Cowan's backyard jam

Kona Clump riders John Cowan and Paul Basagoitia, along with teammate Kyle Strait, took the win at the fourth annual John Cowan Backyard Jam in San Diego, California on Sunday, October 1st. Over the past four years, the John Cowan Backyard Jam has become the premier mountain bike dirt jump contest worldwide, with a rider for riders philosophy. This year’s jam featured a new approach, with 24 of the world’s best dirt jumpers split into teams based on home area. John Cowan and his international team of builders leveled his famous dirt trails and rebuilt a whole new multi-line course full of big, technical jumps. In the finals, it came down to Teams Southern California, Germany, and Northern California. The Socal One team originally consisted of John Cowan, Kurt Voreis, and Kyle Strait. In the finals, two team spots were open due to injuries and four outstanding riders whose teams didn’t make the finals were given a last chance shootout: Basagotia earned one of the spots and replaced an injured Voreis on the victorious Socal Team and JD Swanguen joined the impressive Team Germany, consisting of Timo Pritzel and Carlo Dieckman. (Timo Pritzel and John Cowan determined who would go where in a highly charged game of rock, scissor, paper.) The Norcal Team which consisted of Cameron McCaul, Greg Watts and Jamie Goldman, achieved both the Overall Rider of the Day, Cameron McCaul with his consistent style and back to back tailwhips, and the Biggest Crash of the Day, Greg Watts who took an unexpected “dirt nap” at the upper part of the course. Every rider who made the finals received $500 cash and a Giro helmet trophy stamped with a John Cowan Backyard Jam graphic, designed by artist Tyson Wengler. Notable mention should also go to Kurt Voreis and Paul Bas for their 360’s out of a berm, John Cowan for his barrel roll one handed x-ups, Cameron McCaul for his flip whip attempt, Timo Pritzel for making a 20 foot hip to the right, JD Swanguen for his huge whips and style. John Cowan’s Backyard Jam was created in 2002 in an attempt to make an event for the riders that reflected the camaraderie and progression of the sport, and put money in the rider’s pockets. John Cowan would like to thank his sponsors, Kona, Salomon, and Giro for continuing to support his Backyard Jam. www.konaworld.com