BMX UNION

Unless you have been living under a rock and never use your internet for anything more than Redtube, YouPorn, or Facebook, you probably have heard of Jeff DuPaul. If not Jeff DuPaul, probably Team Jeff DuPaul. I’ve been interested in finding more out about this guy for some time now, and finally had the opportunity to shoot him some questions. We even got a few of the guys from the team in on asking some questions. I’m pretty stoked since he is a real good guy just looking out for his friends, and for a good time. Check out the interview and leave Jeff some love in the comments!

Name:
Jeff David-Kyung DuPaul a.k.a. Mike Salad a.k.a. Kyung Sou (that’s my real name, although idk how to spell it)

Location:
On my porch in Prospect, CT

Sponsors:
None, but def. repping The Last People and A-Town Trash. AMUH!!!

Years riding:
Gzz well, I have been riding since a little before senior year of high school, but through about 2 years of injuries, I been in BMX for about 5ish years but really on the bike for only like less than 4.

Years filming and editing:
well I got my camera when I tore my ACL this last time, so about 7 months. I always filmed and edited before that with like a terrible camera held together by little devil stickers. I made a billion edits, but had dial up internet, so none of them ever made it online hahaha.

What was it the first got you into BMX? Do you have any early memories?
Man I feel so dumb talking about myself haha, umm I saw Road Fools Europe day 2 on Bluetorch, and was hooked. I used to skate prior so I watched shows that had both like x-games, I got on my bike after that though. My first memory is following all the good kids from my town to the trails jumping the first set and then quitting. I don’t know, I didn’t have fun jumping the sets, so I would just go chill, I had most fun cruising to the gas station to get drinks and hoping curbs and stuff. There were benches across the street from a subway that I learned to grind on, and was stoked. All the locals around me were trail rats but I was stoked on street, kind of went my own way after that.
On a side note, kind of wish I learned to ride trails so I would have more bike control lol.

I’ve heard from others how Team Jeff DuPaul all came about, but maybe you could give it to us from your perspective? Why your name over something weird like the other guys out there like Team Dilly or BMXfu?
I get this question a lot, It’s not some ego trip or anything, infact I didn’t even invent TJD. It all started about a year ago, Not-So-Metro 08. I always bought Andre Postell ciggs, gas, park entrance fees, food, anything he needed. It’s just how I am. I’ll do almost anything for my friends. Well Andre made a joke that I was his sponsor, and listed Team Jeff DuPaul for the contest. It kinda blew up when c-beef got real stoked and was like lets do this. As a joke I posted a myspace bulletin saying TJD now accepting sponsor me tapes. A billion kids sent in tapes and a few friends were like yeah put me on haha, so we just ran with it. I think that answers the name question, And re picked it. I started calling it TJD though to escape using my name, it just feels weird haha, I say it stands for The Junior Dolphins, Denny calls it this justified dream, when we go to parties so we sound like an awesome emo band. Shouts to Charlie and Greg Henry and everyone at BMXfu by the way.

Is it true you are throwing down your own cash to keep Denny and a few other dudes in the crew rolling?
Yeah hahaha, I mean it’s just money. I have never really cared about material possessions. I like friends and stuff more. I think it’s just bike riding, everyone throws everyone a dollar here and there. TJD started off my generosity, but currently TJD is broke lol.

Team Jeff DuPaul is all spread out around the North East area from my understanding. How often do you guys usually get together? Who do you ride with the most TJD or not?
Well I live in Connecticut. TJD is spread all around the north east, with some Canadian, west coast and FL reppers. Hahaha the close group of us from the north east ride together like 3 times a month, seems every weekend someone is staying at my house. We have groups of up to 15 people at a time crammed in my room. TJD riders I ride with the most is Denny, Chris Childs, Chris Zep, Craig, Mike Mastroni, Corey Godfrey. Kids I ride with the most are Haven locals, especially my dudes Garrett Servan and Gary Russel. Really I feel those 2 and Mike are the only kids I ride with a lot. And that’s only haven cause of winter. Mike lives like forever away so I usually solo shred.

Where are you usually riding? Anywhere you have been dying to go lately?
Haha well I haven’t ridden in 7ish month, but Haven a lot, just cause it’s close, some lil prefabbers and just some lil spots. I never actually ride though haha I just ride for a minute then chill. I get burnt out on the same spots. I’m going to Cali for a Take trip so I am stoked on that, and pretty much anywhere over in Europe. Especially Barcelona, and just any country not too much explored. Might go with Mike, probably not though because of funds.

When can we expect a full-length video out of you guys?
Oh gosh, I have no idea, we are filming, but we don’t want like a thousand indoor park clips like all our web edits. We been saving the good stuff for our DefGrip video. Which will be more or less a full length. We will be submitting sections as they wrap up. It’s my way to do a full length. The idea of making an actual DVD crossed my mind, but I don’t think people would buy it. Plus with posting by section, people can film until they feel their section is good and done. I don’t want to put out something I’m not happy with. Might take all the sections when it is done and burn a few copies though.

