Photo: Shane Leeper
One of the biggest and best things about doing this site is being able to introduce you guys to people you might not know much about or even I know about. Over the years I’ve probably heard about the Leeper brothers dozens of times and been asked if I had ever met them just as often. Honestly, all I knew is that they were brothers and they both rip on their bikes from different videos and photos that have surfaced over the years. Otherwise, I really didn’t know a whole lot more, but was definitely interested in finding out.
Recently Matt Coplon sent through a few photos of the two and the curiosity got to me and I knew I had to get ahold of these guys to find out just what they were about. So I’m stoked that today is part one of a two parter featuring interviews with both Dillon and Shane. Below you can find out all about Dillon, so let’s get into this!
Name: Dillon Leeper
Photo: Matt Coplon
Location: Richmond, VA
Sponsors: FBM, Profile Racing, and Bunnyhop Bike Shop
Years riding: 13 years
Was it your brother Shane that got you into BMX, or was it something else? Any early memories of how you got your start come to mind?
Yea, it definitely was my brother that got me into riding. He taught me how to pedal a bike when I was about 4 years old, then it started to grow from there. Growing up, shane worked at a bike shop in our hometown. When I got a little bigger, he got me a 16″ Mongoose complete. Our parents were pretty supportive of what we did, we had ramps and dirt jumps in our backyard. We even had a lip dug out in the ditch of our front yard. I would always watch Shane and his friends jump the jumps and hit the ramps, then I would try to do what they did. Every time Shane went out riding, I went with him, he went on a trip, I was there with him. We have rode almost everyday together for the past 13 years. He has a big influence on my life.
You’re getting the hook up from FBM, right?. How did you get involved with that crew? Any crazy stories about what it took to get on the flow squad?
Shane was a good part of me getting involved with FBM. Growing up riding, Shane loved all FBM stuff. We had all the FBM videos, Shane rode their frames and parts. When we could, we would go to FBM events. I grew up riding with Eric Hollady and Neil Hise back in the day at Vans Skatepark. Over time everyone migrated to Richmond, then a few years ago, Steve Crandall moved down to Richmond, VA. At the time Steve moved down, Shane had already been living in Richmond for a few years. I was always in Richmond staying with Shane, and he was always riding with Eric and Neil. Everyone became friends, and Steve was hooking those dudes up. I would ride with those dudes whenever we would go out. Then one night at the bar, I was sitting there with Steve shooting the shit, and he asked me if I wanted to ride a FBM frame. When he gave me a frame, he asked me if I would make him a edit, and it went from there. Big thanks to Steve, he’s helped me a lot the last few years.
How are things going with Profile Racing? Do you have anything cooking with Matt as far as trips or anything goes?
Things with Profile are going good. Trip wise, Ill be in Tampa with him in December for a week. I’ll be working on a edit for them, that will probably be out a little after the New Year.
Photo: Shane Leeper
I know you are always coming through with some damn good videos. Have you been working on anything that we will be able to check out soon?
Hell yea, thanks. I’ve been working on a new edit for FBM that will be out in the next month, I’m stoked on it.
What’s your travel plan for Florida? Any sort of trip or anything coming from it?
Yeah, we have a plan for a full trip down to Tampa, FL for the spot Contest on December 14th. Shane, myself and a few of our friends are going to make a little trip out of it, hit a few different spots on the way down to Matt Coplons house.
Do you get to travel much? Where are some of the places you have had the chance to go in the past?
I get to travel quite a bit. It’s nice Shane and I both only work Monday-Friday and are off by 4 and 5. It’s pretty convenient for traveling on the weekends and I’m able to get off whenever I need for trips. I’ve been lucky enough to get to travel all over the place, around the US. California, all over New England, been to every state in the south, Tennessee, Chicago, a good amount of places. I’ve never had the chance to go out of the country though.
Let’s say you and your brother get into a game of B-I-K-E. What’s one trick you know he’s going to do that you can’t? What about you can do that he can’t?
I know he’ll do a crooked grind, because I can’t and I’ll always throw a bunnyhop truck at him
Do you think if your brother didn’t ride, you would still be riding BMX today?
That’s a pretty tough question. When I go ride, I ride with him. So if he didn’t ride I probably wouldn’t either. But I know that man would never not ride his bike.
Do you ever get burned out on riding? What are some of the things you like to do to keep things fresh?
I don’t ever get burnt out on riding, during the summer there are points that I won’t ride as much because of how hot it is, but thats it. I like the cooler weather.
What are you usually getting into when you aren’t riding BMX these days? Are you working or going to school at all?
Right now I’m not going to school, planning on going to school in the next 2 years to become a mechanic. I work full-time at Chipotle right now to make money, but if I’m not working or riding my bike with friends, I’m hanging out with my girlfriend.
Photo: Matt Coplon
Where do you think you would be today if you never got into BMX?
I couldn’t even tell you man. All I’ve ever known was riding my bike, traveling and having fun.
I already know you like to party… That’s part of the FBM deal. What makes for a good night out for you?
Either drinking and having a good time with friends or just chilling with the ole lady. I’m pretty simple.
Let’s say you came across a huge sum of cash. What’s the first thing you buy?
I would by a school bus that I could live in, and go travel the States some more.
What’s something about yourself that might surprise people?
The amount of candy that I eat.
One thing you could use more of and one thing you could use less of?
I could use more sun light and less of getting hurt.
Last song you heard, movie you watched and website you visited?
Last song I heard was “Graveyards full” by The Growlers, last movie I watched was the Markit video, and last website I visited was The Come Up
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I see myself maybe living somewhere else, hopefully owning a house, still riding my bike and having a good time.
Photo: Matt Coplon
Are you on Instagram, Twitter or anything like that? How can people keep up with you these days?
I’m on instagram! @dillonleeper
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Big thanks to my brother Shane and my mom, probably wouldn’t be where I am today with out them. I’d like to thank Bunnyhop Bike shop for all the help, as well as Matt Coplon at Profile and Steve Crandall at FBM for all the support they have given me and all the opportunities they have presented to me.
Anything else you want to say?
Always have fun, the road never ends and the fun never stops.
