| 2009 Highlights |
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TV shows, Dew Tour wins and Charity events. 2009 was a great year for the Rise Above BMX Team for many reasons. We are fortunate, while most businesses have remained idle or worse during these economically tough times, we have managed to reach new heights in ’09 and pave the way for great things to come. When all is accounted for we will have performed right around 6-700 events in 2009, crushing our previous yearly record. This is because we are not your average BMX ‘stunt team’. Instead, as the owner I make it my personal mission to differentiate us from those who came before by striving for perfection on and off the bike. In 2009 alone we created our 3rd traveling rig, one of only two like it in existence, we were featured on the Jimmy Fallon Show when it was in its infancy, we developed a one of a kind action sports scholarship that is soon to expand, we performed for charity, we had a team rider win the biggest dirt jumping contest of the year in the entire world, we traveled with X Games all summer and in the process we were able to work out a deal to offer their bikes free of charge at certain events, and the list goes on. Below is a look at a few of 2009’s highlights. First team rider Brandon Dosch won the biggest dirt jumping contest in the world in 2009, the Dew Tour finals in Orlando. This win punctuated a breakthrough season for Brandon, with another major win in Germany as well as consistent top contest placement all year long. Those who know Brandon well (including his own mom) have reported hearing him say that he thinks it was touring for Rise Above that helped him to learn the consistency needed to become one of the top contest riders in the world in 2009. As the owner of Rise Above, I’m thrilled that he would say such a thing but I want to be clear that his hard work and talent got him where he is. We may have helped to open a door, but in the end he walked through it. And Brandon, never forget, the door is always open. Contgrats bro! Another exciting moment was back on April 22nd when Mike Spinner was featured on the then brand new Jimmy Fallon show. Mike is one of the most world renowned BMX athletes and he has done a few events with us in the past. The Jimmy Fallon Show was the second major TV show in which Mike was featured on riding our equipment. Mike is a great kid and it’s always a pleasure working with him and his crew. Thanks Mike! Finally, in a successful effort to help raise money for our Ron Thomas/Rise Above Scholarship we put on BMX shows at the Wyandotte Street and Art Fair this last July in Wyandotte Michigan. Wyandotte is the town that our company began in, it is the town that we built our first portable ramp in, and until July we had yet to actually have a performance there. Since the street fair is the city’s biggest annual event with around 200,000 in attendance we decided that this would be a great place to perform, free of any charge whatsoever, and in the process we were actually able to raise several hundred dollars in donations that will go directly to our scholarship which is offered at RHS, Wyandotte’s high school. The event was a blast and you will be able to catch us there again next year with our new ‘Pro’ team rig! |