Didn’t you have your bike stolen or something recently? What’s the story behind that one?
I did have my bike stolen at an h-town contest a few years ago and then returned by the kid who stole it. I didn’t care about my bike, I just wanted to know a girls name. Anyways, this time I sold my bike when I tore my ACL to help pay for bills. I’m all set to ride again, just don’t have a bike. I need a cassette, cranks and some little things. I just don’t have any money.

If you could go on a road trip with only 5 people, who would you bring, where would you go, and why?
Ok definitely Denny, he goes where I go, because he can ride, but he’s sooo funny. Chris Childs cause he shred and has witty one liners, Garrett Reeves, because he will do all the bangers, Mike Mastroni because he’s my main dude and shredsss and is a 2nd angle for when I screw up the first. 5th is Craig Zeppieri (combo of Chris and Craig) cause Craig would hide in Chris’s suitcase and come, and them fighting is the best thing to watch. It was hard to pick 5, and I don’t think it would matter where we go, because we would have fun off our bikes just as much as on. We would probably go to some nice big city or Barcelona. Although it’s gonna get played out fast.

Do you have any trips planned at all right now? What would you like to do for ’09?
I’d like to travel as much in ’09 as possible. Denny and I have an idea for one trip called the Myspace trip. We all got little girlies we talk/talked to and they always say come visit. Well, we get a bunch of them to let a buncha dirty bike riders come stay, and we map out our adventure through myspace girls hahaha. I wana go everywhere though in all reality, I’m bad at planning ahead and organizing trips, but they do happen.

Do you have any crazy stories involving cops, security, midgets, homeless people, prostitutes, and or angry pedestrians?
I know I have a thousand, but am drawing a blank. I’m blowing it, definitely cracking under the pressure

Would you change anything about BMX if you could?
Yeah a lot hahaha. But everyone is entitled to their own opinions and even the things I don’t like I can find positive things about.

If you could get yourself and the rest of your team sponsored by any company, BMX related or not, who would you pick to endorse the team?
Everyone has a energy drink sponsor, well we would def pick extenze energy drinks, we saw them on a commercial once and got so stoked hahaha. It would be the best sponsor ever. Extenze and vodka haha, girls at the bar would be STOKEDDDD

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
Schooling it or something I probably wasn’t having fun with. I never had fun in school and things rarely hold my attention. I still worry about the future cause I have no idea what I want to do. But when I was little I wanted to be a fire truck. Not fire man, but fire truck. So maybe I can still do that?

What are you usually up to when you aren’t riding, filming, or editing?
Nothing, man I have noooo life. I usually sleep, play with my dog, and watch food network. Cruise the net for a quick minute and then get bored and freak out. It’s cause my closest buddy Mike lives like an hour away.

What was it that got you into filming and editing anyways?
Basically tearing my ACL, I mean that’s what legit got me into it. Before that I dabbled and stuff, but I don’t know. Just something I had fun doing really and ran with it.

Chris zep: How many injuries and surgeries have you had?
I have torn both my ACL’s, ruptured a disc and fractured a vertebra in my back, that’s 3 surgeries, but my latest ACL took an additional 2 operations. That’s like 2 years off the bike lol, also I fractured my left wrist, and the average rolled ankles and sore knees and wrists. Oh and I’m positive I broke my left elbow but never went to the doctor for it

What is your camera gear situation looking like these days? Everything from cameras, lenses, to editing software.
I film with a Panasonic DVX 100b, and edit with Adobe Premier. I don’t actually have any lense. Long shots all day. Although Miles Rogoish just showed me how to film with one so I might get one. I just always loved long shots more

What is your dream set up?
Is this referring to riding or filming… for riding, any different unique setup, I’m more a person of circumstances rather than tricks or skill haha. Filming wise, just good lighting, crisp blue sky with minimal clouds. Good friends shredding, and a spot with character. Something eye appealing

It seems like you are a pretty popular dude, what is it about you that makes you kick so much ass?
Hahahaha dude I don’t know, I just try and be friendly to everyone in my adventures. I like everyone.

Approximately how many women have you gave yellow fever to? Any miniature replicas of you running around?
Hahahaha, I hope they can’t trace that yellow fever back to me! I didn’t mean to give it, but I got my girlfriend now, all I need.

Since you are 21, what is the current drink of choice?
I rarely drink, almost never.I drink just beer really, not real picky, honestly I generally don’t pay either. When I drink it’s cause people hand me drinks, cause I’m just as content not drinking. I generally only get drunk with Chris Childs, we are alcoholics.

Have you ever been so drunk you either pissed yourself, made love to a large female, and or beat yourself up?
Hahaha no no and no, thank god, I did get drunk once and upset and consoled by a stripper, that was awesome story from a terrible night.

What do you do with a cashew in a lollipop?
Suck it till you get the nut! Bahahaha No homo for our amigos de la come up.

