Dennis is amazing. Litterally, when I was his age I couldn’t handle getting my homework done. This kid is all over the world and still has school. I figured it would be cool to catch up with him and see how everything has been going for him these days. Maybe some of you people out there can leave some comments for him. If you hate on him, you are just jealous and need to accept that. Enjoy!

Name:
Dennis Enarson

Location:
San Diego CA

Sponsors:
Rockstar Energy Drink, Generation Max Snacks, Nike 6.0, Haro Bikes, Demolition Parts.

Years Riding:
About 7

What was it that originally got you into BMX?
My Dad took me to the race track and i loved racing, but eventually i learned i really only liked racing because of the jumps so i stopped racing and only rode freestyle.

You have had some injuries lately that kept you out for a bit. How are things treating you these days and are you at full speed now?
Ya this year has been my roughest year so far. I broke my foot, my elbow and my shoulder poped out of socket. I’m doing really good right now though, hopefully i can stay this way.

You have had some big sponsor changes over the last year or two, how are things going with Haro these days? Any signature parts, videos, or anything cool like that?
Yup, i went from volume bikes tis year to Haro bikes. I loved Volume, but how could anybody say no to Haro? It’s the biggest bike company in BMX haha. All the guys there are awsome and the opportunities they give me are amazing. Were not doing any videos right now, but hopefully some signature stuff will start coming.

Photo: Ryan Fudger

How about Nike, isn’t there a video in the works with them? I imagine you will have a part in that? Also, do you have any signature shoes coming out?
Nike is rediculous! it’s probably the craziest sponsor you can have. ya the video should be out in a couple months and were all almost done with our parts. It’s going to be amazing we’ve been going all over the world filmig for it so i can’t wait to see how it turns out.

How about the rest of your sponsors like Demolition, Rockstar, and Ogio. Anything cool going on with them involving you?
Rockstar is amazing and going to keep having awesome jams all year long. We also just started filming for the new Demolition video this month, so I’m pretty excited to start working on that. And i got this new candy sponsor called gen max. It’s abrand from snickers 3 muskateers, and twix so im so stoked! Free candy!!

With contest season slowly coming to an end, how do you feel you have done this year and what contests do you still have left to get to?
Ya contest season is winding down, only two more dew tours and some jams and LG contest left. I felt like I’ve done pretty well accounting the injuries that kinda held me back this year. Going into every dew tour this year something has been hurt on me so I’ve been kinda bummed about that, but hopefully the last two I’ll be %100 so i can ride how i want to you know.

Your travel schedual is pretty crazy. Where all have you been this summer and do you have any big trips planned coming up soon?
I’ve been so many places this summer. The first day i got out of school i went to San Fran for a week, Then Woodward East for two days, then the first stop of the Dew Tour in Baltimore Maryland, Then to Germany for a week, then to Portland for a week, then to the second stop of the Dew tour in Cleavland Ohio, then to woodward west for two days then to LA for x games and a nike trip right after, then to Reno to start filming for the Demolition video, Then back to portland for the third stop of the dew tour. I dont have too many trips planned out right now besides Barcelona to finish filming for the Nike video, and the last stops of the dew tour.

Where are some places you haven’t had the chance to go to that you would like to go to someday?
I’ve never been to Barcelona, but I’m going next month so I’m really excited!

It always seems like you have something new and crazy trick wise going, what are some tricks you are working on these days?
Hah that’s funny because i never really sit there and work on the trick i usually get pumped up in practice at contest and just try stuff haha. I’ve been thinking of a couple tricks lately and hopefully I’ll feel good at these next couple Dew Tours so i can get them done.

Photo: Mark Losey

If you could only ride one place for the rest of your riding days, where would you want to ride and why?
Clairemont Skatepark, Because it’s the funnest park ever and all my local buddies go there.

What are some things BMX could use less of and what could it use more of?
More hot chicks riding, and less weirdos.

