https://harobikes.com/collections/bmx

7 Clues That Brian Foster Should Have Known "BF-it" Was Going Down, But Didn’t

"For the month before it was released, a lot people were acting weird." - BF

30 Jun 2015

BRIAN FOSTER BMX 7RANDOM RD

Brian Foster: at home, June 2015 - Photo by Rob Dolecki

By Rob Dolecki

It’s been a couple of years since BF-IT premiered at Austin’s Texas Toast weekend in 2012 (and now you can watch it online HERE). One thing that the average person outside FIT’s inner circles may not know about the amazing Stew Johnson production is that until the moment it premiered, the documentary was supposed to be a secret from Mr. Foster. And it wasn’t an easy secret to keep. “For as big of a production as it was, and with as many people who knew about it, consciously I didn’t get any inclination about it until a week before,” Brian recalls. “Subconsciously, though, I knew a lot of weird things were happening.” Read on for some random accidental and unintentional hints given in the months leading up to the BF-IT premiere that were oh-so-close to tipping him off to what was in the works, straight from BF himself:

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing

1. Over the years, Glenn Milligan and I had talked about doing a documentary when we were on road trips, but we just didn’t know who would pay for it. Probably six months before "BF-it" came out, Glenn sent me a text, “Are you doing a documentary?” I replied, “No?” In the meantime, someone kind of knew he was asking about it, and sent a text to Glenn saying that I didn’t know about it and to shut up. He replied back to me in about ten minutes, and said, “Oh, never mind.” Since we had talked about it in the past, it wasn’t out of left field, and it didn’t click.

2. I have a box with all my old photos, and when I first started Instagram I went to that box, and just started peeling photos off the top. They were the photos that were used in the documentary, which were just put back on top. To me, they were just the photos on top. I started posting pictures, and everyone at FIT thought I knew about it, since they were the ones in the documentary.

3. When my DIG Legends Issue interview came out, there was a photo of my first trophy and the Nike Pool Best Trick trophy together, and a few from when I was a little kid. (ed. note: the documentary was originally supposed to come out before the Legends Issue was released, but was held up for a few months until after the issue came out.) I was confused on where they came from. It was one of those things where I thought, maybe I gave them to someone or something. Luckily, if I paid attention more I might have known.

BRIAN FOSTER BMX TROPHIES RD

The photo in question- Brian's first BMX trophy from 1981, and the Nike Pool Best Trick trophy in 2011. Three decades of BF-awesomeness.

4. For the month before it was released, a lot people were acting weird. My wife and I were in Long Island with Jen’s family, and Timmy (Strelecki, Brian's brother-in-law) was also in Long Island visiting, and just shaded off one day for a few hours while everyone was waiting for him so we could eat dinner. I thought that was kind of rude he just shaded off without saying anything. Everyone was being real cool about it. Everyone but me knew why. He actually was doing an interview with Keith Terra for the video (it ended up not getting used in the documentary). There were a lot of interactions with people that made me think, “That was odd.” It all made sense once the video came out.

5. I’ve been with my wife Jen for 25 years, and I’m pretty in tune with her. I just knew something was up and I didn’t know what it was. It was literally like, maybe she’s sleeping with someone? She finally told me something was going on but she didn’t want to ruin it for me.

6. Going to Austin for Texas Toast (the weekend of the premiere), I knew something was going on. But I didn’t go out of my way to get more information. I honestly didn’t know if it was a five-minute web video, and we were watching it in a bar; I had no idea. I showed up at the airport, and the whole two or three days before the event, at least five or six times someone would come up to me and say, “I heard about this, and I can’t wait to see it.” I’d be like, “Uh, I’m not supposed to know about it.” And they would freak out, and thought they ruined the surprise. I’d then say, “It’s fine, I kind of know what’s going on, but I don’t really know, and I’m not trying to find out.”

7. The entire FIT team is staying at Stew’ house. Stew was holed up in his bedroom finishing up the documentary. They got me a hotel. I’m kind of like, “The whole team is staying at Stew’s house; why don’t I just stay at Stew’s too? Why are we getting a hotel room just for me? I can sleep on the couch; I don’t need my own room.” It was kind of a headache; there was a rental car now, and I’d have to meet people for dinner. But the whole time was like, “You can’t be at Stew’s house.” I actually stopped by one day, and everyone kind of met me in the front yard, because they didn’t want me to go in the house.

BRIAN FOSTER 7RANDOM BMX

The more things change... young BF with some big bars on his whip. Photo courtesy of Brian Foster's box of old photos.

