I have been working on lining up a whole bunch of interviews for you guys to check out latley. One thing I really am stoked on is the response from the people when I ask. Not only is Jeremie a very talented rider, he also has a pretty sweet job too working at Sidewall Distribution. I hope you enjoy this one it has some awesome stories in it! Let us know what you think in the comments! All photos by: Josh Vaughan

Name:
Jeremie Infelise

Location:
Oklahoma City OK

Sponsors:
Hoffman bikes, Snafu, Sauced

Years Riding:
9

What was it that first got you into BMX and did you ever expect it to take you to where you are today?
My aunt started dating a bmx’er, and she sent me a bunch of videos and instantly I wanted to ride a bike. I’ve always set up sketchy ramps with boards and cinder blocks, but what they were doing on the video was unreal. I visited them in Oklahoma for the summer and he ended up giving me his old bike. I took it home and messed it up shortly after. About a year later I moved from California to Oklahoma and got the bike fixed and haven’t stopped riding since. The guy was Mark Owen (Chuck D); I owe everything to him then and now.

You are on the Hoffman team, how are things going with them, what is it like to ride for Mat, and is there anything big going on over there like trips, videos, sig products with you, or anything fun like that?
Hoffman Bikes is amazing. The team couldn’t get better and they are very open minded with what we want to do. We just did a trip to Colorado and New Mexico that is in Props #69. We are doing a team series of shirts; I designed the second one that has just been released. Its called “make party”, a little change up from what the past HB shirts have been. It also has a good story behind it. As of anything else there is nothing set in stone just some ideas.

How are things going with Snafu? Anything good going on with them you want to talk about?
Snafu is also another team I’m glad to be a part of. I got on when everyone thought they were dead. And since then I feel those guys are doing a good job of bringing it back and I think they are going in the right direction. I’m currently working on a handle bar. It’s called the JRI bar. I asked them about doing a bigger bar, they said come up with it and we will do it. Not sure I deserve a sig part like that but if that’s what they want to do then I guess I’ll go with it. The first run was a bit rushed but there are two samples being done to finalize them for the second run so hopefully some people will be into them.

You also work over at Sidewall Distribution. How long have you been there, what do you do there, and how do you like it?
I have been at Sidewall for almost two years now. I do a bit of sales, answer a few different e-mail accounts, some warranty stuff and any other odd jobs that need to be done. I like it a lot the only draw back is the majority of my time is spent at a desk and I get bit anxious and have to get a few times a day to ride around the office or goof off with Ever which is Mark Owens daughter. Sidewall also doubles as a day care.

Obviously you have had the chance to ride some really great places, where are some of your favorite places you have been and why?
Malaysia, because it was the first time I had been out of the country and I came close to dying in a cab.

Where are some places you would like to add to your list?
South Africa, Australia, Spain and Europe also South America. So many places.

Who is your typical riding crew and where could you typically be found riding?
Lately its been my friend Nick and Neal. And all the young up and comers who are always at the park. We have two really good parks that I go to often. But lately I’ve been trying to ride more street and I like to do that with a minimal crew, seems easier to get stuff done and doesn’t draw too much attention. My good friend Stephen just got back from Iraq, he’s one that I will definitely session with often.

If you were only allowed to do one trick for a week, what trick would you pick and why?
Tuck no-handers. Coming up with Mat around and other vert guys, I’ve always wanted to do that trick. And now when I do them it’s the best feeling.

What is one trick you cannot do for the life of you?
How about all of them. Things do not seem to come easy for me and I have to work for everything I have. The latest one would have to be barspin to foot jam though.

Speaking of life, have you had any bad injuries from riding at all?
Torn both ACL’s, separated both ac shoulder joints and I seem to hit my face a lot.

Who were some of your biggest influences on your riding when you first got into it and how about today?
Everyone from Hoffman bikes who worked there when I first started hanging out; Mark Owen, Mat Hoffman, Steve Swope, Page Hussey, Mike Collins, Chris Collins, Big Island and anyone else I didn’t name. Some are still around and some have moved on to different things. It is a big family and I’m fortunate enough to be included.

If you could go on a road trip with anybody and go anywhere, who would you bring and where would you go?
This is a tough one. Can we go to space?
A few dudes and no one knows each other to a place that we have never been, South Africa would be my first choice. I think new friends with a common bond of BMX in a new place would be a memorable time.

What does BMX need less of and what could it use more of?
Blogs seem to be latest talk of BMX, especially the negativity that seems to come out of them. Less negative would be nice but you have to also take that stuff lightly, you can’t please everyone. More cities that supported bikes in parks. I wish everyone were fortunate with parks that allow bike and pegs. Our local parks are pretty supportive of us, but that also came with some work also.

Do you have any plans of hitting up any contests like the dew tour at all this year?
Not any of the Dew tours, I will try and go to some smaller local events. Getting time from work is hard sometimes so I like to use the time off and money for road trips with friends or visiting somewhere I haven’t been yet.

Do you have any good stories of run ins with security/cops/homeless people at all?
We used to mess the security guards at a local university. We would ride a spot or two then when they came we would scatter and go back and forth inside the campus.
After a bit of that we would go to the park across the street and get on the roof of the gazebo and watch them try to find us. After it cooled down we would do it all over again.
And once we were at a mini ramp that some neighbor hood association built but didn’t allow bikes. One of the dads tried to grab my friends bike so in a scuffle for the bike he ended up throwing the dad to the flat bottom from the deck. That was pretty funny.

Outside of riding and work what are some things you are into?
Making videos, BBQing, new music, hanging out with friends, trying to learn Photoshop.

Who or what have been some of the biggest influences on your life?
My family, immediate and adopted.

Favorite ice cream?
Currently is Rocky Road or a caramel, pecan and fudge sundae.

Is there anybody in this entire world you would really love to give a swift kick in the nuts/vag to and why?
I don’t think so. But I never got why some dudes like to play the sac-tap game. I’m not a very good sport at the game so I suggest not playing it with me.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years and what are some things you would like to accomplish by then?
Hopefully still fortunate enough to be able to ride, I’d also like to buy a house. Other than that take it day by day and try to have some fun along the way.

If you could have any car/form of transportation, real or fiction what would you want to cruise around in?
Lear jet to travel the world.

You find $100 on the street, what do you do with it?
I would buy a bunch of food and have a bbq with all of my friends.

What is something crazy that has happened to you that nobody believes when you tell them?
I have this crazy scar on my leg. It’s about 1/4″ wide and 3 inches long, it happened from a zip tie.

Have you ever been in a fight and did you win?
Yes I have and I guess so. I was in a Taco bell parking lot when I was 18. Me and I friend were waiting for some one being loud and stupid. These two dudes and their girls were walking out and I guess they thought we were messing with them. Next thing I know one of the dudes runs up to the car (while im in it still) and starts trying to hit me. I open the door and hit him with it and get out, he starts swinging all crazy not even getting close to hitting me. I grab him then pin him to the ground and all of a sudden the two girls jump on my back. So here I am, I have two girls on my back and the dude in a headlock. I finally get them off me then the other dude wants to fight me. I explained that if the three of them couldn’t do the job then I doubt he could so they left. That story always makes me laugh even though I don’t consider myself a violent person.

If you could be sponsored by any company that has no relation to BMX what would you pick and why?
Even though we don’t have one, Whole Foods. A good portion of my money goes to food that would eliminate one of my biggest expenses.
Or an airline, free tickets!!!

