For this week’s TTL I wanted to take some time out to catch up with someone who knows what it means to put in work. Miles is the type of person to always have a ton of projects going on at one time. He not only is a professional rider but he is also a very well respected filmer in the BMX industry. He offers a unique perspective on riding, does his own goddamn thing and lives a lifestyle most people only talk about doing. Miles takes each day as it comes, and has that unique passion that it takes to succeed as a creative person. All of that together will be what helps bring Miles to the point he wants to be at in life one way or another. I’ve known him since 2007 and since that time I’ve seen him risk it all to move out west and pursue his dreams, I’ve seen him progress as a rider, and I’ve seen him put out some quality, original edits that make him stand out among the sea of filmers these days within the industry. It’s nice to know that there are other people out there working towards a goal and just simply trying to leave their mark. Check out what Miles had to say about the current state of the industry, what BMX needs and more right here.
Fill ‘em in on the basics…
Name: Miles Devin Rogoish
Age: 23
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Current Residence: San Diego, California
Years Riding: 15 awesome years
Well, first of all, what’s good Miles?
Life! Ha-ha, I love this shit. Recently I have opened myself to many more of the possibilities in life and have filtered some of the confusion of making everyday a “successful” one.
We have known each other for years now and since 2007 we have been linking up, kicking it and shooting photos. In that time you have ridden for a few different companies along the way so for anyone who doesn’t know, who exactly do your ride for at the moment?
I ride for Osiris Shoes, The Trip and most importantly…myself.
There is always some kind of drama going on within the industry whether people talk about it openly or not. What is your take on that, and what does BMX need to move it forward?
I think BMX is moving forward whether we notice it daily or not. It’s a problem in our industry to try and survive, which creates drama between the ones we work side by side with. The idea of what a professional BMX career could be is a lot different knowing it from the inside of the industry rather than the dream side you see as a kid. I do believe that there are plenty of positions that could be filled with more passionate and talented human beings. All for the love and growth of our sport we should keep it within the hands that cried and bled BMX.
If you had to describe your current style or way that you ride, what would you say?
Happy, aggressive, and collected might work. I have been staying on my health grind by exercising daily, and I have been steady stacking clips with the boys for the last year. I’m psyched to drop some new projects of me riding soon; between HD/SD I have been really enjoying collecting footage of myself again.
You have had some injuries over the years, what has been the worst and how do you deal with coming back and shaking it off?
Fuck man, they ALL suck. Both of my ACL’s, my left shoulder, right collarbone, and my hernia have all been the most painful thus far.
You are kind of a travelin’ man at the moment, where do you call home right now and who are you living with?
As of last week, I put all my art and personal belongings in a storage unit in South Park, San Diego. I’m renting a room from a friend of mine named Erica while she travels Europe, setting myself up to live alone for the first time in a while by July this year. Excited to get my own niche and be able to leave it as long as I want.
You always seem to have some kind of crazy situation going on, or a crazy story to tell and that is what I think makes you who you are. How do you approach life and how do you approach riding?
I try to approach everything with an open mind, some of the greatest moments can occur from mistakes or unknown truths. It is possible to make every situation in your life enjoyable or constructive to move forward. You never know when powering through your own daily struggle will inspire a person you didn’t see next to you at any given moment. There is always time to learn, pick yourself up, and keep on trucking.
Give your honest opinion of the current state of BMX.
Cluttered… I am trying to take a step back from flooding all of the blogs with day edits myself. Focusing my talents of riding and filming harder then I ever have before, trying to make everything I produce in the future worth more than watching one time.
One of my favorite questions is this; what does BMX need less of?
BMX needs to outsource less. There are so many talented riders and filmers who are not in a position to make the possible change that they could. BMX needs to focus on BMX and work within itself to grow, bring in the new blood for branding and marketing ideas.
What does BMX need more of?
BMX needs more original content. I’m down for the web to be a great place to advertise BMX, but we need to focus more on the people and how they live this lifestyle. It shouldn’t be just about putting out a banging three-minute web edit month after month. There are plenty of ideas and ways to show more of who makes BMX what it really is, just not many people are taking the time to try. You should be seeing more original content from me as a filmer, and a lot less quick shot edits.
You are known within the industry as a filmer who puts in the work and always seems to be filming for something and working on multiple projects at once; how do you keep track of all of your projects?
I keep everything on my desktop until I finish it. I have everything backed up as well, but opening my computer and seeing the individual folders from projects I am working on helps me focus on what I need to go out and get. I’m also a huge believer in a pen and pad, I write down To-Do list and re-write them all of the time to add or subtract any given task that needs to be or has been completed.
