BMX UNION

With the recent interview that popped up on the Fit site, I was worried my questions were going to be repetitive. Luckily it was fairly short and this one ended up being fairly long so there might be some fresh stuff for you. Mike Aitken is an amazing rider and a huge influence on a lot of people including myself. When he said he would be into doing an interview my jaw dropped and I probably could have asked questions for days. This is what came from it. Enjoy, and let him know what you think.

Photo: Fit

Name:
Mike Aitken

Location:
Salt lake city, Utah

Sponsors:
Fitbikeco,fox clothing, odyssey,lotek, rockstar energy drink

Years Riding:
14

Your 4th version of your frame the Fit S3.5 has been released, and it looks like it has been selling like crazy. How do you feel about having it out and the response? I heard somewhere your frame was the top selling frame too?
I am very proud of everything fit and s&m have done for me and this bike especially I never expected it to go this far…I would just like to thank everyone who has helped support fit over the years, you have helped make it what it is…

How are things going at Fit right now, do you have any other signature parts in the works? How about video parts, web videos, road trips, or just news in general?
Everything is good, we are doing another full length next summer and working on a few short web trips for this year. As far as parts the frame is huge and were going to focus on that for a bit..

With your part in Electronical being awesome, how stoked were you for that to come out? Also how about any odyssey news like signature stuff, or trips planned, news, etc?
thanks, Yeah the premiere was nuts, it felt good to be at the trails again, the vid turned out amazing and I am proud to be in it. Nothing new as far as I know, but you never know.

Photo: Fit

How about the other sponsors? Any news or anything going> on?
Rockstar is sponsoring a few events this year, lotek is doing a vid and filming in s.f., We are continuing to work on a jean with fox other that I don’t know.

Last I checked you were doing the brakeless thing, is that still going? How do you feel about all that anyways?
Yeah, it’s all about fun for me.

Now that it is summer with trails season in full effect, do you have any big plans for some local trails or some trips to some places to ride?
Ride tanner when possible, and I plan to go out east and film and ride for anthem 2

It seems like you have had the chance to go all over the world over the years, where are some of your most memorable places you have been?
South africa was amazing, Japan is cool, pretty much everywhere is new and exciting.

Where are some places left on your list of places you would like to go someday?
I would like to go to south america someday, new zealand,I don’t know I never thought I would make it where I have so really anywhere.

With the “contest season” kicking off, do you plan on hitting any up like the Dew Tour this year?
Possibly but as far as being on the circuit…not interested, I got an invite to superpark X games and thats enough for me.

Even though this is older news, how do you feel about x-games taking the dirt side of things out and pretty much changing everything else BMX related?
Not in to it myself, but hey they don’t care about me, they care about the people paying.

Do you plan on slowing down at all in the next few years with riding or are you still feeling 100%?
I have some shoulder issues this summer, so this year might be a little slow but hopefully by next year I will be back to normal and from there as long as it is still fun I am along for the ride.

Photo: Chris Thibo

I’m sure this has been asked before, but what is the trick to getting style on a bike?
It it all depends on if you care to make things look the way you want or you just want to do the tricks, it is all in your mindset and goals.

If you could go on a trip with a few people, who would you choose, where would you go, and why?
o.g. square one team, Japan, When that group gets together their is never a dull moment, no one gets but hurt we all hand it verbally to each other and it is just fun to be around people who don’t take things to heart, oh yeah and japan kicks ass..

If you could change anything about BMX what would you change and why?
Less is more..

Outside of riding what are some things you are into?
Cars, motorcycles fishing, snowmobiling, family, working on my house.

How’s the family life going? Is the kid on a bike yet? Any more kids on the way?
It’s going good, yes he is learning, not yet I have got my hands full right now.

What are some songs you will never get sick of?
Any cash, dylan, misfits, slayer… too many to list.

What are some movies you will never get sick of?
smokey and the bandit, super troopers joe dirt.. anything comical

What is the craziest thing you have ever seen/done/been involved with in some way?
Having a kid, it is a constant challenge and it lasts a lifetime, crazy shit ends..

