BMX UNION

Biz has been in the game for a while now. I have personally always been a big fan of his riding. It is crazy that he has been killing it since he was 15 which you can see in the video at the bottom. There are some real good things in the works with him and it was a good time to get this interview. Check it out and leave some comments!

Name:
ryan jordan

Location:
corona Ca.

Sponsors:
volume, demolition, duffs, eastern boarder

Years riding:
I got footage of my self jumping my bike when i was 5 but i guess i really started too know what i was doin when i was like 12 or 13 an i am 27 now

What originally got you into BMX?
my older brother was allways into it an i just did what he did

How are things going with Volume? Will you have anymore changes to your frame, trips, videos, or anything cool like that going on with them anytime soon?
Things with volume couldnt be better,everyone over there rules and Brian treats us good.. My frame has been changed a bunch from the old one and the new ones will be in around september, its called the 781 for my boston area code where I grew up riding.. I also have a bar coming out around the same time called the venti bar so keep an eye out for that.. We should have a team web edit out for interbike but no actual video is in the works.

How about Demolition, anything fun and exciting going on with them?
We are doing a team video that we want too have done for september next year..That video should be amazing cause the amount of talent that is on the team is nuts.

Anything cool going on with the rest of your sponsors?
I have a signature colorway with duffs that you can get through dans comp and it’s a bmx shoe, so keep an eye out for that.

You have had some really good video parts over the years, when can we expect to see some more videos? Even a web video?
I should have a couple smaller web things coming out sometime soon but I really wanna focus on the demolition video and make that the best part I can.

Which one of your video parts is your favorite and why?
My favorite is my volume web vid that I did this year, there is some clips in it that i am not really into but overall i am happy with it.. Every other part i have had over the years i am not into at all, every single part i have had before my web vid i got hurt filming for an had too use whatever footage i had, just feel that the riding was shit in my past parts.

What have you been up to lately? Any contests, trips, or anything you have been to?
This has been a busy summer up until like a month ago.. I did some volume trips and went to England and Scottland for that ride too glory and a bunch of other trips.. As for contests i pretty much gave up on them, i just dont have the motivation anymore too try an learn all those jumping stunts people are doing. I would like to ride in those real street comps they have, those look fun.

Where are some of your favorite places you have had the chance to ride this year?
I went to Quadaljara mexico which was a wild place and scottland was real cool, lots of good spots over there.

Are there any places you haven’t had the chance to go to that you would like to go someday?
I havent been to Australia, I would like too check that place out… I for sure wanna go back to japan, i went there in 2000 and its just the wildest place i have ever been, so diffrent than the states.

If you could make a DVD with an unlimited budget, who all would have parts, where would you go, who would film, and who would edit?
Oh man if I had a chance to do this it would be amazing, probaly give all my good friends parts, like bohan, doyle, aitken, dillewaard, bennett, jason enns, berringer,..for sure would wanna spend a lot of time filming in vancouver, and spain is allways good,but i have a feeling we wouldn’t get much riding done cause if all of us were together we would be getting too loose at night. As for filmers and editors i would want Glenn pp and Joe Sederquist, both those guys are amazing at what they do and awesome to hang out with.

I’d hate jynx it but it seems like you have been pretty lucky these days when it comes to being injury free, or am I just imagining things?
Ha ya u are definitly imagining things, in 2005 I was out for almost a year cause of knee surgery then after that I rode for like 3 months then i broke my leg and was out for another long period of time, was a pretty shitty time in my life. I am going on almost 2 years now of being semi healthy,so lets hope it stays this way.

Who is your typical riding crew these days? Any up and comers you think will be making a name for themselves soon?
I pretty much ride with corey bohan, heath pinter, brett walker, and dave dillewaard, everyone has heard of those guys.

How do you feel about BMX racing being in the olympics? Did you have a chance to check that out when it was on?
I think it’s good, maybe it will get more people to buy bikes and keep the indusrty strong… I watched it and it was nuts, they are going so fast down that first starting hill. If they bumped one another and fell they would be done.

