New Dirt Discipline Draws New Talent on the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Tweet

The Gatorade Free Flow Tour made history this season after adding BMX dirt as a new discipline for the first time in its six years of existence.

With three dirt contests held in BMX hotspots across the country – Da Compound in Perris, CA, Windell’s Camp up in Mt. Hood, OR and in conjunction with the DK Dirt Circuit’s stop in Springboro, OH – the Gatorade Free Flow Tour got down and dirty this summer.

Eleven riders are set to compete in the Finals in Salt Lake City, and you’d better believe that they’re ready to ride the same dirt jumps as the Dew Tour pros in hopes of winning the overall title.

Vinny Mannino at the DK Dirt Circuit competition

It is definitely weird to think that I am riding the same course as Ryan Nyquist because he is one of the best dirt jumpers of all time, and I have looked up to him since I started riding. But it feels awesome for sure, knowing that you are riding the same jumps that all the pros ride. – Vinny Mannino

Houston Harmsen en route to his win at Windell's

[The Gatorade Free Flow Tour] gives anyone a shot to be able to ride a big comp, and it’s really good for the sport to showcase up-and-coming riders! It’s gonna be rad because I love big jumps and I heard the course is gonna be so good I can’t wait to ride it! – Houston Harmsen

And while the Gatorade Free Flow Tour’s BMX dirt finalists are all gunning for the chance to compete against those very same pros at the end of the season, the Dew Tour riders are also well aware of the talent that’s coming up through the ranks. Following the final dirt comp of the year at the DK Dirt Circuit in Ohio, Alli caught up with Dew Tour pros Brian Hunt and Jeremiah Smith to see what they had to say about the addition of BMX dirt to the Gatorade Free Flow Tour and to get their take on what went down in Ohio. 

What was your overall impression of the competition and the kids that rode?
Brian: The competition was awesome. I thought it was a great opportunity for kids to be able to show what they have. I think it’s a great stepping stone for the kids to compete in stuff like Dew Tour dirt. It was cool to have the Gatorade Free Flow Tour take place before the DK Dirt competition because there were good-sized jumps and a good atmosphere. It was awesome to see the ams come out and want to be involved. Some of those kids were amazing! Finals should be interesting.

Jeremiah: The Free Flow Tour was amazing. It was pretty hard because of the rain, but that was it. It went down smooth and everything. Ninety percent of the dudes that were there were amazing and totally killing it. They did great.

Any early favorites for the win at Finals based on what you saw today?
Brian: I can only imagine the kids that are coming out from Da Compound. I’ve seen some of the kids that ride there, and the Finals are going to be amazing. The only thing that separates them from the pros is that they don’t’ have paying sponsors; they’re just starting to get their start within the community. They’re getting their feet wet. They’re almost there.

Brian Hunt turndown

It should be nuts. Some of the kids can pretty easily stack up against some of the biggest pros. – Brian Hunt

Jeremiah: I’m pulling for my friend Kyle Biller, but the top-three riders are all really, really good. It’s going to be an interesting final for sure.

This is the first year of BMX dirt on the Gatorade Free Flow Tour. What do you think this will do for the level of dirt riding?
Brian: I think it’s great they brought in dirt. There are a lot more kids that have access to dirt jumps these days, and it’s definitely going to increase the level of riding across the board and bring some new faces into the Dew Tour.

I’m psyched that they brought dirt onto the Tour because there are kids that are riding dirt these days that are scared to enter the Dew Tour open qualifiers. Before, they didn’t know how to get there, and the Gatorade Free Flow just gives them a new path. Anybody can come and make a name for themselves that way.

Jeremiah: I think it’s amazing that they added dirt. It gives more kids the opportunity to ride at Dew Tour that aren’t that well known yet. I’m glad they did it, and I think it’s definitely going to push the bigger-name riders. There are younger, hungrier riders that want to be on the Dew Tour in the future.

Jeremiah Smith no-handed 360

They’re throwing down and making everyone work harder than normal. – Jeremiah Smith