BMX UNION

It seems like after I e-mailed Ryan this interview a while back, he had a bunch of interviews pop up.. However, he has been super busy with Subrosa stuff so it gave it sometime between then and now, so I can’t even be upset about how long it took for him to get it back to me.. I am stoked he even wanted to do another interview!
Oh and the crosses, I don’t know if those were suppossed to go with it, but I figured they were since it goes with the Subrosa stuff.

Name: Ryan Woodstock Sher
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Location: Typing this in Orlando, Fl, next to the pool, living in Portland, Or.
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Sponsors: Subrosa, The Shadow Conspiracy, Kronik Energy Drink, and Goods BMX.
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Subrosa has been around for a little over a year now already, how are things going with the company?
Man, it couldn’t be better right now. There’s so much energy and momentum in all aspects of Subrosa. The team kicks so much ass! They’re all real into everything we’re about, and they’re on point with being a part of the design and the development of new goods. Behind the scenes is more of the same. Everyone at Sparky’s Distribution is so dialed.
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Do you have any new products that haven’t been released or even mentioned anywhere you can tell us about?
We have quite a few projects going right now. Eli is testing out his new signature frame by crushing all obstacles in his path, and riding it to Amy’s Kitchen. Other than that, the rest have got to stay locked up for now, but I can be a little vague and say, multiple new frames, a couple of new completes, and a few fucking awesome collaborations.
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What is it like running a company with such a great team to back it?
† I got pretty lucky with how the team all fell into place. Not only that, as we go on more and more trips together, I’ve found we all really click together too. The best part is that Rich goes on Spring Break as soon as a trip starts, the transformation is quit amazing. We all just have a good time.
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When you first started riding, did you ever expect it to go for as long as it has, I read on Subrosa’s site you have been riding for about 21 years?
Actually yes, haha. When I started riding a bike, I knew I wanted to do it forever. I definitely didn’t know it was possible though. Growing up racing, I would see all the pros like, Gary Ellis, Pistol Pete, the Foster Bros, and think that I could just do that when I grew up, but by the time I was old enough to turn Pro, I was starting to ride trails, and get real burnt out on racing. I did, race one national as A Pro, I was on the gate in between Todd Lyons, and Harry Leary, I made it to the semis and I think I made 50 bucks. Then I just stopped racing, and rode trails, and street. Different companies throughout racing sponsored me, but when I got on Kink, I thought that I might be able to make a living off riding bikes. Damn, it’s actually been 23 years since I started racing, I was 4.
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How are things going with Shadow, do you have any new signature stuff coming around?
Shadow is the best company I’ve ever ridden for. The team is so involved in every aspect of Shadow, from the parts, to who gets free stuff, and who gets on the team. It’s awesome, Shadow is all about BMX and it shows.
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Who are some of the people you ride with the most?
Travis, Boyd, Ben Hucke, Vince Kroff, Jesse Whaley, Eddie when he’s around, The McCabe Bros, Lil Caleb, Shad, Slo, Bristol, Rich, shit, there’s more, too many people in Portland to list.
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Who are some people you haven’t had a chance to ride with you would really like to meet and ride with?
Lucky for me, I’ve traveled so much, and I’ve ridden with a lot of people, so I guess it would just be riders from a different time period, like the 80’s. Real freestyle OG’s.
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Do you have any big trips planned for Subrosa or yourself at all coming up?
I’m heading down to California in a few, for some dry weather. We’re doing another Subrosa trip in Jan/Feb in the Southwest. Also looking into doing our first overseas team trip.

Do you have any goals or plans for 2008 you really would like to accomplish?
I just want to keep moving forward with Subrosa. I don’t ever want Subrosa to get stale, and not progressing forward. I also want to travel a lot more this year, see Bruce Springsteen live, and play more poker.
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How do you feel about the fast progression of the sport lately? Seems like every kid and their mother can do a front flip to hang 5 out…
Yeah, it’s definitely a wild scene out there. I’m not too into a lot of the newest tricks, but I can’t say it’s not impressive. A lot of the shit seems impossible, even after I watch someone do it.
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Since you life in Oregon, do you find yourself riding more cement parks, street, or trails?
† Definitely more cement. This city is really getting it done when it comes to parks. New parks get built at such an amazing rate, and each one out does the one before it. You could easily ride 2 different parks a day for everyday of the week, and the furthest you would drive is 45 minutes. Bikes are aloud at all but one.
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Outside of riding, who or what are your biggest influences in your life?
† Outside of riding I would say friends/family and music are my biggest influences. Also traveling overseas, and seeing other countries really puts into prospective how backwards things are in our country.
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5 years ago vs. Now
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Bike set up
Then: 2002 Kink Freebird, gyro, 2 pegs.
Now: 2008 Subrosa Pandora, Linear Shadow Cable, no pegs.
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Riding Style
Then: Loose and squirrelly, with the occasional bar-spin
Now: Loose and squirrelly, with the occasional bar-spin
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Favorite Places to ride
Then: Anywhere my friends are at.
Now: Anywhere my friends are at.
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Car you are driving
Then: 1981 Pontiac Trans Am S.E. Gold Edition
Now: 1981 Pontiac Trans Am S.E. Gold Edition, just faster.
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Favorite Band
Then: Alkaline Trio
Now: Modest Mouse
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Do you still do killer burnouts?
Actually just about a week ago, I had a good night at the poker table, picked up my girl Sarah and some of her friends, and I had to show em a nice one.
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Your favorite riding memory?
† My all time favorite memory is winning the Great Northwest Nationals when I was maybe 11 or 12, I looked over at a crowd of people as I crossed the finish line, and saw my dad jump with his hands in the air above everyone else. He was psyched.
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Favorite websites?
Subrosabrand.com
Theshadowconspiracy.com
Defgrip.net
Thecomeupbmx.net
Piratebay.com
Publikhair.com
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What is something that people do not know about you that they would find ironic or surprising?
…I thought for a long time, but then gave up. I don’t know.
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Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
Ronnie B. and everyone at Sparky’s, my parents, K.C. Badger, Joshua Cornell, the cast and crew of The Office. It’s a long list, I’ll just stop there.
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Did I miss anything you would like to say or add?
Donate some cash to James Levan, and Stephan Murray.
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Name:
Nick Corsiglia

