Carson Donovan Tag

The Nelson contests were our piece of ’90s BMX lore in British Columbia. They exemplified so many things about that time, from people scraping together road trips across Canada and the PNW to get there, to the collective party vibe that resonated throughout the town and its nightlife (which by most accounts could not handle that many BMXers). For those of us who were young, it was a chance to see our heroes in the flesh, riding in the purest way possible with our friends. There were bangers, crashes, and even a flatland contest. Above all else, the vibes were unbeatable and everyone who showed up had a chance to feel like they were a part of something. When a small crew of organizers resurrected the contest as a reunion effort in 2022, a long lost piece of our culture returned and by all accounts brought back its original spirit. The contest is on again for 2023 and I know many riders are feeling the collective pull to be there. Justin Schwanke and I traded some questions with Andrew Lazaruk and Wade Nelson, who are both at the helm again for this year’s gathering.

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Nothing says rural Alberta like wheat fields and wooden ramps! Kyle Wachter and Sean McIntyre recently hosted a jam in central Alberta using the old Shake the Lake contest ramps. There are some impressive and creative moves in here. Don’t sleep on the Alberta scene. Appearances from Tyler Horness, Carson Donovan, Rojas Roy, Josh Vibe, Joe Weidman, Darcy Peters, Travis Kozie, Devin Szmata, Mark Stanway, Andrew MacLeod, Kyle Wachter, and Ted Bambrick. Edit by Andrew MacLeod.