LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (BRAIN) — Dominic Phipps is the first to concede that his new book — a 7-pound, 560-page, $70 oral history of the freestyle BMX movement — is more of a passion project than a business plan.
"I didn't approach it as a work project; it was more of a philosophical research project for me," said Phipps.
The new book, "The Birth of the BMX Freestyle Movement Global Edition," includes oral history chapters based on 131 interviews with freestyle pioneers, including members of the media, the industry, and athletes.
Phipps has produced similar, smaller scale histories in the past, including two volumes on the history of Haro Bikes and Bob Haro's career, tied to the release of a replica Haro Freestyler frameset, a project Phipps led. Phipps also runs the Redline BMX Foundations program, which has resulted in several replica framesets, cranks, tires and other products produced under license from Alta Cycle Group, which owns Redline.
"With every research project, you start out with one landscape and that develops and grows as you do the research. So I always have a ton more stuff (than can be used in a single project)," Phipps told BRAIN on Monday as he drove from his home in Oregon to California for the event. "A couple years ago I set out to create a version (of the history) that I can leave alone after I'm done," he said.
The guest of honor at the event will be Bob Osborn, the founder of BMX Action magazine and FREESTYLIN' Magazine, and a major figure in the book. The book includes a 70-page chapter called "A Homegrown Revolution," that covers Osborn and his startup media company, Wizard Publications. Another chapter titled "Reportage" focuses on the archives and memory banks of the FREESTYLIN' Magazine staff.
Phipps expects a wide range of freestyle industry members at the event, which is being held at the Rivian South Coast Theater. Tickets are $55, or $130 for entry plus a copy of the book and other memoribilia. More information: w2wfreestylehistory.com.
