Chase DeHart Interview

Sorry about the lack of updates this last week, life gets crazy sometimes. That is beside the point of this post. What the point is, is Chase DeHart.
What can I say about Chase that nobody knows already? The guy is all over, people love him! Tons of fresh signature parts, even fresher video parts, and just the best intensions of what BMX is all about. I finally got the courage to ask him if he would be in for an interview and obviously it all worked out. Maybe you will learn something about him you never knew before?

Name:
Chase DeHart

Location:
west deptford, south jersey

Sponsors:
Fit, Lotek, Fremont, Shadow Conspiracy, Two by four store

Years riding:
I think close to 8?

What was it that originally got you into BMX and did you ever dream that you would be in the position you are in today?
I grew up skateboarding, but all my friends rode pretty much, for a while i would just skate with them while they rode, and just always picked up their bikes and had fun with it, than eventually my buddy randy convinced me to get a bike, and i’ve been riding everyday since. and fuuck no did i ever think i’d be in this position, back then being recognized for bike riding or skateboarding wasn’t realistic, it’s not like how things are now with the internet and everything, you rode with your friends and that was it, there was nothing to keep you in touch with it besides videos and magazines, and to you that was un-touchable.

How are things going over at Fit? Will there be any changes to your frame come 09′? Any other signature goods, big trips, or filming in the works?
Things are perfect at fit, I have been involved with them for a long time now, and it’s exactly what i want to be involved with, it isn’t all buisness over there, it’s much more than a sponsor, much love for everyone over there. and i will be changing my frame up a bit for 09, not geomoetry wise, but a few new features to get the frame exactly how we want. no big trips planned yet, but next year the new video will be coming out, and i know the team is really excited to film for it.

You have been on Shadow for a while now. How have things been going with them? Anything cool going on with you and them you can tell us about?
Things with shadow have been awesome, everyone involved are real good people, the team trip was a lot of fun, it’s been busy lately, but there is some plans for some things to happen i think, i know they like to keep what they have in the works on the low haha, so i don’t want to ruin anything for them.

Anything cool going on at Lotek or just the usual stuff?
yea rich always has ideas so i’m sure there is alot going on, but we are finishing up a signature shoe right now, really excited about that, and always staying busy with fremont.

You just got back from Mega Tour, how did it go?
yea i went with the come up and i actually just got back a few days ago, i expected a good time and definetly had a good time, the crew was real fun and the places we went had real good riding, but we got into some trouble later in the trip, i have been away for the last few months so after that i needed to head home early, good advice would be to never be around a drunk 18 year old girl, fess up or you’re getting body slammed.

Do you have any other big trips planned anytime soon other than that?
i feel like i’ve been pretty non-stop with trips lately, so after that one i just am going to be chillen at home for a bit since the weather is perfect around this time of year and wait for something to pop up, but i will be filming for a props section while i’m home, so i’m real excited to get that going.

Where are some places you would really like to check out at some point?
australia and barcelona haha, typical answer, but i’m sure it’s because they are both so good to go to, i just got back from colombia last week, that was seriously the best place i have been, i would like to go back there as much as i could, shout out to the colombia riders!

If you could go on a trip with 5 dudes and an unlimited budget, who would you take and where would you go?
I’m having the hardest time narrowing it down to 5 dudes, i’d take randy brown, eddie cleveland, chase hawk, van homan, rich hirsch, mike aitken, robbie morales, all my close local friends and anyone who wanted to go haha, we could go no where for all I care, anywhere is fun with a crew you can choose.

It seems like your riding gets a lot of attention. A lot of love and a lot of hate, how do you feel about all the attention? Any words for the lovers and haters?
I honestly am not good with the attention, the good attention or the bad attention, and alot of people who don’t know me are doing there best to judge me, why waste your time, come hang out with me for a while, than say what you think. as for my riding, it’s just my riding, i don’t think anything of it, i enjoy every type of riding, so it’s annoying to hear everyone try to tell you what they’re doing is better and why, do what you like, let others do what they like, don’t waste your time hating.

Who or what are some of the biggest influences on your riding or at least were growing up?
When I started riding, I was always watching garrett byrnes, van homan, brian wizmerski, these guys were all local, so i would always hear about them and see them around, so i’d definetly say they had a huge influence, besides all my friends growing up. also mike aitken, i remember seeing the first square one video, and just watching his part over and over, him and garrett make riding look so fun. now a days i’m influenced by everything i see, there are so many good riders and good people i look up to, it would take forever to list them all and explain why.

What is something that you don’t ever plan on doing on a BMX?
i’ll do whatever on a BMX, the only thing i wouldn’t do is take what i do seriously, see way too much shit talking on what other people like to do but praise themselves on what they are doing, i’ll have fun doing anything on my bike.

People seem to like this question… What is your best story involving you, cops/security/homeless people/hookers/midgets/pissed off pedestrians?
we were on megatour a few days ago, having a good time, we decide to stay at this girls house (i won’t say her name because she would like that too much) so we could be closer to the brooklyn area to ride the next day, the girl of the house gets drunk, decides to throw beer bottles and whatever she could find out of her own 15th story window, doesn’t realize she almost hits a cop car driving by, the cop stops the car, and has beer bottles being thrown down past him still, he calls for back up, they figure out which appartment it was and come in and arrest all of us, they were so pissed because they thought we were all purposely throwing bottles at him, when really none of us threw any, they find a few more things to get us in trouble for, and take us in, we all got put in central booking for 22 hours or something like that, and now have to go back to court next month to figure the rest out, it sucked, but hopefully it gets cleared up, i wish i could remember another story since most just heard this one, but it’s the only one i can think of right now.