If you could add or remove anything from BMX what would you change and why?
I hate too bring up skateboarding but i just wish our indusrty could be as big as theres so people could be getting paid what they deserve, there are seriously so many good riders out there that dont make a dime an they deserve so much.

Do you ever get burned out on riding? What do you do to keep BMX fun?
Oh yea I definitley do at times..like when i got hurt 2 times in a row and was almost out for 2 years, i was like why am i doing this too myself..but when i got healthy again and started cruising around with my friends and just doing simple stuff it makes it all fresh again. Just being with my friends and having a good time makes bmx fun to me.

When you first got into BMX years ago, did you ever expect to be where you are today?
It was something I always dreamed of but never knew what was gonna happen with it….I was all set up too go to the community college near my house then halfway through 12th grade I got sponsored by huffy so i went down too the guidance counsler and told her there was a change of plans.

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
Honestly, I have no idea,the city I came from was pretty rough and most of the people I knew that didnt ride ended up in messes, so there was a good possiblity that could have been me if I didn’t ride.

Outside of BMX what are you usually up to?
I dont really have too many other hobbies,if i am not riding i am allways chilling with corey bohan and we are always up to something, ha i dont know exactly what we do but it’s something.

Have you ever been arrested? If yes, why? If no, why not?
No I haven’t but I am sure there have been times when I deserved to be.

Have you ever been in a fight? And did you win?
I been in a couple when I was younger and I won them… A few years ago 3 mexican guys punched me in the head at this party and I laughed when it happened then I think they were confused… I got choked slammed against a wall last summer in pittsburg by this huge guy and again I laughed as it was happening then bennett and some people tackled him..

If you could eat anywhere right now where would you go and why?
Kellys roast beef in Boston, it’s my favorite place to eat.

What is the craziest thing you have ever experienced in your life?
I could never narrow it down to one cause traveling for the past 10 years I have seen an done so many crazy things. I seriously wish I kept a journal cause sometimes I will just be thinking and something I have forgotten about will pop into my head and i will be like what the fuck, cant belive that happened.

Do you work at all? If not, what were some of the jobs you had before BMX paid the bills?
I have been fortunate enough where I have gotten by on bmx, I am not living large or anything but I am getting by… I used to work at dunkin donuts and some other random jobs when I was younger.

Other than Myspace what are your daily websites to check?
hotmail, thecomeup, ridebmx, and some other useless ones.

If you could be sponsored by any company that has nothing to do with BMX who would you choose and why?
Any car company,I will take a free car anyday.
(I would love to see Biz driving around a pink Beetle)

What is the drink of choice for a night out on the town?
Red Bull vodka or Bud Light

What is the most amount of money you have ever spent on a stripper?
Ha the strip club days are over for me, I try and forget those days. When I was like 21, 22, and 23 I spent my fare share of money at them, we will leave it at that.

What is the current song stuck in your mind or on repeat on your i-pod?
Break on Through by The Doors..Lately filming whenever I been trying to pull something I put that on and it gets the job done.

What is one must see movie?
Bubar

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
My friend and I got a few inventions and business ideas we are working on, hopefully get rich of them.

Who or what are the biggest influence on your life?
My family and all my close friends,they all have a impact on my life in someway or another.

What is some of the best advice you have ever recieved?
I havent recieved this personally but you always hear people say just be yourself and have fun with things…Thats all I have done and its been working so far

If you could change anything about the world, what would you change and why?
Lower gas prices, shits way too high.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
castillo, la enns, and everyone at volume and demolition for being so cool…All my friends an family for always helping me out whenever I need it.

This interview has been in the works for sometime now. It was funny how I was thinking about when I would get it back from him, and then a few hours later it showed up in my inbox. Josh is a busy person who really knows what is up. He had a killer part in Voices and has made a name for himself riding for Mutiny. I am really happy how well this interview turned out and the time was worth the wait.

