BMX UNION

Brian is BMX, well… I guess if you think about all the things he has done or been apart of over the years it would appear to be that way haha. With him taking over the team manager spot over at We The People I got an interview with him to see whats new in his life. Enjoy it!

Name:
Brian Tunney

Location:
West New York, NJ

Sponsors:
I think I’m past that. Oh wait, Alfredo sponsors me. Nation BMX! And Badashell. Deuce’s new Junior Misses collection rocks. Lots of other people hook it up, and it’s all very much appreciated.

Years riding:
22

You recently took over the spot as team manager over at We The People, what happened with Osato and how do you like it so far?
WTP just wanted Dave to be a rider. I mean, if you think about it, Dave Osato is one of the greatest overall BMXers ever. The dude shouldn’t be doing anymore than just riding his bike until he’s officially done riding his bike… So far, the tm gig is kinda invigorating. I was feeling pretty stale before I started working with WTP, and they’ve kinda restored my faith in BMX. So thanks guys.

So does this mean there will be some team changes?
Not really; the crew is totally solid.

Does We The People have any big road trips/dvds/ or anything like that planned you can tell us about?
Rob Harrison would know better than me. What say you Rob?

You are also apart of Eclat, what do you do with that part and is there any news revolving around that you can share?
Nothing til August. It’s all quite new. So far, we’ve done some PR e-mails to spread the word about the new company, but that’s about it. Once the parts come in, things will happen. But until then, we’re just spreading the word, talking to potential team riders and correcting everyone when they mispronounce the name.

Over the years you have been involved with a lot of companies either riding, being a TM, writing, or other projects, what are some of those things you have done?
I rode for a bunch of companies, TM’d DuFFs and wrote or still write for a bunch of places. I guess the biggest accomplishment is working on Dig Magazine for 11 years now. We just got a new Web site which is nice to look at too.

You do some writing and things for some websites, what are some sites you can commonly find some of your stuff?
Everything goes to www.Assblasters.org in one form or another, so I’d say just go there. It’s a blog set up by my good friend Jamie McParland, and it’s actually been going for like 5 years now, which is ridiculous. I’ll tell the story of the name while I’m at it. Before it started, I got drunk by myself and wrote “Don’t go to www.assblasters.com” on a dry erase board, just cause I thought it sounded funny. I then asked Jamie about helping me set up a Web site. He remembered seeing that quote on my dry erase board, and that was the domain name he chose.

You seem like one of the busiest people ever, how do you manage to find time to ride, sleep, and eat?
I used to a be a lot busier when I rode for Federal, managed music clearance for Props, edited Dig 9 times a year, team managed DuFFs and worked as a judge for the HSA/X-Games. I’m not busy at all now compared with five years ago…

Before it was cold from briantunney on Vimeo.

Riding is another thing you multi-task to the max with, flatland, street, park, and if I recall reading an old interview where you talked about riding trails back in the day? What are you more commonly doing and how do you feel about these different “disciplines”?
More commonly, I ride either flatland or street, which is usually decided upon by either the wind or the time of day. I can’t ride flat in the wind, and I hate riding during the day around here. (I guess I could, but there’s less people out at night.) So if it’s windy, I’ll ride street around here or in the city at night. And if it’s a calm day, I’ll ride flat at night in this underground garage nearby. I’m trying to break out of my shell, and I’ve been really good about it the past few months, but I tend to get more done when I ride alone.

As for different disciplines, when I started out riding, everyone rode everything. That’s just how it was. DMC rode flatland, vert and street. Mat Hoffman rode flatland. Dave Mirra beat me a few times in 14-15 expert flatland! I think that mindset is gradually making a comeback in BMX too, which is nice to see.

You have had the chance to travel a lot because of your bike, where are some of your favorite places you have been?
Bangkok, Thailand. Shanghai, China. Vancouver, B.C. All of Japan and Germany. But even when I go to a place that’s not too welcoming, I’m usually around close friends that will gladly share a laugh about the ridiculousness of our situation. I absolutely hate Las Vegas, but if I’m there with Leland Thurman or Stew Johnson, it’s going to be fun regardless.

Where are some places you would really like to go at some point that you have not been?
I’d like to go anywhere that doesn’t involve BMX or lugging my computer along with me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very blessed for having been able to travel thanks to BMX, but I’ve also never gone anywhere that wasn’t for riding or work that involved riding. I’d love to take an e-mail-less, bike-less vacation. I’d probably go crazy, but who knows… RF14 was awesome, simply because I made it a point to stay away from the computer for 10 straight days.

Do you feel traveling is something everyone should do in their life?
Naturally. But of course, I’m not gonna force anyone to do anything they don’t wanna. I know people I grew up with that still haven’t left our hometown, and they’re perfectly happy. So yeah, I’m all for new experiences and weird situations in strange countries, but I’ll leave it up to the individual to decide.

If you could change anything about BMX, what would you change and why?
I would love to see people find the good in BMX before obviously stating whatever it might be they hate about everything. I honestly see, hear and read way too many people talking shit about everything they hate in BMX, and failing to see the good in it. I’m guilty too, but one day I asked myself, “If I hate this and this about BMX so much, why am I even doing it?” Kinda like how Luke Skywalker knew there was good in Darth Vader. There’s good inside of all the stupid things people talk shit about in BMX, you’ve just gotta search for it, or simply ignore something if it’s not your cup of tea. So yeah, less cynicism, unless you can articulate how and why as well as Russ from SPRFLS or John Paul Rogers…

Las Vegas Motorcycle Escapade from briantunney on Vimeo.

