Steve Swope's letter regarding ESPN flatland contests

Hello Everyone,

This letter is in regards to the current state of the BSS Flatland competitions and the '99 X-Games flatland competition fiasco.

Eight years ago, Matt and I started the BSS so riders would have a place to showcase their talents, legitimize the sport as a whole and have an excuse to get together with friends four times a year. By doing this, we have created an environment where friends and riders can make a living, rarely hear "get a life" yelled out of a car as people drive by, and we have managed to have a pretty good time along the way. Flatland has always been a part of the BSS and some of my most memorable moments have been from the Flatland comps.

We never have and still don't make any money for running the Flatland comps or for getting it on TV, not even for the X-Games. We do it for the same reason we did Flat comps in the first place, to help make it possible for riders to live their dreams, and to provide an environment that stimulates progression. The entry fees for Flat don't even pay our staff fees it takes to operate the competition, much less what Matt pays me for on site operation and all the office legwork I do for Flat. We had to do it this way or Flat wasn't going to be a part of ESPN BSS... Read on.

In 1995, ESPN came to us and asked to put the BSS on the air, and also for us to organize the X-Games. After negotiations had started, we found out ESPN wasn't interested in Flatland as part of the TV package, nor were they interested in Flatland competition at ESPN/BSS events. Our reply was "We have to. It's part of the series, and we won't do it otherwise". Matt told ESPN he took a vow to promote the sport of bicycle stunt riding unbiased as a whole and, and if you work with us that's how we are going to do it. They said they just can't make it work on TV, no one is interested in the sport. It's not that ESPN doesn't have respect for Flat, they just couldn't make it work on TV. Our reply was, "Either Flatland is in or we walk." Needless to say, they put Flat in.

After the 1st ESPN/BSS season, we finally pushed them into putting Flat into the X-Games. Because TV could not make enough programming out of Flatland to justify paying out the same money, its purse wasn't equal to the other disciplines'. Obviously this didn't set well with the Flat competitors or us. We had many discussions about this with X-Games creator and ESPN guru Ron Semiao. He was present at the 1996 BSS finals at the San Diego Street Scene during Pro Vert Finals on Friday night. Something happened and we had a 30-min. delay in the competition. During that time, Sean McKinney, Day Smith and I think Nate Hanson started busting out on the Flat bottom of the Vert ramp with a call each other out break dance jam style. Ron immediately asked if we could use more of that style in competition. He thought it might help flatland become more TV friendly, and therefore justify the additional money we requested for their purse. Our answer was "Our first responsibility is to the riders and we are bound by what they think is the best format, but we would definitely throw it in the ring for discussion." Since then, we have had increasing pressure from TV to try something different to make it more appealing to the TV viewers. I have been told straight out that when ESPN puts Flat on TV, viewers change the channel. It's not TV's fault, it's not our fault, and it's not your fault. Flatland just isn't a TV friendly sport. That doesn't mean it's easier or you guys don't put as much into it as Vert, Street or Dirt riders, it just means it is not a naturally designed for TV sport.

During the start of the 1998 BSS season we realized we had to make a change in the format or Flatland was going to get dumped. At the 1st '98 BSS comp. in St. Petersburg we asked for you guys to hang out after the Flatland competition to help us try out some different formats, discuss changes, ideas, etc. and help us figure out what the options were. No one stayed or cared except for a few Am riders. We gave you guys a choice:

1. Either help us change the format into something TV viewers would like and we will work on getting the purse to match the other disciplines', and hopefully the TV viewers will become interested OR
2. Leave the format the same and risk losing the purse, TV coverage and possibly the competition in this television environment all together.

Basically, we could change the format, which would jeopardize the quality of competition, but we would be able to provide the TV exposure and equal purse you were demanding or we could leave the format, but we would have to accept less TV exposure and less prize money...we couldn't have our cake and eat it too, so we asked you to make the call. After not really getting an answer, other than "I guess" or "whatever you think," the format was changed from 1 X 3-min. run to 2 X 1 min. 30 sec. runs. The new format didn't make much of a difference, so we again had the same possibilities confronting us, change and try to keep everything we have worked for or risk losing it but keep the format how you wanted it. Honestly, we didn't and still don't care either way, we just wanted to direct your discipline the way you guys wanted. It's your choice and you must live with the decision.

Last year Scott Powell was elected athlete representative by the voting body of the current years X-Games competitors. Scott realized the dilemma, and was acting with good intentions during the creation of the new format. It was the closest thing to the "jam" like format that Ron Semiao wanted us to try years ago that Scott could come up with. No one else stepped up, Scott was your elected official and a change was needed if the purse was going to stay the same and hopefully get better (which is what it did and is now the same as the other disciplines). Scott worked his ass off, and I put in my fair share of legwork as well to get the new format off the ground. I knew going into this new style it was going to be a nightmare to run, and confusing for the competitors, but if you guys were into it, we would do whatever it takes. It never ran exactly like we wanted it to, it's obviously hard to make it work in competition. Although, I would argue the BSS Round II Flat finals in Richmond this year was one of the best Flat competitions despite the headaches of the Prelims. The crowd was definitely into the faster format. I was even promoting this year as "The Year of Flat" to ESPN and over the mic. I wanted Flat to blow up this year. This goes without stating, but the new format has failed and it will not be used again.