Between meeting up with different riders to stack clips, trying to keep your edits fresh and unique according to each individual piece and everything else that goes along with being a filmer, what’s the hardest part of it all?
Not getting stale. I’ve recently been extremely inspired as a rider and a filmer. I looked back on a lot of my work and noticed what I liked, didn’t like, and certain ways of editing that I got stuck in. I want to try and ensure that everything I work on in the future be more thought out rather than “yeah, let’s hit the skatepark.”
What is the best part about being a filmer in BMX in the year 2013?
Just being a filmer of life on earth is pretty rad. I don’t think it will change how it feels to create passion and inspire others, no matter what your medium or the year.
What advice do you have for kids out there looking to someday get to the level you are at as a filmer?
Shoot Everything! I found my style and niche in filming BMX, but as I challenge myself to shoot other mediums it inspires me to make my BMX filming better or to try something I haven’t tried yet.
We all know BMX won’t make you rich but if you put in the work and dedicate yourself to it, eventually it will pay off. Do you think the return on the investment is worth it?
Of course! BMX was my first true passion and videography followed directly behind. The love for both and the strength to “make it” will always be evolving. If I am involved with BMX for life or it leads me into another industry where its easier to survive, I will always thank BMX for the direction and will never stop riding for fun. I believe the return of happiness when you invest yourself in life will always be worth it ++.
If you had a huge-ass budget, ten days to spare and the crew of your choice, where would you go and who would you take?
Anyone in The Trip crew that was ready to hit the road. I can’t wait to be able to work on our next full-length project again. I’d be good with all of the homies, anywhere in the world, as long as we had a couple of cams and some good mindsets.
Speaking of trips, what’s good with The Trip?
I’m really psyched to see what The Trip has in store for the future. The Trip has a new site [www.thetripped.com] and is involving everyone that wants to put in the effort with designs and ideas for the brand. We also just dropped a Seamus McKeon edit/sale last weekend and are planning to drop a video each month on the site. A new Summer line and some collabs with established brands in BMX is all in the works now. Definitely expect to see a lot more from everyone in The Trip crew!
You mentioned working on some monthly edits for them, what are the details on that?
The Trip doesn’t pressure anyone that supports it. It’s more along the lines of if you want to show your extra support. We have a gnarly Alex Vazquez edit that’s wrapped up and at least two more along the way I’ll keep under wraps. When you see an edit for The Trip it’s because the rider is passionate about the brand and we all are here to support the same cause.
What does The Trip mean to you and what kind of a state of mind does it represent?
The Trip to me is my life on Earth. Everyone has there own “trip” during your stay on this planet. You can use it to explore yourself and the world or you can get caught up in a bad trip and not exceed your known possibilities. I’m in no hurry for this to end, but when it does I’ll be psyched at my ending place.
What other things do you have in the works for the rest of 2013 and beyond?
After five great years at Osiris, I have just started interning for them to do video work alongside riding for them. I also have some better outlets for my video work since I am trying to showcase a whole other side of my friends riding and the mind I use to make a piece last in today’s quick feeds.
Well that about wraps it up. Go ahead and give some shout-outs and thanks.
You don’t have to ride BMX to live your life the way you want, it’s up to you what you “trip out” on and whether or not you can access yourself to move forward. Shouts to everyone at The Trip and anyone who supports what we believe in, you know who you are ++. My family for supporting me mentally, I couldn’t have been so strong without my Pops strict guidelines, my Mom’s hippie heart and my brother Mason for catching me slipping before it was too late as a youngster. RIP to all the homes that have passed, Harry, Fern, and Rush Forever! Thanks to Osiris for the years of trust and support with me. Thanks to Sean Burns and Brian Kachinsky for always inspiring me to go harder every day! Thanks to everyone in this industry that I have worked alongside with, been inspired by, or helped me along the way.
Last words?
Enjoy your Trip.
Keep up with Miles:
Twitter- @MRogoish
Instagram- @mrogoish
It’s not everyday that you meet someone like Miles. He has that unique spirit that only comes with every once in a while and I’m honored to call him a friend. On that note, be sure to check back next Wednesday for the sixty-seventh edition of Through the Lens and as always feel free to leave any questions in the comments section or email me directly at info@jeremypavia.com and I will hit you back as soon as I can. Feel free to follow me on Twitter and Instagram as well @jeremypavia.