What does BMX need more of?
Individuals. People not afraid to do their own thing. It’s well on its way though, thanks in part to Catfish, Sean Burns, Leigh Ramsdell, Steven Hamilton and about 50 other awesomely strange people I’m forgetting. That and less handshaking, I think I’ve lost two years off my life from simply shaking hands with people every time I go to the Brooklyn Banks. The nod is severely underrated. Tom White and Dave Belcher will back me up on that one…

Outside of work and riding, what are some things you are into?
Normal 34 year-old kinda things; the stock exchange, Abercrombie and Fitch, Brangelina drama, Feist.

You seem like somebody who would be big into books? Have you read any good ones lately?
The last book I read was a history of Manhattan’s Lower East Side from 1850-1910 called Low Life. Aside from that, I’m a huge fan of the New Yorker, and that’s my main source of reading entertainment every week for the past decade probably.

Seen any good movies lately?
Yes. My current favorite is the Steve Rocco documentary, ‘The Man Who Souled The World.’

What kind of music do you listen to? Any you suggest people check out?
I’ve been on a huge Joan of Arc/Make Believe kick the past two months. Sandwiched between that is the new Sun Kill Moon album and Dalek’s ‘Absence.’ Not much else really right now. Except for the illustrious Heather Duby, who you can find here: www.myspace.com/heatherduby

If you could spend the day with anybody, alive, dead, fictional, who would it be and why?
Right now, it’d be my good friend Mike Vincent, who’s laid up in some sketchy rehabilitation hospital in LA following an accident in January.

What is one thing about you that nobody believes?
That I’m not a huge stoner.

If you were to win the lottery, what would you do with the cash?
Buy a house, pay off some bills and travel.

What is the best advice you can give somebody?
Brian Kachinsky told me it a few weeks ago, “Keep fucking.”

Who or what are the biggest influences on your life?
I’m really influenced by people that simply get out and do whatever they’re calling in life happens to be. I might not get psyched to go ride from watching a video part, but a certain song on my iPod will definitely push me out the door. I guess what I’m getting at is that I take influence from everything around me, internalize it and spit it out the only way I know how to; through riding my bike or writing it down. That, and the booze helps too.

What kind of advice do you have for kids just getting into BMX?
I know it’s just nomenclature, but I’m not too into the use of “kids” in regards to BMX. It draws a division between the riders and the industry. I mean, if I was to say, “Well, we need to make a hollow-pinned chain. You know, for the kids,” I’d feel as though it draws an unnecessary line between riders and industry. Yeah, there are younger people getting into BMX who might technically be referred to as “kids,” but they’re riders, and they should be respected as such. I feel like the term “kids” denotes a sense of talking down to. It’s just a pet peeve of mind though. Still, if Kevin Jones had said, “Hey kid” to me instead of “How’s it going man,” when I was 15, I’d have been bummed. It’s those little things that make all the difference… But as for riders just getting into BMX, I’d look to Van Wilder and say, “don’t take life too seriously. You’re never getting out of it alive anyway.” That, and to learn the basics, from endos to kickturns to patching a tube, before learning tailwhips.

What kind of advice do you have for somebody who wants to work in the industry as a TM/writer/etc?
Apply for food stamps, take up drinking and know that you’re going to make a few enemies along the way.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Everyone that’s helped along the way, thanks. You should all know who you are.

Anything else you would like to say?
Lord loves a workin’ man… Don’t trust whitey… See a doctor and get rid of it.

Brian Tunney Flatcrap Section from briantunney on Vimeo.

I’ve had the chance to meet Jay once at Baco… like most people it would appear. I don’t think he really remembered me just because he was knocked silly that whole weekend from a crash. As TM for Kink who has really made a come back lately he stays super busy. This is a look into his life. Enjoy

Name:
*Jay Roe*

Location:
*Rochester, New York*

Years riding:
*8 or 9*

Your the TM for Kink, how long have you been at that gig and how did you end up getting the job?
*It has been about 2 years. Growing up in Rochester I have been around Kink since i started riding. I ended up getting a job in the warehouse for Kink and Blackout Distribution and that slowly turned into a sales/tm position at both companies. *

You are in charge of a pretty legit team like Doyle, Tocco, Sexton and the rest of the guys, how do you go about picking the team?
*The team is a group effort, everyone from my friends, dudes here at work and most importantly the team go about choosing who we want to support. The team right now is honestly a group of best friends. We travel together all the time, talk all the time and have an awesome time no > matter what. At this point, I would never put anyone on the team that even one dude on our team was iffy about. A Kink trip is like traveling around the world with your boys that you grew up with. *

Is there any big news at Kink you can tell us about? What does Kink have planned for 08′?
*There is all kinds of things going on constantly here at Kink now. We will be debuting “The Outfit” which is going be the next frame available from us. The highly aniticipated “Empire Revision C” frame which is going to be a treat and a bunch more new products. Unforutantely, the Empire Revision C frame will not have a pierced headtube or weigh anywhere close to 8 pounds. The most important and exciting thing we have going on right now is “Safety First”. You’ll have to wait a bit longer to find out what that is though. “Safety First”*