Outside of riding what are some things you are into?
I like snowboarding and skating a lot, and i surf when it’s really hot.

With summer coming to an end, will you be going back to school or what?
Ya i already started school. I still go to public school so the teachers hate me because i miss like 50 days a semester haha.

Photo: Corey

What is your best story involving you and Kyle Carlson?
One time at Chipotle he was saying how many burritos he could eat and i bet him $500 dollars he couldn’t eat 11. He sat there for 4 hours while we rode the parking lot and finished all of them and two bags of chips.

Since your a pretty well known dude, have you ever had stalkers or anything?
No just wierd myspace girls haha.

What is the key to hookin up with the ladies? How many girls have you hooked up with on the Dew Tour or X-Games?
Just be chill haha. Ummm….

This chick is way too hot, I don’t think he hooked up with her haha maybe he did.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Keep filming good video parts, do good in contest, Buy a house, and get done with school.

How weird is it to have an ad of you in pretty much every magazine?
I think its really cool, but really wierd because last year i think i only had one photo in ride, and this year it seems like theres been a bunch. I’m really stoked about it though!

Have you ever been in a fight and did you win?
Ya middle school this dick head thought he was way tougher then everybody, and one day after school he was talking crap and it ended up he was a big pussy because i only hit him one time and he freaked out and stopped fighting haha.

What is the first song to come to mind?
Painted by number, The Sounds

First movie to come to mind?
Big Daddy

What are some of your favorite websites?
Vital, The come up, and Myspace of course.

If you could be sponsored by any non-BMX related company, who would you choose and why?
Jack In The Box! Because I could live off that stuff and my friends would be stooked!

If you could change anything about the world what would you change and why?
People Hating People Cuz that sucks.
One rule for this team! Everybody Love Everybody… Sorry good movie

What kinds of advice do you have for kids just getting into BMX?
just have as much fun as you can and dont worry about anything.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
All my sponsors, My parents for always being there and helping me with everything, and all my friends.

Anything else you would like to say?
Keep on having fun!!

There are a lot of things that can go wrong when doing interviews over the internet. The person may forget they have it in their inbox, the message might not get sent right, or just other random things. In this case, the interview was attempted three times due to it not getting sent back right. However, third times the charm and this is one of those crazy Australian dudes who you know kills it. This is probably the funniest interview just because he admitts to being drunk while doing it and it shows.

Name:
Tom Stretton

Location:
Deception Bay, QLD, Australia

Sponsors:
Tempered Bikes and Harmonybmx.com.au

Years riding:
i dunno…3 4??

Your on the Tempered Bikes team, how are things going with that and is there any signature stuff coming around for you?
yeah its going really welll. im actually pretty drunk right now so i probably sound like a dick but i got in trouble cause this interwiew hadnt been done even though i did it 3 times nd it didnt work any of those times and each one was different but yeah…no signature stuff i dont think. i love you kurt im sorry haha

Is there any filming, road trips, or fun stuff that you have planned with the Tempered crew at all?
we went to gladdy ages ago but now im just chillin. hopefully more roadies soon ehhhhhh Matty!

You seem to kill it on parks, is that your favorite stuff to ride or are you into street and trails also?
Thank you Kurt hah…i used to ride dirt each weekend when i started but that kinda faded…i like riding anything man…park, street, dirt, dick…you know haha….nah park just easy cause theres sooo many here…and its more fun with a million friends on bikes.

You appear to be very dialed when it comes to tricks on your front end of the bike, what are some tricks you could never get sick of?
hangers definitly! and barspins….best feeling ever! and thanks again Kurt.

What are some tricks you get sick of trying to figure out?
TAYBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSS!!!! fucking style cats….teach me! i lived with the best cunt in the world and i still suck dick.

Who is your typical riding crew and where can you usually be found riding?
Morayfield australia….best dudes ever…drink beers and ride every arvo alllll arvo! Batcho, Kershaw, Danoz, Nato, Cheezy, Ando, Doylo, all the boys lol.

