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So I am talking to Brian (name drop sorry) about how dew tour and stuff was going and he mentioned he had a little How-To on hangover toothpicks on the Etnies website. I am going to make W.W.B.D bracelets so that everytime I crash and lay there like a sissy I can look at that to remember he crashes 50 times harder, gets up and gets it done. Eh? Eh? good idea? yeah. So check that out!
Trey Jones; the come up kid’s favorite target for cut downs and straight out lies. Why was he picked on? I’m not sure. Maybe cause he’s not “Street” enough. Maybe cause he’s young. Maybe it’s his big bike. Maybe cause people are jealous that he gets free stuff and they don’t.
People have these preconceived ideas about him, and they are all wrong. Trey is really laid back, NOT full of himself. He does not get his stuff for his parents, he works for his father’s landscaping company to get money for the bike parts he buys and actually gives away his old parts to friends in need often. You can hate him if you want, but why not hold off on the judgement until you actually meet the kid? For some of you unfortunately this interview is the closest you’ll get; So without any further ado, this is Trey Jones.
Name:
Trey Jones
Location:
Orlando, FL
Sponsors:
Nike 6.0(flow), Fit Bike Co.(flow), TXL, Dude Bird
Years Riding:
I started racing when I was 4 and started riding freestyle about 7 years ago when Mission Skatepark opened.
Being as young as you are, is balancing riding and school difficult?
Oh yeah! My friends always want to go ride earlier than I get out of school which means I miss on a lot of good sessions. Not to mention the time I have to put in at home doing homework and studying. If I feel like crap I pretty much go to school so I can save my absences for things that come up related to riding that I want to do.
Do you plan on going to school or try this whole BMX career once your done with high school?
I’m pretty sure I’ll go to school and try to balance the two but I don’t know I’ll make that decision when it comes.
So you are addicted to coffee at 15, shouldn’t you save habbits like that for college or when you have a full time job?
Hahahha I don’t know man! I just am addicted! Coffee=love
You listed Dude Bird as a sponsor, what is that for those who don’t know?
okay so it all started on a trip to Lakeland, FL….. Me, Nick Mahoney, Cody Perry, Brett Rohlfing, David Mahoney and Chris “Nails” were riding. Throughout the day we all saw alot of dead birds, then someone said “chill dude” instead of chill bro when referencing the Empire dvd, and Cody puts on a green jacket that looks like something Larry Bird would have worn… someone with all that someone uttered the words “Dude Bird” and the joke of dude bird and the goofy videos followed.
What is the biggest misconception people have about you?
That people think I’m trendy! So what im 5’3 and ride a 21”tt and bars that are 8.25”x29”
What are your plans contest wise for the summer?
I’m really not sure yet. I’m just hoping to get to travel around the U.S. a bit, hang out with my boys back in FL, go to Woodward for a little bit and ’die of heat stroke in the extremely hot FL sun and just ride!
Where or what are some of your favorite spots or set ups?
If you know me very well, I like pretty much anything and everything! A lot of guys are really picky about spots they ride like if there is dirt or grass before the lip or they don’t have the right roll up space but I’m not really that picky. Some of my favorite spots would def. have to be mesh, the trails, Orlando street, UCF street and my house
Who is your typical riding crew?
Some guys I love to ride with are Nick Mahoney, Dave Mahoney, Eugene Tanner, Brett Rohlfing, Squirell, Kyle Noble, Kyle Baldwin, Curly, Cody perry, Ryan Flecsh, Joel Pierazek.
Any local guys you think should be getting coverage?
There are so many dudes that havent been getting coverage that should but just to name a few are Nick Mahoney, Cody Perry and Joel Pierazek. These guys are so good and haven’t got barely any attention so watch out for them!
You ride some places known for attracting a very rowdy group. Have you picked up any drug or alcohol addictions yet?
Yes and yes……jk
You have a nice backyard setup, and tend to switch up parts a fair amount. Many people think that since you are just 15 mommy and daddy are just buying you all this stuff, is that the case?
Actually that ramp has been my last 4 years of Christmas presents and birthday presents plus me buying more wood in between.
What are some other tricks you have been working on lately?
I’ve been working on fakie to half cab whip to fakie on a quarter. I personally have never seen it done before and I think its possible. Ive tried it so many times but I’m getting there
What trick took you the longest to learn that you do today?
Definitely tail whips! Just clamp!
If Tony Malouf pissed on you while you were sleeping, what would you do?
Haha! Oh man, I have no clue! I love Tony, but I don’t know, he’s the same size as me so I think I could take him! Haha love you Tony!