You have been traveling the last week or so in Europe, what are you up to over there? Are you riding much?
*Myself, Tony Hamlin, Steve Debusk, Kink flow rider Tom Dillon and our boy Jessy Twin just decided to take a hell trip over to London and basically just do whatever. We flew in with no plans, and left a week later with some good stories. The rain kind of balled up a lot of the riding we wanted to do, but it was still fun. After that we headed to Brighton, England for a week long stay at the Seventies Apartment they have rented out over there. We met up with Sexton and Darryl Tocco and shredded all week. It was an amazing time, Brighton is a really cool place, the people are dope and the spots are endless. Ed Allen was filming for the Seventies DVD and it was just a really chill week full of riding, partying for most dudes and some beach action. *

How do you think your riding is effected being able to be around all the dudes on the team?
*Ha, sometimes it is really good and other times not so much. Everyone on our team kills it and riding with them on a regular basis is enough to push anyones riding. I try to hold my own on trips but sometimes its just to overwhelming and all of the sudden I find myself not even trying when we roll up to spots. I just sit down and watch. *

Who is your typical riding crew? Any guys you see that should be getting coverage nobody knows about?
*On a daily basis, I ride with my best friends and roomates Tom Dillon, Tony Hamlin, Jessy Twin when his acl isnt torn for a whole year, Matt Antes who works here at Kink with me and Steve Debusk. Our riding crew is actually pretty funny, Tom rides flow for Kink, Steve Debusk completely kills it and not many people even know about him. He rides flow for United. and Then Tony Hamlin obviously had his FBM days and lately has just been traveling with me and destroying everything. Tony is easily one of the most under the radar, underrated riders out there right now. He won’t be sponsorless for long though…*

How often do you get to ride with work and everything else going on?
*I actually ride everyday, rarely here in Rochester we don’t ride for a day. Its just all we really have going, if we decide to not ride for a day, we normally sit around my room bored as hell thinking…why aren’t we riding? Lately I have been on the road a ton for work which means I am riding and working at the same time. On Kink trips and random trips I get to ride a lot which is definitely one of the best things about my job. Working for most people means they can’t ride as much. In my case it means I get to ride a lot more. *

What are some of your favorite spots to ride?
*Anything with transition! Honestly, I am a park baby. I love riding a good skatepark more than anything. Good concrete parks and just an awesome skatepark never get old to me.*

What are some tricks you cannot get sick of doing?
*Tabletops.*

Photo: Keith Terra

If I remember right I saw you get pretty messed up at Baco in Wisconsin, what is your worst riding injury?
*Ha yea, I got real messed up at that contest. I have been pretty fortunate with injuries. Nothing that has kept me out for a real long time. Ive got fake front teeth from a few bad falls, the normal random knock outs. In February I fractured 7 ribs out in Cali cause I suck at riding. *

Outside of riding and work what are you into?
*….I don’t know how to answer that. If I’m not riding im at work. And if im not at work im either working somewhere on a trip which means im also riding. Before I go to bed I sit on my computer for a long time and listen to music…This was a depressing question. *

You have done a fair amount of traveling in your day, where are some of your favorite places?
* Myself, Doyle and Sexton did a South France road trip last fall and that was really fun. I really like going to Phoenix, AZ, that is probably my favorite place in the states right now. *

Where are some places you haven’t been but you really want to go to?
*Austrailia, hopefully that will happen soon. I also want to travel through Spain soon. *

Do you think traveling can change the way a person thinks?
*Yea for sure. It can either make you really appreciate where your from…or make you never want to come home. *

You seem into music a fair share, do you go to many shows or anything like that?
*Yea, lately I have missing so many good shows cause I am never home. But I try to catch as many of the bands I like as I can. *

Photo: Bobby Parker

What kind of bands do you listen to? Any you suggest people to check out?
*I listen to quite a bit of random genres. Anything from like strange pop rock to like experimental stoner rock. haha I don’t know. Lately I have been listening to a lot of the new Headlights album. Electric President, Pelican, Tides, Giant. Even the oldies but goodies like Archers of Loaf and Sunny Day Real Esate.*

What are some must have things you cannot go anywhere without?
*My Blanket, IPOD and bike. *

Who or what are the biggest influences in your life?
*The people that > surround me on a daily basis and everyone I meet on the road. Anyone who does thier thing, lives free and lives happy. *

What are some things you do that you probably shouldn’t?
*I sleep, I > never eat, I spend a lot of money that I don’t have. *

Any good stories with run-ins with the cops? I know the Kink trip from the new props was pretty funny.
*I got a ticket for riding on the Sidewalk here in Rochester last summer right after being yelled at for riding in the street by the cops. *

If you had won the lottery, what would you do with the cash?
*Buy a new van. Other than that I would just continue living the way I do. I’d pay for more of my friends to travel with me probabaly. *

If you could spend the day with anybody alive, dead, fictional, who would it be and what would you do?
*Lester Bangs. We would go to a coffee shop and he’d rant and rave all day long. It would be amazing. I don’t even drink coffee. *

