What a weekend… I was a bit worried about going this year. Didn’t have much dollar to spend and I had some other work commitment too. But I sacked this off and got myself down to Shepton Mallet for the 2010 NASS festival.
Well it all got into motion as soon at about our 4th or 5th hour on the train. Our surf editor Langston had polished off most of his scrumpy and was shouting at kids on the train. He even, accidentally, elbowed an old lady in the ribs while falling out of his chair!
So after 7 hours of travel, a taxi ride to the festival and a fucking long walk to our campsite, we set up our tent were set for the weekend. We have the program of all the events in front of us, I was checking for all the 2 wheeled sports at the festival this weekend, but at pretty much 8pm on Friday night, after a long journey I was keen to get some beers in…
I cant tell you everything that happened on Friday night but some of the high points where meeting some of my BMX heros at the VIP bar. Ben Hennon, Tobias Wicke, the list just goes on, they were all there getting rowdy! Another High point was meeting the Euro managers for Nike 6.0, Kashif and Bruno. They were the nicest people and they didn’t mind Langston and his ‘air guitar solos’. (the air guitar solos led to him spewing up in front of these guys, good job they thought it was funny as fuck!).
Gillan and I stayed up till the early hours with our neighbours, the production crew for Drum &Bass Arena. They were awesome and we had a good fun time with them.
Now as Langston went to sleep at about 2am on Friday night, he was up pretty early the next morning. When Lanxton wakes up, he gets everyone else up too, so the madness began again, we were up at it, and covered a lot of the events for that day, most of which was practise and qualifying. The FMX was amazing and also the skating that went on was sick. I was more into the BMX Dirt practise at the top end of the fest. Matt Priest does actually go a lot higher than anyone and Liam Eltham has the some buttery smooth 360. In the afternoon We got ourselves down to the VIP and chilled. After sitting down for a while we were bored again and got wind of a bikini comp… No joke, we were there in 5 minutes! But to be honest, it was the shittest bikini comp I’ve every seen, it was boring!
Saturday night went just the same as Friday night, just without the same amount of money. But I did find £25!! I needed some sleep though during the evening but was woken up at 10pm by Gillan and some chicks he hooked up with, so that was me out the tent. I stuck around then for Krafty Kutts in the D&B hall. The bass was hardcore and I stuck around for a few beers. I ended up going back to the VIP tent and got chatting to some of the dirt riders, which led to some more swift drinks at the bar.
After that I called it a night and headed home for some more kip and get ready for the FMX.
Sunday was hot, and we were all very hung over by now. The FMX was kicking off so we got our kit ready and headed over. How those guys can back flip MX bikes is crazy. You can watch something like that on TV and maybe think it’s not that hard. But watching those guys do it there, right in front of you, its mad.
The BMX Park was up next and we then had to capture footage and photos for that, I was very excited and even got to see Mark Webb pull a Decade to late 360. No I don’t expect everyone to know what that is, but those in the know will appreciate the ball to go at that trick. Ben Hennon threw a barspin to late superman!, fully extended stuff!!!
Time was ticking by this point and our taxi was waiting and we were ready to get the fuck outta there!!
NASS was amazing and next year is too far away. Thanks to everyone who helped me and the boys out this weekend, everyone at the media office and the VIP lounge and our neighbours from drum&bassarena.
I’d like to take this opportunity though to dedicate this article to my dog Bess who sadly passed away on the Thursday. Love you Bess R.I.P
Douglas.
(Coming up this week – more images and footage from the festival. Ed)
