Story by Kieran Chapman
Photos by Kieran & Brian Chapman

Gabe Kadmiri

Matt Cormier

Jon Kenniston

Brian Chapman

Mike Holmes

Gabe Kadmiri

I'll be honest with you: I was disappointed with the turnout at this contest. I figured the low turnout for Round 1 was a combination of being early in the northeast riding season and being held way the heck up in Vermont. (And of course I didn't expect anyone to go to the snowed-out Round 2 contest in New Hampshire.) But I thought a lot more people would be at this Massachusetts contest.

A total of seven riders entered (see results below), plus there were a couple other riders around — Chris Poulos (contest organizer), Mike Yeager, John Cote, Rick Goulart, and some Middleboro locals. There was even a decent group of spectators, despite the overcast skies and threat of rain.

I don't know if younger riders are scared away from contests because they're afraid of competition or don't feel they're ready. But these local contests are nothing like the X-Games or even a CFB contest — they're very laid-back, and are really just a reason for riders to come together, and meet new people.

A couple guys from the New Bedford area made it, including Matt Cormier (who won the Amateur class). This guy's only been riding for two years and rips it up with very smooth (brakeless) front wheel strings, including steamrollers thrown into wheelchairs into halfpackers...all on a long-ass Haro 540 Air frame!

Announcer Mike Yeager called the Senior class the "smart class" because I'm a web designer and Jon Kenniston is getting his PhD at MIT. (Now you tell me who's the real smart one out of those professions...) We hit some tricks, we screwed up some tricks (OK, I screwed up my entire second run), but I somehow beat Jon by a single point.

The two Pro class riders made up in talent what it lacked in numbers. Brian Chapman rode pretty well and ended up second, hitting stuff like his hang-5 jump string and a dumptruck right into upside-down megaspin to switch-b ... all while Chris Poulos tried to get his music right. Gabe Kadmiri made the trek all the way from northern Vermont and rode quite well while some of the local riders tried to hit on his girlfriend. They're gonna have to do a lot to impress her after Gabe's time machines, insanely fast steamroller/tomahawk strings, hitchhiker links, and some other stuff I didn't really understand.

Once people showed up and were riding it was a good time, and it was cool to meet some new flatlanders. I hope more people will go to the final contest in Maine (on August 3), but I'm not going to hold my breath. But if you do plan on going, make sure you get there before 11 AM — Chris actually starts them on time!

Amateur Class 1. Matt Cormier 2. Mike Holmes 3. Evan Connoly

Senior Class 1. Kieran Chapman 2. Jon Kenniston

Pro Class 1. Gabe Kadmiri 2. Brian Chapman