What is it with Australian kids riding like champs? It isn’t normal!
yeah this 12 year old the other week was doing double whips like 80 feet high..its ridiculous! hah but i figure its the same everywhere. you see US kids destroying shit constantkly and i just lost a 50 buy in poker game to 55 with trip queens fucking piece of shit!!

Where are some places you have had the chance to ride over the years?
Basically the best place is Sydney with John and Pigot and all the guys..couldnt wish for more fun…

Where are some places you would really like to ride someday?
ANYWHERE IN US! ANYWHERE IN EUROPE! lol basically anywhere there are sweet people keen to drink, party and shred no handed suicides!

Who are some pros you look up to for influence on your riding?
Definitly CLINT MILLAR. dudes pretty much a fucking God! Dave Dilleward, Nick Cooper, Tobias Wicke and maybe even a little Benn Pigott if hes lucky. Thai party homo…

I couldn’t tell if you were brakeless or not these days, how do you feel about that trend anyways?
im brakeless. have been since ages. i dont care… 2 sets 1 set no set….do a fucking WHEELIEEEEEEE BURN!

What do you think is the most challenging thing about BMX is as a whole?
Waking up on sundays and getting motivated. we’ll se how i go tomorrow.

How do you feel about contests? Do you have any plans to hit up any this year?
fun with heaps of mates but im not a dew tour rat…unless you pay me….thats not gunna happen but!

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
Crack….anything life threatening lol

Outside of riding what are you up to?
POKER…missed a 200 dollar bubble about 5 mins a go because i type shit and do internet interviews

I noticed you got some tattoos, do they have any meaning or is it just something that looks cool?
they all have meaning to me but clearly i look like a pretty tough cunt aswell hahahaha im weak and tiny

What is your criminal record like? Are you much of a trouble maker?
haha

If you could spend the day with anyone, alive, dead, fictional, who would you pick and why?
Dude…has to be dave mirra and Matt Hoffamn…im not a fucking homo!

What are some bands you are into and think people should check out?
if i had to say any…Art of War and the amity affliction. different as hell but both killer.

How about movies? Any your really into?
heck yeah….everything. just watched the pick of destiny for like the millionth time tonight..soooooo good!

Who or what are some of the biggest influences in your life?
Mum. best woman alive, hands down!

If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
Walk through walls and x ray vision..fuck i wonder why!?

Do you spend much time on the computer? What are some of your favorite websites?
hate the computer…this has seriously taken me about 2 months to do this interview…sorry. but check diversitybmx and harmonybmx.com.au. its worth it.

Do you work or go to school at all?
i work when im not sick and i seem to get sick a lot which works out great because i hate work! but yeah, life basically consists of me getting up and thinking wether i should play poker at the casino for a couple of bucks that night or go riding.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
go overseas definitly…guarantee it wont happen but haha. im too lazy to try and make money and i love riding too much to go to work

What is some of the best advice you have ever been given?
dont say sorry more than once!

What can you give out as advice for kids just getting into BMX?
dont quit…if your friends give you shit call just get a big friend to beat the shit out of them and then take their bike. they no longer can rip on you because while they are better on a bike than you…they dont have one to ride…fucking gay kids

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
thanks for the interview kurt..this time better work cause im fucked and going to bed hhahaha…and thanks Matty from Tempered Bikes…Dudes done so much for me and bmx in general in Australia…your a fucking ledgend and i want you first born

peace xx

When I did the On the Horizon interview with Andy Chapman about Tree, we talked about who to interview from the team. Eben was the first to come up and for obvious reasons. He has a real good view on things and it is obvious why he is on Tree. However, like most pros he still has to work and he has a pretty interesting job. So this is Eben’s interview. Leave him some love in the comments!

Name:
Eben Frank Fischer

Location:
The past year and half I’ve been living in beautiful Bellflower California but was born and raised in Quincy Illinois.