What kind of music is a guy like you into?
Everything, wicked cliché answer haha. But I like indie a lot, and rap. I listen to a lot of tupac haha. But I’ll listen to everything from whiney emo to electro pop haha.

Garrett Reeves: How do you drink 8 sodas a day and eat marshmallow fluff burritos and keep such a nice figure?
Man I have no idea, good metabolism, cause god knows I don’t do any physical activity

Denny: The powerful flaming punch of shoryuken or the high powered focus blast of hadoken?
I’m gonna have to go with Miles and Hadoken, I mean anyone can upper cut, but who do you know can focus energy into a call and take yo ass out!

If you could relive any day of your life, when would you go back to and why?
I don’t know if I would want to pick a good day and relieve it or a bad day and change it, I would really wish I never tore my ACL this second time, it just doesn’t feel the same. But then again I wouldn’t have gotten my camera, so I guess everything happens for a reason.

For one day you could commit any crimes you wanted and get away with it, no limit of how many, what would you do?
Oh man, I’d rob every bank ever so I’d be set for life and never have to get a real job. I really can’t think of anything else.

What is your biggest fear?
Losing people close to me, and being forgotten. When you think about being forgotten makes life seem like it wasn’t worth it. Also spiders, and heights. It’s why I stay below coping hahaha

Kill one, fuck one, marry one. Barbara Walters, Lisa Lampanelli, Hillary Clinton.
Dude man I got the ugliest women to pick from, at least Matty got like interesting looking women. I’d kill Hillary, fuck Barbra cause listening to her during sex with that voice would be hysterical, and I guess marry Lisa, but she only likes black dudes. Get it Denny!

Mike Mastroni: If you could eliminate 3 female celebrities who would they be and why?
Paris Hilton, cause she is so sloppy and not even that hot, Tyra Banks for thinking she is way cooler than she is, and Beyonce for saying a diva is a female version of a hustler, I don’t know, that makes me so mad haha.

C Beef: When is Denny’s first album “Denny dicks dudes” come out on the street?
I was thinking of taking all of Denny’s freestyles and making them MP3’s.

Please explain to me the metro 06 trip problems and near jail times that we all faced?
Oh gosh, first we snuck a kid into Canada, got pulled over at the boarder with him hiding under the clothes and gear, at the same time some friends from Philly get pulled over and they get searched, we start sweating that they are gonna search us, but after some computering we get cleared and book. can’t believe that, I’d still be in jail. On the way home they pull us over again, but we reported the other kids wallet stolen so we could get back in to the us, they pull me into the back room with like the light in my face asking for my green card, I’m like I don’t have a green card I’m a citizen, they wanted to throw me in jail for a few months and charge me $5000 bucks, but they let me go cause I said I was 17 and a minor hahaahahaha. So scary.

Where do you see yourself in a perfect world 5 years from now?
Rich beyond my wildest dreams and spending it on all my friends and f amily, orrrrrrr on Denny’s MTV show. Dude that will happen, mark my words.

Have you ever purchased a Girls Gone Wild video or any porn?
No, I had dial up internet forever so never watched porn. I don’t know, I just never into it, I know that’s weird. But girls gone wild, never saw a real video, but have you ever noticed that girl like wrestling in the pool has a sausage in her bikini bottoms like on the side?

What is the worst thing you have spent your money on in the last month or two?
Hahahaha nothing cause I haven’t had money in about 7 months since I tore my ACL and haven’t worked. But probably fast food.

Have you ever been in a fight and or arrested?
I was in a fight like once on the school bus in like 3rd grade but never really arrested. Few close calls though, best one was when me and spam dined and dashed and cop cut my license in half.

What is the best advice you have ever been able to give or have been given?
Do it for yourself. It s the only way man like I forget who told me that but seriously. Only way to get any satisfaction out of life.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Oh brotha, soo many. First off, my Parents for supporting me and putting up with my junk for so long. My girlfriend for always trying to give me money and being there for me. All my TJD homies and supporters, thanks for liking all the videos and giving us such positive feed back and support.

NAME DROP SECTION Chris Childs, Chris Zeppieri, Garret Servan, Sven, Evan, Nick Dettorre, John Ludwick, Craig Passero, Garret Reeves, Corey Godfrey, Mike Mastroni, Gary Russel, Spam, Ewips, Barchus, Andre, C-beef, Villani, Julia, Natalie, my big sis Jenna, Samantha, Kyia, Alex B, James Hess, Jessie Jay, Matty Long, Sandman, Tom V, Jeff Dowhen, Ben Hucke, Adam22 Jeff K, Zak Earley, Drew Bezanson, B Christi, Don P, James Lukas, Ryan aka Chris Johnsson, Dane Wild, Dan Foley, Garret P, Justin L, and Everyone everywhere who has ever helped me out, from letting me borrow a buck to buy a drink to letting me sleep on your floor, trust me I remember all of you.
Special thanks to Denny for being my best friend thru everything and always keeping me entertained man. Thanks to you Kurt for thinking I was interesting enough that people would wana read all this nonsense

Anything else you want to say?
I can’t believe you all read this bahahaha go ride you loonies.

