Backyard Battle 2025 ｜ Stop 1： Veronique Sandler & Sam Hodgson

Otis, I'm gonna tell you a story. It's about two gnomes. Two gnomes that had a dream. It all began deep in the Welsh Valley where they started mining the earth. It wasn't clear at first what they were mining for. For years they grafted, making all different types of mystical structures. These shapes are insane. Razor sharp edges, buttery smooth dirt. No one had ever seen anything like it before. They completely lost their minds. But for what? It turns out they were mining for magic. They'd struck a rich seam, paving the way for the hugest session with the sickest crew you could ever imagine. They came from all corners of this mighty earth, a gnome coming. Respect the magic, Otis. Respect the magic. Favorite thing? The view. Driving in up that valley, it's so magical. So many lines now, it's crazy. Yes, people. That was insane. It's got to be the big boys at the bottom. They're so sick. Get good at riding it from the best people in the world coming here and showing me how to do it. Actually, like yesterday, Schaefer took us through the craziest transfer line ever, where the atmosphere builds so high, it pushes my riding so much, having this much talent in the garden, I think. So a lot of different styles of riding. That's what I really like with the Backyard Battle, because it's not only for hotel, not only for Donny, it's just for everyone. You can see some dude just boosting and going super high in steeze, and some dude doing crazy tricks. That's, for me, what we want to see in the Backyard Battle. I actually knew I had to do that from the very top, and it was bliss. That just is the best feeling. Wow, it's so cool. Year two of Backyard Battle, gnomes edition. It's just as surreal, everyone turning up the second time around, but so, so stoked to have everyone back. We've got some sick young riders here this year, which was stoked to see Shred the Lines. So yes, hopefully some good sessions to go down. Yeah, unreal. The spot is next level. So many lines, so sick. Because I've come from competition side and racing, it's just so chill. You just ride what you want with your mates. You don't have to ride, or you can ride as much as you want, and it's just popping that. No pressure, just chilling out and sending it with everyone. I feel like this level is even more fun. Yeah, we're at Revolution Bike Park. We're having a public day session with everyone from our Backyard Battle, and a bunch of just sick shredders have booked on for the day as well, so it's super sick. It's really cool to share our local bike park with all the riders from overseas from our Backyard Battle, so actually so much hype. Can't wait to shred. We're in Bremsbrod, in the UK, innit? The boys are going off, man. Come on, come on, come on. Here's the culprit. There's one man that can get out of a 17-foot lip doing a double backflip, and his name is Tom Aston. I've been just looking at you all day, it seems like. Yeah, I'm like, let's see how much eyeballs we can give him. I know you love eyes. Wow, obviously the riding's gone down, so now I'm a squid. Wide angle destroyer. We're all just together at DarkFast, and a couple months later, we're all here again. It's a nice little reunion. I love it. This is my favorite part about doing what we do, is getting together again, seeing everyone, and riding our bikes, having fun. That's what it's all about. Riding, digging, yeah? They've built paradise here, haven't they? I can't really complain. It was all built last year, but obviously winter had gone through it. Some jumps, only one or two went down, but resurfing this whole place took ages, and adding new bits and stuff. All of this side is new. The hip, straight hip thing in the middle, on the small lines, I love that thing. Yes, we have the MVP node. Everyone stood out in just incredible bits, but I feel like the only thing that could possibly hold this crazy human being back is the fact that maybe there isn't gnarly enough transfers, or just ludicrous things that other people wouldn't even think of, but luckily he can come to Wales and explore these disciplines. Everyone already knows who he is. He's sat right there.