Name:
josh bedford

Location:
sheffield uk

Sponsors:
mutiny, animal flow, etnies flow, hate

Years Riding:
since 98 fuck 10 years

Your on the Mutiny Pro team these days, so how is that going for you? What can we expect to see? Any video parts, web videos, signature products, going on road trips? anything at all?
well i go to austin in october for 6 weeks to film for the new mutiny vid, and hopefully have a signature frame out next year.

How about your other sponsors, do you have any of those things going on?
erm not really apart from mutiny I don’t really have a lot of input in things.

Your part in Voices was really a big deal for you getting coverage, do you feel like that part was your big break at all?
well i suppose thats the first time a lot of people saw me ride, I wouldn’t really say it was my big break through because nothing has really changed since then apart from having a bike that can now steer in a straight line.

You are obviously a street rider, do you ever hit up the trails or parks?
I really enjoy riding trails thats what i rode when i first started ,but i only get to ride them maybe 3 times a year. As for park i haven’t rode an indoor park in years now. I don’t like paying to ride when i can just cruze around the streets and find something individual to ride. I do hit up the concrete park we have here in sheffield a lot but in Ernys words its a shit skatepark but a good street spot..

Where are some of your favorite places you have had the chance to ride at?
Austin obviously, Malaga, Paris, Barcalona, Toronto, London.

Where are some places you would really like to ride?
Portland, S.F, China, Berlin.

A lot of people have been really stoked on your riding, how do you feel about having that kind of attention? I noticed your voices part on youtube had over 40,000 views.
Well it’s cool that people are in to it, but at the end of the day im happy doing it for myself.

What are some of the best feeling tricks to do in your opinion?
Tricks are fun sometimes but i prefer just being able to adapt your riding for a certain spot. You know when you find something and when you first try ride it, it’s real hard but after a while you get the feel for it. In my opinion its better than doing tricks

What are some of the ugliest/worst tricks in your opinion?
dew tour shit and na***n wi*****s old school no handers
(Just to clairfy I didn’t star this out, since apparently the kid in the comments was pissed about this. I just copy and pasted)

What are some of the parts you tend to go through the most?
wheels,cranks

If you could go on a road trip anywhere. Who would you bring, where would you go, and why?
I would take the cox brothers, alex riley, erny, tom, and ed cardiff. Pretty much people that are just fun to hang out with. I would love to go back to china, my brother lived out there. One of the things I regret is not taking my bike over the spots are unreal.

Are you one to just huck things and hope for the best, or do you think out what your going to do before hand?
I would say as the years have gone by I think a lot more now than I did when I was younger.

What is one trick or line you had the most trouble on and how long did it take you to get it done?
Manuals ha ha ha ask Joe Cox.

If you could change anything about BMX, what would you change and why?
Well to be honest the come up, i think some people involved have too much of a voiced opinion on every aspect of bmx even if they are not involved, and can easily influence what a lot of young kids think bmx is and it’s just a lot of shit talking. take the shit talking out of it and I actually like what the come up does.

Outside of BMX what are some things you are into?
Art, photography, screen printing, music gigs.

Do you work at all or is riding all you have going on these days?
I work full time running a screen printing studio for an art gallery, so im pretty lucky to have a job i enjoy. For a while I tried just riding but at the end of the day it don’t pay the bills or put food in your mouth unless your big time.

Have you ever considered moving over the the U.S are you staying in Europe for life?
I would love to move to Austin, I just dont think I could hack the summer.

What is your dream car?
1969 trans-am firebird would be pretty sweet.

Speaking of cars, how do you feel about gas prices and everything these days?
I don’t own a car so it makes no difference to me.

What are some things you think everybody should experience at some point in their life?
Living in the Hate house, shit will change your life and your immune system.

According to the Mutiny site, you are pretty good with a needle, what is the deal with having to sew all of your clothes?
Because I’m so tall I have to get large t shirts that are long enough but there always too baggy so a little sewing goes a long way.

