Eastern Bikes Best of 2009

Adam Banton

“Events that made living in 2009 a lot better.
• Over 30 days of snowboarding. 
• Finished my 2cd edition Odyssey signature grip. Came out perfect.
• Learned 1 of my 4 flip variations on my wish list, I may never get to the 4th one.
• Finished a part in Easterns first full-length video. "Death of Fun"
• Crossed off Asia on the map, spent 7 days in Singapore. Hot, fun and good locals. Hope to make it back.
• Two separate months, I had no front brakes. I dont use them when there on, and miss them when there gone. 
  Love Hate relationship for sure. It does open up turndowns for me.

Kelly Bolton

1. Filming for the Eastern Death Of Fun video- So hard to film/build spots by myself and do shows everyday in Sandusky Ohio... I’m glad I know how to work a camera.
2. Moving out to North Carolina. Never thought I’d be on the east coast but life takes you in some crazy directions. 

3. Death Of Fun premier- So awesome to see how everyone who came out to shred and support the video that all the riders worked so hard on. Ew I said hard on.

4. Just being alive and healthy.

Eric Holley

• The first ever Eastern DVD was released.
• I got to go to Shanghai, China for the asian x games.
• Karl Poynter moves to Eastern!
• Josh Perry destroys Jomo Pro.
• I lost my virginity!!!finally”

Josh Perry

• Jomo Pro
• Kelly Bolton moves to Greenville
• Brandon Christie does a 1080 at Chicago Dew Tour
• -5 playing disk golf(best score ever for me)
• got invited to an x-games(never saw that coming)
• France/Spain Eastern Trip(amazing)”

Karl Poynter

• Hardcore Sportz - This isn't necessarily a specific moment, but I'm really happy to say it was another great year for Hardcore Sportz, the shop my bro and I own and operate.  It's been great to see the shop progress, as well as our scene. We have a lot in the works for 2010 with even more events than what we hosted in '09. Stay tuned!
• Joining the EB crew - Becoming a part of the Eastern Bikes family was definitely a highlight of 2009 for me! As I've said before, EB has an awesome group of people involved. Whether it be from the staff to the team. It's been a great ride so far and I look forward to the times to come. Thanks guys!
• DC National Paintball Tournament - As some of you may know, I play paintball as well. My team and I competed in one of the biggest national events called DC Challenge and went home champions from that. We also became Eastern Conference Champions, too!
• EB La Revolution Tour - This trip/tour was by far one of the best trips I've been on to date. Leigh Ramsdell, Eric Holley, Josh Perry, and myself started off in France at a BMX contest and then ventured our way to Barcelona, Spain. It was my first time meeting Josh Perry and that kid is awesome. There just wasn't dull moment on that trip. Constant laughter everyday.
• Props Mega Tour 9 - This was another trip with the EB crew that was a really fun time. Leigh Ramsdell, Eric Holley, Phil Jones, Adam Banton, and myself all were on this trip. We had Stew Johnson as our videographer and that's always a plus. The video turned out really well to say the least.
• These are just a few highlights from my year in 2009. I'd like to say thanks to all my family and friends who were with me to enjoy the good times in '09. I'd like to say thanks to all of the ones who support my shop, my riding, and what I do. I want to say thanks to Eastern Bikes, The Shadow Conspiracy, Duffs Footwear,  and The Last People. It's time make 2010 an even better year!

 

Brian Wizmerski

• Got married.
• Honeymoon.
• Family.
• Eastern, Animal, and 2X4 Trips.
• Nice weather.
• Good times.”

Seamus McKeon

Here's at least some of the cool stuff that happened:
• THE PREMIERE. oh lord, Buck nasty. Any event that is so crunk my dad has to knock a kid's block off is alright by me. Tons of peeps showed up, the cops didn’t, and everyone got rowdy and had a ball.
• Arizona. My first trip out west was something I couldn't forget even if I tried. highlights include seeing Jim Morrison in the desert, smashing my head into a wall at mach 5, getting wizzed on by Wiz, and broing down with Nastazio aka best moment of my life.
• Interbike. Sliding on the liquor-soaked floors of Nora cup while booing all the winners was intense, getting kicked out was even sweeter. Plus I got to fly First class son!
• Tattour. pretty sure that this trip turned me into a degenerate. oh well, i can live with that. at least i met a lot of solid bros and had the time of my life. GWA. Keep a lookout for the video, should drop any day now.
• My personal proudest achievement for 2009 had to be the publishing of an article that i wrote for Ride UK about the aforementioned Tattour trip. This is something i had only dreamed of happening, and hopefully it won't be the last time. Thanks for the opportunity walter, i'll cherish my copy forever!

Zach Rogers

“Too many good thoughts come to mind when I think of 2009. Every time I
stepped onto my bike, I had an amazing adventure. I met many new
friends and saw many new places. I was able to put a lot of time into
filming for the "Death of Fun," all while graduating from college. My
plan for 2010 is simply to spend more time doing what I love the
most...”

