BMX audience.

I remember last year or so, Maurice Meyer posted an article that ran in Time magazine about "Bike Break Dancing" or "Bike Breaking," or something like that. That one kind of irritated me, because it was a clear case of a non-BMX journalist trying to sound cool and hip, but in her efforts missed the mark completely. None of us ever called it "Bike Breaking." It was so off-the-mark it was disengenuous, and unauthentic. That's the kind of stuff that drives me nuts.

Not that your take on this particular article is wrong -- your perception is your perception. And yes, for the most part, mainstream journalists always seem to miss the mark with BMX stuff. I just didn't get the same feeling from this one.

I think I remember Brian saying that bikes weren't allowed in that park...

Ya. In the GEN F book he mentions riding the park and having the newspaper take pictures on his first day of work. I think this is the same article so it's probably a few years old. I wonder what Vic Mackie would have thought of that?

Bikes are not allowed in that park at all. The really bad thing is that it's right next door to the police station. He has to see that place every day he goes to work. At least he got to ride it once..

As for his neck, the article is correct. He was standing on the rear wheel of a dune buggy out in the desert and did a back flip off the tire on to the sand. Only problem was he clipped his feet on one of the top frame bars when he was upside down and fell onto his head. He even drove himself home after that with a broken neck.....

Yup no bikes are allowed yet? Blyther and the Chief got in some big trouble for that one. The Mayor and City Manager werent to happy that a Cop was riding in a park and breaking the City's codes. Blyther is now 40 soon to be 41.

X

Can someone please explain to me the whole "skateboard only" policies at city-owned skateparks and why everyone -- especially skateboarders -- are so uptight about them?

I mean, I just don't understand it. Why not just let everyone come in and have a good time? Just because some guy is on a vehicle that is different from yours, how is that taking away from your enjoyment of the park? Let the guy on the bike have his fun, and let the guy on the board have his fun. Everyone smile and shred together.

Instead, I hear of whiney skateboarders always calling the cops on guys with bikes. I just don't get it. I guess most are just acting like a bunch of spoiled kids. We have our toy, and you can't play with it.

To me -- and I'm sure to most of us -- I wouldn't care if a guy is out there on a razor scooter, as long as I, too, got to use the park. To each his own. I just don't get it.

They claim we "ruin the park". That claim is wrong and one that can be put to death if all BMX'ers started using plastic pedals, barends and the new all plastic pegs called plegs from G-sport. The other excuse I hear a lot from non skaters (city council memebers, police, mayors etc.) is that we move too fast and carry way more momentum hence we are a rather large danger to others. I see their point but I feel the amount of danger is grossly overated. Can ya tell I have had these discussions before? What really bothers me is how a large segment of the skaters have turned into the "jocks" and now look down on everyone else in the action sports community. It used to be they were in the fight with us, now they fight against us so they can remain at the top of the chain. Note I said a large segment...not all. I do know some very cool respectful skaters.




Thanks you for the info Woody. I was wondering about that. I was a huge Blyther fan back in the day. When he was on the ramp all you heard was the bbzzztt of the tires. He was soooo smooth and always landed so high on the tranny. I was in awe.

I remember when Drob brought Blyther to the Pot Hill ramp in Frisco. We were all in awe while he rode, going way over the PVC height pole we had. Highest we had seen was about 7-8 feet from this guy Rob. Those were the days. Glad to see I'm not the only one from those days that went on to wear a uniform LOL.

40 and still "The Man"

Sweet !!!

It's like RAD meets TJ Hooker....

I guess BB really is "The Man" now !