What are some of your favorite websites?
all you need is you tube. There are hours of fun to be had

What are some bands you are into, and do you ride listening to an iPod or anything?
I’m pretty open to anything but my ipod is mostly full of d-beat punk and stoner metal. I do ride with my ipod if theres no one about or im at a chill spot.

Have you seen any good movies?
This is England, Dead Mans Shoes, American Gangster, Kids, the list goes on.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
I would like to travel more, own a house, and have a dog. Just carry on being content doing what I do.

Who or what are the biggest influences on your life?
My dad has had a big influence in my life in his out look on life. He just tells me to go for what ever makes me happy and at the end of the day you only get one chance at life and just to make the most of it. My brother for having the balls just to up, leave, and go travel the world. My oldest friend chris who just does not give a fuck what other people think, which is a nice change from the majority of people who just care too much about others opinions. Benson and Erny for taking me under their wings as a youngster. Pretty much all the Hate house homies for doing what they love.

If you could be sponsored by any company that has no ties to BMX, who would you pick and why?
Lucky Strike’s, it would save me a load of money

What do you fear the most?
Narrow minded people who have never experienced life ,and dont understand others out look on life.

What is the best advice you could give a person?
Don’t give Spanish police shit because they will fuck you up!!! I found out the hard way.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Thanks to anyone who has helped me out over the years .hate house homies past and present.

Anything else you would like to say?
Live fast, pedal faster

Devin is a guy in BMX who knows what is up. He has worked hard to get Peg Leg the reputation of a badass crew and it shows. I had the chance to ask him a few questions and this is what he had to say. Show some love for Devin in the comments.

Photos: Sven Meszaros and Jay Elling

Name:
Devin Feil

Location:
Hudson, Massachusetts

Sponsors:
Attila(attilabikes.com), Eastern Boarder(easternboarder.com)

Years riding:
8

What was it that first got you into BMX?
A friend of mine I hung out with a lot had a bike and was just trying to start out riding, and I would get on his bike and try myself. I knew right away I had to get a bmx bike of my own and have been riding ever since.

You are the dude behind Peg Leg, when did you get it all started and what made you want to do it?
It was 4 years ago when I got things started with Peg Leg, and the driving force behind it all is my love of riding. Having some friends who I would want to start something like Peg Leg with and a love for bmx videos/filming were also major factors.

What can we expect out of the crew these days. I know the DVD came out not too long ago?
You can expect a lot, things have been pretty quiet the last 10 months since we released the dvd, but that’s about to change. Peg Leg is starting to work with DIG and put up online edits exclusive to digbmx.com and first one will be up very soon. Two members of the crew have their own video projects going as well, Alex Raban with ‘Roll Wit Us’ and Travis Splain with ‘Business Casual.’ Matt Barchus on the crew just finished up filming for the next Shook video, and Jeff Martin will be working a section for an upcoming one soon as he is healed up.

Any new clothes or anything in the works?
We just put two new shirts up on the site including a shirt, which is in part a tribute to my grandmother who passed away earlier this year and was the biggest fan of the classic celtics you could ever meet.

What kind of advice do you have for people looking to start a clothing company?
Like anything in life do something that is true to you. Produce things that you yourself would be into, not what fits into what is popular.

So what is the scene like from where you are from? I figure most of the Peg Leg crew is from your area?
There is no scene where I am from, I ride by myself or with my older brother who skates 90 percent of the time. There used to be kids around who I rode with when I was younger, but not for years now. I think that’s a pretty common thing, for most everybody from an area to end up quitting leaving one or two people who wouldn’t think to stop riding. The closest dudes on the team are Jeff Martin and Matt Barchus who both live around an hour and a half away. The crew is spread out in Connecticut, Baltimore, Virginia, Arizona, California, Newfoundland, and more.

If you could take the Peg Leg crew on a trip anywhere in the world to film. Where would you go and why?
To get the whole crew together for a trip would be amazing, and going anywhere with all of them would be the best. If I could pick any destination I would say Germany or Spain, just because of the spots I have seen in magazines and videos.