Do you spend much time on the computer? Any favorite websites?
I normally don’t touch the computer at work or if I’m out of town.
I’ll do some non-bmx sites:
Vice mag
Cnn
Google
Inked mag
Filter mag

What is the best advice you have for kids just getting into BMX?
HAVE FUN!

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Thanks to my family, friends and sponsors

Anything else you would like to say?
Thanks to Kurt for doing this interview it was fun.

Rob is in short, a very interesting and amazing guy. When Brian Tunney and I were talking about people I should interview his name came up real quick. I honestly had no idea what to expect due to him being such a busy guy. However, he came through with probably one of my favorite interviews I have done with somebody. I hope you enjoy this. I know I did.

Name:
Rob Harrison

Location:
Cologne, mid Germany

Sponsors at all?
Carhartt Europe

Years Riding:
Started 1983 or 1984, so a few years now.

What was it that first got you into BMX and when did you know that you wanted to have it be your life?
It was back then for many the big thing, i had bonanza bike with high bars and the 20″ in the front… It just wasn’t practical for what was being done and I ended up on a Raleigh Burner…which to be honest also wasn’t really up to it, but it was a start. As for when it changed into more of a life thing…. I guess that happened when I quit what I was doing previously and made the positive decision that I wanted to be more involved. It was from that point on that I let it guide me more than I’d previously done. I’m not sure I’d describe it as being my life… It’s a huge part of me but i’d like to think that I still have the control, I chose/choose to be this involved and have most of my waking minutes have something to do with bmx but life can also be more.

You have a pretty key role over there at We The People, what exactly is that and what is your “typical” day in the office?
Everyone here has a key role, when things are small you rely on the fact that everyone is doing what needs to get done. In the last 6 months the company changed a lot and we’re now getting help from more people and the office got bigger and we joined it onto the shop. That didn’t affect what I do so much but i guess it did affect the general day because I see a lot more faces during it. It’s not so easy to pigeon hole what I do but I guess primarily it comes down to the team side of things. Along side that I do the warranty, the web site, promo stuff, the tours and then anything from sticker requests, product ideas, fixing kids bikes in the shop, anything sponsorship wise through to making sure I’m happy with any video stuff that comes out. Typical days… I guess these days the bulk of my time if I’m in the office, goes into the email, if there is a trip or video part due out then I’m working on that… I Like to make sure that we’re not just banging out the same old stuff, see what the team has going on, sort out some news for the web site… Like to keep that on a minimum once a day update so there is always something new up there even if it’s as random as I am ­ enough people have no idea what I am (shit-)talking about in the news posts. If there’s any of the guys in town then maybe hanging out with them, maybe getting photos.

With work taking a lot of time, and having to constantly talk about BMX. Do you ever find much time to ride, and do you ever just get burned out on it from it being work?
Sure I get burnt out. It’s a weird balance… You know you love what you do but there is still a point where you just get fucked off. Maybe it’s hard to describe to those who are fresh in there and still on the bike 24/7, in fact maybe it’s not even relevant so i won¹t try. But the fact is that it¹ssomething that has meant so much to me for so long, it’s not just there it is part of me. So having a life that is based around it is just like any other, sometimes it’s amazing and sometimes it’s the pits but being part of something that has this much passion and people who believe in the same is nothing short of fantastic. My riding time is limited to the private ramps that myself and 15 locals have and the tours. I wish it was more, but i’m not going to force anything.

When you find the time to ride, where can you usually be found riding and riding with?
Yeah it’s the private set up in Cologne, just myself and the music because that is the time where I come down after the days hectic. The lines are really tight there so with three people it’s already busy; but there are times when i really appreciate some of the other guys being there, in particular Daniel Weber from Freedombmx, Sven Hoffman, Ed Docherty, Jan Heinen, Dude and klaus used to come around sometimes. When it comes to trip time, then I only take guys I know I’m going to enjoy being around…. But with the wethepeople team, that is not difficult… The hard part is limiting it to the few that fit in the van. I really like going away with Will, Ash, James Smith, Luc…any of the French guys in fact, then Max and the Bonn lot are sound and strict… Maybe even too strict for me. Wicke…Ha i love the chance to get away with him, he’s a little type cast into this ramp rider by most but put him in the van and he’ll crack you up and sleep anywhere. Chester is also always into new stuff… That’s the attitude I need when we’re away because i’d rather rough it than hotel my way around LA beach spots…although I’m sure that might also do me some good.

Are you much of one to try super hard to progress still or is it kind of just if it happens it happens?
Ha, I feel at my age that I almost have the right to sit back and let it happen, I still push myself a lot but i’m also not into nailing myself as much as I might have been once. I still find that I can’t let things go though, and I’m always looking for something that others perhaps haven’t seen even it it simply be a new way in or out of something basic. I try to keep the little riding I do on a level where it feels good, entails as little pedalling as possible and more about moving the bike round to keep that momentum… I think through that you see things differently again.

You have had the chance to travel because of We The People, where are some of your favorite places you have been?
I make a point of not doing what others might and the trips have reflected that, so they also went places that most avoided or just weren’t interested in. The downside usually is that we also can’t do the places justice because we’re also tied for time and money. Over the last couple of years we were the first outside teams to visit Italy, Poland and Ireland but N.Spain remains one of my favourites. I think the team would agree on that and the last England tour with the Ride2Glory trip as the best times. With the guys here…. Moscow was the best, but even just simple days in the office can be sometimes as good as spending time going off somewhere. Where are some places you would like to go at some point?Croatia, Chester said about going to Tel Aviv and I still haven¹t been to Japan or Malaysia… They’re on my growing list.

If it weren’t for We The People or even BMX, where do you think you would be today?
😉 I have no idea, I actually used to teach Database development at Leeds University and designed financial software systems in some screwed up programming language called Uniface. But I have done so many jobs over the years that I could have been anywhere. I got out of that because i wasn’t happy and wanted to do more with bmx…. I’m happy I’ve managed that. Infact more so, i¹m happy that there are people like Klaus Dyba and Harry Schmid who stilll believe in how good bmx really can be; it’s not a sales sheet or numbers… Those are things that just keep a company going, it’s about just how damn good bmx can be for itself, within itself. Those are the reasons both myself and others can be proud to be into bmx. Without it…I’d be…no idea, it is my life so I can’t think back to what might have been.

Out of all the BMXers you have ever seen, who do you think has impressed you the most and why?
Holy shit, you know how to ask questions…. If we think riders, then Garrett Burns and from the guys i know personally…. Will Jackson, Luc Legrand and Ashley Charles. Obviously I’ve got my reasons for those choices but i think it won’t bring anyone anything if I start to describe why, sometimes stuff like that gets boring and cliche. I got my personal opinion,and where I’ve had the chance they’re already on the team, but bmx is also a breeding ground for people with not only riding but visual talent… Those are the guys who bring the images and convey the feeling to everyone else. Those are the people that bmx perhaps under rates the most.

Is there anything exciting going on over at We The People these days like trips, videos, new team members, new products, art shows, anything at all you can tell us about?
Things move here every single day, so I guess I got things I can tell you about. Start easy… Product, two new signature frames…. Chester Blacksmith (Sleepless), and Ashley Charles (A2B)… Due out Sept. It would be unfair to say which, but one of those frames is my new favourite in the entire range, ever. Then we’re also building up to the real launch of éclat… The final product list is as good as done and the team will be announced in the next days. Right now I am also kinda looking with Brian for someone else who might represent wethepeople in the US. The video…. Ha best I don’t say anything there at the moment. On the videorama section I know that Will Jackson’s section is next and just organizing those together has been good. The Ride2glory video edit is due out on the next RideUK cover dvd and a lot of work went into that one the last weeks because instead of working only with bmx editors i decided i wanted to do something more and asked the help of a guy who has had some recent fame as a short film maker.It meant three times the work, but i think it’s worth the effort to push things. We’re just getting settled now in the new office and shop, that feels good and if people want to check out the shop then despite the German language : www.peoplesstore.de – because we’re inherently connected we often show the prototypes there and the entire shop is based on the concept of bmx being better. The place is like no other and partly because of that attracts a lot of Colab attention. The owner of Vans was here, Nike recently did the street jam with us. The shop and Janosch also helped get the local concrete park open to bikes again and a lot of people just come here to get inspiration for there own shops. Got another Colab planned with the 24″cruiser for the US after having done both the Carhartt bikes and the Y3 classic over here.