Below is only a few of Jeff’s edits! You can check out 29 videos on his

Vimeo

Sometimes I come across people who I really didn’t know much of anything about by simply seeing a photo or web video. While hopping around on Bikeguide, I came across a photo and knew I had to ask this kid some questions. It’s also been a goal of mine to interview more people from out of the U.S also, so this is a double win. Check out the interview and let Lewis know how you feel in the comments!

Photo: Fred Murray

Name:
Lewis Watson

Location:
Aberdeen, Scotland

Sponsors:
20twenty and I am on the 4Down/Fit shop team

Years riding:
7 or 8

How are things going with 4Down these days? Is there any big things going on over there? Web videos, trips, dvd’s, anything like that in the works?
The guys at 4Down are really cool and always helping me out. I am hoping to film a wee web edit soon. I am always up for going on trips but I am not sure what is happening.

What about the 20twenty shop? What’s going on there these days?
Yeah, things are going really well at the moment. We have just moved into half of the skate shop down at the skatepark which is really cool and the shop is looking good. We are working on filming a dvd this year and will be going on a few trips soon.

Photo: Fred Murray

It seems like here in the U.S, we really don’t hear a whole lot about the scene in Scotland. What is it like over there? Any up and coming guys that you think people will be hearing about besides yourself?
The scene in Scotland is amazing. Everyone knows each other so whenever you go anywhere you are made to feel really welcome. There are so many good riders here; the whole BSD team is amazing and there is always really good, young riders coming up from all over the place.

What are you typically riding over there? Is the street, parks, and trails pretty dialed over there or what?
I mainly ride park now because I get to ride the local park for free, but in the summer I try and ride as much street as I can. There are pretty much no trails up here so I don’t get to ride them very much.

I saw a 20Twenty ad of you doing a massive curved wall ride. I’m assuming you aren’t one of those guys who likes to go slow?
I do try and go fast most of the time. I think it just looks better. That curved wallride was one of the best things I have ever ridden though.

Photo: Chris Petrei

Do you find much time to travel? If you aren’t around your home area, where are you usually riding?
I try to travel as much as I can. I am going off to Portland in the summer and about to go on a wee trip next month down south. When I am not riding in Aberdeen, I am normally in Glasgow or Dundee. They both have really good street and parks.

I hear you work at a local park? How’s that? Does it have any perks or big down sides?
Yeah, it is a great job. I don’t think I could get a better one for me really. I get to ride the park all I want for free and I always get to ride the good sessions. There are some downsides though, if you are hurt it sucks to be sitting in the park and you can’t ride. Also when folk get hurt badly it is pretty bad because you have to deal with all that.

What are some things you would like to get done or hope you can do for 2009?
I really want to try and travel around as much as I can and film a good section for the 20twenty video. I really want to move out and get a flat and learn to drive also.

What do you think you would be doing if you never got into BMX?
I think I would be playing rugby still, and I reckon I would have done a bit better in school too.

What are you usually up to when you aren’t riding or working at the park?
I am normally out with friends or just chilling out at home

I know you spend a little time on Bikeguide. Do you feel forums like that are good for BMX or not really?
I think forums can be good and bad. It is really cool that you can keep up to date with everything that is happening and see videos and stuff. All the shit talking is pretty bad but I don’t think that folk do that so much anymore.

You are approached by a dude with a knife who wants your bike or wallet, what do you do?
He would get my wallet for sure, I can actually replace that.

What are you going to do when you win the lottery?
I would go travel to all the places that I want to go to and then I would buy a nice house with a big bit of land so I can do what I want with it.

Photo: Chris Petrie

If you could do one thing for the rest of your life, outside of riding, for a career. What would you want to do?
I really would like to do something outside. If I ended up doing anything outdoors that would be cool.

What are 3 things you can’t make it through the day without?
Food, friends and my bike.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I would like to have decided what I am going to do and be working towards getting it.

Would you ever fight a homeless guy? What if he peed on your shoes?
If he peed on my shoes for sure.

What is the craziest thing you have ever experienced?
I think the after party at the last 20twenty jam has to be up there. The bar we were in had to be closed early because things got so loose. After that we went off to my mates flat and things got pretty out of hand, fridges got thrown and sofas snapped.

If you could no longer live where you live now, where do you see yourself?
I would like to live in France or Germany. I really like it over there.

What is the worst thing you have spent your money on in the last month?
I just had to spend £80 on the dentist today that was pretty shit.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
I would like to thank Mike from 20twenty, all the guys from 4Down, everyone who I ride with, Craig, and everyone from the park for giving me one of the best jobs.

There is one word that can sum Russell up pretty quickly, and that word is “awesome”. He has been killing it for quite some time now and I felt it was time to see what he has been up to. There is some real good insight on his riding career, real career, and life in general. There are also a lot of really good stories. Plus, he has pretty solid advice for those of you who might end up in prison someday. We even got Rick Moliterno to throw in a few questions, so check out the interview, and leave him some love in the comments!

