I am not sure when the first Tampa contests started, but I know that it opened in 1992 or so, and the first recorded result I can find is Mike Vallely winning the Tampa Pro in 1995. The Tampa Pro (and Tampa Am) are pretty much skateboarding's biggest event at a permanent skatepark. It has become a prestigious contest to breakthrough onto the scene. Sort of like how it is portrayed in crappy movies trying to capture the action sports world... "you know they say whoever wins this contest, gets sponsored by (insert stereotypical sponsor like Mountain Dew here)."

Well, BMX is following in skateboarding's footsteps (as it always has) and is hosting the first annual BMX Street Jam at the Skatepark of Tampa in a little over a month. I suppose all the big names will show up, there are divisions for pros, ams, and beginners (unlike separate events for ams and pros like skateboarding). I suppose it will become taht way though...

Have you seen the course though? As far as I am concerned the street course isn't quite a proper set up for BMX. It looks amazing for skate, but do they expect the BMX riders to share the same ramps as skaters with the same results... Again, I am not sure about everything but I wonder if there are other ramps there more suitable for BMX...

the street course... small?


Tell me what YOU think in the comments... other than the issue of the course/ramps, I think this is another great breakthrough for BMX and hope the event spreads to pros and ams like the skate events are...