Speaking of art, do you plan on doing the Seat Beat thing again or anything else along those lines?
Ah that is still running, the idea was that we sent it out on it’s own tour. Right now the seats are in Lyon in France. But a few of the stragglers are still arriving so new seats are still coming in… Two additional seats joined at Lyon and there is now another from artist when in New Jersey (through Mike Brennan and Vinnie Sammon). The exhibition now goes to London, and after that will begin the state side of things…. The guys in Ohio wanted to host it and sorting something out with Durb Morrison there was the plan. After that I’d like to see a New York version happen…. If anyone has suggestions I’m open to them.

If you could change anything about BMX what would it be and why?
The pace.

Outside of BMX, and work, what are some things you are into?
At the moment nothing. But when i used to have a life i was into taking photos, films and just being outside.

What are some bands you are into? Do you have any you would suggest people to check out?
Klaus has played with these guys for years now – Quest for Rescue. Kabudasha were a UK ska band that no one has heard off and i like a whole range of stuff depending on what i’m doing.

Seen any good movies at all?
Hell Drivers (1957), Lucía y el sexo (2001), Get Carter (1971), Quadrophenia(1979), Loved Up (1995), Soylent Green (1973), Cool Hand Luke (1967), TheSting (1973), Snatch (2000), Bloody Sunday (2002), The Great Escape (1963), Papillon (1973)… I could go on for days, but i’m more into older films or films that pick on something from a particular decade.

If you were to win the lottery, what would you do with the cash?
Depends… Did i win the 10$ prize or the big one? Actually the chances are slim because i don’t take part in that. Although i still got some old school British premium bolds kicking, so my numbers might come up yet. If i won the big one i’d set up a way so that all riders had access to medical insurance that they could afford, like a means tested insurance that was open to all. IF riders earned big, they paid more or their sponsors covered it. That way money from outside would be going back in to the sport as a whole. If somepeople had really wanted to ‘give something back’ to bmx… They would have started there. There would still be sharks in there even if bmxer’s financed it, i mean we’re talking here about the insurance and medical industries… But at least we’d be supporting ourselves and have a say in it. I have difficulty believing that to really help someone in medical need we have to sell t-shirts in the yr 2008. The principal of this support network in bmx is amazing, it is what keeps bmx different… But we should work on helping everyone out there who rides a bike. IF there was anything left over i’d find a way to thank/support those few companies out there who did it on their own rather than taking money from others abroad. Or maybe somekind of travel support network for riders wanting to travel but without the contacts…Rent a cheap place in every interesting city in the world and offer them out to anyone who riders for week periods over the internet…You could see when it was booked, choose when to go etc… Then you know you got a decent place for free without hassling the locals and the locals would know where they could find anyone new in town, shit they could even look after the place or one of them live there. After that i wouldn’t mind buying a wood hut someplace with a garden and chickens for myself.

What is something about yourself that nobody really knows about or wouldn’t believe?
Once a year i deliver milk in the UK. I used to own 2000 shares in Tescos.

What is the craziest, scariest, funniest, or best thing you have ever seen or have happen to you?
I can’t really answer this one, but whatever it was ….it probably happened on tour.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next 5 years?
To become self sufficient, live in a wood hut with solar powered internet and a garden somewhere where i can’t hear when someone wins the televised football game. Or just to become as Calm as Ed Docherty when it all goes down. I would also like to have the entire team hook-up some place… Has never yet happened cause it’s so wide spread. I want to go an eat at Yossy’s favourite place in Tokyo.

If you could change anything about the world what would you change and why?
I’d ensure that the US had someone in charge who cared more about the people without money and health care rather than filling both his and his dad’s mates pockets. That would be a good starting point. I won’t bore you with the rest of the list. OR i’d go back in time and blow open the kennedy assassination… I think he was the least corrupt of a bad bunch and had he lived that would have affected the entire world positively. Ah to be honest i’d change a whole bunch of shit, the worlds a fucking mess.

What is one quote, or advice that has influenced your life?
When Nelson Mandela got out of prison after 27yrs he said some pretty good things. They weren’t entirely his words, but after being locked up as a political prisoner for so long and still to come out with that mentality was pretty amazing. This convicted so called terrorist got the nobel peace prize and became president. Pity most of those currently in power have not been convicted.

What kind of advice do you have for kids looking to get into the industry and BMX in general?
An opportunity to be involved is a good thing, but it’s like being in a plane and putting your own mask on first. In order to bring something to the scene, you might be best first sorting your own life decisions out. The bmx scene needs talented people, the passion you can still bring in later. Think about what you’d like to do, ask those involved and find a pro-active way in. Triple tailwhips might be good on Monday, but by Friday someone might just have done four…. Make sure that you’re ready to put in, before you start taking out. But do it.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Anyone who tried to make public that there really are viable alternatives to fossil fuel. Anyone who gives a shit about what happens in the world. Anyone who does something for other reasons besides money and greed. The guys on the team for putting their necks on the line and their support through the years and anyone who helped me directly whether it was a place to kip, a lift to wherever, an idea or just positive thinking on any given day.

Anything else you would like to say?
No I’m done, thanks. Appreciate it.

The new site for Ride BMX dropped today. The new site has been in the works for a while now and it looks awesome. I had the chance to play around on it before it was released and test it out. Once I got a feel for it I lined up a bunch of questions for the guy in charge of keeping that place fresh for you, Fat Tony. This is what he had to say about it!

Name:
Fat

Age:
25

Location:
Long Beach, CA

Company/Position:
Ride BMX Magazine, Associate Online Editor & Staff Photographer

I can’t imagine too many kids are unfamiliar with ridebmx.com, but give us the rundown anyway.
Well, just as Ride is the most well-known and respected freestyle BMX magazine in the world, ridebmx.com is the same. We hope to deliver news to the BMX community as quickly and accurately as possible, and we also strive to entertain our audience with photos, videos, articles, etc. while educating them through how-to videos and so on. One thing that people should keep in mind about our site is that we try to cater to a very broad audience—everyone from the kid who just got his first $200 complete and can’t bunnyhop, to the pros that we cover.

When did the site originally start?
I’m not 100 percent certain, but I think the site was built about nine years ago or something and has never been changed until now. I’ve been at Ride for almost two years and they’ve been talking about a redesign since long before I got here. The redesign was definitely way overdue and we are all excited about the changes and where the site is heading.

What is the most popular kind of content on the site?
Some of the most popular things on our site are the bike checks with the pros and how-to videos. Every once in a while we will have a video of a crazy trick or a few wild clips from Scotty Cranmer that get a ton of hits too. These days it’s all about the videos.