What does BMX need more of?
Pegs. Just kidding I don’t really care if people run pegs or not, but I don’t see myself running any less than 4 ever.

What is the best story you got from a time you were out riding involving security/cops/homeless/hookers/pedestrians?
One that comes to mind is campus cops in Syracuse hauling ass in SUVs and driving down stairs after us. Another good one was Montreal with the Metal team and burns spanking some crackhead then her pulling her tits out and trying to put one on my lens, you can see the footage in Dead Bang.

What are some things you would like to accomplish with Peg Leg and just BMX in general in the next few years?
In the next few years I would definitely like to produce another Peg Leg dvd, and see some of the crew get hooked up and the respect they deserve. I feel like the industry is really sleeping on a couple kids on the crew. They aren’t riding to get sponsored, but it sure would help make taking trips and keeping a functioning bike going that much easier.

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
I think I would be doing more with photography. That has been a major interest of mine for almost as long as I have been riding and has for the most part been separate from bmx. I started to shoot some riding this spring.

What are you usually doing when your not riding and stuff?
Lately I have been doing a little web design work to make some money. Since I was so tied up at school all year I really have been just riding a lot recently now that I am free to.

Do you work or go to school other than the Peg Leg stuff?
First I will say that I have not made a single cent from Peg Leg, all the money goes right back into the company so that I can do as much for the crew as possible. Some of the guys sold copies of the dvd in their area and I let them keep the money to put towards something like a road trip or whatever they wanted. I went back to school to a pretty hectic one year photo program this past year. Currently I am working some odd jobs and trying to find some sort job in photography. If people are interested they can check out my work from the past school year at devinfeil.com.

(Devin took these)

If money wasn’t an object. What are some things you would like to experience in your life?
I would just travel the world avoiding winter, and take in all that I can and ride a hell of a lot too.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I have no idea. I know I will still be riding, and I would imagine I would still have Peg Leg going. Beyond that I don’t have all that much planned out.

Who or what has had the biggest influence on your life?
In regards to bmx I would have to say my older brother was my biggest influence. I grew up watching skate videos with him and as I got more and more into riding he has always taking me out to spots he knew of and been on the look out for new things for me to hit up. He has been there to help me get things filmed and just been a great brother to me altogether. Very supportive and motivating.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
First and foremost my family, who really have been as supportive as I could ever wish for. Eastern Boarder for hooking me up over the years, especially the Natick shop for always being more than helpful. Cleggy at Attila for hooking me up, its really flattering to have someone ask you to ride for their company. 4Down, Traffic and TripleSix for distributing the dvd, amazing to have it out all over the world. Chad Shack for asking us to do the section in We Are Everywhere, it was really awesome he gave us an opportunity like that. Thank you to all those who have let myself, or the crew crash at their place, or showed us around to your spots. Of course the whole Peg Leg crew, can’t wait to take some more trips with all those guys.

Thank you to anyone and everyone who has shown support towards Peg Leg and myself. Hearing all the positive things people have had to say about the DVD has been truly appreciated and motivating. When we started filming I would never have thought it would be so well received. I promise when we get around to producing a follow up it won’t disappoint. Thanks for asking me to do this interview Kurt.

Jared is a awesome guy. Not only does he ride like a champ he seems to always have a smile on his face doing it. When I saw Ride BMX’s Insight I became a bigger fan of his riding. Brian Tunney had sent me over a whole bunch of questions to go along with mine. It turned out real good. Let us know in the comments!

Name:
Jared Washington

Location:
Sayreville NJ

Sponsors:
Federal Bikes, Animal

Years riding:
11

What was it that originally got you into BMX and did you ever expect to take it to where you are today?
I always just loved riding around my town and jumping off curbs and all that, then i saw a bmx plus in my school library and started racing after that. then i sold my race bike and bought a chrome Hoffman Taj. then it was on.

How long have you been on Federal for and what all do you have going on with them these days? Any signature parts, road trips, full length videos, or anything like that anytime soon?
hmm I was on Federal flow for a long time.. but after the split I got put on the pro team and I think its been about two years. It’s awesome, all of them over ther are really cool. I’ve got a signature part in the works, and I think we’re going on another trip sometime soon.