What is one meal you could never get sick of?
Hungry Howies Cheese pizza with butter crust and root beer
What are some bands you are into?
I like a lot of older metal and punk bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Danzig, The Misfits and The Casualties
Any you think people have to check out?
Gut Ruckus for sure!
What are some of your favorite movies?
Back to the Future Trilogy (I want a Delorean) , Fast Times at Ridgemont High and of course RAD!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Just go faster!
Do you spend much time on the Internet? What are the last 5 websites you visited?
MySpace, Vital BMX, The Come Up, Fit Bike Co. and of course BMX Union.
What is something nobody believes about you when you tell them?
I know everything there is to know about King of the Hill
What do you do when you’re not riding?
Hang with friends and family, listen to music and sleep
Who or what are some of your biggest influences on your life?
Evil Knievel, Jeff Spicoli and my dog Spanky
What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Definitely finish high school, get to some contests outside of Florida right now that’s pretty tough and enjoy life.
Any shout outs or thanks?
Oh man, my parents for sure! Just because they support me 150% with anything I do. Mark Losey for his advice and support with Nike, Rob-o for hooking it up with Fit, Brett Rohfling for all the video/photo work and for just being awesome, Chad DeGroot for just helping me out with anything and everything, Tim and Billy at TXL, and Mavro for being rad.
Anything else you would like to say?
“Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he’s got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.”- Jeff Spicoli
Fitbikeco.com from Brett Rohlfing on Vimeo.
If you remember a while back I did an interview with the guys making the Act Like You Know video. There is a second trailer out now and here it is.
If you want to see that Interview check that link.
Odyssey is an amazing company, every aspect from the team, to the products, to the guys who are keeping things running. To be honest, I am sure a lot of you reading this look to Odyssey first for a part before checking out what else is there to offer. So with all the recent things going on with Odyssey I caught up with Jim Bauer and Nuno on what the company has planned and a whole bunch of information about the company.
Odyssey has been around for years, When did it get its start and who runs the show these days?
Odyssey started in 1985 as one of the first aftermarket parts companies for BMX. These days , Richard Tang is the owner and he runs the show, very well in my opinion too .
Who are all the people who keep things running smooth behind the scenes most people never hear about?
Some people know Chris and some don’t. Chris Cotsonas is the Chief product designer here , but he also wears many more hats than that. He brought me on as Head art guy, Creative Director, TM etc etc. Ben is another designer and draftsman extraordinaire. G-Sport George is our engineer who lives in UK. Louie and Nuno run sales , while Nuno is all over the marketing front too. We all do a lot of everything.
It seems like Odyssey is the innovator when it comes to parts these days. What does the company have planned for new products this year or coming soon in the next few years?
There’s always new stuff coming and existing products being updated. The Ratchet hub is getting close, you can expect some unique JC/PC pedals and some new Tanwall tires that “look” like old school skinwall sidewalls, but aren’t crappy. The PC’s will be out soon in all the clear colors that are reminiscent of the old iMac computers, along with the new Griswald grips.
Ultimately though, our main goal is getting those parts out to the market . Manufacturing hurdles seem to have us slowed down, but its not from lack of trying. We are just pushing to get new stuff out ASAP. Our R&D is longer than most, but it pays off in the end.
What are some of the reasons for why something, lets say like the plegs, or the new Ratchet cassette taking so long before it goes into production?
One major hurdle has been the industry wide traffic jam. I’m sure most companies in BMX , and Bicycles in general have extra long lead times these days .
The Plegs took a long time because plastics are a crazy science, and there are tons of variants that effect it. We moved from one factory to a more advanced one, and we had to make many changes mid stream, but really we wanted them to be perfect when they came out. The Ratchet hub is designed from the ground up , and being built at a place that doesn’t make hubs. We mostly try to use factories that are unique to us, since other companies end up benefiting from our research and design. Many times, most of the improvements you have seen in other products on the market are our changes that were offered to everyone else by our manufacturers, after we spent our resources designing and testing ideas. The Ratchet will be the precision and innovative hub you expect from G-Sport and Odyssey.
How about soft goods, does Odyssey plan on rolling out some new tee’s this year at all?
Wow, like I’m not busy enough , haha. Actually , 5 new shirts are in production as we speak. And some non-tee’s too.
Odyssey’s team is stacked, which I think may be an understatement. Who all is on the pro and flow teams, any big news revolving around any of those guys, and do you have any plans on adding to the team at all anytime soon?