Jeremy Gallant

Here's my list of 2009 awesomeness.
• For me, getting the chance to be a part of the Eastern Bikes team is a pretty significant part of 2009.
• Qualifying 9th at the Toronto BMX jam.
• The Death of Fun DVD
• On a more personal level I bought my first house and car

Duncan Gore

• Hangin' with the Fam

• Shredding with Tyler and all the late night/early morning sub-zero bike sessions
• Things that held up...My Bike! My ramps! 
• Things that went out at the most inappropriate times...My Exploder!  My Camera! My Computer! My Back! 
• Swine flu...for months
• Dropping my clutch...twice in a week
• Modern Warefare II 
• Filming with Tony Rohrbach
• U.P.S
• Vacuuming Rain / Shoveling Snow
• Riding street in the Blizzard of 09'
• Global Warming with record breaking temperature LOWS
• Finally meeting Eric Holley and his kind words to me at interbike... Highlight!
• Shows with Nic Bonner, Quin Semling, Matt Olson, and Chris Hald at the Olympic Training Center promoting Bicycle Stunt Riding for the future Olympics 
• Working with the Colorado Springs Children's Literacy Center and helping to organize the 2nd annual Ramp'd 4 Reading SKATEBOARD contest
• Finally getting our Colorado Springs Skatepark finished, opened and we celebrated by throwing the first contest in it 
• Putting on our Annual Taylor Elementary Bike Stunt Show for the 8th year in a row
• Getting a surprise visit from my ENDSEARCH crew
• The write up the legend Ralph Sinisi at Animal Bikes did on the Animal site about myself and the contest I was putting on
• Reading Dan Lacey's interview and seeing the shout out he gave as to me being one of his influences... that means ALOT to me Dan!
• Anniversary for me of riding my bike EVERY day for the past 5 years!
• My 15th year that I have slid a rail on my birthday...  Rain, snow, sleet or shine
• Providing some awesome care packages for some awesome Troops
• I could go on, and on.... 2010 Gonna do it again!

Phil Jones

• College! never thought I would do it but it happened. Family is proud and so am I

• Joining the Eastern team

• Being able to go on Mega tour 9. Seriously the best experience ever. Check the DVD. Should be out now!

• My brothers diving accident. Thankful he is still alive!!!!

• Gaining 20 lbs of fat and regretting it. Getting buff in 2010!

 

Cody Jennings

• 2x4 Props trip
• Working on the Death of Fun
• Month long rode trip to AZ with Bill, Gann and PK
• Actually putting all my stuff in one house and staying there for more then a month
• Tuesday night drinks with van
• Sleeping in the woods for a week with 2000 hippies
• Waking up with more bad tattoos then ever, more to come in 2010

Darren Bouldin

• Learned 3  tricks that I’ve been trying to do since I started riding: Turndowns, Tables, Hang Fives

• Experienced Franklin Street when UNC won the National Title

• Made a huge, ghetto Slip n Slide

• Grinded a bunch of rails

• Did too many footjams

• Got some clips in DEATH of FUN

• Learned to play ice hockey

• Sat on the glass at a hockey game

• Hunted my own food

• Met a lot of cool people through riding.

• Turned 21

• Had Fun

 

 

Zack Roberts

• First ever NEGSRC video was born.  Get Negative, look for it in 2020.
• Got rid of Trey Doig
• The return of the Byrdman
• Death of Fun.
• lots of sweet riding and no major injuries
• The Journey frame came out.
• Bought my first car.

Leigh Ramsdell

• I’m almost 40 and still riding and having run on my bike
• Watching the Eastern team kick ass on a daily basis
• Mega Tour 9. Phil Jones is a beast
• Going to back to France and then to Spain for the first time
• Traveling to Shanghia again. So crazy
• Dongas coming here to shred and fish. He's an animal with both
• Buying a house with the wife
• Being in the office when Byers brings back Eastern prototypes.
• Good times and goofing off

 

Bryan Byrd

1. New Testees, ZRdestroyer, Bearded Warrior Steven Keeling, and my main man Dr. Clarence Parbesto.  Amped
2. Great new products; Journey Frame!  Nitrous came out w/ a bang, grab those wheels kids!  Nomad cranks, maximum stiffness!
3. The Grim Reaper shirt.  If you don’t have one, chances are that you’re ashamed of your natural burliness, don’t be.
4. My uncle Dale’s video dropped, legendary moves
5. Added some killer dealers to our line-up, thanks for the support
6. Andy at QBP re-united me with my biological father, Dr. Steve Brule
7. Taught our in-house graphic artist a lesson about trusting his inbox…DELTONFORCE
8. Went fishing with Donga…mind blowing.
9. Lost the 1st annual Apex, NC karate championships to Zack
10. Saw the picture of Zack Roberts in the best of 2009 and immediately became inspired