American Freestyle Association
Encyclopedia
The American Freestyle Association or AFA was the first governing body for BMX
freestyle in the 1980s. It was founded by Bob Morales
in 1982. The AFA started out as the ASPA (Amateur Skate Park Association) promoting events at skateboard parks and gained early notoriety with a series call the "King of the Skateparks" series. BMX Action magazine covered these events helping to bring attention to this new sport. During that time BMX Freestyle consisted of Vert competition and the Flatland Division.
The AFA was so popular that virtually every state throughout the country held local events.
The AFA Masters series was a national event that featured riders coming to compete from all over the country.
The events consisted of novice, intermediate, expert and pro class divisions.
In 1986 the AFA held its largest Masters event at The Nassau Coliseum with over 300 riders attending the competition.
By 1989 the AFA had closed down due a sluggish economy, lack of BMX bike sales and main stream coverage.
Although the AFA closed down, some of its top riders continue to compete to this day.
Dave Mirra, Dennis McCoy and Mat Hoffman, all former Haro Designs sponsored riders, carried the sport to the Xgames, which is the showcase event for BMX Freestyle throughout the World today.
The AFA had virtually every bicycle manufacturer sponsored riders compete in their competitions to promote individual stars and bike sales. All competitions were covered by BMX Plus, BMX Action, and Freestylin Magazine.
GT bicycles, Haro Designs, Dyno, Mongoose, Skyway, Schwinn, DiamondBack, Kuwahara, CW, SE Racing, MCS Bicycles,General Bicycles, Redline, Murray, Hutch and Ozone were all actively involved in sending the riders to compete in the AFA Masters. These companies were responsible for sponsoring all of these incredible riders along by sending them to each of the AFA contests, sending the riders on a one, two or three month summer tour throughout the US. These shows took place at bike shops, shopping centers, sporting events and many other locations. The riders would get paid not only from their sponsors but from the AFA competitions and the tour shows they performed at. In addition to touring many riders also spent time teaching Freestyle BMX at the world famous WOODWARD CAMP.
Bicycles sponsors were not the only ones to get in the mix, Vision Street Wear, Vans, Awesome Footwear, Airwalk and Lifes a Beach clothing were heavily present sponsors. Southern California had one of the biggest presence in Freestyle BMX and many locations all had breeding grounds for insane athletes. San Diego was known for many of the ground, street and vert riders. LA had a mixture of all kinds of ramp and flatlan riders which reached out to Venice Beach. Camarillo was known for its ramp and flatland riders who seemed to be in just about every issue of BMX Plus and FREESTYLIN doing bike test. Northern California also had an incredible group of riders that really pushed the sports transition from clean colored riders to street wearing guys who shunned away from bright colors. Pennsylvania was another hot area with riders like Mark Easton and Kevin Jones showing NO mercy. New York, Chicago and Florida showed a lot of talent in its riders.
GT Bicycles was represented by
Dyno was represented by
Haro Designs was represented by
Mongoose Bicycles was represented by
Schwinn was represented by
DiamondBack was represented by
General Bicycles was represented by
Redline was represented by
Hutch was represented by
Murray was represented by
Skyway was represented by
Ozone
was represented by
MCS Bicycles
Kuwahara
SE Racing
CW BICYCLES
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
freestyle in the 1980s. It was founded by Bob Morales
Bob Morales
Robert L. Morales is a former freestyle BMX rider turned promoter, designer, inventor and business executive. He is the founder of DYNO Bicycles, the American Freestyle Association , Auburn Cycles, KORE Bicycle Components, Morales Bicycle Co., Carlsbad Motocross Racing and ASV Inventions...
in 1982. The AFA started out as the ASPA (Amateur Skate Park Association) promoting events at skateboard parks and gained early notoriety with a series call the "King of the Skateparks" series. BMX Action magazine covered these events helping to bring attention to this new sport. During that time BMX Freestyle consisted of Vert competition and the Flatland Division.
The AFA was so popular that virtually every state throughout the country held local events.
The AFA Masters series was a national event that featured riders coming to compete from all over the country.
The events consisted of novice, intermediate, expert and pro class divisions.
In 1986 the AFA held its largest Masters event at The Nassau Coliseum with over 300 riders attending the competition.
By 1989 the AFA had closed down due a sluggish economy, lack of BMX bike sales and main stream coverage.
Although the AFA closed down, some of its top riders continue to compete to this day.
Dave Mirra, Dennis McCoy and Mat Hoffman, all former Haro Designs sponsored riders, carried the sport to the Xgames, which is the showcase event for BMX Freestyle throughout the World today.
The AFA had virtually every bicycle manufacturer sponsored riders compete in their competitions to promote individual stars and bike sales. All competitions were covered by BMX Plus, BMX Action, and Freestylin Magazine.
GT bicycles, Haro Designs, Dyno, Mongoose, Skyway, Schwinn, DiamondBack, Kuwahara, CW, SE Racing, MCS Bicycles,General Bicycles, Redline, Murray, Hutch and Ozone were all actively involved in sending the riders to compete in the AFA Masters. These companies were responsible for sponsoring all of these incredible riders along by sending them to each of the AFA contests, sending the riders on a one, two or three month summer tour throughout the US. These shows took place at bike shops, shopping centers, sporting events and many other locations. The riders would get paid not only from their sponsors but from the AFA competitions and the tour shows they performed at. In addition to touring many riders also spent time teaching Freestyle BMX at the world famous WOODWARD CAMP.
