Eric Bahlman Interview

Photo: Erik Hilburn

About a year ago, Ryan Chadwick told me that Simone Barraco was going to be blowing up. I saw the potential at the time and now, a year later, it’s very obvious that Simone is taking over. A few months back, Ryan had told me that Eric would be blowing up as well. Since then, it really hasn’t been all that hard to see that he’s right because there’s been a handful of edits popping up lately where Eric has absolutely killed it. It’s clear that Eric has a lot of fun with his riding and now that he has been killing it on a freecoaster, I think his riding has stood out even more. Since I’ve been getting more and more curious of what this dude is all about, we decided to see if he would be into doing an interview. Luckily, he was in and now I’m stoked to let you get to know the guy that’s definitely going to be getting things done backwards here for a while….

Name: Eric Wayne Bahlman

Location: Tempe, Arizona

Sponsors: Shadow Conspiracy, Stranger, Kore Bike Shop

Years riding: 12

What was it that first got you into BMX? Any early memories just pop into your head?
Pretty much since I learned how to bunnyhop, I was hooked. I would seriously bunnyhop the entire way to school, so like 100 times each way? haha

Photo: Spenser “Loofa” Lee

How are things going with Stranger these days? Does Rich have anything cooking with you that you are getting stoked for? Trips or anything like that?
I’m super stoked on Stranger! We’re currently filming for a mixtape DVD that should come out after summer. If you’ve seen any of Rich’s previous mixtapes, then you know it’s gonna be good. The team came out to AZ a few months ago and it was amazing! Finally got to meet Charlie Crumlish and Craig Pasero who are some rad dudes.

You have been killing it with the freecoaster lately. How’s that Coastersaurus hub treating you? Do you see yourself going back to the cassette anytime soon?
Thanks man! The Stranger Coastersaurus is hands down the best one I’ve ever ridden. I’ve had it since last November and haven’t had to touch it once. Which is pretty remarkable in the freecoaster world since you’re blowing out bearings left and right… I could never go back to a cassette, freecoasting is so much fun and that’s what riding is all about right? Fun!

How have things been going with Shadow since you joined the team a few months back? I can imagine Chadwick has a few trips and filming missions in the works for you?
Shadow has been nothing but awesome! Great parts, awesome group of riders (I can consider them all my close friends, which not every team can say that they have) and lastly one bad ass owner, Ronnie. This year has been filled with trips and there will be more to come. At the start of July I’ll be going on a Louisville/Indiana trip with them, I’ve never been there so I’m down to see what spots they have in store for us. We’re slowly filming here and there for a full length DVD that should come out sometime next year. I couldn’t be more stoked to be a part of something big like that!

It seems like you have been popping up in edits a ton lately. Have you been really motivated to film or is it just a coincidence more cameras are around?
Yeah, I noticed that and thought it was kinda weird, haha! It’s a bit of a coincidence but I usually ride with Bobby Kanode who likes to film a lot so it works out for the both of us.

When can we expect to see some fresh footage of you popping up?
Nothing really planned but hopefully soon. I had an idea to make a “How-To” edit but we’ll see what happens…

You have been doing some traveling lately. Where are some of the places you have had the chance to go? Anywhere you want to get to at some point this summer? I’d imagine you want to dodge that Arizona heat…
Yeah, this AZ heat is comin in strong so it’s hard to stay motivated when it’s 115 degrees outside. So far I’ve been to Long Beach at the beginning of the year, and recently Denver. There’s been talk about a Stranger New York trip after Charlie and Craig get back from Barcelona so I’m keeping my fingers crossed so we can all rack up some good clips for the DVD.

How do you like it in Arizona? I know there’s a real good scene there. Could you ever see yourself living somewhere else for a while?
I love AZ, born and raised! Other than the heat, it’s seriously the best place to live. People who visit here always want to come back. I’ve thought about moving to different states but could never commit to it. There’d have to be a really good reason for me to leave and I haven’t found it yet.

Photo: Spenser “Loofa” Lee

Where can you usually be found riding these days? Any spots you have been real stoked on lately?
I usually like to ride around ASU campus since it’s across the street from me. We’ve been there a million times but somehow there are still new things to be done, you just have to be creative. Since I’ve been riding here my whole life, I get stoked on finding anything new. Some of the spots have been right in front of our eyes the whole time but never thought anything of it.

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
I seriously have no idea. I can’t see myself living any other way, BMX is my life!