Sponsors:
Tree Bicycle Co., Bellflower Bicycle Shop

Years riding:
Having a clue what was going on and reading magazines like 12 years

What was it that first sparked your attention for BMX and what keeps you motivated today?
Avoiding our parents my older brother and sister took off the training wheels when I was three and I guess I got addicted. Once I rented the movie Rad there was know turning back. I think riding becomes so much of a part of your life, its fun, exercise, hanging out with friends, meeting people, traveling. So thinking about it like this I can always find something to motivate myself to ride.

How are things going with Stolen? Will there be any changes to the “E-Train” frame or other signature parts coming soon? How about trips and videos?
I actually just quit on good terms. It was hard quitting or seemed dumb when you have a signature part let alone a frame but after talking a couple times with Dave (part owner of Stolen) he understands my reasons and agreed it’s a good time to move on. I’m into there bikes/ parts and they have some really original products coming out. I just felt like I’m getting older and my goals I would like to achieve riding weren’t being reached so it was time to move on. I had great time and would like to thank Dave Wooten and Revel again for giving me the opportunity to be a part of Stolen last couple of years. I love road trips and have always wanted to film a part in a full length video but neither where something with my previous sponsors really focussed on.

What’s it like riding for Tree, what are some things you are looking forward to with them?
I’ve know Sam the owner of Tree since I was about 15 and grew up with his right hand man Andy Chapman. There’s nothing better than being able to support your friends who are doing something your into. Sam has always hooked me up with product and I even tagged along on the first Tree road trip in props without officially being on the team. I’m excited about being a part of Tree because they put time into making quality products with their own little touch while promoting the company in their own ways. They also have an awesome team of people with their own personality who all get along. I’m looking forward to getting the whole team together this year including Sam for some type of wild road trip and helping design some T-shirts.

Being one of the few dudes out there running two brakes, how do you feel about the whole brakeless trend these days?
I’m all about riding how ever your bike feels good to you and motivates you. I think brakeless makes some things more challenging and others feel smoother. I think kids who have started out riding brakeless just because the trend should at least try a brake or two. You look how much brakeless riding and free coasters have been pushed the last couple years and I think a lot of kids who never even tried a front brake could come up with some original moves really push riding in a different direction. I think a lot of people relate front brakes to old school stiffer none stylish riding but thats only because not many kids even try a front brake let alone long enough time to really have fun using it.

What are some of your favorite spots to ride from all the places you have had the chance to ride?
That brick tranny building in Baltimore Maryland and the pools at the Salton Sea are both really fun spots. I like to ride weird trannys and pools a lot.

Where do you want to go to ride sometime soon? Any trips you are looking forward to this year or next year?
I really want to go over seas anywhere with a different culture something new and exciting being their let alone the riding spots. I just got invited on a Blackout Distribution trip in November I don’t know much about it but it sounds exciting.

Who is included in the typical crew you ride with these day?
The majority of the nights after work I ride with the locals at the Houghton skate park and weekend street sessions with Morgan. Lately some friends from Quincy have been staying with us getting ready to move here.

Is there any dudes out there who are coming up that you think should be getting coverage?
I’m stoked on Bobbie Altiser and Morgan Long but It’s hard to say who deserves coverage with all the crazy dudes coming up.

When can we expect to see a new web video of you?
I was back in Quincy a couple weeks ago so Bobbie and I threw together a little Tree web edit of front brake tricks.

What is one trick that has been giving you the most trouble?
I still can’t figure out supermans.

If you could go on a road trip with 5 people, who would you bring, where would you go, and why?
A couple guys I grew up riding with Nathan Parker, Arthur Wagner and some new younger guys from the Quincy area Josh Schieferdecker, Bobbie Altiser, Codey Cambell and my roommate Morgan Long. That’s 6 but I like the last minute trips when everyones broke and it’s crowded with no real schedule. I’ve haven’t been out east for a while so maybe driving from Cali to Jersey just riding and camping.

