Alex Hiam update
Hey guys,
I just got home from my 3 months in the USA. It feels so good to be home, I am here in Brisbane for the next 3 months enjoying the summer, taking some time off the next week or two, to rest my bruised heel and swollen elbows. The constant travelling and filming in America took it’s toll… what a great feeling to have some downtime for the next couple of days.
The next 6 weeks I will be filming a promo Video for a My signature frame, bars, forks & seat the “sweetooth” with Colony BMX & Troy Charsleworth. This will be online December 1st.
I’ll also be filming for the Vans DVD during the next couple of months around Australia… looking forward to the next couple of months just as much as I was before I left for America.
Here’s what went down the past 3 months in USA:
20th July: Arrived in USA. For the first month, I stayed at Ryan Guettler’s house in Costa Mesa, California. 8 weeks prior to USA, I ruptured my spleen and bled 1.5 litres internally from a dirt jump crash; I then underwent surgery and recovered enough to ride. I boarded the plane and started riding again for the first time in America.
2 weeks later I competed in the biggest contest all year for me the US OPEN inventional Bowl contest that goes down at Huntington Beach Pier, California. I got invited as an alternate Rider and I was fortunate enough to place in the contest then I made it into the Finals. I fell a couple of times in my final runs and didn’t place on podium…. I think the lack of riding in the 3 months leading up this made me not as confident or as prepared as I could’ve been. I still felt like I rode good but my fitness was not up to my usual standard and made this contest a real struggle for me. During the contest, medics on site said I had a lot of fluid still around my whole abdominal area because of the operation and work that went on. I am so stoked I got the opportunity to ride in this contest with all my favourite riders and idols. I learned so much and am already getting ready for the coming year. Here is a behind the scene video we filmed.
I also got be on Live TV on KTLA live one of LA’s biggest news station.
Straight after US open I drove to Woodward west camp with my friend Boyd Hilder to practice for the next contest coming up. We met a new friend David Pednelton whilst we were there. David was staying at Woodward for Media camp and had to film a video so we teamed up and filmed this video during our week
It was a fun week with the kids at Woodward. I also filmed a How to video.
Straight after Woodward I flew over the country to Virginia Beach to compete in the invitational Vans East Coast Contest. I was really happy on how I rode. I felt so much healthier and more confident than I was at US open. It was much easier being more prepared. I also learned as many things at US open that I could, to help me in this contest. I made the Finals and ended up placing 8th. There are some photos and video footage from this event attached.
I arrived back to home base in California and filmed some clips with Justin Kozman that week for the Vans bmx DVD. I was super stoked to be apart of the DVD.
The next week, September 7, I planned a trip with my friend Boyd Hilder to San Fran. We went for one week with our friend Dave we met at Wooward ( the filmer ). Dave is the same age as us and rode BMX also. He had a place for us to stay in San Fran and knew his way around. I got him a flight from Utah to LAX so he was able to come the whole way from LA to San Fran and back and documented the whole thing. Colony and Mankind ( our sponsors ) paid for the hire car and we covered the rest. Dave agreed to edit and make a full video in return of the flight. He knew the city really well and took us to all crazy spots. It was a super busy and amazing week.
As soon as the San Fran trip was over, I went to Las Vegas for a week for Interbike & Nora Cup. Vegas was crazy to say the least! It was good to have the week off to rest have a good rest there.
September 21 – 27th I went on a Colony road trip to Oregon stopping at all shops and skateparks & filmed for a team video that will be dropping some time soon! Portland is amazing!
Next 2 weeks I spent in Cali, surfing every morning, recovering and taking it easy. After a while I was able to ride again and filmed this video with TCU right before I flew home.
All round I had the most amazing time of my life, I got to see many cool spots that I had always seen and heard about… I will never forget this trip. It had its ups & downs, with constant struggle with swollen elbows and bruised heels, but it was definitely all worth it. I learned so much and feel so grateful to be back home now. More than ever ready for next year !!
Thanks to all the homies that helped along the way and let me stay on there couches and helped out !!!!
Thanks to Vans for all the amazing opportunities to ride these contest and travel.
Thanks to Colony for the on going support and taking me to Oregon & Vegas !
Thanks to Fox for making it possible for me to Fly to these contest and travel.