Photo: Miles

Name:
Russell Wadlin

Location:
Tulsa, Ok

Sponsors:
Standard

Years riding:
Probably 10-12 knowing what BMX is. I always jumped curbs and loved riding around downtown before I knew it was a real thing.

What was it that first got you into BMX? Any early memories come to mind?
I vividly remember seeing Rob Nolli do a superman in the first X-gaymes on TV while on a vacation in South Carolina, haha. Hooked instantly. Coincidentally, I had a friend that I didn’t see very often that also got into riding because he lived by some trails. So the next time I saw him we went to the trails, my front wheel flew off, and we saw a kid break his finger — best day ever. I ended up buying my first “real” bike from that kid — Dyno VFR!

Photo: Jake Giesel

You have been on Standard for quite a while now… How are things going with them? Anything big going on involving you and them?
It’s awesome. Nothing like sig. frames or any of that stuff. I have a custom 250, so that’s like a signature bike…only it’s just for me, haha. The new shop is going strong and they’re cranking out some amazing stuff. I’ll be going up to Iowa this summer and I would assume I’ll get/give a few HJ’s and ZJ’s from/to Rick. So that’ll be sweet. Probably some over-unders too.

What about the rest of your sponsors? Anything awesome?
Yes, very awesome. Ballpark and I have a new, signature frank coming out. They’ll be anatomically correct 100% beef injection molds made from a certain part of my body — they’re delicious and fit in buns perfectly.

I’m watching the STA part, and I am instantly confused. Do you ride a freecoaster or no? Explain.
Both. Freecoasters are awesome but they all suck and aren’t reliable at all. I like aspects of both cassette and freecoaster, so I ride both. It’s just whatever trick phase my head is in at the moment. Most of my STA part is really old footage (we’re talking at least 4 years old when the video came out) so it was before I even tried a freecoaster. It sucks sometimes, because I’d love to just have the best of both worlds. I like the engagement and reliability of cassettes, but with a freecoaster I like a lot of slack. I haven’t tried one of those externally adjustable freecoasters yet. Maybe they’re the answer but I doubt it. So I just go back and forth when I feel like it, variety is the spice of life right? Unfortunately my freecoaster is fucked right now, so I don’t know when I’ll be getting on one again.

It seems like you have to be pretty legit to be on Standard these days. Who did you have to kill to get on the team?
Garret Rapp
First question is funny to me though. What do you mean by legit? Everyone “on” Standard is just a dude that shreds for themselves and doesn’t really give a fuck about what people think about it. If that’s legit, then yes.

Speaking of that, what is your automatic weapon of choice?
Chainsaw — automatically awesome.

How’s the scene where you are living these days? I would imagine you are riding with Miles and Tony a fair amount?
Good and quaint, haha, like always. I’ve always told people it’s sweet enough that I’ve never had a desire to move somewhere else like Austin or something sorta close. There’s not a whole lot of riders but everyone knows each other and is cool to one another for the most part. Tulsa is like a big city, but small at the same time. I’m totally a product of my environment and I’m happy with that. I ride with Miles and Tony a bit. Our lives are on different schedules basically. I work all day and ride at night, they film all day and party/chill at night (this is just a generalization). I’ll usually meet up with them on the weekends though. I ride with Aaron Anderson, Alex Vazquez, Dylan Morris, Hawaiin, and Mike Shaiko a lot too.

Photo: Kyle Kisling

Briefly describe the first and last time that someone on a bmx bike just blew your muthafuckin mind.
1st:
I was at these trails in this shitty little town and this dude shows up. I don’t know who the fuck he is but he is just oozing badass. He’s got the oakleys, he’s putting on the leopard print knee and elbow pads, and he’s on a Hoffman. BADASS. He proceeded to 360 and then flip the “trick” jump. I was astounded. I was seriously dumbstruck. I just witnessed that shit in person!
Most recent:
That new DUB jam video. The riding in that thing is crazy!

I heard you can hop a 45 pound bike higher than your own?
Hahaha, I wouldn’t say it was higher, it was about the same height that I can hop on my normal bike.

Is there an aspect of your riding you always want to pursue but never do?-Rick Moliterno
I wouldn’t say NEVER, but some of the gaps and shit I see I just can’t bring myself to do them. Just not brave enough. It sucks too, because I feel like if I see it, then I should be able to do it. And I really hate walking away from things. I’m not the 3 bitch runs and get it done guy, I’m the take a million run-ups, learning more about it every time, then finally do it. Some people hate that, and I’m sorry if we’re riding together, but it’s just the way I think. I think a lot and am very meticulous. It’s just the way my head is and I’ve accepted it. I’ve done most of what I’ve seen and some have been really hard for me mentally. There’s still some out there that I don’t know if I’ll ever do.

