BMX UNION

Steve is another one of those crazy dudes from Give D, and I honestly wish like a month ago when I sent him these questions(hes been injured and busy give him a break!) that I would have asked more, I find these responses super entertaining and I think he has a lot to say… but for now this is good..

Name:
Steve Kennedy

Location:
San Marcos, California

Sponsors:
Give D, Odyssey, Sunday!, and Epic bike shop

What are some nicknames you have?
Smilin Steve, Barspins Steve, Regrets-Man

Why are you always smiling?
When you walk into a room and you are smiling you are a somebody, if not you are a nobody. I lost my virginity to a myspace girl.

What is Give D to you?
A whole lot of kicking ass with the best people I have ever met. No matter what we do together it is guaranteed fun. Roadtrips with Give D are legendary!

What is your best Give D story?
Breaking every single sprinkler off on Ben Snowden’s block with Ron. We were both shit-housed drunk and Ron only had one shoe on (for kicking). My prize was this huge ass plastic main that had wires sticking out of it and everything! When I gave it the business end of my size 9.5 Loteks it fucking exploded and soaked my pants with water, it was amazing. We then found a plastic bag and collected all the snapped off sprinklers and posed and took pictures holding them which I think are on the Give D myspace. The best part was when we were taking the pictures with all the sprinklers out Snowden walked into the room but I don’t think he noticed! Ha ha it was like dad coming home and then not getting in trouble!

What are some of your biggest accomplishments with riding?
Having the opportunity to ride for such great companies has been my greatest accomplishment. Odyssey, Sunday, Epic, and Give D all treat me so well and I love being able to contribute my small part to them.

If you had a teleport button for a day, where are some of the places you would go?
The Fullerton angle iron ledge with Alex, the owner of D. We can seriously ride it for hours and have the time of our lives. I recently tore my meniscus in my knee so I’ll be out for a total of five months at the least, but luckily I was able to film at the ledge before I got hurt!

What is one thing, riding or non riding, that you can’t do, but you wish you could?
As far as riding I’d have to say jump a full size box jump! I used to be one of those hucker kids and do double barspins over full size boxes, but then I slowly evolved into the tech bitch I am today.
Non riding wise, I want to be a pickup artist! Ha ha sounds so lame, but it’s incredibly fun to work at. Reading books like “The Game,” by Neil Strauss will make you see it in a whole new light. It really is like a game, you get better at it the more you practice, and you score when you do well! Alfredo Mancuso introduced me to the pickup game on a long car ride to LA, and he told me about some of the books. I must say he has solid knowledge on the subject.




Believe it or not Steve has never…?
Had sex with a man. I know what you’re thinking, but it’s true.

Who are some of your favorite people to ride with?
So many rad dudes I love to ride with! I’m going to take the easy way out and just say my roommates and everyone on Give D! Bdubbs at odyssey, Alfredo Mancuso because he is real good and constantly makes me laugh my dick off, Eric Litchtenburger (not even going to try to spell that clusterfuck of a last name right) because he is a fucking street animal, and probobly lots of other people who I’m neglecting to mention and who hate me now.

What are your favorite videos/video parts?
I love all of Seth Kimbrough’s recent parts, that guy has great style and tricks.

What is your worst riding injury?
In part two of the “I love LA,” give D trip you can see me crash on a 180 downside whip to fakie out of the Parks Jr. High banks. I don’t know exactly which crash it was on, but I tore the meniscus in my left knee and two months later I can still barely bunnyhop. I actually just scheduled the surgery today for a week from now, and I’ll be out for “3 months at the very least,” according to my doctor.

Do you listen to an ipod or something similar while you ride?
Sometimes. I try not to if I’m with friends, but when I do it does help to motivate me. I have the new Shuffle which is cheap and has no screen so I’m not afraid to wreck it. Right when the ipod came out I bought some mp3 player that was pretty similar and it put me back like $250. I ended up falling trying a footjam tailwhip of all things and breaking the screen. The best part was it kept playing and I didn’t even notice i broke it until like 30 minutes later when I went to change the song.

