If BMX Freestyle was born in the 70's, it definitely hit puberty in the early 80's. What had been the sideshow curiosity at the BMX races with only mentions or a few pages here and there in the magazines came to have its own bikes, contests and magazines. At the time, there were a handfull of well known riders mainly from the southern California area. But there were other riders out there and as the sport took off, this new crop of riders came on the scene. One of the new stars of the 80's era was Dave Vanderspek. Also know as Vander, Radner and The Flying Dutchman (due to his Dutch heritage.) He was an all-around rider who raced pro, competed in skateparks, ramps, ground and street. The first to do so. He also organized the first BMX half-pipe contests and promoted his bike/skate team the Curb Dogs to international recognition.

To the shock of the BMX Freestyle world, Dave died in 1988 at 24 years of age. Dave was a good friend of mine and did a lot for me as a rider. This site is meant to pay tribute to his accomplishments as a rider and catalyst for BMX Freestyle.

I met Vander in 1983 on some Sunday in Golden Gate Park - the meeting place for riders in the area. It's hard to believe now that when he died 5 years later that it could only have been 5 years that I had known him. I suppose that when someone passes away and leaves you with only memories, those memories still play some part in your life and the relationship seems to continue on. When we met I was 17 and he was 19. I'm 35 now but I still think of Dave as an older guy in the same way the legends of Jim Morrison or Jimi Hendrix, both who died at a younger age than I am now, seem to keep them forever older yet never aging.

Dave was the kind of person who turned the mundane into a laugh riot. Often embarassing those of us around him but, never boring us. He did this on a bike and skateboard as well and, for crowds. He was anything but shy.

Foodfight: Vander vs. Drob

Maurice "Drob" Meyer
Founding Member of the Curb Dogs