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
*Continue building on and growing with Kink. Really if I can just continue living the way I do, riding, working and traveling I would feel as accomplished as I could be I think. I couldn’t really ask for much more out of life right now (besides a girlfriend maybe). *

What is the best advice or quote you have ever heard?
*The only true currency in this bankrupt world… is what you share with someone else when you’re uncool.*

What kind of advice do you have for kids just getting into BMX?
*Watch Walters part in Time Well Spent, Find out as much as you can About Joe Rich, Van Homan, Doyle and Brian Yeagle. Make sure your BRAKES work ok, then go shred. *

How about advice for somebody who wants to be a TM or work in the industry?
*Meet as many people as you can and don’t freak them out. I think a lot of peoples positions in the industry are ones they kind of fall into. When you live your life through bike riding, it is only natural that it turns into your job as well.*

Photo: Ben Pritchard R.I.P.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
*My parents for sure, they have supported me since the day I quit playing sports and came home all banged up from the skatepark. I am definitely fortunate to have them behind my dumbass doing what I do. I don’t think I’d be as happy with my life and who I am if it wasn’t for them. They are rad. Matt Antes for actually being solely responsible for me even having a job here and putting up with me. Everyone else I work with, Zack, Reez and Bobby. The entire Kink team for being amazing. Aaron Burto for being one of the baddest dudes around, Eric at DC. Walter Pieringer and everyone at props for bringing me on Road Fools. *

Anything else you would like to say?
*We’ll Live, Be Free and Die Happy.*

Freak is a fairly well known guy… Some hate him, some love him, but from how it appears he really could care less and is doing what he likes doing. The interview was bound to happen, so just enjoy it right now!

Location:
Montreal

Sponsors:
Tough Love Clothing and Empire Bike&Boards

Years riding:
This summer is my 7th year of riding I believe.

Your pretty involved in the BMX, running FYSbmx.com and then aren’t you TM for Seshin? I take it you stay pretty busy?
Lately Ive been pretty busy with riding, working a full time job, having a girlfriend and updating FYS but it’s not like it’s stuff I dont enjoy so it’s not bad at all. For the Seshin question, I left a little while ago. There’s no hard feeling or anything, I still talk to Ted pretty often but I think it was just best for both of us that I leave.

Now that the new FYS website is up, what were the biggest changes and what is this all about with people being able to sign up and post stuff for the site?
The biggest change is definitly moving out from blogger, it’s not that I didnt like blogger but it’s just not professional and it’s pretty limited too. The other big change is like you said, people being able to create an account and post stuff. I wanted to do that so everyone can show us what’s going on in their scene…cause FYS means “For Your Scene” right? So everytime Ill log on the computer Ill check all the submissions I got and if it isnt porn or dumb shit, there’s no reason why I wont publish it. The other good reason to register is that some article will only be viewable by registered people, i.e. porn or lame stuff.

Even though you left Seshin fairly recently you guys get along good, so what was in the works before you left?
Like I said above, I’m not involved with Seshin Bikes anymore but the new frame and chilko bars should be hot hot hot.

Being up in Canada, and spring is finally here how much time are you getting in on your bike?
I ride at least 2hours a day with my Ipod at my shitty local 3ft high ramp skatepark and if Im not too lazy I go ride downtown all day. Thats the only bad thing about Montreal, we cant ride all year long. April, November and December are shitty/cold but still ridable, everything in between is fun time.

Where or what are some of your favorite spots or set ups?
Theres so many sweet spots in Montreal its hard to pick one. When I go ride I usualy look for weird/unusual stuff to ride,anything you can bump jump or thread the needle is fun. But if I had to pick one Id say the triangle ledges.

If you could ride anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
Barcelona, from what Ive seen in bmx/skate magazines that city looks like heaven. Ive been learning a bit of spanish recently so if I ever go there it will be fun time…buenos notches, tu eres bonita mamassita…dame une beso mi amor? does that make any sense?

Your pictures would lead me to believe your into nose picks?
What are some of your favorite tricks to throw? Ive been riding front brakes since the beginning of winter only so I dont have much front brakes tricks yet, I can do basic tricks like nosepick over on spines, canadian pick, sprocket to nosepick, disaster to nosepick and nosepick to fakie, nothing impressive. Ill see what I can do with em this summer on street. Right now my brakes are off till I get my new setup .Also I think this is the right place to say that Jaimy Spreitzer is the most amazing rider in bmx.

What are some tricks you cannot do for the life of you?
Tailwhips…I gave up after destroying my ankles and my knee.

If you could have a session with any 5 riders, who would you pick and why?
-Seth Kimbrough, he’ve been my favorite riders since testimony in 2001-02.
-Jaimy Spreitzer, at the age of like 37 he can shred more than anyone else and he could hopefully teach me a few nosepick tricks.
-Matt Hoffman, I dont think anyone had as much impact on bmx as him.
-Charlie Crumlish cause HE IS the definition of FUn.
-Eric Trepanier, what would be a session without your best friend?
-Steven Hamilton cause he’s so epic (ya I know that 6 riders)

What is your worst riding related injury?
Knee something. Last august I was barely recovered from a separated soulder when I crashed on this stupid gap. I saw 3 differents doctors and they all told me “Your knee is just fine” but I have hard time walking for more than 30min…I need to get a MRI but thanks to Canada’s free health care system I have to wait 5 months.