How are things with Animal? What is it like to be on that team, and what is the best part about riding for Animal?
Things are good, its the best being on the team, I’ve known all these guys for so long its cool we just go out ride and chill it’s like a family

Your last video part in Insight was real good. What is the most challenging thing about filming a part and how do you feel it turned out personally?
It’s cool. I liked it for like a week, but yea for the most part I did a lot of things I’ve always wanted to do.

When can we expect to see another video part or web video out of you?
yeah fo sho… the next Animal video is what I’m filming for now, and I should have a little federal web edit out this week. also a rodeo peanut web video we’re filming for.

Seeing that you have been riding for a while accidents happen, what is your injury list looking like these days?
for a while i was dislocating both of my shoulders like twice a week, they would even pop out in my sleep.I went to physical therapy for that and they are alright now. I fractured my skull cause so little fat fuck crashed into me at a skatepark once. I messed up both of my ankles. and my right wrist is messed up right now, I dont know what’s up with it though.

Being as terrible of a bike mechanic as you are, why did you ever work in a bike shop?
haha.. I was like 15 and I got parts for cost, so I rarely ever even got paid because I would run up crazy bills haha

If you could make a video with yourself and five others, who would you pick to ride, film, and edit?
I’d pick Chris Reyes, Mike Brennan, George Dossantos, Dominic Biro, and Rat Kid. I’d have Navaz Film it and Bob Scerbo edit it.

Out of all of the spots you have ever been. What is your all time favorite and why?
Asbury Park Pool. I would give up every spot for that pool again. It was just the best.

Who all is in your regular riding crew and how much time do you find to ride? From my understanding your a busy dude with work and school.
During the week I ride with my friends Gollup, dominic, and QC. I definately dont ride every day haha, probably like 4 times a week. I work from 8 to 4 and i have school still and shit so some days I just want to relax.

How many years have you been in college now?
hahaha.. seriously not that long.. 5 years

What is it that you do for work? Did you really send a text message to your girlfriend calling your boss a dick which you then mistakenly sent to your boss?
I work for the board of education, doing asset tracking, and I meant to text a co worker and tell him my boss was a dick… but some how i sent it to my boss…. i dont know how the fuck i did that, but i was out of work for about 3 weeks because of it haha oh well.

If you could give up any of your tricks for a trick you could never do, what would you give up and what would you take?
i would give up superman seat grabs for regular supermans.

Who or what do you think influenced your riding the most growing up?
Just all of my friends i grew up riding with, riding with them everyday and all you know

Do you ever get into those bike games to play like foot down and b-i-k-e?
foot down, no. But yeah i’ll play bike once in a while.

Do you have any good stories involving cops/security/homeless people/hookers/or angry pedestrians while out riding? Feel free to tell all.
hmm. on a road trip once we stayed at this ridiculously sketchy motel our room had blood on the wall and this hooker was staying in the room next to us, and we heard her getting banged out all night, and at like 3am she called our room to see if we wanted to hang out. So we asked her if she would be into getting spanked with a skateboard on tape… she wasn’t down. but then we were sketched out even more.

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into riding BMX?
I would probably just be into cars and working or skateboarding haha or I’d probably have like 4 baby mommas I dont know man.

Did doctors really mark you as “caucasian” on your birth certificate?
no.. It’s on some hospital record thing. I was really light when I was born and my mom is spanish and italian so i guess they just assumed haha

What happened to your dreadlocks?
i cut them off. and i shouldvedone it a lot sooner

Why do you smile so much? Even after some rough crashes your still smiling.
I think thats just the way my face looks, I would always get in trouble when I was younger in school cause teachers would think I was up to somthing cause I’d be smiling. but for the most part im just in a good mood so I’ll smile.

What is the key to success with the ladies?
haha I dont know, I don’t let them know how immature I am at first.