As the editor of the Web site, being a full-time job; about how much time do you spend working on the site and what are some of your responsibilities?
I spend an insane amount of time on the site, directly at the computer (updating, searching for news and videos, editing photos and videos, etc) and indirectly (shooting photos/videos, meetings, at events, etc). It would be hard to give an “hour per week” type of answer because I’m almost always doing something for the site—day and night. (Like answering these questions on a Saturday/Sunday night to help promote the new site) Obviously my main responsibility is to keep the site updated with news and any other kind of content I can come up with. I shoot photos, film and edit videos, do interviews, write articles, and do other things that end up on the site. But some of the things that I do that most people can’t see are talk to advertisers, have meetings with our editors, sales reps, Web developers, marketing department, etc.

Who are all of the other contributors to the site?
Most of the original content comes from me, but of course the other magazine editors give me content to post as well. And now, with the new site, they will be able to post content on their own. And up until the relaunch, I had been doing a lot of searching for and posting other people’s videos and photos. But now anyone can upload his or her own content directly to the site. We don’t have a lot of regular contributors, but a few that come to mind who have sent in several things in the past two years are Julien Muguet from France, Chris Saunders, Jonathan Zizzo, and Mykespace. It’s always awesome to see motivated people willing to contribute to the site. We are way more open to contributions than some people may think.

What kind of gear is used to update the site from computer, cameras, editing software; anything really involved with the Web site?
I have a brand new MacBook Pro that I use to edit photos and videos as well as update the site (and I always have to use a second monitor). On the computer I use the typical stuff: Microsoft Word and Text Edit for word processing, Photoshop and Bridge for photos, Final Cut for videos, and of course iChat and MySpace to holla at tha’ shorties, haha. For creating the content I use my Canon 20D with various Canon lenses and Vivitar and Quantum flashes. All the video I do for the site is done with a shitty little Sony handycam.

Our site is updated with a CMS (content management system) that was built specifically for the new Transworld sites. Prior to this new site design, I was using a CMS that was for all the brands in Bonnier Corp., our parent company. That system was incredibly difficult to use and very time consuming. I’m just starting out with our new system, but it is already much more efficient, and I know I’ll get better/quicker at it as I use it more.

Are you the man behind all of the coding and design of the Web site or are there other people who are in charge of that department?
Absolutely not… That job is something I’d never even attempt to tackle. Building the internals and back end of a site like ours would be insane. That’s why Transworld hired an amazing guy (Tracy Mikulec) to develop our new sites. He actually had to rebuild and launch all seven of the Transworld sites in six months, which is unheard of. He’s got a team of developers working for him that are doing incredible things behind the scenes with the coding and building and stuff. Big thanks to those guys for all the great work they’ve been doing. However, I have been and will continue to work closely with the development team on the design and testing of the site.

Is there another Ride BMX DVD in the works or any other big things like that?
Well, nine months ago we rebuilt the print magazine from the ground up by hiring a new art director and completely changing the direction of the magazine. The response from the industry, community, and our readers has been phenomenal. Now we just launched the new site and hope to get the same kind of reaction. We will continue to build and improve on the site in the coming months. Part of the great thing about how our site was built is that is has infinite room to grow and change. We aren’t tied down to anything like we were with the old site. So that takes care of the print and Web aspects of our brand. The third element of our media company is the video… Hopefully everyone reading this has already seen the incredible video we put out last year, Insight. (If not, click http://shop.transworld.net/products-page/ridebmx/insight/ to buy it.) At this point, there hasn’t been talk of another full length DVD anytime soon. However, you may see an increase in original, high-quality Web videos from us in the future from a full-time Web videographer. But nothing is certain about that position right now, so I’ll keep my mouth shut.

Where can people pick up the Ride BMX shirts, videos, and other stuff?
We have an online store through Transworld, (http://shop.transworld.net/products-page/ridebmx/) but most of our sales come from bike shops and mail-order shops. One of the things I’d like to have incorporated into the new site eventually is a feature where you can type in your zip code and find the closest place to buy the magazine, videos, and apparel. But for now you’ll just have to call all the shops around you and bug them to see if they carry our shirts and DVDs. I’m real psyched on the shirts we have right now, and we are in the process of designing a few more that will be dope, too.

What kind of advice do you have for people who are looking to start up a BMX Web site/blog?
Go for it. Before I worked at Ride, I built and maintained louisianabmx.com, and Ryan Fudger did a similar community site for San Diego before he got a job with the magazine. I’m not saying you’ll automatically get a job at Ride or anywhere in the industry from running a site, but doing things like that help you in so many ways, directly and indirectly. Also, be prepared for jealous people and “friends” that talk shit on you for doing something positive, giving them coverage, and getting ahead in life. Haters will hate, but those who don’t…well, let’s just say there’s a reason I’m doing this interview and they are not.

What are some interesting things about the Ride BMX Web site that nobody really knows about?
The first person to click through every single page in our entire site will win a free trip to the Ride headquarters to build up their dream bike for free. Then they will be flown anywhere in the world for a week to ride their new bike and film a video part for the next Ride DVD called, “That Was All A Lie.”

Um… Maybe the fact that until this redesign, every single item in the site for the past two years was put there by one person. And you wonder why I’m so stoked on the new site? Haha. Also, “bike check” is by far the most searched for thing in our Web site. This is interesting because there was actually a button on the navigation bar for bike checks. I guess that just shows how poorly the site was designed before the new one launched… The second most commonly searched for thing in our site? “Scotty Cranmer.”

Why does the site have so many URLs?
Haha, it’s annoying, isn’t it? When it was first built back in the stone ages it was called BMX Online. Not sure why, but it was. We eventually wanted to get away from that so it was more clear that it was Ride BMX Magazine’s Web site, so we started going for the ridebmx.com approach. And now that all the Transworld sites are getting rebuilt, they are all going to be on a transworld.net server. That way we can tell advertisers how many hits “Transworld” got when talking to companies that want to advertise on all of the sites. So bmxonline.com, ridebmx.com, and now bmx.transworld.net will all get you to the same place with the same content.

The new site has the option to create an account. What all will be available if somebody becomes a member?
After you register as a user on our site you’ll be able to post on the forum board, write comments (that’s right, no more anonymous posting), post your videos and photos, and create a blog that will have a direct URL of yourusername.transworld.net. (The blogs aren’t quite finished being developed so those will come later down the line.) The account you create will be the same for all Transworld sites, so if you are into skateboarding or motocross or whatever you’ll be able to post on their site without having to register more than once.

With the ability to upload and share videos and photos, there will also be the option to “Stoke” the uploaded item; what exactly does this mean and what happens when you receive a lot of Stoke points?
Basically we did away with the rating system that other sites use. No more five stars, and no more thumbs up or thumbs down. If you are stoked on the content, you simply click “Stoke.” After you click the Stoke button, whoever uploaded that content will be given a point. This allows people to search for the most Stoked items or the users that have the most Stoke points. It’s is a good incentive for people and companies to sign up because if you are a top user, you’ll be featured on the homepage. We also will do contests based off of the Stoke points…look for a really cool one with DC Shoes soon!

I noticed there are blogs; will it just be the editors of Ride doing the blogs? Or is it available to everyone?
For now, we have six featured blogs on the homepage including the four editors along with Brian Kachinsky and Jim Bauer. However, every registered user will be able to create a blog once that function is finished being developed. After a while, we may change it up and feature popular users, companies, or other pros on the homepage. The blogs from the staff will be a cool way to give a more personal feel to our brand. I’m stoked to see where the blogs go. I enjoy writing random shit just as a creative writing exercise or whatever, so I’m pumped to have a blog that people in BMX can read.