Have you been doing much filming for anything lately? When can we expect to see some new clips of you?
Yeah I’ve been trying. Doing work with Miles and Tony and then also with Chris Mahaffey when we get the chance. I’m working on full parts for them hopefully but I’m not going to stress out and make riding not enjoyable to get them done. You’ll be seeing a little webbie vid soon. I have 2 breaks in my foot right now, so I’ll be making the vid with some new footage that’s not going to Chris anymore (he’s all HD now — what a snob!) and some used stuff that was in my BNQT bio and maybe even some older stuff from the Standard video. Just something sweet and with tricks that I was most psyched on. The kids are calling them remixes nowadays, so I will too.

How much do trends affect your riding?-Rick Moliterno
I’ll be honest. I do follow trends, everyone does in some way no matter how much they deny it. I just do it moderation. I try to do things that are “cool” but then also do some stuff that’s weird or different. I’m really into doing ironic things I guess. Like, lately I’ve been all about can-cans or other silly tricks and doing them in “cool” places like down stair sets or something. I guess the same can be said about my clothing even. I started wearing tie-dye because I thought it was silly and it made me smile. Now I’m seeing kids wearing it and companies selling shirts. I’m not saying I started a trend, because I HIGHLY doubt that, it’s just weird. I’ve noticed a small resurgence of old school tricks and it makes me really happy.

With Summer coming up pretty quickly. What do you have planned riding wise?
I’ll be sweating profusely and getting tanned skin. Nothing really out of the ordinary honestly. Hopefully I’ll be heading up to Iowa for a week or so around the time of Extravajamza (June 20th, everyone go it’s amazing). Just riding my bike a lot more and driving my car a lot less. Hopefully some good trips come up, but if not, oh well.

If you could go on a road trip with only 5 people, who would you bring, where would you go, and why?
I’d take two Tulsa legends: Big Aaron and James double D, Drew York, Fergie, and Rick. I have THE BEST roadtrip memories with Aaron and James. Same with Drew and Rick actually. Some good times on SBC trips! Fergie just because he’s basically the sweetest dude I’ve ever met. With that crew, it wouldn’t matter where we went honestly. So hard to narrow this down to 5 people. Can’t I just bring everyone?

Photo: Kyle Kisling

Who is the biggest animal on SBC in your opinion? Benny P claims he didn’t have a part in the video because you didn’t want him making you look bad?
Yeah, I begged Benny not to do anymore inverts over spines. I guess that equals no riding at all. As an animal, Drew comes to mind instantly, but when I think about it there’s so many. Rick — duh. Jonah — such a badass and is an eccentric person and I really like that in people. Benny — has no front teeth as a result of being an animal. Rob Ridge — just wow. Watch his part on vimeo, so amazing. Greg Litecky — no shirt, cigs, awesome. Jeremiah — because he’s literally a lumberjack, like, literally. Doug E Fresh — he’s a racer that’s jumped the church gap. There’s just so many. I just love everyone on Standard that I’ve met. It’s everything BMX is, but at the same time, everything that it isn’t if you know what I mean.

Out of the whole team, who do you think you could take in a game of checkers?
Fucking hell, probably no one. I don’t even know how to figure an answer for this haha.

When it comes to riding, are you very picky with what you want to ride or are you able to shred a curb and be completely satisfied?
I’m happy to ride a curb! One of the last times I rode before I broke my foot we sessioned a curb in front of the skatepark, haha! I’m not picky at all. I never pick spots because I like showing up with a fresh imagination instead of going in with intentions of doing something I’ve already called out but sometimes I do that too. It’s weird, haha. I started out riding trails, always rode street, and ride skateparks too, so I will seriously ride anything. My imagination always wins and I end up wanting to do stuff that’s weird to other people. At its extreme it borders on not even being BMX at all sometimes, like riding on a cable/wire or something with no tires or tubes — tightrope/circus style. Like, hopping in and out and everything, maybe even tricking out if it works, but I just want to see if the bare rims will ride on the cable/wire like I think they will. Is that BMX to people? Lately, the thinking has translated into about a million thread-the-needles, so nothing too weird there. I’ve thought about making a whole part with NO tricks in it, except hopping, wallrides, manuals, those kind of bike manuever type of things. I don’t really know if I’d include spins or not. It’d be like, gaps and just weird ways to use a bike at normal spots or just doing things at really weird spots. Just bare bones, creative riding, but the intention is that it wouldn’t be boring and it’d still be a sweet video part. Kind of hard to explain, but it makes sense in my head — a problem I have a lot!

Do you envision yourself as an “older” rider yet?-Rick Moliterno
Yes and no. I know I’m not actually that old and that there’s a lot more shredders out there older than I am. Typically at home I am the oldest dude in the session though. I don’t really care because I don’t feel old (unless I’m around kids who don’t know what video Forward is — WOW). Most people don’t even realize I’m 27 until it comes up somehow. They think I’m younger.

