To the Iowa/Aster St. Locals:

Over the course of this weekend, some of the Iowa/Aster St. locals began tearing down portions of the ramp that needed to be rebuilt. Despite the fact that we were a little shorthanded we managed to pull up most of the areas that needed work. As the weekend progressed and layers of rotten wood were pulled up we began to realize the ramp is in worse condition than we originally suspected. Instead of replacing a small portion of the ramp we are faced with reconstructing everything aside from the areas we worked on back in April for the Cinco de Mayo jam.

When I moved to Baton Rouge in the summer of 2000 to go to college the riding scene here was miniscule. I had been coming to BR to race during high school and I knew the street was amazing thanks to Road Fools 5. I really had not decided what I wanted to go to school for, and my decision to come to Baton Rouge and attend LSU was mainly based on the riding terrain. During my first year at LSU I met Brad Jensen who was an amazing rider and one of the most motivated people I had ever come across. Almost a year after meeting him he moved to the house on Iowa St. that we now live in. It wasn’t the best neighborhood but that wasn’t important. What was important was the fact that the landlord didn’t mind Brad building a “mini” ramp in the backyard. With a little help from the few riders in Baton Rouge and a decent amount of credit card debt Brad managed to build a ramp that would literally change the course of my life.

The ramp opened many doors for the Baton Rouge BMX scene. From the first weekend it was completed the ramp drew in people from other areas. With the ambition of Fat Tony and the financial backing of Red Bull we were able to start the Transitions gatherings which shaped the future of BMX in Louisiana. Over the course of 5 years Transitions grew and so did the ramps. Many other things in the neighborhood grew along with the ramps. As word spread about the riding scene in BR more people decided to move into the marginal neighborhood in order to have a free place to ride with no hassles. Over the last five years I have had more good times on the ramp than one person deserves in a lifetime. The ramps have brought people into my life that have become some of my best friends. Unfortunately, the future of the ramps is now in serious jeopardy.

With the added stress of many more people riding the ramp plus the wet South Louisiana weather the ramp has suffered. Originally the ramp was built with money coming in from Transitions through Red Bull, but because of the immense size of that event we have had to stop holding it. The future of the ramp is not in Red Bull’s hands. It is up to the riders who have enjoyed the ramp to save it. As someone who has been involved with the ramps from the beginning and who knows how much enjoyment can come from them, I truly thought that people would be supportive of the reconstruction. I was sadly mistaken. What seemed like a “no brainer” has turned into a struggle on every level. Since April I have bothered all of my friends to put up money for the ramp on a continual basis with very little result (in fact, as of today-nearly 6 months since the Cinco de Mayo jam- I have gotten a total of $160 from the locals who ride the ramp every day).
My frustration and disappointment with this situation has made my outlook on Baton Rouge and my opinion of BMX riders change completely. What was once a thriving scene of motivated locals has withered away into a pile of rotten wood and riders who are content with sessioning an empty parking lot.

It is up to the Iowa/Aster locals to save the ramp. If people do not start pitching in the ramp will never be rideable again. Let that sink in: THE RAMP WILL NEVER BE RIDEABLE AGAIN. I hope you all take some time to think about the times you have had on the ramp. Think of the people you have met. Think of the campfires. Think of the sessions. Think of the hard work you have put into the ramp. Think about coming home from your shitty job that you hate and having something in your backyard that is yours- something that makes your day better.

No rider on the block makes tons of money. When it comes to finances times can be tough, and the ramp will require a lot of money to fix properly. It is our responsibility to save the ramp. Think about the things you spend money on everyday. Are they more important than having the ramp? Only you can answer that.

Sincerely,

Brock Gomez