BMX randomness
Well Minnesota is officially frosted over.. Not pumped.
So since I have a lot more time I will probably be updating the site quite a bit more.
I spotted this video over on the Diversity website. I don’t know why Austrailians are so gooooood! this kid is 15.
I am a huge Gary Young fan, have been for years.. so I am stoked on this, I found it on the Odyssey website, Also it looks like Jim Bauer’s bike sold for about $1200 and thats going to Jimmy Levan so thats radThere is a video of a kid with a shock collar getting zapped on Catfish’s site
a bunch of good stuff over on the FBM bmx
and always a ton of videos and stuff to check out over on The Come Up … might as well sign up for the board there too since theres a lot of stuff up on there too.
okay thats all, I hope you can tell I am bored, plus I had to get up at 8 to help my brother get his snowblower and shit running.. no homo? but yeah be happy if you got dry warmish weather to work with.
OH and send me and Todd stuff to post up! the contest deal is down below and you can get free shit for emailing us stuff to post. DO IT!
A little contest…….
All right.. here’s how it goes.
We here at BMXunion want to put up a little content contest. since it’s getting cold out and the riding time has been cut in half and your computer time is doubled. So why not put some of that computer time to better use and win something and get your story posted for everyone to read.
Here’s the rules.
it has to do with riding. duh this is a riding website.
we are looking for content that has to do with roadtrips, jams, contests, or anything related to BMX that you think would make a good read.
deadline is December 24th. and January 1st we will post the winner’s winning story and the winner will also get a pair of Mutiny HJ grips and a handful of Beloe footwear stickers. *
so get on it. Make your mother proud and your hands happy and E-Mail us your stuff (you can find our info to the right!)
*This contest has no affiliation with Mutiny or Beloe footwear.
Ryan Sher Interview
It seems like after I e-mailed Ryan this interview a while back, he had a bunch of interviews pop up.. However, he has been super busy with Subrosa stuff so it gave it sometime between then and now, so I can’t even be upset about how long it took for him to get it back to me.. I am stoked he even wanted to do another interview!
Oh and the crosses, I don’t know if those were suppossed to go with it, but I figured they were since it goes with the Subrosa stuff.
Name: Ryan Woodstock Sher
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Location: Typing this in Orlando, Fl, next to the pool, living in Portland, Or.
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Sponsors: Subrosa, The Shadow Conspiracy, Kronik Energy Drink, and Goods BMX.
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Subrosa has been around for a little over a year now already, how are things going with the company?
Man, it couldn’t be better right now. There’s so much energy and momentum in all aspects of Subrosa. The team kicks so much ass! They’re all real into everything we’re about, and they’re on point with being a part of the design and the development of new goods. Behind the scenes is more of the same. Everyone at Sparky’s Distribution is so dialed.
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Do you have any new products that haven’t been released or even mentioned anywhere you can tell us about?
We have quite a few projects going right now. Eli is testing out his new signature frame by crushing all obstacles in his path, and riding it to Amy’s Kitchen. Other than that, the rest have got to stay locked up for now, but I can be a little vague and say, multiple new frames, a couple of new completes, and a few fucking awesome collaborations.
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What is it like running a company with such a great team to back it?
† I got pretty lucky with how the team all fell into place. Not only that, as we go on more and more trips together, I’ve found we all really click together too. The best part is that Rich goes on Spring Break as soon as a trip starts, the transformation is quit amazing. We all just have a good time.
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When you first started riding, did you ever expect it to go for as long as it has, I read on Subrosa’s site you have been riding for about 21 years?
Actually yes, haha. When I started riding a bike, I knew I wanted to do it forever. I definitely didn’t know it was possible though. Growing up racing, I would see all the pros like, Gary Ellis, Pistol Pete, the Foster Bros, and think that I could just do that when I grew up, but by the time I was old enough to turn Pro, I was starting to ride trails, and get real burnt out on racing. I did, race one national as A Pro, I was on the gate in between Todd Lyons, and Harry Leary, I made it to the semis and I think I made 50 bucks. Then I just stopped racing, and rode trails, and street. Different companies throughout racing sponsored me, but when I got on Kink, I thought that I might be able to make a living off riding bikes. Damn, it’s actually been 23 years since I started racing, I was 4.
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How are things going with Shadow, do you have any new signature stuff coming around?
Shadow is the best company I’ve ever ridden for. The team is so involved in every aspect of Shadow, from the parts, to who gets free stuff, and who gets on the team. It’s awesome, Shadow is all about BMX and it shows.
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Who are some of the people you ride with the most?
Travis, Boyd, Ben Hucke, Vince Kroff, Jesse Whaley, Eddie when he’s around, The McCabe Bros, Lil Caleb, Shad, Slo, Bristol, Rich, shit, there’s more, too many people in Portland to list.
