“I’m a show-off. That’s what we do.” Mark Webb is not coy about the nature of modern BMX-riding; an intensely competitive sport that demands rigorous training, high risk and brazen showmanship. Though only 29, Webb has five world titles and a veteran’s understanding of the BMX world, testified by an unconventional skeleton that bears the evidence of two smashed knees, a broken back and a foot that “doesn’t really work anymore”.
Film-making and extreme sports have always gone hand in hand and handheld amateur videos filmed in skateparks have long been the primary way for skaters and BMXers to gain exposure. “Ten years ago, you’d have that one mate with a Handycam who’d film a day’s session and spend a week editing it,” says Webb says. “That’s changed now. Everything’s become instant.” Mobile internet, social media and, now, tiny, durable, hi-res cameras have allowed riders like Webb to document their careers day by day, hour by hour, and to build huge, devoted fanbases online. This is also, Webb says, a large part of what makes him a bankable product. “Social media makes you who you are these days, it’s the be-all and end-all. Riders have to be taking photos, filming clips and uploading them every day, that’s where the value is.” We conduct our trial at a sparkling new indoor skatepark in Bognor Regis, and throughout the morning young fans sheepishly accost Webb for signed helmets and, inevitably, photographs. Webb grins gamely and offers fist-bumps. “Having loads of Instagram followers is almost more valuable than having five X-Games medals,” he says.
Much of what makes video so important to BMXers is to do with evidence – the visible proof that a trick has been mastered or even pioneered. “You can’t just say ‘I’ve dropped a new trick for the first time ever’. Unless you can back that up with evidence, no one’s going to care.” Webb has created a number of tricks in his time, including, a few years ago, the death-defying Decade 360, in which the rider and then the bike spin around in mid-air. “Funnily enough,” he recalls, “that trick was leaked. I was practising it at a skatepark and some kid filmed it and the cat was out of the bag.”
Though this lack of privacy is “frustrating”, Webb thinks action cameras are now an indispensable part of the rider’s toolkit, not only for POV shots, but as a replacement for all kinds of skate-park filmmaking. “You can hold them in your hand, throw them around and upload the footage immediately. It’s the only camera I need now.” So, with three cameras glued to his helmet, he pulls a pair of gloves over his tattooed hands and disappears over the crest of a quarterpipe.
GoPro Hero4 Silver
Market-leading, multi-function camera with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity — shop.gopro.com, £289.99
This is the one I know best and it works beautifully. Because it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth you can turn the camera on and off with your phone, save the footage and instantly put it online. You can mount it to point in any direction and I’ve seen one get run over by a car and survive. The only problem is that, when you’re using the Wi-Fi, the battery drains quicker, and this new one has a screen which would drain more power.
Polaroid Cube
Tiny cube with powerful magnet attachment – photojojo.com, £63, plus shipping
This is the one that immediately interests me – it’s so small you could eat it, and you could film without anyone realising you had a camera. The problem is, there’s not much variety in the way you can point it. The magnet’s very strong, but it fell off almost immediately when I stuck it to my handlebars.
JVC GC-XA2BEU
Rubberised, HD camera, shock- and splash-proof — currys.co.uk, £189.99
It looks like a full-sized, normal camera which has been shrunk. It’s got Wi-Fi, which I think is the most important thing, but the mount moves around too easily in its socket. It also doesn’t have a case, which is fine but the lens itself looks a bit vulnerable – I think it could crack if you dropped it.
Panasonic HX A500 E
High-quality 4K unit with separate, head-mounted lens, cvp.com, £285
This one’s off Star Trek, or maybe Fun House. It’s 4K, so really high quality, but the design seems like a backward step. Everyone else is trying to get away from wires. If you’re doing an extreme sport, the last thing you need is a length of braided cable dangling around your head and neck. It’s impractical, it’s bulky and it looks bizarre.
Sony HDR AS100VR
Slim HD camera with sealed case and wireless, wrist-mounted screen — johnlewis.com, £299
This, undoubtedly, is a good camera, and Sony is a very reliable brand. I can see why people might want a wearable screen, but it’s cumbersome and, for BMX, it’s just something else that can break. Also, this camera has Wi-Fi, so if you can connect the camera to your phone, the screen isn’t really useful.
