As we started to venture further south, day 4 of Vans x The Bloom by far has been one of our busier and more exhausting days on the trip. The first stop of the day as we started venturing further south, took us to Mike Fox Skatepark in Santa Cruz. Upon arrival, we were greeted by news of a roller bladder breaking her leg, and soon after an ambulance came to take her away. Unfazed, what could have been a bad omen, the crew marched on. Spoiled again with another park with large bowls, I was particularly in awe of seeing a full pipe for the first time. I had never ridden a bowl so large and yet so perfectly designed, it was so much fun to surf the waves while in California. The crew was in business, they got the lines they wanted, the footage got captured and then it was time to dip.
Before heading onto the second park, we made a pit stop for Acai bowls – because a trip to California isn’t a trip to California without one. Of course, we didn’t go to just any Acai spot, but one owned by legend Ron Wilkerson. An example of turning something you love into something lifelong, the moment Ron had his first Acai bowl he was hooked and hasn’t gone a day without one since. Ron spent some time with us as we enjoyed our lunch, he had never seen this many female riders ever in one spot, let alone a group of girls from around the world that were on a BMX trip. Ron caught up with Colin, some photos were taken and then it was time to head to Capitola.
The Capitola dirt jumps were intended to be a quick stop, the crew wanted to get some shots as the dirt jumps were situated by the sea. It was a terrible view, the Pacific Ocean was a glittery blue, supported by clear blue skies, and there were even dolphins playing in the water – just terrible. Jokes aside, California never looked more beautiful. What was meant to be a quick stop, ended up being one of our longest. I’ve never seen the crew so frustrated by the wind, and by how unforgiving the jumps were. Bikes were tossed and fuck bombs went flying with them. It was a stark reminder that even the professionals that we love and follow can have their moments of frustration and defeat too. Towards the end of the session, everyone started to get their lines, the look of relief and satisfaction could be seen on everyone’s faces; they got what they wanted and the session ended without regrets.
Our third stop of the day took us to a ditch littered with graffiti and mini launchers made of Quikrete. The majority of the crew were exhausted but watched in support of Linda, Angie, and even myself who dabbled around. We made quick work of this stop and managed to get some footage from Dan and Naoki, but as the sun was coming down and the air was cooling, there was still at least one more quick DIY spot to check out.
The Buena Vista Pool was our last stop of the day, I think it was safe to say everyone was mostly gassed at this point, but Angie still had the energy to ride and pushed us on to explore. Colin suggested we did a pro walk first, and as we started climbing up the steep wooded path, we were aggressively greeted by a man and a woman with a pair of horses. By aggressive, I mean the way she was talking to us, some of us were ready for her to pull out a gun out of her horse’s butt. The lady, which later became known as the lady from Osark, softened after some sweet talking from Angie. I guess they’ve had some issues in the past with trespassers, but after Angie gained her trust, she let us through. After scoping the spot, Angie, Teresa, and Perris grabbed their bikes, and the trio made quick work of finding some good lines to capture before the sun went fully down.
Save the Date!
Vans x The Bloom Jam @ Vans Off The Wall Skatepark
7471 Center Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
March 16 2022 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Join us on Wednesday, March 16th from 5 – 8 pm and celebrate the last day of the trip with us. This event will be open to everyone and will include free food, drinks, giveaways, and more. Come out for the Cash for Tricks Jam and hang out with some of your favorite riders. The event will be live broadcasted on Brakeless TV for those who can’t make it.
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