Mike Aitken, Chase Hawk, Terry Adams, Taj Mihelich, Adam Banton, Matt Beringer, Aaron Ross, Gary Young, Chase Gouin, Jim Cielencki, Jimmy LeVan, Kurt Rasmusson, Mike Gonzalez. Mike G is probably the newest addition. He is a racer and trailrider out of PA/Vegas.
Our team is stacked, and we have no plans to add anyone else. Its really hard actually when these riders that you think are amazing, and need to have a sponsor, and would totally fit on Odyssey…and then you see our huge team. I don’t want our team to feel like its too big to have our guys get the time to shine and what they deserve. I have to hold back very hard to not scoop up tons of riders. With that said, you still never know.
How do you guys go about sponsoring new riders, what kind of advice do you have for kids who want to be sponsored?
Get good! If you look at most of our team, they are all pretty well known dudes that just do thier thing . I think riders just need to get themselves out there and ride, have fun and the sponsorship comes by itself.
With the recent drop of Electronical which turned out amazing, what is the plans now for filming? Any new dvd ideas in the works, web videos for a while then maybe another dvd in a few years?
I ‘m giving everyone a break on filming for now, but web videos are on the horizon. With that said, Electronical exceeded our expectations sales wise, so we are still a fan of that medium, and aren’t ruling out another video in the distant future.
How about road trips, anything going on as a whole for the team?
Like I said about videos, a “break” for everyone. Break is in quotes because our team is never on break. This is the summer and people will be on trips, contests, and riding all over the world with their various sponsors.
What are some goals or plans for Odyssey in the next few years as a whole?
Keep on in the direction we have been on for years now. Push the design of parts to the next level and make what the riders want and need.
The Warranty department seems to be spot on, so if somebody has a warranty question who should they contact and what is the usual procedure for getting things fixed?
Usually Marco is in charge of Warranty issues. He is also who usually answers the phone if you call here. If he can’t help, he asks us and we will get you sorted. An email or call to Marco is the first step. Not posting a rant online somewhere. We usually can help everyone problems with little or no hassle.
Where can people find Odyssey products?
Any good BMX shop should carry our products, or be able to get anything you want from a distro . If they don’t, then they aren’t a good shop.
And who should shops or distributors contact to pick up some product?
Seattle Bike Supply / QBP / J&B Importers / Blackout / Custom Cycle
California Shops can call Odyssey direct at 562 623 9995 if they like.
What do you feel separates Odyssey from all of the other companies out there?
We work on our ideas from an educated design perspective. We have trained designers , engineers and riders applying all of their know how into the parts. Some companies don’t have one designer on staff, not to mention engineers. Most companies are trying to catch up and do what they see as “innovative”. It’s usually transparent that they are just doing what they think they should be to look “new”.
Is there anything else you can tell us about?
We have a new web guy starting soon, so get ready for that…
For more info: Odysseybmx.com and GSportBMX.com
Over the course of the next few weeks I believe, BMXunion and RedEndo.com will be premiering a video series from a roadtrip those guys took. Here is the first part of many.
I met Tony pretty breifly a year or two ago pre-baco being banned from Wisconsin. Hes a really legit dude. With recently being removed from the Sputnic team myself and Brett Rohlfing got some questions together for him and this is how it went.
Name:
Anthony Malouf
Location:
Prospect Heights Illinois
Sponsors:
UGP, Primo
Years riding:
7
To start off with what everyone wants to know. What happened with you and Sputnic? Did you leave, get dropped or what? I heard rumors you pee’d on somebody on the team?
I was dropped. I don’t really know the real reason. Personal differences I guess. The Piss rumors are true. I pissed on Ricky Bates in the middle of the night. I was blacked out drunk and don’t even remember doing it. In the morning I didn’t beleive Ricky when he told me, but he convinced me. He wasn’t too upset though. I had to wash some blankets and Johnny’s Matress. I don’t think that had anything to do with me getting the boot.
Do you have any new sponsors in the works or what are you looking to do now?
Nothing at the moment. Im hoping something will pop up, but I’m not gonna let it get me down if nothing ever comes up.
It seems like you have been putting out a new web video out every week, what do you have planned filming wise? More edits or do you have a video part in the works?
I don’t really know. When ever I film a bunch of stuff all in a day or two. I try to get it out quick so it doesn’t get old.
You have been traveling a lot lately, where have you been the last few months and what do you have planned trip wise?
I been in Cali, Ohio, Georgia, Iowa, Wisconsin. The next move is Tulsa, OK.
You have a lot of style with your riding, did you grow up racing and riding trails or how did you learn to throw down the way you do?
No, I never raced. I started riding park but I never rode pegs untill a year ago or so. I just liked jumping, so thats all I did.