Photo: Fit

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
to stay healthy and ride trails more often.

If you could spend the day with anybody, alive, dead, or fictitious, who would you choose and why?
my grandparents, did’nt have enough time to get to know them.

What is some of the best advice you have ever been given?
Remember who you are..

What kind of advice do you have for kids who are getting> into BMX?
Have fun with it you never know how short it is until it’s over.

Photo: Odyssey

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
I would like to thank my family sponsors and friends for all of the help over the years.

Anything else you would like to say?
go ride, typing sucks!

John is a rider who is very talented, not only in his riding but in his music. The coolest part about interviews is you could ask the same questions to 10 different people and get 10 different stories. Obviously the questions aren’t the same as the rest but John lives more than just a BMX life. So this is his interview- enjoy, and leave some comments for him.

Name:
John Ludwick Jr.

Location:
Meredith, NH

Sponsors:
Madera, Versa, UGP Shoes, Rye Airfield Skatepark, and Team Jeff Dupaul haha

Years Riding:
7 years this month

You are one of the few Versa guys, so how are things going with your prototype? When will it be available? Is there any videos or road trips in the works outside of products getting set up?
Things have been going very well with my prototype and I am very very happy with it. I am not sure when it will be available, we are still talking about whether it will be a collaboration frame, limited edition, etc. There are some changes going on at Versa as of late, but we are working on some more hard goods, getting soft goods out so kids can rep them.

How are things going with the rest of your sponsors? Anything along the lines of trips, filming, signature products going on with them and you?
Things are awesome, I couldnt be happier. I leave for wisconsin next week (july 2nd) for a Madera trip to shoot photos, film, and just be together and have a blast hanging out. As far as signature products go, I am working on a Madera shirt design, and the Versa frame. I am doing my best to help Chad Degroot out with getting UGP Shoes where it needs to be as well.

Last I checked you are brakeless. Have you thought about running brakes again,why or why not?
I have actually never run brakes, and I have never really thought about running them. The brake levers feel weird to me and I was never good at dialing brakes in so I never run them haha

What are your plans for the summer? or year even?
My band How Near, How Far just broke up a few days ago due to musical differences and a bunch of other stuff, and my drummer and I have started a new project which we are trying to get off the ground. So my summer is first and foremost involving working full time to be able to afford the gear needed for this caliber of project. The yearly plan is to get the project going, ride as much as possible, and try to stay healthy, but most important, to stay happy.

What is one trick that you will never get sick of doing?
There are a few, but to name one would probably be barspin to footjams.

What is one trick that makes you sick trying to figure out?
Turndowns and inverts haha I gave up a while ago

You have had the chance to travel a fair amount because of BMX, where are your favorite places you have had the chance to ride?
Definitely Boston, it is only a little over an hour away from me, and it’s got everything i love to ride, mainly because all my friends are from there I suppose. I really enjoy riding Los Angeles a lot too, I’m not too picky anymore, I just love riding with my friends, but I’m real psyched I’ve gotten the chance to see the entire country and a bit more. It really is a blessing.

Where are some places you would really like to go to at sometime?
England, I love everything about it, except all the rain in the winter season. I love the culture as a whole, the architecture, the people, the riding scene and it’s amazing street, and last but not least, the girls’ accents… as cliche as that may sound haha. I love it so much.

Photo Credit: svenreed photo

Who is your typical riding crew these days and where could you usually be found riding?
I don’t have a typical riding crew, i ride by myself everyday. Nobody rides in my town, it’s always been like that. Some of the kids from surrounding areas that ride with me every other week would include my friends Jesse, Chris, and Spits, and thats about it. I used to go to boston every weekend to ride, so I had an awesome group of friends I would ride with down there. But between work and my bands I dont go down as often anymore. I can usually be found riding my local park here in Meredith NH. It’s free, wood w/sheet metal, and it is real good.

