Quicky: Josh Perry

Photo: Tyler Northrup

Josh Perry is one of those riders who is always on it and always a treat to watch ride whether it’s a new edit, a contest run or even a demo. Not only that, he’s been pretty consistent with filming and editing edits lately too. We figured since we haven’t talked to him since his interview that we dropped back in 2008, that it would be a good time to catch up with him to find out what’s new in his life. As expected, it sounds like he’s got a ton of good things going for himself. Check out what he had to say!

Name: Josh Perry

Location: Greenville,NC

Sponsors: Eastern Bikes, Bern Helmets, Vans Shoes, Armourdillo Belts, and Novik Gloves

Years riding: about 10

How are things going with Eastern these days? Does Leigh and the crew have anything lined up for the summer you are getting stoked for?
Things are going great with Eastern. We have my signature fat seat coming out this summer which I am psyched on for sure. Other then that just a few trips planned and some fun.

Do you have any other fresh sponsor news you can tell us about?
Novik Gloves is a pretty new sponsor and psyched to get some sweet gloves when I need.

Photo: Keith Terra

So now that summer is kicking off, I’d imagine your schedule is about to get real busy. What are your plans for the summer? Will you be hitting any contests?
My schedule seems to stay pretty consistent all year round with traveling for demos with Creative Sports but for sure a bit more hectic in the summer. My plans for now until the end of July is to ride as much as possible and film for The Hunt video with Dan Foley and Leigh Ramsdell. Other then that just enjoying the summer and traveling to ride sweet places. As for contests, I am not sure. I would like to hit some sweet ones but seem like there are fewer now and even Dew Tour is down to one stop or something.

What is your travel schedule looking like? I know you had the chance to go to the middle east last year… Anything like that coming up again?
There was talk about doing demos for some dudes in South Africa but think that fell through which kinda bummed me out. I was looking forward to visiting that place. It’s one of the countries I haven’t visited that I would really love to see. Other then that, just some trips with EB, some more to visit some friends and ride, and the normal show schedule with Creative Sports. As for the Middle East I am hoping they have us back again at the end of the year for sure!

You are always pretty consistent with videos. Have you been filming any video parts or edits that we will be seeing soon?
I have a web video of just some random stuff around here in NC coming out this Friday for Eastern. Like I mentioned earlier I have started to film for The Hunt with Foley and Leigh.

I know you have been doing some filming and editing yourself lately. How long have you been doing that for? What kind of a setup are you working with these days? When can we expect another one of your edits to drop?
I have been doing that for like 8 years, pretty much the beginning of actually falling in love with BMX. It was always a fun project for my friends and I to do while growing up riding and being able to have saved to watch later, show our family, and push us to do more or get a little more creative. It has always been real fun and motivating to me to be able to have a project to work on and you get real psyched when its done. Like I said I have always filmed for the fun of it and used to have a Cannon GL2 for a bit but sold it to a buddy who really wanted a camera. I now have been using a GoPro as well as my Iphone 4 with these cool attachments for it with different lenses and stuff. I don’t get to seriously about the camera or editing software and usually looks pretty decent so it’s fine for me. When I film with Terrel Gordy or Leigh, they have way better Cameras for sure, haha. For editing I was using Final Cut Pro but it got messed up somehow so the last few months I used Imovie on my Mac ha. The one coming out on Friday for Eastern, I did.

Where have you been getting most of your riding time in these days? Any new spots in Greenville you have been real stoked on?
I usually ride my backyard set up which you can see if you watch Eastern`s “Friday Flick” from last week. Or I ride The Unit or Mirra`s place. Mirra`s place just got about half of it re done by Saxton and Brad Jameson and is so fun!! Been riding there more lately then anywhere because how fresh it is and we have random sub`s we can set up and Bob The Barrier has been moved around. I also have been trying to make it out towards Raleigh a few times a month to ride some trails, street, and cement.

What have you been up to when you aren’t riding these days? Any new hobbies you have been getting into?
When I am not riding I am usually chilling with my roommates and whatever we get into and usually ride on and off all day weather its my ledges, rail, and quarters, or some other spot. It’s sick having the backyard setup and being able to session whenever we want or just mess around and be active. I don’t like to sit around to much. I do play Call of Duty a bit but get anxious to go do something after about an hour or sometimes less. I try to take a bike ride or walk the neighbor hood with my dogs and let them run around. I’m still fresh to this house so I’ve spent a lot of time unpacking and organizing, cleaning up the yard, building ramps and ledges for a bit, and balancing that with shows and other trips. Usually after we ride a bunch of our friends and my chick chill and go get some beers with dinner or all just chill at the house or go play pool. Sunday and Monday nights at this one place have free pool after 8pm so we usually make a point to hit that up.

What’s something about yourself that might surprise people?
I wake up around 8-10 everyday and clean the house or yard and enjoy my mornings and keeping busy, haha. It stresses some people out but I can’t just sleep in all day and do nothing and then just ride. Makes me feel worthless and I can’t sit still anyways, ha.

With 2012 well under way, do you have any goals you have set for yourself at all?
My main priority right now is to film for The Hunt, have fun, take sweet camping trips as usual each year, and just have fun and enjoy life to the fullest. A lot of people don’t stop and chill and appreciate what they have and my biggest goal the past 2 years is to just enjoy my life weather it be riding, going on a camping trip, or anything with my family or friends.

When we asked you in 2008 where you saw yourself in a few years, you said “Find a job and have a car”… How did you do with that? Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
Well, I got a car and guess I found a job? Haha, I am pretty fortunate to say I support myself from doing what I love the most and that’s riding BMX. It is so crazy to be able to say that and it’s awesome!

What’s the last song you heard, movie you watched?
Mac Miller- Donalud Trump and last movie I watched was Wanderlust with Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston. That movie was so funny!

Do you have any shout outs or thanks? I want to thank my Mom, Dad and girlfriend Charlotte for always supporting me. My friends and family. Leigh Ramsdell and Eastern Bikes, Jerry, Chester and Vans, Bern Helmets, Novik Gloves, Armourdillo Belts, Nyquist for letting us ride the Unit, Mirra and Daniel Dheres for letting us ride the warehouse, Tony Long, Dick Maul`s Bike Shop and you for asking me to do this interview!

Anything else you want to say?
Just thanks for the interview, everyone to enjoy BMX and life to the fullest and have fun with it.