Who is your typical riding crew? Any guys you think should be getting coverage?
I ride with whoever is down to go ride, most of time I ride with Eric T, Corey Dewey or Albert. I think Dewey should totaly get more coverage…I hooked him up with Seshin and Alienation ,hopefully people will see more of him in the future.

If you could be sponsored by any company, who would you want it to be and why?
haha thats a pretty weird question, I dunno really….I guess Odyssey, Ive been riding the same wheelset for more than 3 years now and its still just fine. Some company makes parts just to have parts on the market, I think Odyssey puts alot of research in every products wich explain why Ive been riding the same wheelset for 3 years haha. ok enough ass-kissing.

You seem to be pretty well known around the canada scene, how did you accomplish this?
I dont really know…back when I had a car I used to travel quite a bit and met tons of people in quebec/ontario and I also lived in Edmonton (alberta) for a little while. I used to go to every jam/contest and I guess that helped.

What is the story behind your nickname “Freak”?
Before bmx I used to be into graffity, breakdance and pretty much everything related to hip-hop.At high school we had tons of activites to keep students from droppin out I guess and I wanted to do a huge graffity on a wall so I met the guy in charge of the activities and after a few days he started calling me “Le Freak” cause I was doing tons of random crazy shit all the time. After that everyone start calling me Freak at school then at the skatepark…

How do you feel about kids talking all tough behind the “anonymous” name?
Thats dumb, if you’re scare of what people will think of your opinions just dont say (type) it. But on the otherside there’s people who takes internet way too seriously but what can we do, 1n73rn37 15 53r10u5 bu51n355.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you want to go and why?
Montreal in summer cause its home and girls are amazing and australia in winter so I can ride my bike and kangaroos.

Do you talk shit on America, like American’s talk shit on Canada?
Why would someone talk shit on Canada? But no not really, there’s good and bad things about everywhere/everyone, America just have more Bad than good. New Hampshire is awesome tho…exept for that city were bikes arnt allowed in the street, weirdest thing Ive ever seen. I went to that spot its like a 2 huge rainbow ledges ( Vinnie Sammon did feeble up to hop on to 180 to ass plant in the credit or bail section of a animal video I think) and some cops came telling us that this city doesnt allow bicycle in the street…weird shit.

What are you up to when your not causing havoc on the internet and on your bike?
Playing FF7, making babies, cooking, watching the girls coming out of the subway station across the street from my balcony, shopping, listening to music, working on my bike, eating cheese and sometime gettin drunk in the morning.

What kind of music are you into?
-French hip-hop mostly
-hip-hop prior 96 like wutang, souls of mischief, L.O.T.U.D, dilated people…etc
-Glam rock
-hardcore stuff like dance gavin dance, a black rose burial, 3 inches of blood, black dahila murder…etc
-Lucero

Seen any good movies lately?
Actualy Ive been watching tons of movies lately thanks to torrentz.com. Here’s some of my favorites:
40 years old virgin
knocked up
House party
Borat
FF7 Advent Children
King of Kong
Pootie Tang

What are some websites you suggest people to check out?
FYSBmx.net
HHQC.com
Defgrip.net
bmxfeed.com
catfishcatfish.com for sure!!!!

What kind of a man are you? Tits, Ass, or Dix?
PB&J all day!

How do you feel about the current trends in BMX?
Other than stripped seat nothing bothers me. Some kids are taking the big bars thing way too seriously tho…I saw this kid in edmonton he was prolly 5’9″ and he had 28″wide bars + 2″ extension each side.

If you could change anything about BMX what would it be and why?
More bmx friendly parks and less kids that learn how to start riding bmx on internet. Like when I start riding I didnt know shit about bmx, I was going in the street and learn stuff naturaly. Now it seems like kid check out what they have to learn then learn it and win the dew tour. I guess its kinda good for the progression of bmx but its just weird as shit to me.

What is some of the best advice you have ever been given?
“She can’t get pregnant in the ass” -someone on bmxboard.

I heard you were addicted to porn? Is this true?
hahah no I think you’re thinking about Dane Wild.

Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years?
Somewhere with a bigger balcony and hopefull having a bmx-related job and a kid.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
My mom, Casey @ ToughLove, Josh @ Empire Bike&boards, Liam @ Uab, Jeremy for the pics, Eric T, Cole P, all the guys who help me with FYS (you know who you are guys), everyone that check FYS daily, all the montreal local who are down to ride, you for this interview…oh and fuck Chris Chitaroni.

Anything else you would like to say?
Dont believe the hype.

What can I say about Justin Kosman that isn’t already well known? He’s always ballin’ out, spending money like it don’t matter. Making money like its nothin… Justin Kosman aka “The Koz Man” is all business when it comes to phone calls and photo sessions but a complete party animal with no regrets when it comes to having a good time and remodeling his condo. Read up and take notes. Yeah its a lengthy interview, so if you’re not into reading, you can suck it.

Your Full Name: Justin Michelle Kosman

Age: 27

Born and raised: Geneseo, Illinois

Currently residing in: Carlsbad, CA

Years on a bike: 17

Years behind the camera: 15

How did you get into bmx? What’s your earliest memory of shredding?