It seems like you got a lot of tricks on lock, what are some that have been giving you the most trouble lately?
Barspins are trouble. I can do them in 180’s and 3’s like nothing but straight ones are scary.
Living close to Chicago and Millwaukee you have some really solid crews of guys to ride with, do you feel like that has impacted your riding at all? I know a lot of guys from that area like Jeff K got sponsor deals around the same time as you.
Yeah definately. Taking little trips up north to Milwaukee is what got me real siked on traveling and riding. Jeff K was like the first dude I met who made videos so it was fun to film and stuff. Jeff K is king of blacking out and making anything his toilet. Sorry Jeff.
What are your plans for the summer, just being a chiller or do you plan on hitting up some contests?
I really want to travel a bunch more and film for a little video Miles Rogoish and I are working on. Money is an issue right now. Other wise we would be somewhere right now filming with dudes.
Where are some places you haven’t had the chance to ride that you would really like to ride someday?
I haven’t been out of the Country yet. Other than Canada. So that would be fun. I want to make it to PA this summer to ride some trails.
Who are some pros you have looked up to over the years?
Kevin Porter, Oliver Leonerd, Shawn Arata, Chris Doyle.
Have you ever had a weird situation where you show up hundreds of miles away from home and have somebody recognize you?
Yeah…
What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
I would probably be in College playing a sport of some sort.
If you could change anything about BMX, what would you change and why?
Nothing really. It’s all good to me.
Outside of riding bikes, what are some things you are into?
Filming, digging, skateboarding, partying, poofin
Did you ever go to college or do you ever plan to?
No, no.
You are a big fan of biggy and tupac it would seem, is that all you listen to or what kinds of music are you into?
Pretty much into anything. I love classic rock and blues. Only thing I’m not really down with is country and techno.
What are some movies you are a fan of?
Too many to list. I love movies.
Who or what are some of your biggest influences on your life?
My old man, www.midwestbmx.net , Hunter S Thomson, Dook Wallace, Walter Peringer.
What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Find a good filming job. Finish this video with Miles. Probably start on another one.
If you could spend the day with anybody, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Christopher Walken, he is the ultimate G.
Do you have any good stories about run ins with the cops, security, midgets, stripper combos, or anything else you can tell us about?
I got plenty of good ones. Last good one was in Iowa after the ExtravaJamza at the Davenport park. We got really drunk, we got in a fight, the cops came. Really fun night.
What would you do with the cash if you won the lottery?
I would buy and entire block and invite all my buddies from all over to come live in a house for a year. It would be a non-stop block party. Ramps going from yard to yard. crazy shit. That could be a reality show.
If you could change anything about the world what would it be and why?
I don’t know.
What kind of advice do you have for people just getting into BMX?
Ride tranny. Learn to controll your bike before you start trying tricks.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Thanks to My family, all my friends , UGP, Chad Degroot, Primo, Nate Moroshan, Grange Waldo, Dook Wallace, B-rad, Pascal, Juice, Shmall Gary, Miles Wasssup?
Anything else you would like to say?
Look for more PLUSH Productions on the web. Peace.
Tony Malouf from John O'Connor on Vimeo.
Cody probably has in my eyes one of the best jobs in the world. He gets to write about bmx, take photos, travel, and all sorts of other things revolving around BMX as his job. I am really stoked on this interview for a lot of reasons. I am stoked mostly just because it was like a career day reading this for me, but maybe it’s just me?
Location:
Cleveland, OH
Sponsors:
None, but thanks to Micreation, Mutiny, Shadow, Failure Bikes, Sputnic, Ride and Ride UK and anyone else for hooking me up!
Years riding:
8
You’re the editor for EXPN’s BMX side of things, how long have you been doing that and how did you end up getting the job?
I’ve been doing it for about 6 months now and it’s been awesome. In the last couple years, I have been shooting a lot of freelance BMX photos for ads and magazines and then one summer day I got a call from Mary Fenton at EXPN asking me to shoot X Games for them. It was pretty random, but obviously I was stoked; a week later, I was shooting X Games and having a blast. After that, EXPN noticed I used to work at BMX Plus! Magazine and that I had a lot of ties in the industry, so they asked if I would be interested in doing some news feeds for them which consisted of pitching story (for lack of better word) ideas, shooting/contributing photos, and of course backing up those ideas with interesting and as well as factual content. A short while later, they came up with the idea of having bloggers for each extreme sport that EXPN covers on the site. I was then offered to do the BMX side of things and that’s where I’m at today.
What are some of the different things you get to do for work?