Obviously you are brakeless, but what are your views on it as a whole? I know a lot of the brakeless dudes hate on riders with brakes. Could you ever see yourself with brakes again?
I have no view on brakeless or brakes, and especially no hate towards brakes, they are both just preference, brakes used to be fun for me, now brakeless is fun for me, one day a bike might not be fun for me at all you know? it doesn’t matter in the end, ride what you like, 6 years ago i would have said i would never ride brakeless, so i’m not going to say i would never ride brakes again, i will ride what i am interested in at the time, right now, brakeless is the best feeling to me and i can’t see myself riding brakes, if that will change i don’t know or care, it’s no big deal.

If you could change anything about BMX, what would you change and why?
There is nothing to change, bmx to me is just riding my bike, everything else is what i choose to pay attention to, if i wanted anything to change, i just would stop paying attention to it, everything that is going on is always going to exist, it just depends if you want it to effect you or not.

Where do you think you would be if you never got into BMX?
hopefully i’d be alright and be doing something else i enjoy doing, but it’s wild around my area, heavy drugs have been taking over my area for a while now, and have been taking over my friends, i’d be scared to ever fall into that and i hope they get out of it, shit is too much.

What are you up to when your not riding your bike?
Just whatever, hanging out with my girlfriend and my dogs and my friends pretty much, I ride a whole lot so i don’t do much else, i don’t own one anymore but riding a quad or dirtbike is always so much fun, i want to get one of those small pitbikes real soon haha.

I remember that old road fools when you got invited on half way, you seemed like a really shy dude. Are you actually pretty shy or am I just imagining things?
yea, i’m seriously really shy, i’ve been getting better with it, but when i first meet people, i have a hard time being open when talking to them, but i warm up eventually, not with a camera though, talking on camera is impossible for me.

You have had the opportunity to experience so much because of BMX, what are a few things you think anyone should experience at some point in their life?
Just being happy, i’d say traveling because traveling is great, and it would be nice if everyone got a chance to do it, but those experiences don’t last forever, be happy with what you have, go ride your town or your local park and be happy with it, make some life long friends, i have had great experiences, but nothing has been better than that, everything else goes away after a while.

What are some of your favorite bands or songs?
i listen to alot of hardcore and alot of slow and heavy stuff, the melvins, kylesa, have heart, tragedy, i’m stopping already sorry haha, i would have made a huge list, i’m always listening to music.

Seen any good movies lately?
i have seen movies lately but i can’t think of them right now, just some comedy ones, anything funny is all i’m into really, movies like super bad and all the fridays, ricky bobby haha, taledega nights.

I doubt you are working or anything now, but what kind of work did you do before the sponsors came in? Did you ever go to college or anything like that?
I haven’t done much with my life haha, i started traveling when i was pretty young, i didn’t finish high school, i never had a consistent job, everything kind of went fast, i’m sure i’ll pay the price later on though, but until than i have been doing and will be doing what i want so i would never complain.

If you could change anything about the world, what would you change and why?
just obvious political shit.

If you could be sponsored by any company that has nothing to do with BMX, who would you pick and why?
vanilla dutch masters, seriously, i wish dutch masters would read this and get in touch with me haha, i have a collection of boxes from the last 8 months or so, i want to try and take a picture of it for the interview, i’m up to like 200 or more of the 4 packs and 4 boxes of the 55 packs haha, having them as a sponsor would be so good and save me so much money, they are the best, vanilla only though.

Spend much time on the computer? Any favorite sites?
yea when i’m at home i usually check the computer once a day probably, but when i’m away it’s good to get away from it and not look at it, i check
www.fitbikeco.com
www.lotekbrand.com
www.theshadowconspiracy.com
www.twobyfourstore.com
www.thecomeupbmx.net
sorry i played that professional haha.

What is your keys to success with the ladies? Have you ever used “I am a pro BMX rider” as a pick up line?
i never have used the “i’am a pro bmx rider” line, i have a girlfriend, so i don’t pick up girls, but the key is to play it cool haha, act in control and handle yourself, say what’s up and keep it simple, let them come to you, haha i feel gay answering that, shit will work though haha.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
i really don’t know, hopefully doing what i’m doing now, little older, little smarter i hope haha, that’s about it i guess.

Any embarrassing stories about Adam22? It’s cool the come up kids will love it.
haha, i think i really do, but it could be him fucking around, so i won’t do that.

If you could commit any crime and get away with it, what would you do and why?
i guess technically i commit a crime everyday and get away with it, it’s a weak crime, but i’d hate to get in trouble for it every time i did it.

What is the best advice you could give anyone?
haha, i’m not mr. rogers, best advice would be to listen to your own advice.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
definetly, thank you to my family, my girlfriend, robbie morales, rich hirsch, ronnie bonner, van homan, chris moeler, all of my close friends, randy brown, eddie cleveland, sweeney, victor, tocco, adam grandmaison, shout out to blackman, south jersey and north jersey, philly, nyc, biggest influences on me i love watching anything come from those areas, sorry i have east coast pride, thank you for asking to do an interview also, i’m sure i forgot people i’m sorry.

Anything else you would like to say?
no, you just asked me 50 questions haha!