Video by Dub BMX Words by Charlie Wyatt
DUB Jam never ceases to amaze us, nothing like all the guys mobbing the streets.
To call the Liverpool DUB Jam a staple part of the northwest street riding scene, would be something of an understatement. In the already sparsely populated world of UK BMX street events, the DUB jam is a testament to the enthusiasm that resonates through the UK scene.
Riders come from far and wide to sample the spots that Liverpool has to offer, new or otherwise, there are still fresh tricks and fresh faces year upon year, in a crew of over a hundred and fifty, smokin’ spliffs and mobbing through the busy streets of the city.
This year was no exception, with 2020 being a write off for obvious reasons, we were all especially keen to get at it. Every spot was hammered. Whether it was 3 block or a flat bar, everywhere you looked there was someone getting ropey with it.
Even the meet-up spot, a simple crusty flat-ledge that some of us ride on a weekly basis, saw some new moves I hadn’t seen before, as well as some new and interesting ways to get tangled up in your bike too.
As soon as we started moving, it immediately felt like a DUB Jam, dodging and weaving through a horde of bikes, passers-by bewildered as the swarm of bikes and riders surged around street corners, taking them by complete surprise.
Moving through the spots people began to get warmed up, and the tricks start to get more and more intense, going from 3 block, down the Mersey to Coburg Wharf, seeing everything from 540’s to Fakie mannies. Whether technical or a bit more gnarly, people were just on it, no questions asked.
As we moved to the next spot, someone decided to take a pit stop at a small local shop. Close to a hundred people muscled their way into the space, greeted by a lone shop worker looking bemused by the scene.The fella could have closed up for the day after that half an hours graft. I felt bad for him initially, but in hindsight I think we did him a favour.
The next spot became the shop stop by default. It’s a glassy, barren, concrete football pitch for the local housing estate nearby. However, it houses a lovely and crusty wave shaped bank all the way through it with kinked ledges nearby.
It quickly escalated into a huge jam session after everyone had refuelled. Not intending to stay at this spot as long as we did, surprisingly it housed some of the bangers of the day.
Federals own Alex PB stomping the 360 down the seven flat seven set, and Chester local, Aaron Bird’s gap out of the park from the footpath, over a truly horrible fence and all the way to the road (a gap that me and a few others had known about for a while, but had never realistically entertained due to serious ‘safety’ concerns), but Aaron just flew straight over it, after one run up.
We hiked up the last hill of the day after this, heading to the “Giraffe Building.” It is officially called The Spine and is the tallest office block in the city. Either way, it looks like a giraffe and there is a lovely ledge at the top of the hill, and an inviting open plaza area down the bottom that allowed everyone to chill out and ride.
It got dark and as people were gearing up to head home or to the after party the awards were given out. Liverpool local Jay Croft, aka the Bootle Baghead, took the 1st place, Aaron Bird came in 2nd and Louis Bezanson took 3rd. Alex PB got the DamGood Coffeeshop MVP, while Corey Holdgate went home with the £250 SourceBMX best trick prize.
Post awards, top spot winner, Jay led the hill bomb down from the university district straight into the middle of the city centre for the afterparty.
Lost Lounge hosted the after event with a solid crew of dudes keeping the drinks flowing while Dan Paley demonstrated some of his lesser-known MC skills which had everyone on their feet. The place was bouncing.
Without people putting real time and effort into planning these events, they simply wouldn’t exist. Big thanks to Jack Dub, for organising the whole thing and doing an all-round excellent job of putting the local scene and local riders on the map. Not forgetting all the other boys at DUB who were involved; Zac Hirst, Denis Smith & Alex PB to name a few. Thanks to DamGood Coffeeshop, Federal Bikes, BSD and SourceBMX for supplying the goods for the podium finishers.
That DUB Jam feeling never gets old. Looking back over your shoulder to see a group of riders filling an entire lane of traffic, with most of your best mates littered throughout the crowd you really can’t help but smile.
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