Photo: Jake Giesel

If you could change anything about BMX, from removing people, events, places, or anything like that, would you? If yes, what?
I don’t know man, that’s a hard question. It’s like when Marty’s sister or whatever is disappearing from his photo in Back to the Future. If you change something, then the world we know now will be different. You know, cause and effect. If that’s true, then probably not. BMX is what you want it to be, so if you don’t like it, that’s your own fault. I think a lot of people are driven in a negative way by the industry and coverage because they want to be good at something. They think that being “pro” is the only to be good or to ever succeed and that sucks to see. Why not stop stressing over the popular tricks you think you should be doing and do some tricks YOU want to do? Like I said, BMX is yours, it’s what you make it, I do whatever I feel like so I love it. Um sorry about the tangent there, back to the question…If I could change something without changing how BMX is now overall, it’d definitely be the highschool/popularity contest I’ve noticed sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve liked everyone I’ve ever met, I get along with pretty much anyone. But there’s been times when I’m chilling with a rider, and a “cooler” person comes around, and I no longer matter to them. I haven’t experienced bullshit like that since highschool. Very petty. But fuck it, through all the lost friends, friends quitting, friends changing, people acting shady, people being unnaccepting, etc I will and do still ride (obviously, ha).

Do you have any real good stories involving cops, security, homeless people, hookers, or pedestrians because of BMX?
Cops:
Last year’s Extravajamza after party was wild. A lot of people started claiming couches and floor space to crash. Space ran out quick and I started to get annoyed with all the overly drunk people anyway so I got an AMAZING blanket from someone and went to crash outside. I thought “what would a dog do?” So I cuddled up in the corner next the building, away from the wind. I’m asleep fast and for at least an hour. Eventually someone starts waking me up and I instantly think it’s some drunk dick, so I’m like “FUCK OFF I’M SLEEPING!” Well, it was a cop. He ends up being surprisingly nice, takes me to his cruiser, where I sat for like a damn hour, and he’s trying to get me to get someone inside the house to let me in. Turns out there was a major brawl…like, iron fence posts thrown like spears through cars and shit. Cops had shown up and everyone locked the place down pretending like no one was there. Well, I play dumb saying that I’m from out of town (I was) and that I don’t have any numbers (lie). Eventually they just put me in a random, unlocked parked car with another dude, Duckman, that they found under a tree or something. They eventually leave, the garage door opens and we go back in, haha. I proceeded to whine a bit because I was so salty from being caught up in it when I was actually trying to get away from all of it. I got over it. Awesome memory now.

Homeless people (kinda):
We were down in OKC for a CFB years ago and staying at our friend, Nick Stout’s place. His neighbors across the street were amazing. 2 of the ABSOLUTELY WORST/BEST rednecks I’ve ever met. They eventually were named “All Out Punch Out” and “Riversnake” (not the Square One Riversnake, a blatant copy). Wasted the whole time. Drinking what they were calling “whoooooooooooski.” My buddies James and Mitch among other things, went in their house without them knowing, raided the fridge, pissed on the couch with a passed out dude on it, and stole the TV remote. When the 2 came back home, James and Mitch were changing channels and volume from outside the house and these guys were flipping out and couldn’t figure it out. Eventually James and Mitch just cranked to volume to max and threw the remote in a field. They blamed it on some kids down the street that didn’t even exist and the rednecks went to go find them. I can’t even remember everything these guys did. They were on another level.

You used to rock some dreads. What happened to them and will they ever make a return? Were you bummed when that trend died down?
I hated them for a very long time. My girlfriend at the time (wifey now) and I had this deal where I would keep them until I proposed to her, because she really liked them. She obviously made that deal thinking it was going to take forever, which it didn’t. I eventually proposed and cut them off minutes later, haha. They will never make a return. They were absolutely miserable to ride with. They went down to the top of my ass and would whip me in the face all the time. They weighed a ton, especially wet. They were extremely hot. I was every hippie and goth girl’s dream guy. I can’t even count the number of times I got offered weed from random people at random times, which I suppose would be sweet if I smoked. Just, no. It was never really a trend in my opinion. There’s always just been a few people who have them, not like every kid rocking big bars and skinny jeans.

Photo: Kyle Kisling

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
I don’t know. I’d like to think it was something similarly unique and individual. BMX was the first thing I was interested in that I discovered on my own, not through just doing whatever my step-brother was doing. I pretty much quit all the conventional sports I did at the time because I hated coaches and wanted to ride more. Maybe art, but I hate the baggage and douchebaggery that is attached to that word. Who knows. It’d be interesting to find out though.

I see you work as a graphic designer. What’s that like, and how’s it all going?
It’s horribly awesome. I don’t want to say that working 40 hrs a week is awesome, because it’s not and I don’t think humans were meant to spend the majority of their lives working. However, design was my way of making it all not so bad. My specific job is great. I work at the county health department, which sounds so uncool and domesticated. I’m the only designer, the majority of the deadlines are soft, decent pay, good benefits, lots of payed time off, and a lot of flexibility. So basically it’s a job where I do something that I enjoy, there’s low stress, no competitiveness, and I can go on trips pretty much whenever I want. Seems pretty perfect at the moment.

