BMX Event
King of BNE
King of BNE is an annual two-day BMX street jam in Brisbane, hosted by LUXBMX since 2022, where riders ride spot to spot and one is crowned King of BNE.
Updated 5 min read1,128 words
King of BNE is an annual BMX street jam in Brisbane, Queensland, hosted by the Brisbane BMX shop LUXBMX since 2022. Riders meet at a set point, ride as a group from spot to spot across the city and session each one, and since 2025 a second day of do-it-yourself ramps follows. At the end one rider is crowned King of BNE. "BNE" is the airport code for Brisbane and a common local shorthand for the city.
Overview
Most BMX contests run on a built course with judges and timed runs. King of BNE works the other way. It is a roaming street jam, closer to a big group session than a contest. The route uses real street spots such as ledges, rails, stair sets and banks, and the group can number in the hundreds. Cash prizes are handed out through the day for tricks and effort, and the main title goes to the rider the organisers think owned the day.
The jam has been organised by Tim Storey under the LUXBMX banner, with Monster Energy as presenting partner in recent years. Its tagline is "Two days. One crown." In his write-up of the 2023 event, he named an earlier Brisbane street jam, Ballin In Brisbane, hosted by Mitch Wood in 2007, as an inspiration.
History
2022: the first jam
The first King of BNE was presented by LUXBMX and Hohly Water, a seltzer company from Morningside. It was planned for late September 2022, but heavy La Niña rain forced a new date, and it ran on 19 November 2022 in hot weather.
More than 50 riders met at Paddington Skatepark and rode a route through Milton and the CBD. Spots included a gap to a kinked rail, a flat ledge and drain wallride beside a bike path, the curved hubba ledge at Roma Street, marble and concrete ledges near Turbot Street, the Eagle Street three flat three stair set, and the 14 stair handrail at the City Botanic Gardens. The prize was a 3D printed gold crown, and Raph Jeroma-Williams was crowned the first King of BNE at the Botanic Gardens stairs.
2023: second edition
The second jam was held on Sunday 29 October 2023. More than 100 riders met at noon at the red tile spot in Cathedral Square, where the organisers had built a kicker ramp from old timber taken from the shop's own ramp. The group rode on to a spot known as the "up 2 down 7", crossed the river to the flat ledges at Kangaroo Point, and finished at the Botanic Gardens rail. Rhys Gunn was crowned King of BNE 2023 at the rail. He took a heavy slam there, where his helmet protected him, after having a go at every spot all day.
2024: third edition
For its third year, in November 2024, King of BNE partnered with Monster Energy and became the final stop of Monster's worldwide Cash Up BMX series. That brought pro riders from overseas to Brisbane, with about $4,000 in cash prizes for riding, having a go and even spectating. The ride started at Paddington Skatepark in the morning, covered about 10 km of spots including the rails at Suncorp Stadium, and finished at the LUXBMX store with an indoor rail and ledge setup. The night included the premiere of a new Federal Bikes video by Boyd Hilder and Troy Charlesworth. Brayden McPharlin was crowned King of BNE at the store. Dig BMX and Our BMX both filmed the day.
2025: King of BNE 4
The fourth edition was the first to run over two days, billed as "Brisbane's Biggest BMX Weekend", on 6 and 7 December 2025, and was again part of Monster's Cash Up series. Saturday was a street ride through the city, hundreds deep, from a meeting point kept secret until the day. Sunday moved to Hiker Brewery for do-it-yourself ramps and rails, food trucks and a video premiere. James Pease was crowned King of BNE.
2026: fifth edition
The fifth jam ran on 3 and 4 October 2026, the first held on the Queensland King's Birthday long weekend, with Monster Energy returning as a partner. Day one met at West End Skatepark and rode the surrounding streets, finishing with an outdoor video screening. Day two was held at the Ekibin legal art walls, a council-approved graffiti space under the M1 motorway, where ramps were brought in on a tow truck. The day finished with Noah Green riding up and over a wall of more than 8 metres onto the bike path behind it. Brayden McPharlin was crowned for the second time, the first rider to win King of BNE twice.
2027: sixth edition
The sixth edition is scheduled for 2 and 3 October 2027, again over the King's Birthday long weekend, with a street ride on the Saturday and a DIY day and crowning on the Sunday. Meeting points are announced closer to the weekend.
Kings of BNE
| Year | Edition | King of BNE |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | First | Raph Jeroma-Williams |
| 2023 | Second | Rhys Gunn |
| 2024 | Third | Brayden McPharlin |
| 2025 | Fourth | James Pease |
| 2026 | Fifth | Brayden McPharlin (second title) |
Format
- Meet up. Riders gather at a start point, often a skatepark such as Paddington or West End. Recent editions have kept the exact location quiet until close to the day.
- Ride the route. The group rides between street spots, usually several kilometres in total, stopping to session each one.
- Cash for tricks. Organisers and partners hand out cash at spots for first tries, big tricks and effort.
- DIY day. Since 2025 a second day is held at a DIY spot or venue with built ramps and rails.
- Crowning. At the end, the organisers choose the King of BNE and hand over the crown, now made of steel and brass with a leather lining stamped "Hail to the King". There are no scores. Attitude, commitment and riding every spot count as much as the hardest trick.
- Afterparty. Each edition finishes with a hangout, often with drinks, food and a video premiere.
Because the jam uses public spaces, riders are expected to look after the spots and each other. Helmets are encouraged, and in Australia they are required by law for riding on roads and paths in most situations.
Significance
Most Australian freestyle events take place in skateparks. King of BNE gives Brisbane's street scene a yearly gathering, and its videos and photo recaps have become a record of the city's spots and riders. Its rider-run, jam-first approach is in the same spirit as events overseas such as the Texas Toast Jam, although King of BNE rides real street spots rather than a built course. For more on the local scene, see BMX in Australia and Australian BMX skateparks.
Related
Frequently asked questions about King of BNE
What is King of BNE?
King of BNE is a yearly BMX street jam in Brisbane. Riders meet at a start point, ride as a group between street spots across the city, and session each one. At the end of the event one rider is crowned King of BNE.
How is the King of BNE chosen?
There is no scored contest. The organisers pick the rider who stood out across the event, and the King is crowned at the final spot or DIY session. Riding counts, but so do attitude, effort and riding every spot. The 2023 King, for example, was chosen for having a go at everything after a heavy slam.
Who has won King of BNE?
Raph Jeroma-Williams was the first King in 2022, followed by Rhys Gunn (2023), Brayden McPharlin (2024), James Pease (2025) and Brayden McPharlin again in 2026, the first rider to win the crown twice.
Do you need to enter King of BNE?
No. The street ride is open to riders who turn up, with no tickets or entry fee. Riders are asked to bring a helmet, and the meeting point is announced before the day.
Watch on the LUXBMX YouTube
Videos about King of BNE from the LUXBMX YouTube channel.
BMX Wiki and LUXBMX share an owner. Links to the store are not paid placements and do not change what articles say. About this relationship
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