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Who are some people you haven’t had a chance to ride with you would really like to meet and ride with?
Lucky for me, I’ve traveled so much, and I’ve ridden with a lot of people, so I guess it would just be riders from a different time period, like the 80’s. Real freestyle OG’s.
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Do you have any big trips planned for Subrosa or yourself at all coming up?
I’m heading down to California in a few, for some dry weather. We’re doing another Subrosa trip in Jan/Feb in the Southwest. Also looking into doing our first overseas team trip.
Do you have any goals or plans for 2008 you really would like to accomplish?
I just want to keep moving forward with Subrosa. I don’t ever want Subrosa to get stale, and not progressing forward. I also want to travel a lot more this year, see Bruce Springsteen live, and play more poker.
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How do you feel about the fast progression of the sport lately? Seems like every kid and their mother can do a front flip to hang 5 out…
Yeah, it’s definitely a wild scene out there. I’m not too into a lot of the newest tricks, but I can’t say it’s not impressive. A lot of the shit seems impossible, even after I watch someone do it.
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Since you life in Oregon, do you find yourself riding more cement parks, street, or trails?
† Definitely more cement. This city is really getting it done when it comes to parks. New parks get built at such an amazing rate, and each one out does the one before it. You could easily ride 2 different parks a day for everyday of the week, and the furthest you would drive is 45 minutes. Bikes are aloud at all but one.
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Outside of riding, who or what are your biggest influences in your life?
† Outside of riding I would say friends/family and music are my biggest influences. Also traveling overseas, and seeing other countries really puts into prospective how backwards things are in our country.
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5 years ago vs. Now
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Bike set up
Then: 2002 Kink Freebird, gyro, 2 pegs.
Now: 2008 Subrosa Pandora, Linear Shadow Cable, no pegs.
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Riding Style
Then: Loose and squirrelly, with the occasional bar-spin
Now: Loose and squirrelly, with the occasional bar-spin
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Favorite Places to ride
Then: Anywhere my friends are at.
Now: Anywhere my friends are at.
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Car you are driving
Then: 1981 Pontiac Trans Am S.E. Gold Edition
Now: 1981 Pontiac Trans Am S.E. Gold Edition, just faster.
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Favorite Band
Then: Alkaline Trio
Now: Modest Mouse
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Do you still do killer burnouts?
Actually just about a week ago, I had a good night at the poker table, picked up my girl Sarah and some of her friends, and I had to show em a nice one.
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Your favorite riding memory?
† My all time favorite memory is winning the Great Northwest Nationals when I was maybe 11 or 12, I looked over at a crowd of people as I crossed the finish line, and saw my dad jump with his hands in the air above everyone else. He was psyched.
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Favorite websites?
Subrosabrand.com
Theshadowconspiracy.com
Defgrip.net
Thecomeupbmx.net
Piratebay.com
Publikhair.com
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What is something that people do not know about you that they would find ironic or surprising?
…I thought for a long time, but then gave up. I don’t know.
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Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Ronnie B. and everyone at Sparky’s, my parents, K.C. Badger, Joshua Cornell, the cast and crew of The Office. It’s a long list, I’ll just stop there.
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Did I miss anything you would like to say or add?
Donate some cash to James Levan, and Stephan Murray.
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Nick Corsiglia Interview
Name:
Nick Corsiglia
Location:
San Diego via San Luis Obispo, California
Sponsors:
Give D clothing and my parents haha
Your on the give D crew, what’s that like and what does it mean to you?
To me it’s just a bunch of friends that I happened to start riding with right when they started making webvideos and stuff. I moved to SD a little over a year ago and it turns I out I made a good decision in doing that! Pretty much my favorite people.
Your another San Diego Ripper, do you feel like you have an advantage riding with so much talent compared to other riders?
Yeah I definitely think so, riding with everyone motivates me a lot and gets me to do things I normally can’t be asked to do or am too much of a bitch to do! Also watching them all ride gives me some good ideas.
Who are some of your biggest influences in your riding?
Everyone I ride with on a regular basis, everyone who rides smooth and makes things look good! Josh Stricker, Van Homan, Garrette Byrnes, Joe Rich, Edwin, Ruben, pretty much everyone from Etnies Forward and Criminal Mischief because those are the videos I grew up watching.
I noticed a picture of you where you are doing a hop barspin without shoes or socks!? what’s that all about, did it hurt?
hahaha that day! it was last summer and Hoang and I were chillin at the beach with some girls. We had our bikes and I didn’t have any shoes. Hoang had his camera so I told him to shoot a photo of a barefoot hop bars. Fortunately it was back when I did enough pedal grinds to have a flat side of my pedal so it didn’t hurt at all! I guess I just thought it’d be a funny picture doing a trick barefoot at the beach!