What will separate the Ride BMX Web site from sites like Vital BMX, InterBMX, and other sites with similar options?
I think our new interface is a lot more attractive and user friendly than what’s out there right now. And that’s coming from someone who spends a lot of time on BMX sites, not just someone who is stoked on their new site. Also, we will have the ability to change things and grow quickly from now on. We already have a ton of amazing things and features in the works for the future of the site. But really, the main thing is the content. We’ve always had great, original content, and lots of it. Since the site is easier and quicker to update, we can spend more time creating that content. And now you’ll be able to find it much easier and quicker, too. It’s hard to explain this without getting too into it, but once you start clicking through the site, you’ll understand what I mean. And of course our new “Spots” feature will separate us from everyone else once that drops.

Yeah, tell us about the “Spots” section…
Unfortunately that section isn’t being developed by the same people that are doing the rest of the site and is taking a little longer than expected so it’s not live yet. I’m not sure when it will be fully functional, but I can assure it will be worth the wait…
This is something I’m really excited about. I had the idea a long time ago and it was one of the first things I told our developer I wanted to see in the new site. To see it become a reality on our site is amazing. And to see it carried on to all of the other Transworld sites is icing on the cake. When I originally thought of this, I thought of it as a virtual road trip planner. I imagined you’d be able to look at a map and plan out a road trip based on spots you see on the map. Basically anyone can post any type of spot on the map and as time goes by and more people use the site, the map will become more populated. You can search for spots in a certain area or search for spots by type of spot or by most popular or whatever. I can’t wait to see how this thing takes off. Just think of the possibilities—they are endless.

What was the process like of getting the new site built and launched?
Since our magazine is part of a larger brand (Transworld) under a big corporation (Bonnier Corp.), it was quite a process. Transworld hired an outside guy to be in charge of the entire project—rebuilding all of the Transworld sites in six months. That guy, Tracy Mikulec, went to all the editors at each of the Transworld magazines to see what they needed/wanted with their new sites. Then he had to take all that information and start working on a master plan. I’ve worked pretty closely with him over the past six months on a wide variety of things regarding the site. There was a good bit of back and forth several times on things like the site design, the sections of the site, etc. Part of the big problem that Tracy had to work with was finding a happy medium between all of the Transworld sites—all seven of the brands are very different and we had to come up with a consensus of how the sites would be. Somehow he found the balance and the result is what we have now. There are always little things here and there that we would like to change to fit our title better, but as a whole, and considering the big picture, we are super happy with everything. And there is plenty of room to change and grow, which we will continue to do from here on out. Get stoked!

This is a quick edit of myself that I put together while off my bike after ACL surgery earlier this year. Sometimes it helps when I’m injured to see myself ride so I remember how much fun it is. The clips are from about a two-year period during ’06 and ’07. With work, travel, and the injury, I haven’t been able to ride much lately, which is why I don’t have any new riding photos for this interview.

This is a short teaser for the new Web site that someone from Transworld Surf did for their site and I slapped our logo on it. If you ever visit any of the other Transworld sites, they will all be getting updated in the coming weeks/months.

Ryan is a very talented rider from Mutiny that just happens to be from one of the capitals of BMX- Austin, Texas. He has a very interesting and positive look on life and riding that makes it very clear the kind of person he is. With that being said here is his interview. Enjoy, and let us know how you feel about it!

Photo: Devon Hutchins

Name:
Ryan Smith

Age:
18

Location:
Austin, Texas

Sponsors:
Mutiny, Empire, Vclub, Etnies, Odyssey

Years Riding:
12

What was it that first got you into BMX and did you ever expect it to turn into what it is for you today?
– I first started riding whenever my dad built a little kicker ramp on our driveway when I was six. Back then I didn’t even know what BMX was, I was just into jumping the ramp. Never could I have imagined that I would be where I am today.

Your on the Mutiny team these days, how is that going for you and when will we be seeing some signature stuff out of you?
– Riding for Mutiny is one of the best things that could’ve happened. Everybody on the team is rad and a close group of friends. I couldn’t really ask for much more. My signature frame The Mystic just recently came out. There might be more plans in the future. We will see.

I know the Mutiny team just went on a trip, did you get to go on that? Do you have any plans for other trips, filming, photos, or anything like that going on with them and you anytime soon?
– I did not go on the most recent trip to the northwest, but I think there is a trip planned for this fall out to the northeast. I’m also beginning to work on the new Empire video as well as a Vclub project.

What is the coolest thing about being a “professional” BMX rider?
– The coolest thing for me is getting to travel and meeting so many rad people.

If I remember right you were one of the guys who started V-Club clothing. What’s up with that these days and is there still stuff available for people to get their hands on? How about any team trips or really good web videos like back in the day?
– Vclub is still alive and kicking, a new shirt design was just recently released. Also we just took a mini team trip to Maryland to film for the next video project.

You live in one of the top BMX cities in America, what is that like for you to have so many talented riders around to hang out and ride with?
– I’ve been real fortunate to grow up riding in such a thriving scene. The good thing about Austin is that there are so many people here that ride and shred. Its easy to go out and have a good session. Everybody feeds off of each other and you never have to worry about riding by yourself.

What is a typical day like for you anyways?
– Wake up around noon and try to get some people to ride. After that we’ll usually go for a swim and then find some night time festivities somewhere.

Where are some of your favorite spots you have had the chance to ride over the years?
– I had a good time riding in Toronto last summer. But one of my favorite spots has to be the Boulder park in Colorado.

Where are some places you would really like to go to at some point?
– I’d like to do some more traveling outside the U.S, maybe Spain, Italy, or Germany.

Clearly your real dialed on a bike, what are some of those BMX tricks that you can’t get sick of?
– Tabletops, turndowns, nac nacs, 360s

What are some tricks, lines, spots, or anything that seem to give you the most trouble and cannot seem to get done?
– I’ve always had trouble doing tailwhips, they never seem to work for me

Who or what are some of the biggest influences on your riding?
– Garret Byrnes, Joe Rich, Chris Hallman, Chase Hawk, friends that I’m riding with, and music.

What is something BMX could use less of, and what could it use more of?
– BMX could use less shit talk and internet message boards and more abubacas.

Photo: Devon Hutchins

Outside of BMX what are some things you are into?
– skateboarding, photography ( www.jpgmag.com/people/ryansheasmith ), reading, swimming, hanging out with friends, playing guitar, listening to music

You seem to be pretty into filming and editing. What kind of camera gear, editing software, and computer are you using?
– I just bought a Panasonic dvx100B and I edit with Adobe Premiere on a hand me down Dell desktop.

If you could be granted 3 wishes, what would you ask for and why?
– 1. To have a never ending travel budget to travel the world
2. That the Bush administration never came to power
3. I would give the third wish away to someone that needed it, haha

What is the scariest shit you have ever experienced in your life?
– Witnessing a fatal car wreck 100 feet in front of me on I-35

What or who are some of your biggest influences on your life?
– My parents, My brother, musicians, John Lennon, people willing to fight the good fight

Do you spend much time on the computer? Any favorite websites?
– whatreallyhappened.com
–digg.com
–defgrip.net
–jpgmag.com
–mutinybikes.com

Do you work at all or is BMX your full time job?
– I work at a bike shop assembling complete bikes.

If you couldn’t live in Austin, Texas anymore, where would you go and why?
– I would want to move to a city with the same liberal feel as Austin, so maybe somewhere like San Fransisco.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
– graduate college, travel as much as possible, meet new people, have fun riding my bike

What is some of the best advice you have ever been given?
– Find your dream and pursue it to the fullest. If you are patient and want it badly enough the universe will usually conspire in your favor.

