BMX UNION

Sponsors:
UGP, Versa Bikes, Profile, go211.com, Bern helmets, Mesh Skatepark

Years in the game:
Wow, since 1986, so you can do the math

You have been popping up all over lately with UGP! How are thing’s going over there as TM?
It is nuts…we have a full team, by that I mean we have some old school to the newest school. So it keeps me on my toes. From doing orders, to designs, to web updates, to baby sitting (do this a lot), and being a rider for the team, I have a full plate, but its good as hell. I am happy as hell this year with the direction we are moving. We have had some growing pains the last few years, and I firmly believe we are back on it. The Fall/Winter line is on point for sure. The denim is getting out there. We have some jeans, the bandits and Cigs, that are a bit tight, but will cater to the younger rider, or the ones like Mark Mulville who keep it tight. I don’t mean girl tight, just the right fit for a slimmer man. We have to be honest, there are not to many beef cakes in this sport, are there?

You guys have been pumping out a bunch of web edits lately, do you have any more coming soon?
Do we ever. I have 5 I am working on right now. There is no end in sight. We have received a great response to all of them. I know they are just web edits, but we do get them out there. We want to get them out, put them on our player on the home page (undergroundproducts.com), then get them on our FTP site so people with shops in Taiwann or Japan or where ever can get them and use them for shop promo. Brian Kachinsky sent me some of his scraps for an edit. We went on a short trip to fill in the blanks. It is nuts. Tell you the truth, I love his scraps. You will to. His will be out soon.

You have been working with Versa now also. What’s the news on that and how is the prototype holding up?
Versa is sweet. Its just a baby. There isn’t more to say about it or a better way to describe it. We are in our infant stages, prototypes and ideas. That is all. We don’t plan to take over the world or get in every shop. We just got a team set, trying on a flow team. Very small and nice. The owner is taking it slow, and most of the team is happy with this. Don’t want mistakes if possible. The site (versabmx.com) is coming along. There might not be everyday updates, but we will when the time comes. Keep checking back. The whole team is traveling a ton this year.

When can we expect to see some product from them up for sale?
That is a hard question to answer. We all have prototypes we are running. So testing is first. Maybe some shirts and stickers early summer. If I had to guess, we would have some pre-books for interbike. Don’t quote me on that…the boss might kick my ass.

Baco last year was wild, how do you feel about Mother Daughter stripper teams?
Pretty much necessary. Not the broken nose thing. That happened just as they were about to get loose and let them hang out…sucks, but that is Baco. Flipper was the the best follow up show. Wrestling n shit…love that kid…

Since Baco is no longer welcome in Wiscompton. Do you plan on having it again in the midwest or Florida only now?
We found a spot in Illinois. But it could be somewhere in Wisconsin. Don’t want to spoil it with a location…you will find out and you will be there…

When will the next Baco video be out anyways?
Dave was just in Florida and we talked a ton on this topic. There are more than a few fools that have sections almost done. So I will just leave it at that…

How are things going at Mesh, any big news?
Baco will be there this year again. DC and Pabst and Levis are all in…happy as hell. Kinda getting to big, but as long as we run it, chuck out some money, have beer, and everyone is assholes dressing up for Halloween, who cares. Otherwise, we are changing the park really soon before it gets to hot to build…shit is hot as hell in there.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Get my family going, I have one kid, but we want more. Get Baco bigger than the X-games with a bigger purse. Get UGP on Jay-z. Shock people with my riding. Get in a movie doing some acting.

If you could do one trick for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
backwards manuals hands down. I did them today for hours, got a few new versions that I need to film for an upcoming Profile edit, otherwise I do like hang 5’s.

What is one trick you cannot do for the life of you?
Flairs. I’ve tried them a few times then just stop. Get close as shit, then stop. Someone needs to push me or do them with me…

*This is a photo Chad took that won a photo contest. His dad grows stuff in his old shoes…

Out of all of your video parts, which one was your favorite?
I couldn’t answer that. I am happy with all my stuff. There is a ton more meaning in stuff like Baco 6 or 7, but the stuff lately, I am happy as hell with.