Where are your 5 favorite spots to ride?
1. The pool that’s 5 minutes from my apartment
2. This park in the ghetto south of downtown SD
3. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
4. Brooklyn Banks/flying around Manhattan
5. Clairemont Skatepark
If you could only do one trick for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I should say barspins because I do them a lot and really like them.. but if I was any good at them probably tables!
What is your greatest accomplishment with BMX?
traveling/moving places without worrying about whether or not I know anyone because I know I’ll be able to meet people through riding.
What is your best story involving the Give D crew?
Living with pretty much the entire crew in a 3 bedroom (well, 2 bedroom really) apartment near SDSU. Best time of my life! Every night was a party, people over all the time, never had to call someone to go ride, wake up every morning to see Albert playing Dave Mirra 2, come home from school to see a dozen friends chillin watching videos, playing videogames or gettin rad in one way or another, Ron’s golden birthday is still one of the best parties I’ve ever been too and it was at our apartment!
Where are some places you have been that you would suggest someone go to before they die?
NYC, Barcelona, Leeds UK if you like drinking and freezing your balls off, California!
Where are some places you would like to go to before you die?
Everywhere, all of Europe and Eastern Europe, Russia, Australia, South America, anywhere that’s a little off the normal tourist map.
Do you realize how nice you have it in San Diego? (it is 9 degrees out where I am right now)
Yes, everyday!
I noticed the song on your myspace was pretty heavy, is that the stuff your into or what?
I listen to everything, at the moment I’m listening to Dizzee Rascal who’s an English Grime rapper. This morning on the way to school I was listening to metal. When I go to bed I’ll listen to something slower like Ratatat. Madvillain/MF Doom/Dangerdoom is another of my favorites. And I’ll even dive into some George Straight or Ryan Adams (country) if I’m in the right mood! haha.
Name a few bands you think people should check out?
Beneath the sky, CCR, Cold war kids, Converge, Dangerdoom/MF Doom/Madvillain, David Bowie, Dizzee Rascal, The Go! Team, The Lovely Feathers, The Misfits, The Mountain Goats, Of Montreal, Papoose, Ratatat, Ryan Adams, Wilco.. I like music!
Who are your biggest influences outside of riding?
Writers, I’m a literature major so I spend a fair amount of time with my nose in a book and the stuff I’ve gotten out of books has changed the way I see the world.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Either travelling or living in a different country! Still riding, not yet settled into a career or anything crazy like that.
What do you think needs to change in BMX?
Too many people out there trying way too hard to come up and all that shit. It’s riding a kids bike don’t take it so seriously! Oh and also people doing shit just to ‘get street cred’
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
My parents for always supporting me, my friend Ian back home who got me into riding, shout out to Team AL, Hoang and Kyle for editing everything so it actually looks good, Ron for being awesome, Chris Hervan for keepin it street!, the party Steve’s for havin a good time all the time! everyone else in SD for shredding and having fun. Everyone who’s ever let me sleep on their floor even when I’d never met them before. Bdubbs and Nuno at Odyssey/Defgrip for hookin up GDC. Alex’s Grandma Doody for pizza parties, goodies and gas money. Kurt for letting me do this interview! Dollar pizzas, $3 veggie burritos at El Azteca Taco shop, Beer for always bein around and providing unlimited good times, PG Tips tea, cell phones, computers, cars, Dave Mirra 2 on PS2, everyone who throws parties and doesn’t get mad when we screw something up, San Diego for being amazing!
Anything I might have missed you would like to add?
I think you covered everything pretty well!
BMX Grant Castelluzzo Edit
Grant sent me over this video he made yesterday… Its quick, but his riding never is a disappointment! enjoy!
Also! if you like his edits head over to his Youtube page and check out all 11 of his videos, they are all way good.
Beloe footwear website is up.
Looks like it only has the skate side up and running right now but at least there are good shots of the shoes….
I personally am in love with the brown Bauers (no homo). the shoes will be available February 14th. QBP (their distributor) will have them shortly after that.
I can’t wait to get a pair.
OH and in case you missed it check out the Brian Osborn interview over there on the left in that littel scroll box….
It’s getting cold out so bundle up and keep on riding, or ride indoors…..
Zach Gerber Interview
When I met Zach, it was at Baco in Wisconsin. I thought he was a little crazy at first then I saw him ride and I knew he was crazy. We got talking and he said “dont tell anyone but I am going to front flip that box”… well that box was 2 1/2 feet tall and about 6 feet long.. and of course he did it. Since then I have only had the chance to talk to him online a few times, but finally I got around to asking for an interview and here it is.