Pushing around a Standard prototype when I was 9 at Rampage. I barely remember that, but I had been skating at that time so my frame of reference for BMX was Kurt Schmidt’s raw bike. I didn’t know wtf was going on. The next summer my best friend got a GT so of course I got one and started riding these trails in our town called “The Moose” with some 17- year old high school drop-outs on Skyway Teardrop frames with choppered forks and Bullseye 2-pc cranks. Spike pits, water jumps, and fly-out no-footed x-ups. Everyday was a circus. Mag in the front, spokes in the back. Vaseline on my pitbull brakes.

You have a history of racing under your thoroughly notched belt, what happened to those days?

In hindsight, those were awesome days, and before clip shoes came around so it was kind of hairy in the turns. The biggest jumps were at the track so I raced and dirt jumped a lot in the mid nineties. We’d have open class races and I’d bust out a 360 at full speed and over rotated (of course) and my yellow soft bead Mitsubishi Tioga knock-offs would come off the rim and I’d carcass into the dirt with everyone behind me into a full regrets crash pile. We were racing for free 6-inch Subway sandwiches so it was a big deal. That’s before Jared. Before Subway was the grossest shit on earth. So to make a long story longer, Standard Bykes hooked my up for racing for a couple years and I did the nationals and state series races until I gradated high school. I remember entering a DK Dirt Circuit when I was 17 in Nashville and Crandall was announcing. He said I was from Alaska. I turned pro when I was in college and made some money racing local pro classes in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. I got my ass waxed at the big races. It wasn’t glorious, but it was fun. Fuck it was better than hanging around campus on the weekends.

Shredding in chest protectors, what’s the deal with that anyways?

I don’t’ remember telling you that. How do you know? My friend Billy had a motocross track at his house and he built some really fun BMX trails behind his dad’s machine shop. It was like the game Frogger dodging the hundred illegitimate cats and walnuts nuggets all over ground. We’d burn cardboard boxes in between jumps and get embers stuck in our hair while riding. The place was like Thunderdome, as much as we could replicate it with all the sheet metal and fire. I thought I needed protection so I started wearing Billy’s chest protector and used it for a couple years. I remember watching a video from Rampage contest of me in my racing jersey, with the chest protector and no helmet doing tailtap half barspins. In 1995 I got sick at the Christmas Classic and puked all over the Standard Factory BMX pit area; all over Moliterno’s bike- so I painted “Puker” on the back of my plastic exo-skeleton that year.

Unlike a lot of the bmx industry, you received a proper education… Where did you attend school and what degree do you currently have?

Proper is a subjective term. I attended North Central College back near Chicago and graduated with a degree in English and an honors distinction. A couple really inspiring professors and a photo mentor really lit a fire under my ass to try some things I probably wasn’t ready for at the time. Bottom line is that they taught me to go get whatever I wanted. Cut to the front of the line, jump in the deep end. Being first in your class doesn’t mean you’re smart, it means you are in the wrong class- the shit is obviously too easy for you. Not to accept mediocre work, always trying to do the best job with what tools you have. I’ll never forget the simulacra and simulation lecture that Guzman gave on Baudrillard and Barthes; that semester changed the way I looked at the everything around me- made me a little nuts, a little too introspective and over analytical- but I use a lot of those concepts in most every project I am a part of. So glad I did it. I wish I would have taken another religion class and finished my minor, but I had fucked up on classes and took 20 extra eng credits that they wouldn’t count. I hadn’t taken any gym classes or art so my senior year I had all these gnarly grad level eng composition classes and then I’d have to go sit through a 4-hour jewelry making class to get art credits and then go to jogging class three times a week. I made silver skull knuckle rings for my final project. I’m going back to that school in a couple weeks to speak at their 2008 honor convocation- trying to think of a good BMX story to tell in front of two thousand students.

More importantly, how often did you 420 bong rip in your dorms as oppose to studying? An approximate number of beers shotgun’d and girls 69’d during your schooling days?

420 bong rips- hahahha, nah I don’t do the rips man. I pretty much studied and rode my bike a lot. I was more into stuff like climbing up the side of six story buildings and sleeping on air conditioning units for my weekend fun and switching parking tickets onto campus police cars. I spent my 21st birthday scanning photos for the school newspaper. My junior year we had these trio of displaced freshman soccer players move into our upperclassmen dorm and it was obvious that they were really shy so I made it my job to make them feel uncomfortable by throwing beer bottles from the recycling bin out the window real late at night and fastball chucking my old broken cell phone down the hallway accompanied by a loud “You F*king Bitch! I Hate You Colleen!,” like I was having a mental breakdown with an imaginary girlfriend. Good times.

You recently made the move to sunny San Diego, after living in regretful Huntington Beach for quite some time, how are you feeling about your current living situation?

The North County scene is awesome. All of my neighbors (minus Gary Young) are over 40 and all the San Marcos guys shred hard. Less rotting than Orange County. I do like it here. It feels like a vacation home when I come back from a trip. I like that feeling.

I’ve been slowly remodeling your new house little by little, would you say it’s going to be a poon palace upon completion?