I get to travel a lot, go on amazing roadtrips, hangout and ride with some of the best BMXers in the world, shoot photos of them and basically write and share my experiences with all of you via online and through publications. But that’s not all entirely through EXPN, a lot of that is on my own account when freelancing for magazines. EXPN gives me a budget to collect content for my blog (to pay for video and photo content). I don’t do too much traveling on their expense. Although, EXPN sends me to X Games each year and that is always amazing! I generally collect all the content for my blog through emails, phone calls or being on the road.
Did you go to school at all to get the job?
Well, Yes and No. While it hasn’t mattered for any BMX gigs that I’ve had, including working as the assistant editor at BMX Plus! Magazine. I did go to college for photography and received an AA degree. But in reality, going to school did little more than get me a degree to back myself up if ever necessary. What really landed me my jobs has been my passion for photography and the sport of BMX mixed in with a little bit of luck, or maybe a lot of luck. I learned most of my photography skills on my own, trial and error, ect.
Have you had the chance to do much traveling for them? and do you have any trips planned for 08′ so far?
As far as stuff for EXPN goes, I’ll be heading up to New York next week for Kevin Robinson’s record-breaking attempt for highest air, which should be out of hand. I’ll actually be doing commentary and interviewing Kevin for video content on our site and my blog. I’ll also be out in California for X Games in August and randomly traveling around the US shooting photos to contribute to Ride, Ride UK and BMX Plus! Mags throughout the summer. Just recently, I went on the Local Exposure Tour 5 for a Ride UK story and that was one of the coolest trips I’ve been on. I got to hang out with Micah Kranz, which is always a blast and we talked a lot about how awesome the Milwaukee scene is lately, so I’m planning on getting up there really soon too.
You do some filming and photography for the site what are your camera set ups, editing programs, computer set-up. All the things you need to do what you do?
Well, I don’t do any of filming actually; wish I could take the credit and was that talented (ha-ha). No, I have a great group of videographers that produce the exclusive high-quality content for me; they are located all over the US. They are, Larry Alvarado, Chris Mahaffey, Brock Gomez and Kyle Huber. Without them there wouldn’t be exclusive quality video on my blog, big thanks to those guys for making things happen!
As for photos, I do handle most of the images for my blog, here’s the short list of my photography gear I own:
DIGITAL
-Canon EOS 1D Mark 11 Body
-Canon 15mm Fisheye
-Canon 70-200mm
-Canon 50mm
FILM
-Bronica SQ-B Body
-Bronica 50mm
-Bronica 80mm
-Bronica 150mm
-2 Film Backs
-Waist level finder
FLASHES
-Quantum Q-Flash (Quantum Q-Paq Battery)
-Lumedyne 400WS (Lumedyne Battery)
-Sunpak 622 (Lumedyne Battery)
-Vivitar 285 (Rechargables)
-4 Pocket Wizards
COMPUTERS
-12-inch Mac Powerbook G4
-IBM Think Pad PC for work.
-AT&T Wireless Card
-A few External Hard Drives.
With work and traveling, how much time do you find to ride?
Not much at all to be honest. Part of the reason is time, but a bigger part is that I haven’t had health insurance for about a year so that has slowed things down quite a bit, but once I take care of that I’ll start riding harder.
Where are some of your favorite spots to ride?
Cincinnati, OH for sure. I love that place, it’s only about 3-4 hr. drive south from Cleveland and it’s got one of the best scenes in my opinion. Tony Neyer holds it down and always makes my visits worthwhile. It’s just super fun to ride down there cause the scene is big, lots of great riders and spots that make for a good time. Some other places I’ve been to that I also like riding are, Baton Rouge, Orlando and with the Santa Barbara scene, all are places that have cool spots and awesome riders to ride with.
Where is one spot you have seen in photos/videos you really want to go to sometime?
Thankfully I’ve been to most spots I’ve always wanted to see or shoot at. Some spots I love and/or would recommend are, the ghetto banks in Alabama, the dam in LA, the range peel in Florida, huge trannie walls in Baton Rouge; those are all spots that were awesome to see. I always wanted to shoot a photo of Tony Neyer on this cement vert pipe ditch thing in Cincy, but he ended up shooting it with Z when he came to town. Thanks Tony, haha!
Chris Brown- This shot I took while working at Plus! It never ran and not sure why, the spot the infamous Willshire rails in LA and this is pretty nuts. Chris didn’t grind all the way of the end, but still crazy!
What is the scene like where you ride?