What kind of advice do you have for kids just getting into BMX?
– Remember to always have fun with it, don’t let what others think of your riding determine the way you ride, be an individual.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
– I would like to thank my parents, my brother, all my friends and family, Joe and Gaz at Mutiny, Jeremy at Vclub, Tina and Tom at Empire, Povah at Etnies, Jim B at Odyssey, everyone on the Mutiny team, everyone I’ve ridden with and had a good time with.

I am willing to bet a lot of you didn’t know the guy behind Vital BMX is the guy who started Ride BMX years ago. I caught up with Brad McDonald and had the chance to ask him some questions about Vital BMX and Vital Media. I hope you like this one! Let us know in the comments!

Vital Media is the company you are the head man behind along with Todd Toth. What exactly is that company and when was everything started including Vital BMX?
We got things rolling in March, 2006. Prior to that, I was running TransWorld Media, Todd Toth was in charge of advertising for some of the magazines at TransWorld, and Mark Losey used to be the editor of Ride BMX. The first couple months were spent setting everything up, and the site officially launched on August 15, 2006.

How many other people are involved with Vital?
There are about 10 of us who are full-time or part-time, plus a lot of freelance contributors. The main content people for Vital BMX are Mark Losey (Content Director), Kyle Carlson, Glenn Milligan, Terrell Gordy, Alex Auerbach, Brett Rohlfing, Stewart Munro, Larry Rhodes, Dan Panzone, Mike McQueen, Juca Favela, and more. There are definitely more contributors than this, but that’s our regular crew.

Brad on the Left, Todd on the right

Vital BMX is an “online community”, so is it essentially a Myspace/Facebook for action sports people? And what are some of the features that separate Vital from all the other action sports websites out there?
Vital’s overall mix is unique and a little hard to label. It’s a mix of professionally-created content, user-uploaded videos, social networking, BMX products, forums, etc. We’ve got different things we think riders are into. Facebook and MySpace are aimed at everybody, so it’s a completely different type of community. It’s kind of like the difference between being at big party when you’re in high school versus being at the skatepark or trails. The party is good if you’re trying to meet girls, the second one is better for hanging out with your friends who ride.

There was a site redesign a few months back, does that mean there won’t be any changes in the near future or is there going to be some new additions sometime soon?
We definitely have a lot of big ideas in the works. The redesign that people saw was actually part of an entire rebuild that we did. We spent about six months rewriting the code for our site so it would function properly, and also be a better platform to build on. The graphic part is what people obviously noticed, but that was a small part of the whole project. We’ll be steadily rolling out improvements for the rest of this year. If anyone has specific ideas, just let me know. Things are planned out for the next several months, but I always like to hear feedback.

With new riders, videos, photos, news, and all that stuff changing at such a fast pace due to internet, about how much time a day does it take for all the contributors to keep up with everything?
Fortunately, Mark and Kyle handle the content on a day to day basis, so I’m not sure about this question. I have enough other stuff to worry about!

Mark Losey!

Vital gets a large amount of traffic daily, what kinds of stats are you looking at on average in a month, and what are some of the problems you tend to run into most often with the websites?
We’re growing so fast that there really isn’t a typical month – almost every month is bigger than the last. Traffic has grown 100% in the past twelve months. Last month, Vital BMX had 204,000 unique visitors. Based on all the third-party info I’ve seen, as well as the traffic that other sites are claiming, we’re the biggest BMX site in the world. In just the past month, we’ve had visitors from 147 different countries. As far as problems go, it’s always something different. You fix one problem, and another one pops up. If we didn’t have so much traffic, it wouldn’t be nearly as difficult, so I guess we can’t complain.

You and Todd have been in the BMX industry for many years working for Ride BMX and other magazines. What was it like to be able to start something like this and have it become as popular as it has?
I started Ride BMX magazine out of my bedroom when I was 21. I built it up and eventually sold it to TransWorld, although I stayed on to continue running it. Todd started working at Ride with me about eleven years ago. Mark Losey became the editor about 10 years ago. So we all have a lot of experience taking something that’s small and building it into something a lot bigger. That’s pretty much the same thing with Vital, except it’s growing much faster than the magazine ever did. I think once you’ve done something that was successful, you have higher expectations for yourself going forward, and that makes you work harder to achieve it.

It seems like every month you guys have some sort of big contest like the Haro and GT contests. What is coming up next and what are some other things you guys have in the works?
Our members and advertisers are our lifeblood, so we’re always into ideas that will benefit them. I can’t really talk about what we have coming up, but there some good ideas in the pipeline.

Kyle Carlson!

A lot of people who come to the website are not signed up. What are some bonuses for signing up and becoming a member?
We’ve never required people to register in order to view the site. If someone just wants to watch videos, read the news, and lurk around, that’s fine with us. If someone else wants to contribute to the site, that’s even better. But we require people to register in order to post content. This makes people think about what they’re posting, which helps keep the tone of the site much more positive. Anonymity on the Internet inevitably leads to people acting like assholes. Probably more important, though, being a member let’s people establish themselves within the BMX scene. In the past, if someone wanted to get noticed, they practically had to move to southern California, and become friends with the magazine guys. Now, people anywhere in the world can make a name for themselves on Vital, whether it’s as a rider, photographer, videographer, or just someone with an interesting perspective in the forums. It’s definitely leveled the playing field.

I’ve noticed a lot of videos and photos that are featured are from freelance guys. Who should people contact if they have a higher quality submission? And do you guys ever use member submissions as features?
Mark Losey is the main guy for content. You can contact him at mlosey (at) vitalbmx (dotcom).

Obviously it would be a sweet gig to work for Vital BMX, do you guys ever do internships or are you looking to hire anybody for anything in the near future?
I’m always interested in talented and hard-working people. The main thing I look for is someone who is already doing for fun what they hope to get a job doing. Too many people think they can’t do something until it’s their job. That’s like thinking you can’t be a good rider unless you’re sponsored. I can be reached at bmcdonald (at) vitalmedianet (dotcom).

Do you guys ever sponsor events at all? Who should people contact to get involved with you guys?
We haven’t gotten involved with events, but we would if it was the right opportunity and a good fit.

Where would you like to see Vital BMX and Vital Media Network go in the coming years?
Continual improvement. We’re the biggest, but we don’t take our position for granted. We’re always striving to make the site better.

What kind of advice do you have for people out there looking to start up a website or blog?
Just get started. I think sites like BMX Union are great. There are very few technical hurdles to starting a blog, designing graphics, or making videos these days. It’s really about the talent and persistence of the individual, rather than who they know or how much equipment their parents will buy them.

Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for this interview, and thank you to the members and companies that are supporting us.

Kenny is a ripper. He has a super badass part in the new Peg Leg DVD which also is super badass go buy it.
I sent some questions over to him to see what he has going on. Expect to see a few more from the Peg Leg crew. Let him know what you think with a comment.

Name:
Kenny Horton

Photo: Sven

Location:
Newport News, VA

Sponsors:
Peg-leg, and ECD

Years riding:
8 years

Your one of the Peg Leg guys, what is Peg Leg to you and what do you feel is the most important thing to your crew?
Peg-Leg is fun to be apart of, Devin is a real laid back guy and the road trips are always a blast. Either way, if your with Jeff Martin you’re going to have a good time.

Your part from the Peg Leg DVD is out on Vimeo, which kicks MAJOR ass. How long did it take you to film your part and how do you feel about it?
Thank you. We filmed for about 2 years i think. I feel pretty good about my part. I just liked filming for it and I can’t wait to start another project.