The X-Games Flat Fiasco:

The competition surface was a joke and I take complete and full responsibility for it. I think I explained how we arrived at the new format pretty thoroughly above, so I won't go over it again, but it was an honest effort by all involved.

I arrived in SF on June 1st. On June 6th, the director of sports and competition at the X-Games, Jim Downs, and I surveyed the Flat area, which was brand new virgin pavement. The only problem was that someone made a mistake and didn't lay enough pavement, and the Flat course was going to be 40' X 120'. I said no way, and told Jim we need to add additional pavement to make the area a minimum of 70' X 100', and more if possible. He agreed, and stated he would need to OK the additional cost with top management. He came back 2 days later and said it was going to be way too expensive, and there was no way they could do it. He asked what our other options were. I said remove the interior ramps from the street course. He said he would look at the schedule. Another day passed before Jim and I got together on the subject again. He had concluded, after speaking with the ramp builder Tim Payne, that there was no way to remove the ramps in time for all the other sports to happen on their scheduled days. At the late date it was impossible to reschedule the events for different days, and only event times could be changed. There wasn't enough time for Tim and crew to remove and replace the ramps and still hold the events on their scheduled days. I looked at the schedule myself and I also concluded, after I spoke with Tim that this option wasn't going to work.

I again said fine, lay down some more pavement, it is our only option. Jim again went to the powers that be. He came back to me a day later and said there is no way they could do it. He also stated he "went to battle over it" which is his way of saying he did everything he could and the answer is no. I told him that "Flatland always gets the shaft, and we are held to a much higher standard at the X-Games. How am I going to explain this to the riders, again? Especially with a 12 story snowboard jump looming in the background." "I will have to answer to pissed off Flatlanders again, and for good reason." He said his hands were tied also, and there was nothing he could do, and he would be available to take the complaints too. Here was my dilemma — hold the competition on a 40' X 120' area, the Street course with the ramps in the way, or on one of two possible shitty areas. At least one of the areas had enough space to find patches of good stuff. My last option was to not do the competition at all. I chose to do the competition on the shitty area, catty corner to the snowboard jump landing because it was new pavement. I knew it was wavy, and their were many complaints during the first practice, so the other choice was to do it right where we had it.

Anyway, it is my responsibility to make sure the riding area is the best possible, and it obviously sucked ass. I will take the heat for the shitty area without complaint. I will not take the heat any longer from the riders who chose to whine and complain about the format after we've repeatedly asked for help and made it clear we need to do something if you want your cake, but received no constructive help other than whining and complaining. We have received stupid letters from Pro riders, who will not be named, about costing them purse money, about the judging and to go as far as we were killing their sport. Costing them money- we are the only reason you're making the kind of money competing that you are!!! Killing the sport... come on. Did anyone happen to read the X-Games daily report about Flat and your comments about us? If not I will have a copy in Oceanside for anyone to look at...whatever. Honestly, I've dealt with kids in my mom's kindergarten classes that are easier to work with. Scott at least tried to make a positive change, and always had what was best for the sport in mind, so don't bitch and whine about Scott either. The attitude you give us — taking things for granted, acting selfish, missing meetings and not caring enough to read the info we give to you or responding to the vital questions we ask you — are what have created the position Flatland is in. Furthermore, I have the greatest respect for our judges. They have the hardest job at the events and they do it incredibly well. Your treatment of our judges and overall attitude has resulted in the below.

My personal position is that I have the upmost respect for Flatland and the same respect for most of the riders, but I no longer have any fun running Flat comps and I no longer care to do them as long as our efforts continue to get pissed on. Matt and I have agreed to run Oceanside and Portland and we will decide about next year based on what happens at these two events. I feel it would be in your best interests to start your own sanctioning body and run your own events.

Here is how we will finish the '99 BSS Flatland season.

1. Oceanside format will be 1 X 3-min. run for prelims and the same for finals.
2. We will not be providing judges. You can have up to five judges and they must conduct themselves in a professional manner. We will not be offering any assistance to your judges' i.e. accommodations, travel, food, cash or anything else. It's completely up to you guys for the judging. Donate some of your prize money if you care that much about it.... Judging is now your responsibility.
3. You are to appoint one representative to communicate your intentions to the BSS Staff.
4. This is not negotiable. Besides these four rules, do whatever you want.

We'll see how Oceanside goes, and make decisions about Portland shortly thereafter.

There will be a Flat meeting either Thursday or Friday night in Oceanside after we have finished the days' competition. Please check at registration for the decided day for the meeting and/or changes to the meeting. We will be discussing the Flat format for Oceanside, and I will be more than happy to discuss new ideas. I highly suggest if you are going to be in Oceanside, and you are interested about the future of Flat in BSS events or the X-Games you find a way to attend the meeting. Do not show up with the intention of giving me shit for the past. If that happens, I will walk and you will have made our decision easy.

Sincerely,

Steve Swope
CMFIC and Director of the BSS

P.S. I have never written a 3-page letter about anything.

For more information about this and to let you opinions be heard, go to Flatlanders United.

Uploaded August 1999