Man, since the wood floors have been finished this week, I just walk around with a full boner for no reason. Seriously though, the place was a high-priced dumpster three months ago and now it’s on the verge of being a hi-dollar penthouse condo. Not really, but the roof does still leak. You fixed the leak from the fridge so that was good. We did buy a toilet the other night didn’t we? 3 liter Kholer was it? More liter’s than Gary Young’s BMW, that’s all I know.

I have a fond memory of meeting you at Steve Kennedy’s old Fullerton house a couple years back on Halloween… Your costume consisted of temporary tattoos, all black clothing, a lip ring and a bandana… What particular bmx icon were you that year? How many girls did you flip to fakie that night? And by flip to fakie, I mean 69…

I was Rick Thorne and the next day I had full tattoo status still in effect when I went to go ride the Santa Monica skatepark. Rick Thorne showed up and it was top 5 awkward moments of my life. Damn funny now though. People did think the neck tats were real. I could have kept the spider web and been happy.

You’ve been into shredding bicycles for a while now, but what made you start picking up a camera more often instead of your bike? Do you remember your first camera? How many n00dz would you say were taken on that camera?

My first camera was a Canon that I bought with 40,000 Marlboro Miles, my first real camera was a Pentax K-1000. The transition from spaz rider to spaz photog happened when I was on the racing circuit back home. I was at a pro national in Michigan and I never made the mains at those big races. I was way more psyched to shoot photos of the pro main- of all the guys who wiped my ass earlier that day. It was kind of a weird realization. For me that was a transition from riding hard to learning about magazines and photography. Some of those photos I shot that day were published in the Sanction mag and that made me feel more accomplished than a podium finish. Actually I wouldn’t know b/c I never got top three at a national so I am full of shit. I sucked at racing, as a job- there you go. I never had crazy pressure from my parents or sponnos to race so it wasn’t a big deal to switch it up.

You’re known to make business calls that range up into the thousands of dollars, travel to numerous countries within a single month and party with superstars, is this how you envisioned life in Southern California as a multi-platinum photographer?

It is a little surreal, but sometimes you gotta jump in the deep end and do a 180 burnout 69. I just got back from Italy with Bucky Lasek, that was pretty dope. I have a shoot with Tanner Hall this afternoon, I’m trying to finish this interview before I leave to go do that. So, yeah it’s better than I could have expected.

Can you briefly describe the term “cat butt” and your feelings towards it?

My feelings on that subject are negative. Cat Butt is when a cat licks it’s own butt and then sits there with it’s tongue hanging out because it’s realized what it’s done. I can’t incriminate myself any further. Cat butt = Full regrets.

You excel in bmx photography but you shoot photos for a lot of different companies some of which aren’t even bmx related… Can you name-drop some of the current companies you work for? What said companies do you particularly enjoy shooting for?

A little Vans skate this year was awesome. A lot of motocross for Source Interlink (Dirt Rider/Mini Rider). Red Bull is launching their Cola brand this year so they have had me doing a lot of athlete lifestyle photos. Levis has been good with a trip to Hawaii this year. As far as companies I like shooting for, they all kick ass and have been with me for a couple years now. The last two years I did a lot of work with GT mountain and road which was all art directed by McGoo and those shoots were all so much fun. I with I could take him on every shoot- that man knows how to delegate. Lately I’ve really had fun with the Dirt Rider shoots. Denison will bring out some hot-shot amateur moto racer to blast through a berm for a cover shot and I will just yell at him the whole time, be outrageous, make him sweat it out. Then I tell everyone gross BMX stories at dinner and completely traumatize them.

Who are some of your favorite bmx stunt masters to work with?

Guettler and Mackay for sure. They are really tech photographers too and it kicks ass when it is a group effort to make a cool photo happen with those guys. There are so many good riders that I really like shooting with everyone. They do that hard shit. But Guettler and Mackay for sure.

When you’re not behind the camera, what are some of your favorite obstacles and or terrains to shred?

Pools, any mini ramp and any big ass cement wedge. The new mini ramp at Clairmont in S.D. is unreal.

A lot of people know you for your kickass photography abilities, but what should people really know about “The Koz Man”?

All I can tell you is this quick haiku…

Small fish in big ponds
Swim upstream for tasty waves
Pull breathe kick glide. Glide.

A day in the life of Justin Kosman:

Wake up at 5am
Check the phone for any urgent emails from East Coast or Europe that may have came up over night.
Go make some coffee and pour a bowl of “Oh’s” cereal. Non-fat milk. Do the e-mail game. Insert minimal myspace lurk.

5:30: Ride the road bike on the trainer for a playlist while sending ridiculous text messages to Miles Roigish. Take a shower, high-five Chris Collins as his dreadlocks float out the door. Email, laundry, phone calls to east coast. Special day breakfast at El Caribe.
8am: Bank. Then pick-up Alex Give D! to slave at the condo. Sometimes I’m at an airport by this time or picking up a rental car.

10am On the way to the photolab or a photoshoot somewhere. If not run up to Orange County and hang out at Bike magazine or go see the guys at Ride mag. Drop film/pick up film in Irvine. Get my cameras cleaned at Canon. Stop by Vans and Red Bull, see Kelly Bolton if I get up into L.A.

11am: If I am home I watch the hot realtor try and sell the next-door unit to Italian mobsters.

11:30am. Look on AutoTrader.com for any vintage Lotus cars that may have gone up for sale over night. Send invoices. Edit photos or video for a couple hours.