Who or what were/are your biggest influences in your riding growing up and today?
I think my music is my biggest influence in riding today, it’s hard to put into words, but music motivates me in ways i can’t describe. As far as riders are concerned, Chad Degroot has always been a big influence to me, which makes it such an honor to be involved in a few companies with him today, I feel the same about Matt Coplon and my Madera relationship. Joel Moody and Brian Castillo are others who were real influential as well.

You don’t come off as much of a contest rider. How do you feel about contests and do you ever hit any up or plan to?
I used to go to a ton of contests even though I’m not really that style of rider. 2 years ago I did pretty well in about 10 contests and came out top 10 in them. It felt awesome to be up there with the crazy dudes when my style of riding was closer to the ground and my bike and bars only went around once at a time. Today the contests have gotten out of control, it’s not appetizing to me at all anymore. I don’t plan on riding in any contests as of now, perhaps a local northeast contest or jams just to have fun with friends.

You have hang 5’s and hang nothings dialed. What is the trick to those since you can do them down stairs?
haha I think the only trick to anything is to do it a lot. Like I said before, I don’t have a riding crew, so a few years ago before i started playing in bands I would spend all my free time outside learning every version of a nose manual I could haha. I’m not sure what the whole stairs thing was all about haha, I had always wanted to do something like that, I started doing straight nose manuals down stairs, but that didn’t last long hahaha.

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
Doing exactly what I’m doing now, playing music.

Outside of riding what are some things you are into?
My bands, they take up most of my time now, aside from working a lot to earn the money needed to keep the bands afloat. I am a big Volkswagen kid haha I have a lot of money into my 92 mkII jetta gli, my father raced a 78 gti back when I was a kid so that got me into VWs, and he collects muscle cars, so cars were always something I was into. But like everything else, it all takes money.

Photo Credit: svenreed photo

You play a lot of music, where can people check out your stuff and how long have you been playing for?
Ive been playing music almost all of my life. It all started in 7th grade. I went from guitar/bass to drums to piano.
Right now you can check out HowNear,HowFar’s stuff since we had just finished our 4 song cd called “The Loved & Lost ep” at…
myspace.com/hownearhowfarfromyou
I have always played my own acoustic music aside from other bands I’ve been in, so you can also check that out at…
myspace.com/johnsingssongs
But what I am most psyched about right now is the new band my drummer from HNHF and I have started called Fires In Skyscrapers. This project is going to be an intricate collaboration of serious programming/mac driven ambience, Explosions In The Sky meets The Appleseed Cast, super powerful, driving indie style of music. It is going to be an entire concept band/album/songs/live show that all ties together. We have a lot of work to do and with any luck, it will be getting to where we need it to be by this time next year. We have started a myspace and you can add us (though there is no music up) at…
myspace.com/firesinskyscrapers

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Definitely get Fires In Skyscrapers off the ground and change people’s lives with it. I’m over just playing in bands, this project is going to be unlike anything I have seen (if all goes as planned). We really want to bring people into a scenario when they see us live, everything from the light sequencing to silence to bursts of energy. Also I want to get to England in the next few years haha.

If you could spend the day with anybody, alive, dead, fictional, who would it be and why?
I would have to say my future wife. I have been through a few long term relationships that have been hard or ended bad, so I’ve been waiting for the right girl to come along. I’m eager to meet them cause it’ll complete the happiness in my life.

What is the best movie of all time?
oh i can hardly answer that one, but one of my favorites as of late has been The Prestige. I have quite the old school horror movie collection too haha.

What are some bands you are into and are there any you suggest people to check out?
I am into a lot of my friends bands, my brother bands we usually play with. I strongly suggest you check out my friends Call Her Alaska. I just finished recording guest vocals with them last week, you can hear their stuff (along with the song I sang in called ‘Stiletto’) at…
myspace.com/callheralaska
Taylor (the singer) is a real good friend of mine and is a super good dude, they are on the verge of something great for sure. Another group of guys that are super close friends of mine are in a band called Me As Time. These guys are also incredible and can’t wait to get my project going to continue to play shows and tour with these guys.
myspace.com/meastime
As far as my musical taste goes in bands, I listen to everything, everything from hardcore, metal, indie, acoustic, I just listen to it all.

