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TOP TEN: Tom Justice Photos by Adam Lievesley

Ten banger photos with Nottingham's master blaster

When I spoke to Robin about doing this article I thought it would be easy, just choose ten photos and write a little about Tom Justice. I set off down my Instagram, screenshotting contenders for the top ten… 34 screenshots later I realised it was going to be a lot harder than I had originally thought.

I first met Tom around 3 years ago at my local indoor park (Asylum) and we’ve basically not stopped shooting pictures and riding together ever since. If we aren’t at Asylum (where Tom also works) we can usually be found at one of the various outdoor parks around Nottingham shooting either a turndown, table or something else sky high.

“Tom’s riding is on another level. Anyone who’s seen him ride in person will vouch for that…”

Tom’s riding is on another level. Anyone who’s seen him ride in person will vouch for that. He goes higher and locks in tricks more than you thought was possible… which is every BMX photographer’s perfect subject. Some tricks, when they’re clicked like that, look better as stills rather than video.

Tom has recently slowed down from doing big competitions as he wants to go back to riding his bike for the enjoyment. Riding for pure fun. I think this definitely shows in his more relaxed riding style (even if he is 10ft out of coping.) So, here are my top ten photos of Tom Justice.

Words and photos by Adam Lievesley

1. Superwhip

Other than young shredder Kieran Rielly, you don’t often see super whip airs. Shot at Radcliffe, Tom’s local outdoor park, which has sadly slipped into disrepair in the last few years.

2. Flip turndown

I always think to anyone who doesn’t know BMX, it looks like he’s getting tangled up in his bike here. Such a wild trick.

3. Seatgrab canjam

Although Tom is well known for going big, his tech trick bag is huge too. This hitching post was basically put there just for him… People that can ride hitching posts are few and far between. When he called this out, I called bullshit. I mean, how many people do you see doing canjam seat grabs on a quarter, let alone on a hitching post?

4. Lookback

This look back is one of my favourite shots I’ve ever taken. It was on a rare occasion where we rode in the evening… We did a little tour of a few of the Notts parks. ending up at Ruddington – such a fun little park!

5. Invert

One from a winter indoor session. I was riding this quarter when Tom asked me how it rode. He dropped in doing a huge air then jokingly said, “Not bad is it?” A few practice runs later, we shot this. We were both stoked on the outcome.

6. Opposite 360 moto

Oppo 360 moto at Tom’s favourite park, Ollerton. It’s a very simple park yet is one of a kind, consisting of a 10ft quarter into a huge jump box, followed by an 8ft quarter. Good for boosters like Tom.

7. Flair invert

Although Tom is slowing down from competitions he still attends NASS festival and Boardmasters. 2017 saw him do incredibly well, qualifying in first place at both events.

8. Nac nac

Tom usually starts work at Asylum around 3pm so morning summer sessions are always a go to for us. This nac was taken at Kirkby, a small quirky concrete park just up the road from Asylum.

9. Superman

Instead of lighting up the rider like usual with my flashes, I had the idea that I would light up the wall behind, covered in graffiti. This kept Tom as a silhouette. Flo closed for a year or two and people broke in and graffitied the park, then when it reopened they decided to keep the graf. I think it looks sick having graffiti in an indoor skatepark.

10. Wedding wheelie

The final shot I think sums Tom up as a whole. Last year Tom got married to his amazing wife Zoe. It was an insane day filled with BMX, cars and family. A big congratulations to the both of them!

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