Are you an anal commando?
operation stick it in the butt hole (No Homo)

Does anyone know that you used to wear Converse All-Stars and Misfits t-shirts while riding a Trail Boss?
haha they do now, I’m pretty sure I have a clip in Can I Eat with a misfits shirt on.

What is the first song that comes to mind right now?
Anal Commando(No Homo)

First movie that comes to mind?
Beverly Hills Cop.. Part 3

Did you really go surfing with your T-Mobile Sidekick in your pocket?
Yes.. I did actually

And how many cell phones have you owned in your lifetime?
Too many

How do you destroy every CD and DVD you ever touch?
Because they suck, they should be stronger. I am sorry I gave you a dvd back with milk on it Tunney.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years? Also, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Finish school. keep riding and having fun, and get a porsche. Just to pay off all my bills, hopefully living comfortably and still riding.

If you could have any super power what would you pick and why?
I’d want to go back in time, even if it was only like 5 minutes, you could get yourself out of a lot of bad shit if you could do that.

Do you spend much time on the computer? Any favorite websites?
None. I don’t even have a computer, but I go on sites on my i phone. I go on myspace, and audizine, vwvortex, thecomeup, rodeopeanut.com.

Have you ever been in a fight, and did you win?
I was in one in 7th grade that I lost, but it was to a 16 year old 6th grader…. I got in some wild brawl in philly last summer and fractured my hand on this assholes face. That sucked

What is the most important thing to you?
my friends and family.

What is the best advice you have ever been given or been able to give somebody?
travel. go see everything you can.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
yea definately want to thank my parents, I wouldn’t be shit without them being there for me, my girlfriend Christine, everyone at federal for always hooking it up, those guys are the best, every one at animal definately, and Brian Tunney.

Anything else you would like to say?
People need to spend less time on the computer talking a lot of stupid shit and just go out and ride or do somthing else..

I had heard Daniel Dhers was a funny dude. What I didn’t realize is that he is a super funny guy. He has a ton of hardware from the contests that he has been dominating lately, and a attitude towards things that is even more impressive. This interview should have been done long ago. Let us know what you think in the comments!

Name:
Daniel Dhers

Location:
Anthony’s House for half this interview, Woodward’s bike Shop for the second half.

Sponsors:
DC Shoes, Red Bull, POC Helmets, Albe’s, Team Blowin’ It, Woodward.

Years riding:
10

What was it that first got you into BMX and what keeps you into it day after day now?
The adrenaline and the challenge, the feeling off surviving that gap or new trick.

Clearly your sponsor list is long, so I will keep this to one question. How are things going with the sponsors? Do you have any big trips planned, signature parts, video parts, web videos, or anything cool like that in the works with any of them?
I’m so stoked on my Sponsors right now, they are super helpful with everything and always open for ideas. For right now i did some web videos for Red Bull riding back at home and trying to show more of my background, there’s some talks about some road trips with DC. I’ve been planing a South American trip for awhile but i think i’ll get a better idea when Im done with the season because i wanna plan something good and not just an average road trip, then i might do a European trip sometime by the end of the season but everything is still in the air.

Obviously it is contest season for you and you have been dominating the Dew Tour this year. What are your plans contest wise for the rest of the year? Anything your getting really excited about?
I’m always looking forward to the AST stops, the Salt Lake Course looks good and different, i hate when the park looks like from ’98. i also wanted to go to Metro but I need a visa for Canada and is a lot of paper work i don’t have the time to do, then i’m looking forward to that T mobile comp in Germany and X Games in Dubai.

Do you have any new big tricks in the works that you can tell us about?
I have a bunch of 720 Variations in the works, barspin combos and such. I just learned 720 can cans, it might be a silly trick but fuck it, I’m just doing what ever, Im not always trying to learn the gnaliest trick out there, i like some variarity when im sessioning at home so ill go from nac nac flairs to opposite 360 flips.