What is something crazy that has happened to you that nobody believes?
God miraculously healed my mother years ago, but most open minded people believe it, so I’m not sure i have one that absolutely nobody believes haha.

Have you ever been in a fight, why or why not and did you win?
I have had close calls, but I am usually pretty easy going, so I avoid most situations where someone would get out of line and want to fight me (or where I’d actually want to fight back haha)

Photo Credit: svenreed photo

If you were to win the lottery what would you do with the cash?
Pay off all of my family’s bills so they all could live without having to worry about any of that. I would donate money to music charities. But I would definitely buy all the thousands of dollars worth of gear that Fires In Skyscrapers is going to need and get that band off the ground haha. I would buy a house too, and save the rest.

What are some of your favorite websites to check out?
musiciansfriend.com haha
vwvortex.com
saundersstudio.com> – my good friend chris’ photography
ebay.com

What is the best advice you have ever been given?
My parents have always given me the best advice from life, to faith, to girls, to anything.

What kind of advice do you have for kids just getting into BMX?
Have fun, stay safe, don’t ever let anyone tell you you have to ride a certain way. Don’t let something as silly as riding bicycles consume your life, you won’t be riding your entire life.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
As cliche as it may sound, I thank God for everything I have in my life, my family, my health, my friends. My parents for always being there for me and being the strongest, best people I have ever met. Matt Coplon for his ocd, dry humor, but mostly being one of the best dudes out there, for his friendship and all the help with Madera/Profile. Chad Degroot for all the UGP help and also being one of the best/funniest dudes I know. I just want to thank all of my friends for being awesome people, you mean more to me than bikes ever could, that’s what I cherish out of riding, all of your friendships, that lasts forever. And thank you Kurt for this interview!!

Anything else you would like to say?
Winter in the northeast sucks!!

Trey Jones; the come up kid’s favorite target for cut downs and straight out lies. Why was he picked on? I’m not sure. Maybe cause he’s not “Street” enough. Maybe cause he’s young. Maybe it’s his big bike. Maybe cause people are jealous that he gets free stuff and they don’t.
People have these preconceived ideas about him, and they are all wrong. Trey is really laid back, NOT full of himself. He does not get his stuff for his parents, he works for his father’s landscaping company to get money for the bike parts he buys and actually gives away his old parts to friends in need often. You can hate him if you want, but why not hold off on the judgement until you actually meet the kid? For some of you unfortunately this interview is the closest you’ll get; So without any further ado, this is Trey Jones.

Photo: Jordan Pope

Name:
Trey Jones

Location:
Orlando, FL

Sponsors:
Nike 6.0(flow), Fit Bike Co.(flow), TXL, Dude Bird

Years Riding:
I started racing when I was 4 and started riding freestyle about 7 years ago when Mission Skatepark opened.

Being as young as you are, is balancing riding and school difficult?
Oh yeah! My friends always want to go ride earlier than I get out of school which means I miss on a lot of good sessions. Not to mention the time I have to put in at home doing homework and studying. If I feel like crap I pretty much go to school so I can save my absences for things that come up related to riding that I want to do.

Do you plan on going to school or try this whole BMX career once your done with high school?
I’m pretty sure I’ll go to school and try to balance the two but I don’t know I’ll make that decision when it comes.

Photo: Brett Rohlfing

So you are addicted to coffee at 15, shouldn’t you save habbits like that for college or when you have a full time job?
Hahahha I don’t know man! I just am addicted! Coffee=love

You listed Dude Bird as a sponsor, what is that for those who don’t know?
okay so it all started on a trip to Lakeland, FL….. Me, Nick Mahoney, Cody Perry, Brett Rohlfing, David Mahoney and Chris “Nails” were riding. Throughout the day we all saw alot of dead birds, then someone said “chill dude” instead of chill bro when referencing the Empire dvd, and Cody puts on a green jacket that looks like something Larry Bird would have worn… someone with all that someone uttered the words “Dude Bird” and the joke of dude bird and the goofy videos followed.

