Ah yes, that gritty, sleepless feeling that lingers after the pulsing bass of the previous night’s soundtrack. The only true cure for the grogginess is a feat of sheer insanity—borderline stupidity, even, done on a sketchy set-up. But when that person lands that one ‘DIYX moment,’ it’s palpable.
This year, DIYX moved from a castle in Austria to the streets of Stockholm, hosted on two separate venues where the only expectation is to be surprised by whatever unfolds.
Day one’s setup offered a steep wake-up call: a closeout option, a couple down rails, and harsh landings that tested even the most seasoned legs. There was barely any snow to cushion falls, unlike spots later in the season, making each attempt feel abrupt and unforgiving.
Day one allowed riders to get their bearings. A wall ride—destined to be set aflame at some point—and several down rail options. This is the day you start seeing glimmers of who could actually take the crown. While partying is part of the judging criteria, history has shown that riding still reigns supreme.
Day 2 was held in a large plaza that used to host the frontline rail jams, and the energy and crowd increased by about 200%. Things were lit on fire, boards were snapped, viral moments were captured, and nightclubs stayed at capacity until 5 a.m.
But instead of giving you a rundown of party antics (I already did that in the magazine, and I think my dad was pretty bummed), I’m taking a different angle: highlighting the types of riders you’ll meet at DIYX. After all, the video will show everything worth seeing, and a written rundown of events is, well, unlikely to be read by anyone.
THE PROVE- YOURSELF AM: This is usually some lesser-known Euro rider absolutely snapping. As an American, I am usually asking, “Who the fuck is that?” to be answered by a Euro in the know. Keep in mind, this category tends to be a launchpad for European riders, but even Zeb Powell started in this realm. To this day, his pillar gap remains one of the gnarliest feats DIYX has ever seen. There’s always a handful of riders at this event with a taste for blood, and it’s both fun and terrifying to watch.
THE STUNT JOCK: Taking off your shirt, scaling a building, lighting yourself on fire—this kind of spectacle is part of the DIYX spirit, and it’s something the crowd can’t get enough of. Is it a bit try-hard at times? Sure. But most of the time I am here for it, and it is really what helps DIYX get its unique flavor.
JUST THERE TO PARTY: Sometimes, you don’t see this person at the venue at all, but they’re definitely at the hotel at 5 a.m. Yet, there’s something to be said about the “There to Party” type. They’re a reminder that, in the end, DIYX is as much about camaraderie as it is about riding. They might not have footage to show from the event, but they’ll have a hundred stories that make up for it. And at DIYX, partying is baked into the criteria for a successful event.
THE INJURED HOMIE: By day two, there’s always at least one rider sporting a sling, cast, or bandage. For the Broken-Off Homie, it’s a badge of honor. Sure, they’re sidelined, but they’ll be at the event every day anyway, cheering on the others, maybe slipping out for a few drinks as a DIY painkiller. They’re a reminder of DIYX’s high-stakes thrill—where every trick landed is a testament to courage, and every fall a mark of the real price of strapping in at this event.
HAS NO CHANCE OF WINNING: Theoretically, this makes up 99% of the rider field, but there’s a certain energy missing from a number of riders who just lack that “main character” spark. A common marker of this type? They’ll spend over 40 minutes trying to land the same trick. Unless it's the most mind-blowing thing of the weekend, they’ve probably already kissed their chances of winning goodbye. More often than not, they don’t even end up landing it. Riders in this category are usually found throwing down a few tasteful but relatively low-risk tricks on the less consequential features. They’re essential to the scene, the pawns in the bigger picture. The lifeblood of the event itself.
Thank you, as always, to Chris O from Method Mag, Ethan Morgan, Monster Europe for always making sure I get there, and to all the riders, photographers, and industry heads that make this event a must-see kickoff.