The scene here in Cleveland isn’t what it used to be but it’s steadily coming back alive. There are now a few sets of amazing trails that exist that are getting better and better each year. Hightower Trails (which might be getting plowed) have been around the longest and they’re amazing, the good thing is that all the locals at any of these trails, or anywhere in Ohio for that matter, are all really nice. You also have Chenga 2, Chenga 57 and Ray’s MTB Park for indoor ramps here, so no complaints on that end. Everybody loves Ray’s lately; it’s an interesting place!
Who was the first pro you met and is there a cool story behind it at all?
Gosh that’s hard to pinpoint exactly who it was, Aaron Bostrom, Billy Delfs or Nate Wessel I think. Bostrom and Delfs used to run these trails near where I grew up called Greenies, I used to go there to watch but I never rode. I was too timid, I just remember being star-struck when I met any pro at that time. Little did I imagine I would shoot photographs with these guys and still be friends with them to this day, so that’s awesome!
How do you feel about BMX now days with all the shit talking, contests on TV, awesome DVDs, etc?
It is what it is, take it or leave it. It’s so awesome how BMX has progressed and I hope to see the industry only get bigger, so more people can continue to make a living off it and do what they love to do.
If you could change anything about BMX, what would you change and why?
The only thing I would like to see is more positivists and less negativity in BMX.
Do you have any good stories involving the cops, security, hookers, midgets, or famous people you can defame?
Does Catfish count as a midget? No, I have way too many stories from Youngstown, OH. When Section 8 Skatepark was around I used to go down there often to hangout, ride, and shoot pics. I would always end up in the mix with 4th Grade, Catfish, Lou Bickle and those guys and I have seen everything under the sun. One time at a Section 8 contest everyone went out to the bar in downtown Youngstown where 4th Grade was working at the time and as the night ended a bunch of BMXer’s got into a fight with some gangsters and they started shooting guns off and everyone scrambled outside the bar to grab cover. Everyone thought someone got shot and it was just nuts. That’s just a tip of the iceberg of stories from Youngstown–just ask Catfish, that’s how and why he started catfishcatfish.com.
Aaron Bostrom- Obviously this is nothing crazy but just a cool shot with awesome colors and Aaron’s one of my favorite riders.
Outside of work and BMX as a whole, what are some things you are into?
The drums, I recently purchased a drum set about 3 months ago and have been having the time of my life with it. It’s the last thing I could see myself doing, which makes it so fun and challenging.
What bands are you into? Any you suggest people to check out?
The list is endless but Modest Mouse is definitely my favorite band. If you like them you definitely need to check out, Cloud Cult. Bob Dylan is up there on my list too- different era, different sound, but his messages in his music transcends all time.
Seen any good riding videos or movies lately?
The latest thing I’ve watched has been Brad Simms Micreation video spot and I’m really psyched on how it turned out and the whole concept of it.
What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
I would just like to be thankful for everyday, not take things for granted. Continue contributing my photos to magazines and blogging for EXPN, and hopefully be inspiring to kids through my words and photos, and motivating them to ride bikes or what ever it is they aspire to do because they see it as being fun. Life should be fun!
What do you think you would be doing if you never got involved with bikes?
I would be a photographer, the content would be different of course, but for me, I couldn’t imagine doing some job day after day that I didn’t have a true passion for, bills or not!
How much time do you spend on the computer in a week and what are some websites you are into?
I would say around 30-40 hrs. a week on the computer between work and pleasure, which is ridiculous! Some sites I’m into are Defgrip a whole bunch of photo sites and EXPN of course.
What would you do with the cash if you won the lottery?
Well, first I would have to play the lottery to win. But if I did, I would give it away to friends, family and people I knew that needed it the most.
Kip Williamson- This shot of Kip was taken in Florida and never ran in anything but is still an awesome photo. Kip’s a cool dude and was super fun to hangout with. I like shooting flat and love the positive attitude all flatlanders have.
What is the best advice or quote you have ever heard?
“Dream as though you’ll live forever, live as though you’ll die today.” –James Dean.
What kind of advice do you have for people who want to get into writing/blogging/ photography/ web stuff?
Make sure your extremely passionate and love what it is you want to do. Never quit, be patient and always have other projects and things in the works to fall back on or to clear your mind if you get into a rut or things don’t work out.
Anybody you would like to give a shout out or thanks to?
I would like to say thanks to anyone that’s helped me out, supported me along my journey and allowed me to continue doing what I love, my family, my Dad, Beth, my girlfriend Johanna, EXPN, Johnny Devlin, Dave Jacobs, Aaron Bostrom, Larry Alvarado, Raul Ruiz, Chris Mahaffey, Darren Hendrix, Brock Gomez, Jeff Z, Chad Shackelford, The Leftovers, Justin Simpson, Tony Neyer, Ride UK, Ride US, BMX Plus!, Shine, BMX Union for this interview, and anyone I may have forgotten, the list goes on and on…thanks!