Got any crazy stories about security/cops/homeless people/hookers/pedestrians attacking while out riding?
I heard all these crazy stories about the Houghton skate park in long beach. I ride there a lot at nights after work but nothing much happens. One night I’m riding the park my buddy morgan was grabbing his helmet from the car and gets jumped by two gang bangers. I look over he’s on the ground legs around his bike trying to block punches while the other guys trying get the bike. It was really sketchy and everyone in the park ran over to help. The guys just slowly walked out into the street to a van full of gang bangers then just keep walking. It felt like a situation where someone was going to get shot but they never got the bike.

What does BMX need more of and what does it need less of?
It’s seems pretty well rounded maybe a little less clones.

What do you think you would be up to if you never got into BMX?
Definitely would have followed though and went to an art collage. I can’t complain I got into airbrushing from friends though riding so maybe I’d be a starving artist trying to sell paintings instead of a full time job painting crazy automotive vehicles.

From my understanding you do some airbrush work on cars?
How long have you been doing that and what got you into that?I started airbrushing in 2003 with a friend who already was into custom painting.

Is there anywhere people can check out to see some of your work?
I’m working on a site but for know sometimes Tree will posts some pics in their news.

Did you go to school at all for it or was it just something you worked your way into?
I grew up painting with paint brushes and messed around with spray cans. My friend was always getting his grip tap airbrushed at this shop who was looking for help and told them I was an airbrush artist. I was 20 and never even touched an airbrush but got a job spraying T-shirts. I picked it up pretty fast leaving a few months later to work for a friend who just started an automotive paint shop. We started working out of little storage unit and my first real job we tricked a custom motorcycle shop into believing we do high end bikes. He’s a good body guy and painted cars but never done a motorcycle. We pulled off that job and I fell into a career.

What ever happened to the dreads? Any plans on those blonde things coming back?
My mom offered me 100 dollars to shave my head and I needed money to move. I don’t know it’s so much work starting dreads but who knows maybe someday.

What are some things that have impacted your life the most?
My family, friends, art, bikes, music.

Have you ever been in a fight and did you win? Or arrested ever and why?
No serious fights but I did get arrested for riding a cement park. We where at all nighter at the old ramp riders in St. Louis and ended up having an early morning session at this public park in Belleville. First time riding the park and lived like three hours away the cop says we arrest people from out of town two. This cop was impossible to reason with taking me straight to jail. I had to bail myself out and everything it was really lame. Then last year a cop went crazy at the Santa Ana banks screaming almost firing off his tazzer gun. That ended up being over a 300 dollars fine for just riding away when we saw a cop pull up.

If you could commit any crime and get away with it, what would you do and why?
I always thought it would be a wild experience to be in a bank robbery and come out unharmed so maybe robbing a bank and ending up with a lot of cash.

What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Try to keep building my self as a airbrush artist while still spending even more time riding and traveling more. Hopefully get the chance to do some video parts and have fun living life.

Any favorite websites?
The come up, bmxunion, vital, bmxonline, you tube

First song that comes to mind?
If I can find a clean shirt by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

First movie that comes to mind?
The last one I watched which is Untraceable.

If you could only eat one thing for a month, what would you choose and why?
Burritos because there cheap and filling.

Who or what have been the biggest influence on your life?
God, Family, friends, art, getting the chance to take art classes from Rose Pritchett growing up.

What is the best advice you have ever been able to give somebody?
Think for yourself don’t just follow other people though life.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
God, Mom, Dad, brother, sister, Coby, friends, Sam and Andy at Tree, Dave Wotten and kurt for the interview, any one I forgot thanks.

Anything else you would like to say?
Life is too short don’t waste it, go riding.

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

Name:
John Ludwick Jr.

Location:
Meredith, NH

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

Years Riding:
7 years this month

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: svenreed photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: svenreed photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: svenreed photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.