Who are some riders you really enjoy riding with?
Anyone that will make me laugh. Anyone that wants to try weird stuff during a session. Dave Freimuth, Mark Mulville, Joey Juaristi, Mesh locals.

Are you and Dave Freimuth brothers? I swear you guys should be.
We pretty much grew up together. I lived in Green Bay which is 25 miles away. We really clicked when we moved to Arizona for the winter. Came back and lived in a house with 10 other fools. We travel a lot and have a similiar personality and interest in good times where ever we are. We have some history that goes way back…

How do you feel about Mustaches?
required if your a real man…so many options…

*Kachinsky is stoked on this

Outside of work and riding, what are some things you are up to?
Have a kid, Cooper, who takes up most of my time. He is nuts. Everyday he makes me laugh and does some wild shit. Love it. I have been doing a lot of photography. Did a wedding for Mike Andrews. That was a little stressfull till the reception, then everything was a blurr. They told me I was wedding guy. The pics turned out sweet.

Seen any good movies lately?
We get Netflix, get all the seasons of WEEDS…love that shit.

Where are some places you would like to go at some point in life?
Pyramids, South America, Spain, Taiwan

If you couldn’t live in Florida anymore due to a old person epidemic taking the state over, where would you go and why?
Southwest is pretty sweet. Like the mountains in Arizona and the dry air. Florida is humid as hell.

What are some things you think everybody should experience at some point in their lives?
Jump out of a plane, invent something, get in a fight, drive over 150mph, and spend money like you don’t care

Who or what are your biggest influences in your life?
Sunny days, nice sunsets, great pictures, good conversations, artistic people, my wife, the positive

What would you do with the money if you won the lotto?
Get a box seat at a packer game and invite and fly all my friends in for a serious party, or give a ton to the people close to me so I don’t look like the only rich person they know

What kind of advice do you have for kids just getting into BMX?
have fun and support your skatepark, it will be gone before you know it

What kind of advice do you have for people who want to work in the BMX industry/ own a skatepark?
Skatepark; have a lot of patience, and don’t expect to make money. Industry; know people.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
UGP crew, Versa crew, Matt and the Profile team, go211.com, Josh at Bern, Mesh Skatepark…Thanks to my kid for opening my eyes, there is happiness in the simplist things.

Anything else you would like to add I forgot?
BMX won’t get you rich, stop trying..

Chad DeGroot random edit from chad degroot on Vimeo.

Sponsors:

Fit Bike Co., Orchid Footwear, Duo, Little Devil and Two by Four

Years riding:

16

After all these years this would make interview number?

I have know idea. Couldn’t even guess.

Lets start out with two by four which was recently featured in Ride BMX. How is business going? Id imagine it is picking up due to the weather?

Yeah things are good over here. Its everything I dreamed it could be. No one is making a ton of money but its a great vibe and it holds its own. I love having it here for the kids. It also feels great to have the team backing this whole thing up. We have been busy working on a video that should be out by Aug. Hopefully Two by Four will continue to grow so that we can take care of the employees, the team and bmx as a whole even more as time goes on.

Did you start the shop so you could start to “settle down” a bit or is there no slowing down planned?

I guess in a way it was but its more of a future plan I guess. I really just didn’t like sitting back and just being a pro rider anymore. I wanted to be involved in another way.

Is there any big two by four news you can tell us about?

The Video in progress would be the biggest news. We have a couple other things in the works that should be announce/finished up before the end of the summer.

What are some things you would like to accomplish with the shop in the next few years?

Just make it grow. I’m sure we will have some sort of online store at some point but I hope to always keep a local feel to it. My goals are pretty modest. I would love for me and another employee to be able to support our selves from the store. I would also like to be able to continue to due trips and what not with the team. Continue doing local events, Video Premieres and so on.

With all the work it takes to run a shop, how much time are you getting in on your bike?