Obviously you kill it on street and park, is that all you ride or did you grow up racing and riding trails?
I grew up riding street and ramps. We’ve always had ramps in the backyard and street is everywhere you go. I have fun riding trails but they’re just hard to come by in my area.

Photo: Justin W

It would appear you are riding with brakes. How do you feel about the whole brakeless thing and why aren’t you into that?
Everyone I ride with is brakeless. It’s tempting to take them off but then I’d miss out on skid contests.

You clearly are not too scared when it comes to doing big things, what do you use to get you motivated to ride and do the things you do?
I’ve always liked the feeling of doing bigger things. But When I do get scared i usually talk myself into it. I don”t like to walk away from things so i just think “might as well”.

Where can you typically be found riding?
in my hometown, I go to Richmond a lot. Va Beach is cool too.

I heard you have travelled a fair amount. Where are some of your favorite places you have had the chance to travel to?
Canada was amazing. I recently went to NYC and that is my favorite place. All the riders are really nice and motivated. it’s like a big family up there.

Where are some places you would like to go to someday?
I’d like to go around europe. rotterdam i hear is worth a trip

What are some tricks you could never get sick of doing?
tabletops and barspins

What tricks drive you the craziest trying to figure out?
turndowns. somedays i can do them and some days i can’t

Have you had any crazy injuries from riding at all?
I’ve been pretty lucky. I’ve broken my foot, broken my knee cap with some ligament damage. I was off my leg for a year. Other then that just your normal stitches, concussions/knock out stuff.

If you could go on a road trip with any 5 people, who would you pick and where would you go?
Oba Stanley, Devin feil, Jeff martin, Alex Platt and Butcher cause he’s badass.
It would be cool to make a trip to Paris.

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
I’d probably be more into art and trying to do something with that.

Photo: Justin W

Outside of BMX what are some of your interests?
Art is a big part of my life. I film and edit weddings. I’m slowly building my collection of LP’s.

I get a vibe that your an artistic dude? What kind of stuff are you into like drawing and things?
usually my ideas come out of nowhere, traveling inspires me, I’ll come home from a trip with different things that i want to paint. Lately, I’ve been into graffiti.

How do you feel about school? Did you go or are you in college for anything?
I think school is pretty important but at the same time, it’s not for everyone. I go to school now for Computer Art.

If you could have 3 wishes, what would they be and why?
#1 to wake up everyday with $500 in my pocket so my friends and I could do nothing but hangout and ride.
#2 to have a house with fullpipes as hallways and a water slide out of the 2nd story window into a pool.
#3 have John Travolta is my personal pilot to fly anywhere.

If you could be sponsored by any company, bmx or not bmx related, who would you pick and why?
PBR beer, because i like to have a good time

What kind of music are you into? Anything you think people should check out?
I’m into all sorts of stuff. Metal, Rap, Jazz, Blues.
check out “your mommas on crack rock” by The Doggs. that songs awesome.

What are some of the all time best movies?
“Dont be a menace to south central while drinking your juice in the hood” is an awesome movie. Also “the wrong guy” with Dave Foley,

Do you spend much time on the computer? Any favorite websites?
on rainy days. the come up is dope and random art websites

Photo: Justin W

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
I”d like to graduate from school and travel to the west coast.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?
never take things for granted.

What kind of life advice do you have for people?
have a good time.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Devin and the whole Peg-Leg team. ECD, Everyone who has let me stay at their house. My mom and sisters. my neighbors for putting up with ramp jams at the house.

The first time I heard of Jesse was probably a year or two ago on Bikeguide when I saw some of his videos and was super impressed. I really like to do a interview with a pretty unheard of person from time to time because those are the dudes who are riding for fun and have the same dreams as the rest of us who haven’t got a shot at the big leagues. So this is his interview, enjoy and let him know how you liked it!

Name:
Jesse Trnka

Location:
Waterdown, ON, Canada

Sponsors:
None

Years Riding:
Just over 5, I believe.

Your a talented kid who is under the radar. Have you ever been one to try and get sponsored at all or are you just in it for the fun?
I pretty much just do it for fun. I mean, I wouldn’t turn somebody down if they wanted to hook me up. Unless of course I wasn’t stoked on what they made and what not.

You have some good style, did you race or ride trails growing up? Or is it more or less just natural?
Thanks! I guess it’s all natural. I’ve never pushed myself to change my style of riding, or anything like that.

From the looks of it you are very into BMX, what is it that gets you so pumped up on it?
It’s pretty much the number one thing in my life, aside from friends. I couldn’t even imagine myself not riding a bike. Everything about the sport get’s me stoked. Seeing friends land new tricks and watching the sport progress. My brother also plays a large part in my love for bmx and I’m happy I got him into it. Although watching him learn stuff first try that I stressed forever, is kind of a pain.

What is your riding scene like where your from? I know there has been a few good web videos that have come out of you guys.
There’s not actually too many riders in waterdown, about six if i’m correct. It’s definately a good scene though, for the size of the town. Everybody seems to learn real quick, and isn’t very intimidated to try new things.

Do you get to travel much and where are some of your favorite places you have had the chance to ride?
Myself and my friends try to go ride new places every weekend, because riding the same park starts to get old after a while. I would have to say that my favourite park at the moment would be the new one in Brampton. I’m always down for a street session in Kitchener aswell. I’m not much of a street rider though, but I try.

Where are some places you would like to check out someday, and do you have any road trips or anything in the works soon?
I really want to go ride the Autumn Ramp Park, it looks like soo much fun. At the moment we don’t really have any major trips planned, aside from the regular weekend adventures.

How do you feel about contests? Are you into them? Do you plan on riding any anytime soon?
Contests are pretty fun. I definately enjoy the rush of competing and pushing myself to try new tricks and go higher and faster then I normally would. I was hoping on attending the Muskoka Woods jam this year, but i’ve yet to hear anything about it. Metro Jam aswell, but they are only taking a very small amount of amateur riders for some reason. So I do not think i’ll be going to any contests anytime soon.

Who or what are some of the biggest influences on BMX for you?
Pro riders influenced me before, but now the stuff they do is just insane. So I can’t really relate to it anymore. My friends have always influenced me a lot with my riding, and definately a lot more now then ever. Especially my best friend Matt Drew, i’ve known that kid my whole life and rode with him from the get go. Without riding with him, i’de have nowhere near the amount of skill i have now.

You have a pretty solid list of tricks going for you, what are some of your favorites you could never get sick of?
Thank you Kurt! I hate to say this, and kids will hate me for it, but I love tailwhips. It may be the fact that it took me soo long to learn them. I’ll never lose my love for inverts either, they just feel soo wild. I’m also a large fan of barspins.

What are some tricks that give you the most trouble?
Manual to 180. I had them on lockdown before, and now I completely suck at them. Fufanus also scare the crap out of me because I think too much about my brakes slipping.

Have you had any bad injuries riding bikes or are you pretty lucky?
Most of my injuries have occured off a bike. I believe the only ones I have from riding are sprained ankles from rolling them. Oh yea, I stretched ligaments in my knee also, from my front tire staying on the deck when I wanted to drop in from a footjam. My knee still gives me problems because I never really let it heal.

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
I actually can’t give an answer for this, I really can’t picture myself doing anything else. I’m obsessed!

Outside of riding, what are some of your interests?
Filming definately, and making web videos. Other then that, I just hang out with friends when I’m not riding or working.

Your into filming and editing, how long have you been doing that and what got you into it?
I’ve had my camera for about two years now, which was pretty much when I got into filming and editing. Two people got me into it, Cole Dow from Waterdown, and Brad Hill from St. Catharines. I was always stoked to see their videos and editing styles.