Bicycles sponsors were not the only ones to get in the mix, Vision Street Wear, Vans, Awesome Footwear, Airwalk and Lifes a Beach clothing were heavily present sponsors. Southern California had one of the biggest presence in Freestyle BMX and many locations all had breeding grounds for insane athletes. San Diego was known for many of the ground, street and vert riders. LA had a mixture of all kinds of ramp and flatlan riders which reached out to Venice Beach. Camarillo was known for its ramp and flatland riders who seemed to be in just about every issue of BMX Plus and FREESTYLIN doing bike test. Northern California also had an incredible group of riders that really pushed the sports transition from clean colored riders to street wearing guys who shunned away from bright colors. Pennsylvania was another hot area with riders like Mark Easton and Kevin Jones showing NO mercy. New York, Chicago and Florida showed a lot of talent in its riders.
GT Bicycles was represented by
- Eddie FiolaEddie FiolaEdward Lynn Fiola in Bellflower, California, USA was a professional freestyle BMX rider in the 1980s and a film stuntman....
- Bob MoralesBob MoralesRobert L. Morales is a former freestyle BMX rider turned promoter, designer, inventor and business executive. He is the founder of DYNO Bicycles, the American Freestyle Association , Auburn Cycles, KORE Bicycle Components, Morales Bicycle Co., Carlsbad Motocross Racing and ASV Inventions...
- Martin Aparijo
- Josh White
- Krys Dauchy
- Brian Scura
- Jason Geoffrey
- Gary Pollack
- Goro Tamai
Dyno was represented by
- Dino Deluca
- Dave Voelker
- Brett Hernandez
- Rubin Castillo
Haro Designs was represented by
- Bob Haro
- Bob MoralesBob MoralesRobert L. Morales is a former freestyle BMX rider turned promoter, designer, inventor and business executive. He is the founder of DYNO Bicycles, the American Freestyle Association , Auburn Cycles, KORE Bicycle Components, Morales Bicycle Co., Carlsbad Motocross Racing and ASV Inventions...
- Eddie FiolaEddie FiolaEdward Lynn Fiola in Bellflower, California, USA was a professional freestyle BMX rider in the 1980s and a film stuntman....
- Ron Wilton
- Joe Gruttola
- Dennis Mccoy
- Rick Moliterno
- Mat Hoffman
- Dave Mirra
- Dave Nourie
- Brian Blyther
- Ron Wilkerson
Mongoose Bicycles was represented by
- Trevor Hernandez
- Rick Allison
- Paul Mackles
- Chris Laushua
- Marty Schlesinger
- Park Carter
- Karl Rothe
- Steve Broderson
Schwinn was represented by
- Danny Lupold
- Robert Peterson
- Jonathan Garcia
- Jason Parkes
- Pete Augustin
- Ron Wilton
- Jim Johnson
DiamondBack was represented by
- Mike Dominguez
- Woody Itson
General Bicycles was represented by
- RL Osborn
- Fred Blood
- Brian Belcher
- Chris Day
- Mark Roldan
- Todd Anderson
Redline was represented by
- RL Osborn
- Todd Andeson
Hutch was represented by
- Mike Dominguez
- Woody Itson
- Rick Moliterno
- Dennis Langlias
Murray was represented by
- Rich Sigur
Skyway was represented by
- Kevin Jones
- Mark Mckee
- Mat Hoffman
- Scotty Freeman
- Maurice Meyer
- Hugo Gonzales
- Eddie Roman
Ozone
Anarchic Adjustment
Anarchic Adjustment was a fashion clothing company founded in London in 1986 by Nick Philip. London's post-punk Anarchic Adjustment moved to sunny California with the arrival of founder Nick Philip to the freestyle bicycle/skate scene of Southern California....
was represented by
- Eric Emerson
- Pete Brandt
- Carly Garcia
- Oscar Gonzales
- Gerry Smith
- Derek Schott
MCS Bicycles
- Mike Karanik
Kuwahara
- R.L. Osborn
- Bob MoralesBob MoralesRobert L. Morales is a former freestyle BMX rider turned promoter, designer, inventor and business executive. He is the founder of DYNO Bicycles, the American Freestyle Association , Auburn Cycles, KORE Bicycle Components, Morales Bicycle Co., Carlsbad Motocross Racing and ASV Inventions...
- Eddie FiolaEddie FiolaEdward Lynn Fiola in Bellflower, California, USA was a professional freestyle BMX rider in the 1980s and a film stuntman....
- Jay Jones
- Kris Ketchum
- Mike Loveridge
- Randy Tischman
SE Racing
- Eddie FiolaEddie FiolaEdward Lynn Fiola in Bellflower, California, USA was a professional freestyle BMX rider in the 1980s and a film stuntman....
- Larry Manayan
- Denny Howell
CW BICYCLES
- John "Dizz" Hicks
- Gary Pollack
- Ceppie Maes
- Eric Evans