2010 so far in the UK...

We're half way through 2010, and here's an update of what Southside Productions have been up to in the last 6 months.

Lots of Videos inside!As we come to the midway point in the year, and almost the midway point in the season, I have been up and down the country, filming two nationals so far, and a few other rider short films.

I started off in January, when I bought my camera from Aaron Bartlett, (the main man behind Foot Out Flat Out, and this year, working for MTBcut bringing you the best action from the World cups). I tested it out shooting a short little video up at the local woods with some local guys. I had a great day out, and learned loads about my camera.



I also didn't really have any idea about rendering quality. So I decided to go for a quick upload, but lost a lot of quality in the process.

Next up, I went out to Haldon with my friend Joe. He may not be the fastest guy out there, but he's good fun to ride with and this video was more just me getting a little practice before the first National a few weeks later.



Then, my camera died on me. The lens motor stuck and I was left without a camera and without £450 while it was sent away to Sony for repair.

Next up was the first National at Rheola. The field was packed with really good riders, including the ex-World Champion Gee Atherton, his Brother and sister Dan and Rachel. The Dirt Norco race team, Matt Simmonds, Joe Smith and plenty of other elites. I learned loads this weekend as it was my first time shooting a race. The sun shone and the race went perfect, even if the uplift buses were a little fragile.



Next up was the second BDS round at Fort William in Scotland. Again, a packed elite field made the pits seem like a World Cup with the Athertons, Team CRC Intense, The Dirt Norco Race Team and loads of other teams filling up the car park with pit stands. This was my first time at Fort William and the weather was awesome. The race was the first time people could ride the new track in 2010 so with fresh berms to shred and loads of new features the top guys tore up the track. It was definitely worth the 10 hour drive with some big slams and some awesome results.



Finishing off the first half of the year, me and my friend Dom headed down to Gawton, the home of the new Dirt 1.04, where the Yeti team are heading this week to try and beat the current best time of 2.07 set by Tracy Mosely. The light was really poor and my post production attempts at brightening it up failed miserably.



Next up I'm in Swansea. Filming Southern Champ Will Soffe on his local tracks for a Documentary for my course at College. Then I'm down at Gawton again filming World Cup photog Jacob Gibbins and his mate Sam Nicholson, showing that they can kill it on a bike as well as producing stunning photos. Then I'm up in Wales again for the third round of the BDS at Llangollen, with Brendan Fairclough in attendance, then filming rider segments for my film at the end of the year (keep posted to my blog for that), then up to Scotland for the national champs, then away up in Wales again for Rounds 4 & 5 of the BDS at Moelfre (where the current World champ Steve Peat will be in attendance) and the final round in Caersws.

Don't forget to say Hi if you see me, or if you're riding, do a nice whip/roost/skid/wheelie/crash for the lens!

Be sure to check out my blog at southside-productions.co.uk or if you're on twitter, follow me @Southsideprodux where I seem to spending all my life!

I'd just like to thank Billy @ Dirt for putting up a few of my videos on the main page too this season!

Stay safe and shred it hard this summer!