Santa Cruz Syndicate's Jamie Goldman is back in action since recovering from the broken collarbone he suffered a few months ago in Leogang.
He is in fine form as he just got back from competing at the Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah, and then headed to Andrew Taylor's AT Showdown at the Cow Palace in San Francisco where he threw down his best moves to take 3rd place. He tells his story here:
"This years showdown went down with a bang. The level of riding from last years comp stepped up to a whole new level and made standing on the podium in third place that much sweeter. The jam format allowed everyone to throw out bigger tricks... and more of them because most riders got in upwards of 15 runs instead of the normal 2 to 3. This allows the riders to get comfortable and ride how they would at their home jumps, relaxed and confident.
I've got to give out major props to a few guys: Andrew Taylor, Greg Watts, Casey Groves, Josh Stead, C-Money, Mike Montgomery, and Tyler McCaul as they all absolutely blew my mind. When this type of a crew gets together on this good of a course you had better expect a great show. We all pushed each other further than we could have ever imagined at the beginning of the weekend.
Every year I'm so excited to get to AT's because you know its gonna be big. This year they switched it up a little bit and made it a little more interesting with an on off box and quarter pipe. It’s always fun to have other obstacles besides jumps. The on off box proved itself as a great squirrel catcher. Too much or too little pump on the ramp would send you to a case stuck on the top or to over clear and most likely fly off the end out of control.
My first run through the course was nothing short of comedy as I flew off the end of the box screaming like a girl all the way into the back of the landing! As I'm lying in the dirt I hear a voice say, "we caught another one". I looked up and saw AT with a big 'ol grin on his face. Luckily I pulled it together and the rest of the day was a different story.
The first big double is by far one of the most fun jumps on the course. You have enough time to do any combos you can think of or just hold stock tricks for an eternity. I couldn't get enough of that jump! I don't think I'll be alone when I say that Montgomery's 720's on that jump was the highlight of my weekend, and up near there was Tyler and Casey's double whips and Greg's flip whips on that first jump, and Stead's double flip on the smaller trick jump were all amazing to watch. I'll tell you right now that if I was a spectator I would not have been disappointed.
After the contest we all roamed the streets of San Fran trying to find something to entertain ourselves and you can't turn a corner in SF without being surprised so we knew we were in for a treat. I came around the first corner out of our hotel and saw this guy stuck inside the bars on the outside of a window. It was Casey Groves. From then on I knew the night was gonna be crazy. Greg knows how to win proper and have a great time after and we all joined in the celebration.
Nice work bro! Can't wait 'til next year!"
Jamie Goldman
Top 6
1: Greg Watts
2: Josh Stead
3: Jamie Goldman Santa Cruz Syndicate/SRAM/RockShox
4: Casey Goves
5: Paul Bassagoitia
6: Tyler McCaul
Thanks to the Syndicate sponsors:
SANTA CRUZ BICYCLES
SRAM, ROCKSHOX, AVID, TRUVATIV
ENVE COMPOSITES
MAXXIS
CLIF BAR
MUC-OFF
LIZARD SKINS
WTB
CRANKBROTHERS
CHRIS KING
TROY LEE DESIGNS
FIVE TEN
And Jamie's personal sponsors:
MONSTER
GIRO
TRICK X
GLOBE SHOES
SKULLCANDY
JETT CLOTHING
Photo credit: Paris Gore Photography
www.santacruzbicycles.com
