Features

JORAM VAN DIJK: Ride UK x Onwies Knallen Crew

Shout Out to Vodka Gummy Bears

Intro by Scott Connor
Photos by Alleary Rodriguez & Steijn Leijzer

I first met Joram a few years back whilst living in Heslinki. A random but typical (for BMX at least) encounter: a friend had been riding through the city and spotted a kid he’d never seen before riding around, just looking for spots, that kid was Joram. He’d decided to visit the city for a few days whilst his dad was there working. At that time Joram must have only been about 15 years old, but he was cool kid, level headed and a talented rider. From then we spent a few days riding in and around Helsinki, showing him the spots and parks, chatting shit and having fun.

One moment that stands out… There is a pretty gnarly handrail in the Kallio area of Helsinki, behind the church. It’s a decent length rail down a twelve set, but it’s on a steep-ass hill, with a down hill run-up into very long super fast downhill run out onto the footpath of a busy street. Luck wasn’t quite on his side though, as about 4 metres parallel from the bottom of the rail was a parked car. Joram wasn’t deterred, he sized it up and sent it. He slid the rail cleanly but with the momentum of the downhill, he couldn’t quite stop quick enough and ploughed into the parked car. Thankfully he wasn’t really injured but the car was a little dinged up, so we did what any good honest street riders would do, we grabbed our shit and split as fast as possible.

“First of all, I want to give my homie Ermiyas a really big shout out, without him this video wouldn’t even be possible. My VX died and he gave me his, who on earth is kind enough to do that?! I also want to shout out my sponsor Veda Bikes for hooking me up with all the bike parts I needed along the way.

This video was one big struggle! Dealing with injuries, angry people, no money, not being dialled and a broken camera. But I guess thats how it works with every video, haha. The clips were filmed all over the Netherlands and a few in Frankfurt. The Onwies Knallen homies and I went there to celebrate the holiday. During our trip we shot a rap video so keep your eyes peeled, it’s going to be epic!! We from the Onwies Knallen Crew even have our own MC! His stage name is Yung Milie, he has no content online yet but that will change soon…

Beside Frankfurt, I had so many good times filming this with all the homies, one of the most memorable moments from this video for me is the day I got two clips in a small town next to my old hometown. My friend Julius gave a big birthday party and invited everybody from the crew, so we knew the party was going to be a good one! Before the party we were riding street and we came across a decent handrail (the one I hangered in the line). That handrail was right next to the place where the party of Julius was going to be. He was inside that building and saw us so he gave us some vodka gummy bears to try, because he was going to give them to the people at the party that evening. Before that I already drank some Desperados and when I tried the gummy bears I liked them very much and decided to eat some more until I felt slightly drunk… Then suddenly remembered that I wanted to film the clip.

When I tried the rail the first time I had a hard time concentrating because of the alcohol and slipped my pedals when I tried the hanger but luckily cleared it second go. I was beyond stoked!!! Right after that we left and drove by a handrail next to a wall that happened to be my banger, never been so stoked in my entire life to pull a trick!

Last thanks to the Onwies Knallen Crew homies, my parents, Scott Connor and everyone that had the patience to film me!

(PS, Onwies Knallen translates to crazy banging)”

–Joram van Dijk