It’s been 10 years since my friends and I filmed our 1st BMX video and it has also been 10 years since the first tail whip was landed locally. Living in a place as small as ours, with limited exposure to what the rest of the world was doing, it was a lot harder for us to figure things out, But in time we did. A major influence in that era and the person credited with landing the first whip is none other than our brother Nik.
Words by Julian Delia
BORN N BRED
For my 21st birthday my parents bought me my first video camera and I immediately assembled the crew and we started filming for what we now know as Legacy. Legacy was the first BMX video I put together with my friends. BMX videos are an opportunity for us as riders to put together something that represents who we are, whether we wanted to try and progress or goof around, those moments are what brought us so close together. These where exciting times, we all grew up watching hours of our favourite BMX videos and the idea of getting to make something similar was a dream come true.
The first person I told was Nik and to me it was an obvious choice. His progressive style and hunger to learn new tricks always meant that riding or filming with him would always be an awesome. He is credited with landing the first tailwhip in Malta which for back then was a real big deal. I remember him trying it over and over, taking shinner after shinner. Then after months of beatings, during the first round Generation Now he stomped it and we all went bezerk. Seeing what we thought was only attainable by the pro’s was landed by one of us. That day history was made and doors where opened. Nick didn’t stop there, being one of the first to be consistent with 540’s, 1st to whip a quarter and the only person I’ve seen tap the pedals on a double whip.
Everywhere we went we would build our own set ups out of scraps, and this particular spot was our favourite. We’d spend hours everyday sessioning this park – Tigne 2005
Everywhere we went we would build our own set ups out of scraps, and this particular spot was our favourite. We’d spend hours everyday sessioning this park – Tigne 2005
PHOTO BY BEN BORG CARDONA
A quality that I really admire about Nik is that he is not just a BMX rider, he is an extremely talented musician, when he isn’t riding he is playing his guitar. Having similar musical interests meant that I could name a song and he would always be up for giving it a go. Seeing the music being played infront of me gave me a whole new appreciation for it and always ended with me being pumped because I witnessed it first hand.
His music has evolved tremendously over the years and that is only due to the countless hours he has dedicated to it. From jamming at our events to touring Europe with Beheaded Nik has played infront of some pretty big crowds, yet he is one of the humblest people I know. He doesn’t need to brag about his accomplishments, he lets his riding or music speak for itself.
BEHEADED EUROPEAN TOUR CZECH REPUBLIC
HEY SUS GIG
BEHEADED EUROPEAN TOUR
His riding reflects his music or is it vice versa?
Either way he’s a beast.
His riding reflects his music or is it vice versa?
Either way he’s a beast.
BEHIND BARS SECTION 2010
3RD PLACE GENERATION NOW - 2006
GOZO ROAD TRIP - 2005
To me personally, he is a major source of inspiration, not only because of the hours we’ve spent sessioning the lip of a box jump coming up with different tech lines but because of his drive to want to push forward always looking for the next step to see where he can take his craft.
To me personally, he is a major source of inspiration, not only because of the hours we’ve spent sessioning the lip of a box jump coming up with different tech lines but because of his drive to want to push forward always looking for the next step to see where he can take his craft.
Here is to Nick, his music, riding and friendship.
Looking forward to seeing how the next chapter gets written.
Here is to Nick, his music, riding and friendship.
Looking forward to seeing how the next chapter gets written.
