https://www.profileracing.com/

30 Years Of Hoffman Bikes - Part 2: Rick Thorne

“Hey yo Thorne, you wanna ride for my new bike company I’m starting called Hoffman Bikes?”

15 Nov 2021

Rick Mat
hb

Words by Brian Tunney - An exclusive extract from the 30 YEARS OF HOFFMAN BIKES zine.

In the summer of 1991, when Mat Hoffman’s Sprocket Jockey shows were on the road and making things happen, Mat popped out on the deck of the portable halfpipe and asked Kansas City Rogue/overall rider Rick Thorne a question: “Hey yo Thorne, you wanna ride for my new bike company I’m starting called Hoffman Bikes?” Thorne was in disbelief. “I was like, uh, me?” he remembers. “It was a moment I’ll never forget. And I was so excited I think I did my ever best show run on the vert ramp ever!”

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing
Thorne Fifth Grade

Rick Thorne - 5th Grade

Thus began a decade long relationship between Rick Thorne and Hoffman Bikes. Of course, Rick’s story didn’t start with HB. He was part of the scene that sprung up in the Kansas City area in the 1980s, and rode with the likes of Dennis McCoy. And like DMC, he rode everything: flatland, ramps and street (before it was considered a discipline.) He rode AFA comps, he rode 2-Hip King of Verts, and enjoyed hook ups from brands such as Mongoose, Haro and GT. Rick was different though. He found punk rock music at an early age, and utilized his energy and aggression to not only expand his riding, but also expand into announcing Sprocket Jockey shows, followed by Bicycle Stunt comps. He could get a crowd on their feet both from his riding and from his announcing, and that’s not something too many people organically possess.

Rick Thorne was also nonstop. Maybe it’s something in the Kansas City water, but both Rick and DMC never seemed to slow down. They were always riding, always learning and always laughing. And they both put those talents to use securing the overall titles at AFA and then B.S. comps. It was truly a sight to behold to see Rick and DMC throw down in pro flatland and then ride vert at a pro level. And again, it’s not something too many people can do anymore. So when Mat Hoffman got his first five prototype Condor frames built by Linn Kastan, Rick Thorne was on the receiving end with instructions to try to break the bike. He didn’t succeed, and went on to ten successful years of sponsorship with Hoffman Bikes. But BMX was never going to be good enough for Rick, and he took his years of MC duty to new levels for TV and film, as well as continuing a demo cycle for Vans Warped Tour.

1995 Rick Thorne HB ad.

2000 Rick Thorne HB ad.

Thorne Flatland

The flatland years...

The sky remains the limit for Rick Thorne, and the word “no” does not exist in his vocabulary. From stand up comedy to music to film, Rick took his multi-faceted approach to riding and applied it to life in general. He doesn’t fit in one box, and it’s hard to describe or categorize what he does. Is he a BMXer with a music career? Is he a cooking aficionado? Or is he the Sirius Radio voiceover guy? He’s all of that and more, plus an awesome dad. And no matter what you say or do, Rick Thorne’s “do it all” approach is going to continue well into his old age and beyond.

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Rick tries to be the first legitimate senior citizen to throw a 540 on a vert ramp. But luckily, Rick’s first issue of AARP Magazine doesn’t arrive for a few years still. - Brian Tunney

Thorne Scrap

Rick Thorne - Scrap Skatepark BS comp, 1992.

Next

PRODUCT DROP: VANS x CULT "NEVER FADE" Collection

The sixth collection from Vans and Cult

Related Content

Legneds League Ziz9381

Snapshots: The Legends League Texas

Presented by Scotty Cranmer & Referee'd by Mat Hoffman

5 May 2021
soundtrack graphic hoffman 2

Soundtrack - Mat Hoffman Mixtape Pt 2

More Classics From The Condor

17 May 2015
Boh 2019 Mat Img 8752

When Mat Hoffman Met The Battle Of Hastings

Legend Status X 2

1 Jul 2020
Stew Johnson bmx aggro man AW

Re-Print: The Eddie Roman Influence

Stew Johnson reflects on 3 of his all time favorite videos, and the man behind them...

30 Oct 2014
colin-winkelmann-BMX-chicago-93-CH

Re Print: Mat Hoffman's BS Memories

"I REMEMBER THAT I LOST MY MEMORY AND DIDN'T KNOW I WAS RUNNING THE CONTEST..."