Anything else you would like to add?
Check out my blog on EXPN.com and don’t be afraid to email me and say hello, that or leave some really funny comments!
If you have found this site, then I am willing to bet you have seen at least one of Will’s videos he has filmed or edited. Why? Because his videos are some of the most popular videos out there with the weekly videos for Levi’s or the dvd’s he has made. Will is very talented at what he does and there was a need for an interview. After your done be sure to check out Nine To Five Films
Name:
Will Stroud
Location:
Greensboro, North Carolina
Sponsors:
None
Years Riding:
12
Years filming:
10
When you first got into BMX were you into filming and editing or did that come after?
For the first few years I just rode. Then one day I just randomly picked up my grandma’s old clunker VHS-C camera and brought it to the 401 trails where we rode everyday. I had no clue what I was doing but I would just film all my friends when I was hurt or not riding. Eventually, Doyle got on DK and needed footage for the first DK video “Damn Kids”. So Chris asked me if I could help film for his part. It’s so funny now to watch footage from back in those “good old days”.
Growing up in Ohio I imagine you were riding with Catfish and them at Section 8 or were you in with another crowd?
I actually grew up in Raleigh, NC. I did live in Dayton, OH for a year but my roots are in NC.
Now that your living in North Carolina where are you more commonly riding?
It’s kind of sad to say but I rarely ride when I’m at home. This year I have been traveling like crazy filming with the Levi’s team for the team DVD and the weekly web videos. So I’ve actually ridden more while on trips as of lately. I don’t really push myself to learn new tricks though. I just enjoy nibbling around more than anything.
When you first started riding BMX did you ever you would be making a living off working in the industry?
No way. I had no idea that I would ever have all of these opportunities. It’s pretty sweet to have my dream job!
Being a very busy dude with Levi’s and other video projects, do you find much time to ride?
Like I said before, not really when I’m at home. The closest skatepark to my house is over 100 miles away so it’s not very convenient and I’m not much of a street guy. There’s talk of a public concrete park being built in Greensboro, but I’m not holding my breath.
If you could go on a road trip just to ride, no cameras, what 5 people would you bring, where would you go, and why?
That’s a good question. I would do a trip in an RV and drive all around Germany or Spain with my brother, Chris Doyle, Ryan Barrett, Cory Muth, Steve Buddendeck, and Biz. I know that’s bringing 6 people but that would probably be my dream trip.
You have had the opportunity to travel a lot because of your career, where are some of your favorite places you have been?
Barcelona, Vancouver, New Zealand, Shanghai, and the Philippines.
Where are some places you would really like to go?
Africa, Eastern Europe, Australia, Russia, South America, Thailand, Vietnam, the list could go on forever.
What is one trick you could never get sick of doing?
360s, backflips, or turndowns
What is one trick you get sick of trying to figure out?
Barspins and tailwhips
How do you feel about the current state of BMX, being in the olympics, nearly being removed from the X-Games, kids talking shit on the internet, videos being ripped, just everything in general?
I try not to take BMX too serious. I am happy that I have my place in the industry and I try my best to stay on good terms with everyone. It seems like BMX is changing a lot over the recent years due to the internet. It’s a good thing overall how accessible a mass amount of fresh content is on a daily basis. Of course the bad side would be video piracy and shit talking. I try not to get too involved with the internet though. I do hate the fact that it’s so much harder for BMX companies to justify doing team videos anymore. It costs so much money and it’s way easier just to put out mediocre web videos, but I really like holding a DVD’s packaging and watching videos on a real TV with good sound. I’ll choose quality over quantity any day of the week when it comes to videos. But in general, I think BMX is growing and hopefully the industry will continue to get stronger and allow most brands to stay in business.
If you could change anything about BMX what would you change and why?
Like I said before, I try not to take BMX too serious. I guess it is what it is and I wouldn’t change anything.
Obviously you and Chad Shackelford are the guys behind 9 to 5 films, what are some current projects you guys have going on?
Actually, Chad and I have parted ways and he’s starting his own venture called The Anamorphosis Laboratory. I have continued to run Nine To Five as an individual. We are on good terms but we just decided to do our own things. Chad is still producing Shook and the new Sunday video. I am working on the Levi’s DVD which will premiere at this year’s NORA Cup in Vegas. I am also in charge of producing the Levi’s weekly web video series for Levi.com/BMX and Vitalbmx.com.