What is the biggest misconception people have about you?
That people think I’m trendy! So what im 5’3 and ride a 21”tt and bars that are 8.25”x29”

What are your plans contest wise for the summer?
I’m really not sure yet. I’m just hoping to get to travel around the U.S. a bit, hang out with my boys back in FL, go to Woodward for a little bit and ’die of heat stroke in the extremely hot FL sun and just ride!

Where or what are some of your favorite spots or set ups?
If you know me very well, I like pretty much anything and everything! A lot of guys are really picky about spots they ride like if there is dirt or grass before the lip or they don’t have the right roll up space but I’m not really that picky. Some of my favorite spots would def. have to be mesh, the trails, Orlando street, UCF street and my house

Who is your typical riding crew?
Some guys I love to ride with are Nick Mahoney, Dave Mahoney, Eugene Tanner, Brett Rohlfing, Squirell, Kyle Noble, Kyle Baldwin, Curly, Cody perry, Ryan Flecsh, Joel Pierazek.

Photo: Brett Rohlfing

Any local guys you think should be getting coverage?
There are so many dudes that havent been getting coverage that should but just to name a few are Nick Mahoney, Cody Perry and Joel Pierazek. These guys are so good and haven’t got barely any attention so watch out for them!

You ride some places known for attracting a very rowdy group. Have you picked up any drug or alcohol addictions yet?
Yes and yes……jk

You have a nice backyard setup, and tend to switch up parts a fair amount. Many people think that since you are just 15 mommy and daddy are just buying you all this stuff, is that the case?
Actually that ramp has been my last 4 years of Christmas presents and birthday presents plus me buying more wood in between.

What are some other tricks you have been working on lately?
I’ve been working on fakie to half cab whip to fakie on a quarter. I personally have never seen it done before and I think its possible. Ive tried it so many times but I’m getting there

What trick took you the longest to learn that you do today?
Definitely tail whips! Just clamp!

If Tony Malouf pissed on you while you were sleeping, what would you do?
Haha! Oh man, I have no clue! I love Tony, but I don’t know, he’s the same size as me so I think I could take him! Haha love you Tony!

Photo: Nick Mahoney

What is one meal you could never get sick of?
Hungry Howies Cheese pizza with butter crust and root beer

What are some bands you are into?
I like a lot of older metal and punk bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Danzig, The Misfits and The Casualties

Any you think people have to check out?
Gut Ruckus for sure!

What are some of your favorite movies?
Back to the Future Trilogy (I want a Delorean) , Fast Times at Ridgemont High and of course RAD!

What is the best advice you have ever received?
Just go faster!

Do you spend much time on the Internet? What are the last 5 websites you visited?
MySpace, Vital BMX, The Come Up, Fit Bike Co. and of course BMX Union.

What is something nobody believes about you when you tell them?
I know everything there is to know about King of the Hill

What do you do when you’re not riding?
Hang with friends and family, listen to music and sleep

Who or what are some of your biggest influences on your life?
Evil Knievel, Jeff Spicoli and my dog Spanky

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Definitely finish high school, get to some contests outside of Florida right now that’s pretty tough and enjoy life.

Photo: Brett Rohlfing

Any shout outs or thanks?
Oh man, my parents for sure! Just because they support me 150% with anything I do. Mark Losey for his advice and support with Nike, Rob-o for hooking it up with Fit, Brett Rohfling for all the video/photo work and for just being awesome, Chad DeGroot for just helping me out with anything and everything, Tim and Billy at TXL, and Mavro for being rad.

Anything else you would like to say?
“Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he’s got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.”- Jeff Spicoli