20 Nov 2014
Mat Hoffman DIG 2 AW

Mat Hoffman - The Dangers Of Flying On A Budget

​"Ramps are not dangerous unto themselves. Confidence. Now that can be dangerous" - Mat Hoffman

9 Jan 2015
soundtrack hoffman use

Soundtrack - Mat Hoffman Mixtape

15 of the Condors all time faves

5 Apr 2015
Hoffman King Of Vert Finals January 27 1990

Why We Need To keep The UCI out of BMX, for now...

An Open Letter From Mat Hoffman

7 Mar 2018
soundtrack graphic hoffman pt3

Soundtrack - Mat Hoffman Mixtape Part 3

​The final instalment of a three part mix of some of the Condor's favourite tracks.

21 Jun 2015
https://shop.sundaybikes.com/collections/sunday-frames?utm_medium=banner&utm_source=dig

Latest Content

Bruno foreign thumbnail
Play Button

'FOREIGN' - BRUNO HOFFMANN | VANS EUROPE

Fresh Hoffy from LA, Copenhagen, and Barcelona

21 Apr 2025
9d T Sy Z Qqn7 Ahqdefault
Play Button

'SOME OF WEEN' - WEEN CREW

A Week in Melbourne

20 Apr 2025
RFT9 G34 LP9whqdefault
Play Button

DATE NITE - "THIS WONT LAST" - FULL DVD

Dayton, Ohio

20 Apr 2025
Q6j r35drxchqdefault
Play Button

SEOUL BAP

With Mir Ng and locals

18 Apr 2025
4 Ot YI9v Tf Zkhqdefault
Play Button

BILLY PERRY - "BMX HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD-WIRED INTO ME"

BMX Direct interviews Billy Perry

18 Apr 2025
Qr LDL Lr3zighqdefault
Play Button

'CHECKLIST' | THE CUT BMX

BANGERS!

17 Apr 2025
6 Ai GO7 Gs MU Qhqdefault
Play Button
Q6j r35drxchqdefault
Play Button

SEOUL BAP by Mir Ng

A BMX Travel Video

17 Apr 2025
X6i7kxw65i Yhqdefault
Play Button

RED BULL 'FEATURED' | MENS HIGHLIGHTS

Big air in Manchester

16 Apr 2025
Hk IZN Oy KRP Ahqdefault
Play Button

WAR PARTY - WEBEFILMING - 008

The latest from down under

15 Apr 2025
Kqxd06e Cr6chqdefault
Play Button

FRACTURE - 'FERIAS'

On the loose in Lisbon, Portugal

15 Apr 2025
0 C Hsc8 Uww D Ihqdefault
Play Button

RED BULL FEATURED STREET JAM

Presented by BNG BNG MCR in association with DIG

14 Apr 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Vans 11 27 21 014 Bruno Gap wall
RIXIN BIG APPLE ANGLE RAW ON WHITE 2500

PRODUCTIVITY - RIXIN Big Apple Frame

Billy Perry's signature frame - Built around what he needed.

8 Apr 2025
Rad teaser

Rad Day 2025

Anniversary movie screenings and RAD documentary release.

18 Mar 2025
Expert Top 3 Roll On crop

REPO: Keeping it local at the UK 'ROLL ON' Flatland Jam

"My desire was to give something back" – Mike O'Connell

5 Mar 2025
Snow Fight – Naoki Gaman2

20 Tips For Surviving Simple Session 2025

Check yourself before you wreck yourself!

20 Feb 2025
SS finals samples 4

SIMPLE SESSION 25 WRAP UP

Highlight videos, results and more

19 Feb 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

18 Feb 2025
Stack

DIG BOOK #2024

AVAILABLE VIA THESE BIKE SHOPS AND DISTROS

30 Dec 2024
New dig apparel main image

NEW DIG BMX APPAREL

Available now

27 Dec 2024
30 YRS POSH BOOK MNTN V V 004

(Almost) 30 YEARS OF POSH WOODS

Now available

24 Dec 2024
BSD Grime Safari Reed Stark Austin 6

Reed Stark - A Photo Safari

Safari Forever...

6 Dec 2024
Et FW24 Dig Magazine Collab Shoot 031

Introducing the DIG X ETNIES Collection

Celebrating a 25 year partnership

7 Nov 2024