The 20th edition of the FAT-JAM on 9/10 August 2008 on the legendary Sugar Hills in Aarle-Rixtel.

Who: Everybody with a BMX bike + party animals

Where: Aarle-Rixtel, Netherlands

Why: 20th edition!

When: 9 August 2008

What: FAT-JAM The 20th edition of the FAT-JAM is going to take place on 9 August next. The FAT-JAM was started in 1987 with the first street jam on the RollerRink in Aarle-Rixtel. A sheet of plywood was nailed against the basketball pole, some pallets were placed against the Renault 4, a washing machine made for an obstacle and together with the few ramps we had to formed a real ghetto park. But the statement was made. Ride for fun and don’t worry about the contest. We can say that for the 20th edition the intention is still the same.

Who: The FAT-JAM has been a De Jong Bro cooperation from the start. The jam is organized under the FAT BMX Promotions Foundation umbrella, a non-profit organization. Participating and spectating at the FAT-JAM has always been free of charge. Life is expensive as it is. We want people to enjoy the jam without ripping them off. Anybody with a BMX bike is welcome to ride but nobody has to ride. No schedule, no pressure.

Where: Since the first edition of the FAT-JAM which was a street event, the jam has moved to the Sugar Hills trails at the Valkendijk in Aarle-Rixtel, Netherlands. No more space for street obstacles and the mini vert ramp is gone too. What remains are some sandy trails and a grass field. It’s really not much but that doesn’t mean it’s not fun. For the 20th edition the focus is on two jumps: The TransVer (huge transfer jump) and the Big Trick jump (wooden take-off, huge sand landing). The Snafu 8.6 race is on as well as a distance jump where you have to land on your front wheel first. Ride your brains out!

Why: Why not? Getting together with riders who think the same way is always good. With the positive attitude leaning towards party mode it can only mean that good times are ahead of us. Bring the BBQ, bring the drinks, there is no security that will tell you that you cannot bring it in at the FAT-JAM. Remember, we want to keep it cheap for everyone.

When: No need to be there on Friday or on Saturday before noon. That doesn’t mean you’re not welcome to lend a hand if you get there early. The FAT-JAM kicks off in the afternoon on Saturday 9 August at the Sugar Hills Trails in Aarle-Rixtel and will go until darkness sets in and the BBQ’s have cooled off. Then it’s time for the real festivities in OJA, the ultimate party place that has been there for us since day one as well. With Dan Dryers (Germany) and a surprise act plus DJ, it is going to be a wild one. OJA opens up at around 8pm and has a limited capacity but as long as the police doesn’t show up a whole lot of people will fit inside. Make sure you get there in time.

Location: Schoolstraat 2, Aarle-Rixtel.

Accomodation: Now this is can be a problem so we ask you to look into it before you get to the FAT-JAM. There are a few camp-sites around that are a few miles away from the festivities. It’s the best option. You will sleep through the night when you roll out of OJA, even on a thin foam mattrass. Sleeping in cars is illegal but we have yet to experience tickets for that at the FAT-JAM. That does not mean that we did not warn you. Hotels can be found in Helmond (5km) or Eindhoven (15km) so do your google searching for camp-sites and accomodations around Aarle-Rixtel and you will find something. If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

If all works out we might go lake jumping in Helmond on Sunday afternoon. We have done this in the past and people seem to like it. We will have to see if the weather cooperates but we have two bikes ready to go and a ramp that will send you to the moon. More details on this during the FAT-JAM. Scheduled time: 14:30hr, Sunday 10 August. Location: De knaal, Helmond city.

Last but not least we want to thank this year’s FAT-JAM sponsors: -Paul’s Boutique -EBC -Eastpak -Carhartt -VANS -RedBull -FATBMX -Medow Design -Kwalitaria

Contact:

Paul de Jong: pdj [at] fatbmx.com

Bart de Jong: bdj [at] fatbmx.com