How is the Levi’s DVD coming along, I imagine it is hard since you have to take a lot of clips to make the weekly videos for vital and other places?
I am really happy with how the Levi’s DVD is coming along. We found out in January that we had 8 months to film a full length team video to premiere at NORA cup and we have been filming like crazy ever since. I have been working on filming for this DVD full time this year and it’s coming along nicely, but I wish we could have a few more months so we could squeeze some more trips in. But the great thing about the Levi’s DVD is that it will be 100% free! I’m so happy that they decided to make this a free promo and it’s going to be a legit full length team video. My biggest challenge is that I am responsible for producing 40 weekly web videos for Levi’s alongside of the DVD. So I have to be really careful about what clips I use for web and what clips I’m saving for the DVD. The DVD will be 95% exclusive footage that hasn’t been seen on the web and the riding is top notch. The purpose of the weekly web videos is just to have fresh content constantly, but I have been saving the bangers for the DVD. We have a joke going on while on trips after we film a clip – we ask each other if the clip is “theatrical” or “non-theatrical”? Theatrical meaning it would be good enough to save for the DVD or non-theatrical would be a web clip. I have to give Dakota credit for that one!
What are some trips you have been on this year for filming so far?
So far we have done filming in China, Spain, Hawaii, SoCal, NorCal, Vegas, Texas, Woodward, Alabama, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Portland, and Phoenix.
How do you usually go about picking songs for videos, do you have a certain type you look for?
I usually start off by making iTunes playlists of music that I’m into at the time. I think it’s really important to match the soundtrack to the direction of the video. It’s crazy how important a soundtrack is for a video. Usually I spend a few months searching for the right songs that work best in whatever project I’m working on.
Did you go to school at all for filming and editing?
Yes, I went to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and graduated in 2003 with a BA in Film and Video Production.
Who are your favorite people to film with?
There are so many but I really enjoy filming with Chris Doyle, Ryan Barrett, Corey Martinez, Morgan Wade, Jamie Bestwick, Dave Mirra, Dakota Roche, Nathan Williams, Jeremiah Smith, Jim C., Aaron Ross, Gary Young, Taj, Biz, Josh Harrington, Ryan Nyquist, Corey Bohan, Jim Bauer…..the list goes on…. I mostly just enjoy filming with people that are fun to be around and have a positive attitude in general.
Out of all of the videos you have made, what are some of your favorites?
My favorite video that I’ve done so far would probably be the SYSTEM video and Stock.
Outside of riding and filming what are you up to?
Outside of BMX I’m just enjoying life here in NC with my wife, family, and friends.
I had heard you and your wife were expecting?
Yes, we are excited to become parents this year! We are having a boy and he should be here sometime around August 16th. I am really excited about becoming a father this year. I know I have a lot to learn about being a parent but it will be an adventure…..
What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
To be a good father and husband and to continue working in BMX or whatever else makes me happy.
If you could spend the day with anybody, alive, dead, fictitious, who would it be and why?
I’d love to spend a day with “Dude” from The Big Lebowski.
What would you do with the cash if you won the lottery?
I would love to take an insane trip with my closest friends and live it up for a while. But I would want to save most of it and try to make some smart investments.
What kinds of music are you into? Any you would suggest?
I like a really wide spectrum of music. I spend a lot of time on the iTunes store surfing around and finding new music that I’m into. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of British rock stuff.
What is some of the best advice you have ever been given?
I don’t remember any specific words of advice but my parents always encouraged me throughout childhood that I could do whatever I wanted to do in life if I put my mind to it. They were very supportive of me and my brother getting into BMX and I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without their support.
What kinds of advice do you have for kids just getting into BMX?
Just be yourself and have fun with BMX.
What about advice for people getting into filming and editing?
Learn from your mistakes, ask questions, work hard, and keep shooting.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
My wife Cristi and my son to be, my parents & grandparents, David Stroud, Kathy McGrath at Bird Marketing, Megan & Marisa at Levi’s, Cory Muth, Steve Buddendeck, Chris Doyle, Ryan Barrett, Chad Shackelford, Dave Jacobs, Justin Kosman, Dave Mavro, Ilana Taub at Red Bull, Kyle Carlson, Jim & Nuno at Odyssey, Mark Losey, The Mangler, Jamie Bestwick, Corey Martinez, Morgan Wade, Nathan Williams, Dakota Roche, Brett Walker, Biz, Heath Pinter, Jeremiah Smith, Ronnie B., and everyone else that’s ever helped me out in any way. Sorry to anyone I forgot!
Anything else you would like to say?
Keep it real.