What kind of gear do you have for filming, editing, and everything?
Nothing fancy really. I film with a VX2100, and use a death lens from time to time. As for editing, I use Adobe Premiere Pro. They get the job done.

Have you ever done any DVD’s or have any plans of doing one?
I was planning on making a full length foreverbmx video, but I kind of got sick of the whole foreverbmx thing and i’m done with it now. So that’s not going to happen anymore, but I’m sure I’ll make a dvd eventually, just from the local riding scene.

Do you go to college or anything at all, if yes what for?
No I do not, I’ve yet to figure out what I want to do with my life, aside from riding as long as I can. Some people know what they want to do, some people don’t.

What is your ideal dream job and why?
My ideal dream job would be not having a job. I guess if I really had to choose, I wouldn’t mind getting into custom car work. I love modifying and changing stuff.

Do you work at all right now and how is that?
I’m currently doing landscaping. Pulling 10 hour days at the least. Working sucks, but everybody needs money.

If you were to find a bag on the side of the road with a large sum of money in it, what would you do?
I’d make my bike completely dialed. Then I would pay back my parents so they can stop bugging me all the time. I would also go on a trip somewhere really nice. Then I’d probably save the rest.

If you could be sponsored by ANY company, bmx or non bmx related, who would you pick and why?
I’d probably have to go with Monster energy drinks. I can’t get enough of those things! I’m always thirsty when I’m riding so what would be better then free energy drinks?

What kinds of music are you into? Any good ones you think people should check out?
I pretty much listen to everything, aside from country, pop, and jazz. I’m sure there are a few other genres I’m missing, but oh well. I can’t say I have any favourites at the moment.

In your opinion what are some of the best movies out there?
If we’re talking about riding movies, I’d have to say a video that covers every aspect of riding. Every new video these days are all street, not that there’s anything wrong with that. They are still very amusing to watch. So yea, a video with park, street, and dirt is what I enjoy watching most.

If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
Having an insane amount of strength to use when you want, would be amazing. Being able to go invisible would also be incredible.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
I wouldn’t mind having my career figured out within a few years. Winning the lottery would be great too, but like that is going to happen.

What is some of the best advice you have ever been given?
Stop being a bitch and land the trick. That one is pretty high up there in good advice. That, or the constant “Do it, you won’t.” from my friends.

What kind of advice do you have for kids looking to get into filming, editing, and BMX in general?
When it comes to filming and editing, do your RESEARCH first. Know what you really want and what product is going to meet your needs. As for riding, if your looking for a bike, go to your local bike shop or even check out the internet, there’s always somebody who is willing to help a new guy out. Also, do not be intimidated by the other bikers at the park or riding spot, they aren’t going to bite your head off. If you ask nicely they might even give you advice on tricks and techniques.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
I definately have to thank you Kurt, for giving me the oportunity to do this interview. My fellow bike riders and friends ofcourse. My brother Zack. My parents for driving me everywhere, before I had a car. There’s probably more.

Anything else you would like to say?
My last name is spelt properly, with only one vowel. Never be afraid to try new things. Thank you.

With the recent interview that popped up on the Fit site, I was worried my questions were going to be repetitive. Luckily it was fairly short and this one ended up being fairly long so there might be some fresh stuff for you. Mike Aitken is an amazing rider and a huge influence on a lot of people including myself. When he said he would be into doing an interview my jaw dropped and I probably could have asked questions for days. This is what came from it. Enjoy, and let him know what you think.

Photo: Fit

Name:
Mike Aitken

Location:
Salt lake city, Utah

Sponsors:
Fitbikeco,fox clothing, odyssey,lotek, rockstar energy drink

Years Riding:
14

Your 4th version of your frame the Fit S3.5 has been released, and it looks like it has been selling like crazy. How do you feel about having it out and the response? I heard somewhere your frame was the top selling frame too?
I am very proud of everything fit and s&m have done for me and this bike especially I never expected it to go this far…I would just like to thank everyone who has helped support fit over the years, you have helped make it what it is…

How are things going at Fit right now, do you have any other signature parts in the works? How about video parts, web videos, road trips, or just news in general?
Everything is good, we are doing another full length next summer and working on a few short web trips for this year. As far as parts the frame is huge and were going to focus on that for a bit..

With your part in Electronical being awesome, how stoked were you for that to come out? Also how about any odyssey news like signature stuff, or trips planned, news, etc?
thanks, Yeah the premiere was nuts, it felt good to be at the trails again, the vid turned out amazing and I am proud to be in it. Nothing new as far as I know, but you never know.

Photo: Fit

How about the other sponsors? Any news or anything going> on?
Rockstar is sponsoring a few events this year, lotek is doing a vid and filming in s.f., We are continuing to work on a jean with fox other that I don’t know.

Last I checked you were doing the brakeless thing, is that still going? How do you feel about all that anyways?
Yeah, it’s all about fun for me.

Now that it is summer with trails season in full effect, do you have any big plans for some local trails or some trips to some places to ride?
Ride tanner when possible, and I plan to go out east and film and ride for anthem 2

It seems like you have had the chance to go all over the world over the years, where are some of your most memorable places you have been?
South africa was amazing, Japan is cool, pretty much everywhere is new and exciting.

Where are some places left on your list of places you would like to go someday?
I would like to go to south america someday, new zealand,I don’t know I never thought I would make it where I have so really anywhere.

With the “contest season” kicking off, do you plan on hitting any up like the Dew Tour this year?
Possibly but as far as being on the circuit…not interested, I got an invite to superpark X games and thats enough for me.

Even though this is older news, how do you feel about x-games taking the dirt side of things out and pretty much changing everything else BMX related?
Not in to it myself, but hey they don’t care about me, they care about the people paying.

Do you plan on slowing down at all in the next few years with riding or are you still feeling 100%?
I have some shoulder issues this summer, so this year might be a little slow but hopefully by next year I will be back to normal and from there as long as it is still fun I am along for the ride.

Photo: Chris Thibo

I’m sure this has been asked before, but what is the trick to getting style on a bike?
It it all depends on if you care to make things look the way you want or you just want to do the tricks, it is all in your mindset and goals.

If you could go on a trip with a few people, who would you choose, where would you go, and why?
o.g. square one team, Japan, When that group gets together their is never a dull moment, no one gets but hurt we all hand it verbally to each other and it is just fun to be around people who don’t take things to heart, oh yeah and japan kicks ass..

If you could change anything about BMX what would you change and why?
Less is more..

Outside of riding what are some things you are into?
Cars, motorcycles fishing, snowmobiling, family, working on my house.

How’s the family life going? Is the kid on a bike yet? Any more kids on the way?
It’s going good, yes he is learning, not yet I have got my hands full right now.

What are some songs you will never get sick of?
Any cash, dylan, misfits, slayer… too many to list.

What are some movies you will never get sick of?
smokey and the bandit, super troopers joe dirt.. anything comical

What is the craziest thing you have ever seen/done/been involved with in some way?
Having a kid, it is a constant challenge and it lasts a lifetime, crazy shit ends..

Photo: Fit

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
to stay healthy and ride trails more often.

If you could spend the day with anybody, alive, dead, or fictitious, who would you choose and why?
my grandparents, did’nt have enough time to get to know them.

What is some of the best advice you have ever been given?
Remember who you are..

What kind of advice do you have for kids who are getting> into BMX?
Have fun with it you never know how short it is until it’s over.

Photo: Odyssey

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
I would like to thank my family sponsors and friends for all of the help over the years.

Anything else you would like to say?
go ride, typing sucks!