What kind of music are you into?
Lately I haven’t been able to ride much due to my knee, so it’s been lots of chill stuff: Iron and Wine, The Album Leaf, The Shins, Pinback, and Of Montreal.

5 things everyone should do before they die?
1) Find a copy of Nowhere Fast and watch it
2) Earn 1000 point in Wii Sports tennis to become a “pro”
3) Graduate college
4) Make a scene while quitting a job
5) Get overly drunk and hit on girls

Any shout outs or thanks?
Thanks to Jim Bauer, Nuno, and Bdubbs at Odyssey. Jim C. from Sunday. Dat and Phu at Epic. And Alex at Give D!

Anything else I might have missed you would like to say?
Think Positive!

Name: Braden Ross

Location: North County San Diego

Sponsors: Give D Clothing

Your another one of the Give D guys, so you know the question will be: What is Give D to you and what is it like to be apart of the crew?
Give D is always about having a good time with everyone. With riding,hanging out, partying, anything really. Just an awesome group of guys that shred and know how to kickass.

You also live in San Diego, how long have you lived there and what do you think of the scene?
I’ve beenin San Diego for about 7 years but recently just got back from being in Salt Lake City for a year. I have been back a couple months and things have been going great, the scene has grown a lot since I was gone, and it’s crazy to see how many more kids are shredding these days.

How long have you been riding and what got you into it?
I’ve been riding for about 5 years. I got a bike on my birthday in 8th grade and started building dirt jumps in my back yard, been shredding since then.

What do you typically ride? are you like the other Give D guys who are big street dudes?
I’d rather go out to a good street spot rather than a skatepark just because I feel I can be more creative on street, but I always have fun going to the local park.

Do you work or go to school outside of riding at all?
No, since I moved back I’ve been lazily looking for a job but I end up just going outside and riding.Once I get a job and some money I’ll probably start signing up for classes as well.

What is the trick that has given you the most trouble?
Probably turndowns, always have the hardest time with them at the skatepark.

What is your biggest accomplishment with riding?
Lately I’ve just learned to just enjoy riding even after I get frustrated with a trick or just not having a good riding day.

If you didn’t get into riding what do you think you would be doing?
Probably just going to school full time.

If you could ride with any dude in the world, who would it be and why?
Probably Corey Martinez, the guy just looks like who really knows how to shred. Real good controlled style.

What are some of the things you like to do outside of riding? I know a few of the Give D guys are big into photography.
Usually just chill with friends or party. Probably start surfing again once my brother moves back to San Diego.

Where are your typical riding spots?
Woodland bank,Esco high school, DMV, Clairemont park, Escondido park. There is actually a lot of good stuff real close.

Say the first word or words that come to mind when you hear the word….
BMX? Fun!

Money? I need

San Diego? Amazing people

Snow? Salt Lake City

God? Almighty…?

Girls? Real fun!

If you could ride one place that you have never been, where would it be and why? I’ve always wanted to go Vancouver, place seems like it has tons of stuff to ride. I hear it’s real good.

Who do you think would die first if you loaded the whole Give D crew into a van and went on a cross country road trip?
Haha I don’t even know. It would be random, everyone on the team gets wild enough to do something crazy.

What kind of music are you into?
Metal, hip hop,ambient/alternative stuff. Anything that motivates me.

What are some of your all time favorite riding videos or parts?
Van Homan in Criminal Mischief.Corey Martinez and Mike Aitken in Wide Awake Nightmare. Etnies Forward, I used to watch that all the time when I first started riding.

Are there any people out there you would like to thank or shout out to?
Alex Bermudez for putting together something that have let nothing but good experiences and fun times for everyone down here in San Diego. All the guys on the team, always fun to ride and chill with. My mom and family for always helping me out. The crew up in Salt Lake City for keeping me sane while I was in Utah.

Anything I might have missed you would like to add?
Thank you and Give D!!!

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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