CELEBRATING BMX HISTORY

The Birth of the BMX Freestyle Movement Global Edition book launch and history celebration will be held on January 17th, 2025, at Rivian South Coast Theater in Laguna Beach, California. The Rivian Electric Vehicle Company will host us at its refurbished and iconic South Coast Theater on PCH in Laguna Beach. The Vans shoe company will also support the event.

The 560-page Global Edition of the book delves into the origin story of BMX Freestyle and its original culture. It features the narratives of 130 contributors over a series of 15 chapters focusing on the grassroots era of BMX in the 1970s, the emergence of trick riding, and ultimately, BMX Freestyle, its industry, media, contest scene, and evolution in the 1980s. The book is a deep cultural dive illustrated with over 600 images, many sourced from previously unknown local sources, and of course, I raided the archives of a multitude of legendary BMX photographers, including Bob Osborn, James Cassimus, Dean Bradley, Windy Osborn, Spike Jonze, Steve Giberson, Brad McDonald, and more.

We expect a deep gathering, with Bob Osborn celebrated as the event guest of honor, and a Wizard Publications Staff reunion assembling to celebrate the 70-page Chapter " A Homegrown Revolution" charting the early actions of Bob Osborn and his startup media enterprise, Wizard Publications. In addition, a dedicated chapter titled "Reportage" immerses us in the archives and memory banks of the FREESTYLIN' Magazine crew.

A 90-page chapter titled "A Force of Nature " covers the evolution of British BMX culture in the early 1980s. This chapter is illustrated with hundreds of previously unseen images from the archives of BMX Action Bike and R.A.D. Magazine. The story of this uniquely British culture is recounted through the experiences of notable British riders, including Andy Ruffel, Nick Philip, Jess Dyrenforth, Craig Campbell, James Hudson, and numerous others.

At the end of the evening, we will raffle a complete Redline Vintage RL 20 II BMX Freestyle bike.

During the evening, we will celebrate Wizard Publications founder Bob Osborn, our Guest of Honor, for his deep contributions to BMX Culture.I hope to see you in January for the book launch, a community gathering, and an evening of historical BMX Freestyle celebration.

We have two TICKET options:

1) a $55 standard ticket PROVIDES ONE PERSON ENTRY, FOOD AND DRINK FOR THE EVENING

2) A $130 PREMIUM TICKET THAT ADDITIONALLY INCLUDES THE BOOK (A $70 VALUE), AN EVENT T-SHIRT ($30), AN EVENT COFFEE CUP, AND OTHER EVENT MEMORABILIA.

Regarding our hosts and the venue's terms and conditions, we would like to point out that every attendee must be registered and ticketed. This requirement is not flexible, and no exceptions can or will be made for legal reasons.