I’d imagine you would have to go to school for something like that? Did you do that? Finally, would you advise people into going into that kind of career?
A lot of people hire on portfolios, so you don’t technically have to have a degree to be successful. I went to TU and got a degree after several years of trying out another major. It’s definitely a very expensive way to raise your chances of success, but school just doesn’t work for all people. There’s just SO MANY self proclaimed designers lowering the value of real design work out there. Photoshop does not make you designer.

How do you feel about the way design is done these days? If you could add or remove anything what would you do different and why?
Well it’s just like everything else, there’s amazing work out there and then there’s those things I see that just make me want to drop a machete on my foot. I don’t think I’d really change anything aside from me getting an easy job for a milli. I mean, my philosophy is less is more, well not mine but I borrowed it, haha. So if every designer thought that, I’d be even more of a little fish in a big pond.

If you couldn’t ride professionally, or work as a graphic designer, what could you see yourself doing for a career?
Um, I was doing video stuff in school before I got this weird vision of me working at the local news station as a cameraman or an editor and I instantly wanted to castrate myself. So maybe I’d be doing that and would have realized there’s better jobs out there (that I probably wouldn’t have gotten) than the news station shit.

What kind of partying are you into? Safe and sober, high intoxication, or strippers getting their noses broken status?
Depends on who I’m around. When I’m around all friends, dude party 5000 style I definitely like to get down. Compared to some of my friends though, my raging is very tame, haha. On average though, I’m definitely a chiller. I’m real big on drinking brews by the fire with the wife and homies. That type of thing.

If you were given enough money to live for the rest of your life without any fear of running out. Would you still work? Would you change the way you live or work right now?
I don’t know, if I worked it wouldn’t be very much at all. Enough to kill boredom maybe, but if I had that scrilla I’d be riding jet skis or some shit when I got bored. If I had no fear of ever running out you can best bet I’d be globetrotting like a mother fucker. I’d try my best not to change as a person but I’d definitely change the way I live. I’d buy Kelly and I’s dream home and have the typical BMXer stuff and bunch of dude toys. I’m trying to live life man!

What are 5 of the most important things in your life?
Kelly, BMX (or rather the enjoyment it gives me. I doubt it’ll change but it could be croquet when I’m 60, who knows), being happy, family, and Taco Bueno.

First song to come to mind? What about first movie?
Kid Cudi — Day n Night
Super Troopers

What’s your favorite video game cheat code?
First one that comes to mind is the blood code for the original Mortal Kombat for the Genesis. The one that’s probably brought me the most enjoyment is the weapons cheat on GTA3 (the newest system I have is a PS2). But you can’t forget the classic — the 30 lives code for Contra on the original NES!

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Make those couple video parts and be satisfied with them (this year I guess). Buy a commercial building or multi-floor garage and have the first floor be the craziest ramp set-ups I can think of and the upper floor(s) our home. Continue being happy. Get out of the country more and ride my bike in new cities.

If you were put in prison, what would be the first thing you would do to make sure you didn’t look like somebody they would want to mess with in the showers?
Probably steal the first shank possible, slash my chest in a ‘Z’, Zorro style and then scream “I HAVE AIDS BITCHES!” while charging at everyone while I’m covered in AIDS blood. Hopefully that’d work.

Photo: Kyle Kisling

What would it take for you to drop kick a young child? Would you do it for $1000?
When I worked at the skatepark I would’ve done it for free…to every kid that came in.

What is the most embarassing story you can tell us about anybody in BMX? Do it, you wont.
Some real goodies come to mind but I don’t feel like I can tell them because I didn’t experience them first-hand. However, this dude that used to ride with my first little riding crew in the small town I grew up in went on a blind date. The girl had no arms or legs. How do you think he felt when he realized she was his date? What do you do? He had no teeth though, so it’s cool. I never understood how he talked to her on the phone.

What is the best advice you have ever been given, or able to give?
I don’t know but I like these things:
-Less is more
-Moderation is key
-Live fast, land flat

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Kelly, for sure. My mom and Kelly’s parents too. Rick and Jess at Standard, they’re the best. The Team Iowa dudes for being sweet to me before they even knew me, Drew, Fergie, Danny G, Jake H. Anybody that’s ever pointed a camera my way, especially Miles, Tony, Kyle Kisling, Jake Geisel, and Chris Mahaffey. Matt Coplon for just being a genuinely good person. He had me at hello. My boss Melanie for being most excellent. The Tulsa locals that make it so fun to ride here: Mike, Big Aaron, Lil Aaron, James, Dylan, Hawaiin, Alex, I definitely forgot someone — sorry! Kurt, for having me do this. It was really cool to do. People on the internet who have been a fan of my riding. It gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. Anybody that’s ever let me crash at their place. Anyone who’s ever looked past the quiet and reserved first impression I give off and gotten to know me instead of just thinking I’m a dick. ThAnKs GaIz!

Anything else you want to say?
If you made it this far, thanks. I felt like I got kinda wordy, but fuck it, it’s what I had to say.
ACID!