What are you usually doing when you aren’t riding? Do you go to school or work at all?
I’m currently the head kitchen manager at an English Pub style restaurant called “Cornish Pastys” pronounced (Pass-tees). The owner Dean is rad. Originally from Cornwall, UK, he used to ride BMX and actually owned a skatepark back in the day! It’s funny cause there is a good group of BMXer’s that work there including, KC Badger, Drew Hosselton, Shane Reider, Jason Ownes and Frank Parks. We might try to make a Pasty BMX edit in the future too, haha. Everyone here loves Pastys and can’t get enough of em, you seriously have to try it when you’re in town. Best way to describe them is like a gourmet hot pocket, haha. Look it up @ CornishPastyCo.com

So word on the street is that you are trying to eat healthier? How has this impacted your obsession with McDonalds?
Now that I’m getting older I thought it might be best to try to eat a little healthier so that I can be in good shape and ride my best. I’ll still love McDonalds though and hit up the dollar menu every now and then

Is it true you have OCD? What are some of the weird things it makes you do?
I’m OCD in the sense that I like things clean and organized but I’m not a huge freak about it. Well sometimes… haha.

Photo: Spenser “Loofa” Lee

Kanode tells me you have some pretty awesome drug addicted neighbors? Care to tell us how much you love them?
Haha, well I live in a triplex style house and it all started on the Stranger AZ trip. Dude asked if we wanted pills and weed, we said no. He called the cops apparently saying we were drug dealers but when they showed up he wouldn’t answer the door cause he was clearly on something and high out of his mind. He then comes beating on my door at 4:30 am while we’re all sleeping; pissed off cause we called the cops, even though he did. I told him to go home and I’ll talk to him the next day after he hopefully calms down and sobers up. Next morning he’s still pissed but doesn’t remember much from it. From then on he kept acting weird and aggressive calling me and my girlfriend bitches and assholes for parking in the driveway even though he doesn’t own a car. He also said he was gonna move out and sublet his room to a registered sex offender and told us “have fun with that!” He actually just got evicted a few weeks ago for being such a kook. Let’s hope the new neighbors are good ones cause I can’t stand that shit.

Have you ever been arrested or anything cool like that? Any good stories?
I’ve gotten several tickets in my life but luckily never arrested. Closest thing to it was when I was 16 and we drove 2 hours to ride a Flagstaff skatepark. The cops chased us out of there and finally caught us behind a nearby building; they were screechin tires and everything! They let us go but confiscated our bikes for like 2 weeks and when we finally got em back, they had been left outside in the rain and were completely rusted out. JERKS!

What is it about the “Sexy and I know It” song that causes you to keep that song on repeat? What would you do if the LMFAO tour bus exploded ultimately ending those two guys?
That song is really catchy so it’ll get stuck in your head real quick. As for the dudes themselves I could care less, I doubt they write their own music and it’s all done by corporate producers hence the catchiness of their songs.

You have a dog, right? What’s he all about? Approximately how many women have you met because of him?
Samson is the dude! He’s a border collie mix and is 6 years old. Super chill dog and very lovable. He most likely helped me seal the deal with my girlfriend, Rita, when I first met her. We’ve been together over a year now and I think she loves him more than me, haha.

Photo: Spenser “Loofa” Lee

What is Samson’s favorite movie?
Half Baked. “I wanna talk to Samson!” haha!

Do you party much? What makes for a good night out for you?
I do, but not as much as I used to. A good night is being with all my buddies, drinkin some beers and shootin pool. One night on a Portland trip, I decided to karaoke the song “Tequila” by The Champs. It’s a really easy song to karaoke cause they only say tequila 3 times but I switched it up and took a tequila shot after each. Needless to say after day drinking before hand, I blacked out 10 minutes after that, haha!!

What’s the Eric Bahlman key to success with the ladies?
I just be myself. Then one day you’ll randomly meet an awesome girl like I did. She even let me go riding on our 1 year anniversary, no girl does that… She’s a keeper!!

What’s something about yourself that might surprise people?
I have two different colored eyes! My left is blue and my right is hazel.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’ve never really thought about that nor do I have a real answer. I just hope to see myself living life, having fun and always having a smile on my face cause that’s all that matters.

What’s the last song you heard, movie you watched and website you visited?
I was just rockin some Black Sabbath which is always good. Last movie I saw was “Blow” which is my favorite movie, and I was just on Pandora to put on these good tunes.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Shout out to Ronnie and Chadwick at Shadow and Rich at Stranger for everything and for letting me be a part of their crew. Thanks to my family and friends who have always supported me and thanks to my girlfriend Rita for being amazing and understanding how much BMX means to guys like us.

Anything else you want to say?
Keep Coastin’!