Name:
Zachary Robert Gerber
Location:
Ridgway, Pennsylvania
Sponsors:
DK Bicycles, Maxxis Tires, System Cycle Supply, Albes flow, Superhuman Inc
You’re undoubtedly one of the craziest dudes I have seen ride a bike? Are you naturally talented, did your parents drop you as a child, or did you grow up near a power plant?
-My parents never really dropped me, but I did hit my head a lot when I was younger. I don’t live near a power plant, but there is something in the water up here. It tends to make people act a little wild.
You have front flips on lock, are you going to be the 3rd person to pull that fakie frontflip?
-Not to be cocky but I’ve already done one, with my chain on and I run a cassette, no freecoaster. I had to pedal back and I ended up actually doing it switch footed.
You’re riding for DK doing shows, now that you have been getting coverage on the dew tour do you still plan on doing the demos or will the tour take up a lot of your time?
-Man, I don’t know. I love the dew tour. I love doing shows. I’ll just make things work. As long as I’m inspiring kids everywhere to pick up a bike and ride. That’s all I want to accomplish.
You and Catfish are pretty tight, is he like a brother to you or what?
-He’s like a grandpa to me! That man has helped me out so much. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. He deserves more credit than I can explain in words.
(If I remember right I told him to do this too, handplant at baco)
You seem to be super dialed and able to learn whatever you want almost instantly, how do you go about learning new stuff?
-Just riding with friends. They randomly blurt something out, and I’ll likely try it. Or at least, think about it and try to find a why to make it happen. I also study gymnast moves and try to convert it over to bmx. Sounds a little weird, but gymnastic stuff is crazy. I feel that bmx is just gymnastics on a bicycle. Someday you’ll be seeing flat ground flips, I guarantee it.
Some people say your riding is a mirror image of Scotty Cranmer’s, what do you have to say about that?
-What can I say? Scotty is amazing. I do really love the tricks he’s doing, but I love anyone who is out there progressing bmx and pushing it to its limits. I don’t try to be him; we just do some of the same stuff and he’s ten times better than me.
Other than Scotty, who are your biggest influences on your riding?
-Brian Kachinski, Brad Simms, DMC, Dave Mirra, Aaron Ross, Whitesnake, Craig Mast… All athletes know when you use anabolic steroids your body increases the intensity of the synthesis of nucleic acids and various enzymes, which are necessary for the cycle of a particular biochemical reaction. Anabolic steroids are often the first choice of bodybuilders and beginners. Anabolic steroids which are available on ACNM website www.alaskacenterfornaturalmedicine.com in pills or injections do not pose a risk to the liver. Secondly, steroids are often more powerful and therefore more effective. However, there are some exceptions. The choice of specific drugs depends on your goals. heck, everyone I’ve ever ridden with. Especially, those who still ride flat land, my friends who I ride with everyday, and those 12 year olds that do backflips.
Where are some of your favorite places you have been able to visit and ride?
-TRP is the most amazing park ever, Woodward east (of course), The Flow, and Rays MTB Park.
What is your craziest story involving being on the road?
-Too many to remember, but stories with Chris Gerber are always the most unforgettable. All I have to say is, “Where the condom at?” Chris isn’t my brother, nor are we related in anyway, but I love that dude.
What are some of your goals for 2008?
-Double front… and not die or end up with stitches in my head, and ride more and learn more.
Why are you always so excited and bouncing off the walls?
-I have horrible A.D.D. Just thinking about riding gets me super stoked and happy. It makes me want to run around real fast and bite people like 28 days later.
Who is somebody you have never met that you have always wanted to? (alive or dead)
-Colin Winkleman. I really wish I could have had the honor of meeting him.
What is on your holiday wish list for this year?
-Ti for the bike and a Wii for me.
You got a pretty nice V Dub.. do you have any customizations to it?
-Nah, not yet. I’m getting there though. I’m in the process of getting a 4 inch lift in it and softer suspension. It’s going to be my PA Baja car.
Outside of riding what or who impacts your life the most?
-My parents, they are so important to me. I don’t know what I’d do without them. My girlfriend, she keeps me in line, but she’s a bad influence, too. Video games can also make me sit in my room for days on end. Zelda… oh lord… 80’s movies and cartoons also consume me.
Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
-My mom and dad, everyone at DK, Bill, Jerry, Trevor, Zack, Jackson. I mean everyone! Thank you guys so much for everything. Flip, I love you! Everybody at Maxxis tires, Trevor at Superhuman, all my friends that I know and all those to come, and Voltron!
Anything I missed you would like to add?
-Stay positive and just ride. For the love of bmx, just ride. It’s doesn’t matter if you can only bunny hop or you’re doing 360 triple whips. You’ve got a bike, get on it, ride it, love it and smile.
I did a search on YouTube, came accross these videos.. this first one is crazy followed by halarious
Flairing tiny stuff
This video below is close to 2 years old!