2pm: See if anyone is going to ride today. If not, go to Home Depot and buy tile flooring.

4-8: Edit photos while watching a movie from iTunes. Today it was “The Departed.”

8pm Go take Alex Give D! home and go eat a chicken torta.

9pm come home and go to Barnes and Noble and nerd on books and magazines until 11.

11:30 Take a shower. Fold laundry. Look at late model Lotus Exiges. Crunch numbers, and decided insurance is too much. Need a vintage one to get the antique insurance discount. Make a note to check out Lotus Esprits the next day.

1pm go to bed if I am lucky. Minimal sleeping. No regrets.

Anybody you would like to give a hollar out to or thank?

Mom and Dad, Jeff (RIP), Steve Woltmann, Moliterno, Paul &Rhonda Depauw, Ryan Brock, Tim Boone, Ryan Marshall, Brad Burris, Jon Willy, Jennifer Jackson, Richard Guzman. Badders, Dwayne, EricDC, RM59, Kathryn, Ilana, Marcus Gerber, Sandy V, Losey, Give D!, RickM, Moeller, McGoo, Josh Champion, Wildman, Pondella, GarthM, KevinMcAvoy, DebESPN, Swope, JeanaMAxxis, JackieRoy and Bhunt, Fuzy, Randalle.

Mark is all over the place these days, the dude rips it up on a bike. I could watch videos of him riding trails all day long. Myself, Brett Rohlfing, and Chad Degroot came up with a few questions for him.. Enjoy

Name:
Mark Adam Mulville

Location:
casselberry FL. / pittsburgh PA.

Sponsors:
profile racing, ugp, duffs, odi(flow), sun rims(flow) mesh skatepark, steaz energy

Years Riding:
about 10 or 12 i guess

You recently left the take and are a “free agent” floating around, is subrosa going to be legit soon or are you still working on another deal?
im not working on anything right now, and as far as subrosa i have no idea whats goin on with that, cool of them to give me some product though, thanks ryan and ron

Is there any other sponsor changes or additions you can tell us about happening anytime soon?
umm i have no idea really, steaz energy is a pretty new one and its all organic and stuff so thats good.

Last I checked you are brakeless still. Do you ever scare yourself especially on trails? and do you plan on putting them back on anytime soon?
yeah i am always scared thats one reason i like being brakeless, and goin fast is so much more fun knowing ya cant stop at times so you just gotta go for it. im sure they will be on and off this summer.

I imagine you grew up racing? How long did you do that for? and do you think it has effected how you ride your bike now?
i only raced about a year or so and it was fun but just got way too competitive for my likes. It has made me more into trails i think which is fine with me and i guess my bike can look slightly race at times too

Do you have any signature parts/clothing coming from any of your sponsors soon?
i have a stem in the works with profile which should be out im thinking this summer, just had a shirt from them come out a few months ago with kinda a florida theme

Are you working on any video parts or just sticking to the web videos?
the next welcome to pittsburgh is in the works and ill have some shit in there, not sure what else.

You have been traveling a lot it seems like, do you have any big road trips to go on or any trips you are looking forward to going to?
i am looking forward to pittsburgh but thats pretty much gonna be home for a while, other then that vegas is sweet for interbike so im excited about that and goin on a profile new england trip late summer too.

Before the BMX thing started working out, did you have any other jobs?
i have had so many jobs, server, landscapper, worked at central skatepark for a few years and others too, i still do some landscapping at times too

If you could hook up with any actress, model, girl, who would it be and why?
thats a hard one, maybe amy adams from enchanted, she is a real cutie.. rachel mcadams from her role in the notebook or elisha cuthbert will do

why do you like sauce so much and what would you replace it if there was no sauce left in the world?
its just amazing and gives ya whatever taste your in the mood for, i dont really know why i like it so much though i just do. cant think of anything to replace it with

You are super into surfing these days right? If you could go pro in surfing and travel the world on your board, but had to give up riding during that time, would you?
i couldnt do that, but im sure it would be an amazing life. ill just stick to riding and surfing.

A few years back you were responsible for a large amount of womens pants being sold to men thanks to you being one of the first tight pants trend setters, but when Levis got into bmx they did not return the favor and hook you up. What a shame. How tight are your pants nowadays?
haha i dont know if i had any help in making them big i would like to think i didnt but my pants are no so tight now just a average ol’ dude i guess

What are some bands you are into? Any you suggest people check out?
old crow medicine show, jonathan richmen, the doors, anything rasta does me good too

What is your best story of a run in with the cops/security?
watch props megatour 4 when i was on with manmade and we were in miami and shit hit the fan with some security and alot more shit went down too

Any shout outs or thanks?
everyone at profile racing but mostly matt, my mom and dad a ton and my older brother for being a big part of getting me into riding, all my friends here like joey j, aaron s, paul for letting us have the trails, all the other orlando dudes too, my ol lady, all my pittsburgh buddys too like jeff and greg smee, bobby valentine, boner and punjab, chad degroot a bunch for everything he has done, ugp, steaz, duffs, odi, sun rims, and everyone who ever let me ride ther trails or stay at ther house and so many other things but its hard being put on the spot to thank everyone who needs it. so thanks to everyone i missed

Anything else you want to say?
everything is fun