Location:
San Diego via San Luis Obispo, California

Sponsors:
Give D clothing and my parents haha

Your on the give D crew, what’s that like and what does it mean to you?
To me it’s just a bunch of friends that I happened to start riding with right when they started making webvideos and stuff. I moved to SD a little over a year ago and it turns I out I made a good decision in doing that! Pretty much my favorite people.

Your another San Diego Ripper, do you feel like you have an advantage riding with so much talent compared to other riders?
Yeah I definitely think so, riding with everyone motivates me a lot and gets me to do things I normally can’t be asked to do or am too much of a bitch to do! Also watching them all ride gives me some good ideas.

Who are some of your biggest influences in your riding?
Everyone I ride with on a regular basis, everyone who rides smooth and makes things look good! Josh Stricker, Van Homan, Garrette Byrnes, Joe Rich, Edwin, Ruben, pretty much everyone from Etnies Forward and Criminal Mischief because those are the videos I grew up watching.

I noticed a picture of you where you are doing a hop barspin without shoes or socks!? what’s that all about, did it hurt?
hahaha that day! it was last summer and Hoang and I were chillin at the beach with some girls. We had our bikes and I didn’t have any shoes. Hoang had his camera so I told him to shoot a photo of a barefoot hop bars. Fortunately it was back when I did enough pedal grinds to have a flat side of my pedal so it didn’t hurt at all! I guess I just thought it’d be a funny picture doing a trick barefoot at the beach!

Where are your 5 favorite spots to ride?
1. The pool that’s 5 minutes from my apartment
2. This park in the ghetto south of downtown SD
3. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
4. Brooklyn Banks/flying around Manhattan
5. Clairemont Skatepark

If you could only do one trick for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I should say barspins because I do them a lot and really like them.. but if I was any good at them probably tables!

What is your greatest accomplishment with BMX?
traveling/moving places without worrying about whether or not I know anyone because I know I’ll be able to meet people through riding.

What is your best story involving the Give D crew?
Living with pretty much the entire crew in a 3 bedroom (well, 2 bedroom really) apartment near SDSU. Best time of my life! Every night was a party, people over all the time, never had to call someone to go ride, wake up every morning to see Albert playing Dave Mirra 2, come home from school to see a dozen friends chillin watching videos, playing videogames or gettin rad in one way or another, Ron’s golden birthday is still one of the best parties I’ve ever been too and it was at our apartment!

Where are some places you have been that you would suggest someone go to before they die?
NYC, Barcelona, Leeds UK if you like drinking and freezing your balls off, California!

Where are some places you would like to go to before you die?
Everywhere, all of Europe and Eastern Europe, Russia, Australia, South America, anywhere that’s a little off the normal tourist map.

Do you realize how nice you have it in San Diego? (it is 9 degrees out where I am right now)
Yes, everyday!

I noticed the song on your myspace was pretty heavy, is that the stuff your into or what?
I listen to everything, at the moment I’m listening to Dizzee Rascal who’s an English Grime rapper. This morning on the way to school I was listening to metal. When I go to bed I’ll listen to something slower like Ratatat. Madvillain/MF Doom/Dangerdoom is another of my favorites. And I’ll even dive into some George Straight or Ryan Adams (country) if I’m in the right mood! haha.

Name a few bands you think people should check out?
Beneath the sky, CCR, Cold war kids, Converge, Dangerdoom/MF Doom/Madvillain, David Bowie, Dizzee Rascal, The Go! Team, The Lovely Feathers, The Misfits, The Mountain Goats, Of Montreal, Papoose, Ratatat, Ryan Adams, Wilco.. I like music!

Who are your biggest influences outside of riding?
Writers, I’m a literature major so I spend a fair amount of time with my nose in a book and the stuff I’ve gotten out of books has changed the way I see the world.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Either travelling or living in a different country! Still riding, not yet settled into a career or anything crazy like that.

What do you think needs to change in BMX?
Too many people out there trying way too hard to come up and all that shit. It’s riding a kids bike don’t take it so seriously! Oh and also people doing shit just to ‘get street cred’

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
My parents for always supporting me, my friend Ian back home who got me into riding, shout out to Team AL, Hoang and Kyle for editing everything so it actually looks good, Ron for being awesome, Chris Hervan for keepin it street!, the party Steve’s for havin a good time all the time! everyone else in SD for shredding and having fun. Everyone who’s ever let me sleep on their floor even when I’d never met them before. Bdubbs and Nuno at Odyssey/Defgrip for hookin up GDC. Alex’s Grandma Doody for pizza parties, goodies and gas money. Kurt for letting me do this interview! Dollar pizzas, $3 veggie burritos at El Azteca Taco shop, Beer for always bein around and providing unlimited good times, PG Tips tea, cell phones, computers, cars, Dave Mirra 2 on PS2, everyone who throws parties and doesn’t get mad when we screw something up, San Diego for being amazing!

Anything I might have missed you would like to add?
I think you covered everything pretty well!