I remember waking up on this day feeling a bit sad and in disbelief, not only did this trip happen after a year of planning by Angie and Vans, but it was already over. Surreal, emotional, grateful, perfect, there are so many words to describe how amazing this trip was, how filled with love I was for everyone and everything. We were surrounded by good people, a good support crew and today we were going to celebrate BMX amongst our family and friends.
Family… let’s talk about that for a moment. We truly as a crew, bonded wholeheartedly. Al Vano wasn’t just our RV driver, nor was Kathy Coakley just our physical therapist who healed us with her touch; they showed us the beauty of a healthy relationship filled with adventure, sass, and restored faith in finding the right person, even after you’ve given up. Jerry Badders wasn’t just our event manager, he was our microphone, our cheerleader; we got to see a balance of a wild man and a doting father. Colin Mackay wasn’t just the Vans team manager, and he wasn’t just the first Australian BMXer to pave the way for other Aussies to breakthrough in the US, he was the older brother I never had, he was our shepherd, our guide. Dan Foley was more than just our videographer; he was one of us, a beautiful, fun, talented, and warm human being that I am going to genuinely miss being around. Andrew Mapstone…not just a hard-to-read, kind-hearted, sweet, reserved man who works as the global marketing manager for Vans, but the man who made this happen and became our advocate. There are not enough words to express what this team has done to elevate us, our passion; and not enough words could describe how thankful we should be for what Vans has done for the culture of BMX.
The first and final stop of day 9 took us to Vans Off The Wall Skatepark in Huntington Beach. For some, it was our first time there, for most though, it was our first time since the Vans Pro Cup in 2019 before the world ended. Unsure of what the day had in store, I felt like I was catapulted into the corporate side of what it was like being a sponsored athlete and I couldn’t have felt more honored. Angie, Perris, Linda, Maca, Teresa, Naoki, and I joined the Vans corporate Zoom call with the man himself, Steve Van Doren. Steve warmly brought us in one by one onto the call, it felt like I was in the presence of the Don, and I think we were all happy to be a part of this gang. To add to this mafia theme, the Don also gifted us each with black and white checkered rings that spun. It was just so perfect, getting these rings on the last day of the trip; this beautiful, sentimental ring, that came in use for those who were going to be socially exhausted that evening.
Just like the theme of this entire trip, like a blink of an eye, the jam was moments away from starting. The Vans x The Bloom Jam was wild, it was about bringing everyone together that night, celebrating BMX, and boy did we. Although most of the girls who have been grinding away for the last week took a beat and melded into the crowd, Maca somehow had the energy to sesh the bowl and Linda in the street plaza. The bowl was crowded, people snaking each other constantly, it was wild, it was fun and it was BMX. For how sad the last two years have been, we all needed this and that was reflected in the turnout.
As the event was winding down, and as the park was closing, I found myself standing by the deck with Angie and just a few people in my eye-line. The sun had fallen for the last time on this trip, the bowl was lit and all I could see were the marks and scuffs in the cement and the black and white checkered lining around the coping. I can’t believe how far we’ve come. We were just two young girls from different countries, bonded by the powers of BMX, hustling through a tough culture with naysayers and doubters, to now working with the titans of BMX. This didn’t just happen, we worked so hard to get here to prove our worth, and we worked so hard during the trip too, we all did. Angie gave me a few looks that evening, no words, just looks and a smile, we just knew. It was the kind of smile that could only come from a good day.
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