Your travel schedual is insane! Where have you been in the last 6 months? and where are some places you have planned to be?
This year it has been insane, i went to Estonia, Caracas, Russia, Cuba, Orlando, Joplin, France, Baltimore, England, Germany, Cleveland, Woodward, Vegas, Italy and just recently New York, I haven’t been anywhere for more than 2 weeks at the time and is going to be like that for the rest of the year.

Is there anywhere you want to go that you haven’t had the chance to go to yet?
Dubai sounds crazy so im looking forward to that, i also want to go to Australia.

You have a pretty rediculous riding style, do you work on that at all or is it natural?
I guess it goes both way, sometimes i just learn stuff one try and sometimes i learn stuff in 3 months, just go fast and land flat.

What is one trick you cannot get dialed in for the life of you?
360 flips probably, i learn them and lose them all the time.

Do you have a riding spot or crew that you ride with on a more regular basis?
We have been riding cloud 9 a lot back at camp, Anthony Napolitan, Jeremiah Smith, Jorge Jovel, Bestwick, Mccann, Kagy, etc to name a few are usually in the everyday crew.

What is the injury list looking like for you? I can’t imagine you have never gotten hurt doing what you do.
This year i sprained my thumb and sprained my ankle really bad, hit my head a couple times, dislocated a toe, but years ago i broke my lumbar bones, fingers, ribs, teeth and sprained a bunch of other shit i probably can’t remember.

What is the best part about being a BMX “professional”?
Get to travel a lot, free stuff. Bitches and money are always a plus.

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
I’d probably be working with my family, maybe traveling a little bit and probably doing some other sport but i can’t really see myself without BMX.

What are you up to when your not on your bike?
Talking shit, being on the internet, on the phone, gym, beach, reading and hanging out with friends and family.

You spend a lot of time on planes and in airports. How do you kill the time?
Play PSP, read, watch movies, and rubik’s cube.

What is the scariest thing you have experienced in your life?
A plane ride to Joplin, MO it was the shadiest plane ever. And people pointing guns at me to take my bike back at home.

If you could be sponsored by any company that has nothing to do with BMX, who would you pick and why?
Probably Apple, i like their product and it’ll be good publicity, maybe i get to run over the Windows guy on their commercials, that’ll be sweet.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Stay on top of the game, get a reality show, try to bring more people to BMX cuz i want my sport to grow.

Do you ever get burned out on what your doing? Constantly riding, traveling, and pushing yourself?
I get burned out from time to time especially from traveling, it’s cool but is such a hassle, i sometimes get burned out from riding so i stop riding for a few days until i get anxious to ride then and i’m good to go again

What kinds of music are you into? Any you suggest people to check out?
Lil’ Wayne, T.I, Young Jeezy and Kanye are probably my top picks right now, i also listen to a lot of spanish rap because it reminds me of home. As far a suggestions Lil Wayne will make your head spin.

Seen any good movies lately?
Batman the Dark Knight, i watched it 3 times in 2 weeks, such a good movie, i wanna be like the Joker when i grow up.

Do you spend much time on the computer? Any favorite websites?
Myspace, http://maddox.xmission.com/ (aka the best page in the universe) and then every BMX related it website, especially the shit talking ones.

What super power would you pick if you could have any and why?
Fly, it’ll be easier to go to places.

Who or what have been the biggest influences in your life?
My family, being away from them it has been a learning experience and motivation to keep riding, my friends, they all have taught me something important in some point or another, Bestwick and Mirra with their support.

What is something about yourself that nobody really knows?
I’ve got my own signature condom, i talk a lot of shit, speak 3 languages, I’ll fuck your bike up if you mess with me.

What is some of the best advice you have ever been given?
It don’t matter how hard it is at the end is always worth it.

What kind of advice do you have for kids just getting into BMX?
Wear your pads, don’t listen to the new hardcore kids! what’s better? to blow a knee or get used to pads?

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Thanks to my friends and family, ridaz and my sponsors, haters, bitches and anyone else i forgot sorry, i have short memory span…

Anything else you would like to say?
Ridaz gotta ride!