I still get to ride and travel plenty thanks to Dan Palumbo, Smurf, My Wife Samantha and my parents. I couldn’t do it with out you guys. Thanks.

Did you have much time to travel over the winter? Where all did you go?

I went to Dubai in December for the Dubai X-Games. That was a lot of fun. I thought my X-Games days were done. I never thought I would be getting a bronze metal at 28. Those street events are really cool. I hope they put it in the US X-Games. We went on a couple filming mission to the south. Garrett, Tocco, Randy and Myself just did a trip to Cali loosely based on riding pools. That was a lot of fun.

You have had the chance to ride so many place, where are are your favorite places you have been over the years?

Wow thats a hard one but I really like going down south. Raleigh NC, Tennessee, etc. Its just laid back down there.

Where are some places you haven’t been that you would like to go to?

South Africa would be cool. Any place is nice if your with the right people. Just anything or any place new is cool. At the same time staying home is really good too. I love leaving for a trip but I think I like getting back home even more.

What is it like to show up in a new place and have people recognize you?

It can be a little weird but bmx is cool. People only reconize you if they ride so its not like you get random weirdos just coming up to you and giving you a hard time.

Who is your usual riding crew? Any unknown guys you think people should look out for?

I have been riding with Randy Brown, Chase Dehart and Darryl Tocco a lot lately. I ride with a lot of the locals from around the shop. Everyone just ends up here and we go pedal around. If Cody Jennings keeps up the good work he could have a really interesting part in the new video so keep an eye out for that.

If you could only do one trick or ride one spot for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

If I could only do one trick I think I would quit. If I rode for 16 years and only learned one trick that would be pretty frustrating haha. If I only had one spot I think I would just ride my local street spots. That might wear on my bones as I got older though so I might have to pick a nice concrete park.

What is one trick that you cannot do for the life of you?

Nose Wheelies are really hard for me I need to buckle down and put the time in to learn them proper.

What do you think you would be doing if you never started riding?

Couldn’t really guess its been such a huge part of my life. Maybe music, art, skateboarding but who knows without riding I might not even be the same person.

Out of all your video parts over the years, what is your favorite one?

Criminal Mischief or Fitlife. I was really happy with how my props interview came out too. Hard to say.

If you could, would you change anything at all about any of your past video parts?

yeah but mostly small things. A wack clip here or there. I was happy with most of the major ones over all.

Outside of running the shop and riding, what are you into?

My Wife Samantha, My Dog Hazel, Poker, Yuengling, Snowboarding, Skating mico minis.

You have been married for a little while now, how’s that going?

Its great I love the family life. Its good to have some one to share your life with.

What are some of your favorite bands, any you suggest people to check out?

Screeching Weasels, Dead Milkmen, Ryan Adams.

What are some of your favorite websites?

I hate the internet. Its evil but you can’t help but be a part of it.

If you could spend the day with anybody, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

My wife Samantha

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

Pay off my house and live the same way I do now.

Who or what are the biggest influences on your life?

My Parents for sure.

What are some things you are excited about right now?

Getting to the end of this interview haha, Two by Four video

*note: Van said he was kidding, but honestly I think I had too many questions haha*

Who are you going to vote for on the coming election?

I don’t vote. I don’t pay enough attention to politics to make a valid choice. Maybe I should pay more attention but…I don’t so I don’t vote.

What is something you wish you had more of in your life?

Places to ride, Money, Time. I’m not complaining about any of the above but I wouldn’t complain if I had more of that stuff either.

What is something you wish you had less of in your life?

Flat Tires, Drama. I don’t have much drama because I do my best to avoid it but I sure hate when drama finds me.

What is one thing about yourself that nobody really knows?

My first bike was a Peregrine Performer until I traded it for a Mongoose.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?

Samantha, My Parents, Robo, Derek Adams, Steve Buddendeck, Cory Muth, Dan Palumbo, Smurf, The entire Two by Four team, Everyone that buys stuff to help support Two by Four and keep our doors open, all my friends and anyone who has helped me out in anyway. Sorry for anyone and everyone I forgot.