A few other random facts-

- A lot of the old pictures shown in the documentary I had never seen before, like the ones at Cyclecraft, painting the bikes. I was like, “Where the hell did you get this stuff?”

- Same with some of the Super-8 footage when I was a kid. I knew it existed, and probably last saw it on a projector when I was ten. There is one of my grandmother on an XR-70; it was hilarious. What was she doing riding around on a motorcycle? I now have all that on disc.

- When there is a documentary on yourself being produced and know about it, do you want to have a hand in the direction of it? I’m kind of glad that I didn’t. There are so many different ways you can do it. I’m super psyched on how it turned out. We could tell stories all day, and it could be five hours long. It would have been a headache in deciding what to include and what not to include.

Related Video

BF-IT: The Story of Brian Foster

Online Premiere Of The Full Documentary - More Info

Previous

Soundtrack - Sean Burns Mixtape

Down and Dirty Death to Disco

Next

Brian Foster - Setups

Two years old and still kickin'...

Related Content

BRIAN FOSTER BMX SETUPS RD 8

Brian Foster - Setups

Two years old and still kickin'...

2 Jul 2015
DIG legends screen grab
Play Button

DIG LEGENDS TRAILER 2012

Joe Rich, Ruben Alcantara, Van Homan, Brian Foster

1 Oct 2014
Mk Qobox Drbshqdefault
Play Button

Five Trick Fix- Brian Foster In 'Holy Fit'

Classic style, classic spots...

26 Dec 2014
Jay LONERGAN BMX BERMRAOST POSH RD

Re Print: Jay Lonegran - Over 30 and Still In The Woods

A dedicated soul who has found something more to BMX than just doing tricks on a bike...

5 Mar 2015
CHRIS STAUFFER BMX PA RD 1

Re Print: Stauffer's got nothing to offer?

Looking back and catching up with a true trail riding pioneer

4 Jun 2015
Gilly Posh

Shovel Work

"Grab a shovel, stick it in the dirt, build your own fun" - Magilla

1 Sep 2014
Keith Terra - 20 Years of Posh Photo Gallery
Keith Terra - 20 Years of Posh Photo Gallery
Keith Terra - 20 Years of Posh Photo Gallery
Keith Terra - 20 Years of Posh Photo Gallery

Keith Terra - 20 Years of Posh Photo Gallery

" I feel honored that I’ve been welcomed into this scene with open arms..."

12 Jun 2015
bf dig-screen5
Play Button

BF-IT: The Story of Brian Foster

Online Premiere Of The Full Documentary

29 Jun 2015
Nutter Trails BMX shark bite PA 08 RD

Re Print: When Nutter Got Bit By A Shark

“It was just one of those things"

26 Feb 2015
Catty / Posh Labor Day Weekend Trail Jam Photo Gallery
Catty / Posh Labor Day Weekend Trail Jam Photo Gallery
Catty / Posh Labor Day Weekend Trail Jam Photo Gallery
Catty / Posh Labor Day Weekend Trail Jam Photo Gallery

Catty / Posh Labor Day Weekend Trail Jam Photo Gallery

Talk about a trail rider’s dream...

20 Sep 2014
Matty-Aquizap-winter-2010

"Feel My Chest Muscles I’m a Trail Builder"

A closer look at the Credence DVD

25 Mar 2015
jason enns bmx WM

Re Print: My Favourite Photo

Featuring Joe 'Butcher' Kowalski, Ian Morris, Brian Castillo, Jason Enns and Keith Terra

1 Jan 2015
https://www.profileracing.com/

Latest Content

G Jx32u Ry7 X4hqdefault
Play Button

SEAN GARDNER - RAW CUT

EARNING EVERY CLIP

25 Oct 2025
3g Djhajae P Ihqdefault
Play Button

Alex Capalongo - Work Bmx

DIG locals sequel

25 Oct 2025
Yb7 D01j Kpi Mhqdefault
Play Button

ALEX DULEBA - JUST ENOUGH DVD

Grinds on point

24 Oct 2025
FAOGVXA6pt Ihqdefault
Play Button

WAR PARTY - WEBEFILMING - 013

Filming with the Colony crew

24 Oct 2025
1 Gt m WBXB8 Ihqdefault
Play Button

Launch Box - Fall 2025 - A Profile Mixer

Autumn randomness

24 Oct 2025
R Mc Jj IXKU4ghqdefault
Play Button

GY95 Anniversary Trails Jam 2025

30 years deep

24 Oct 2025
N4cl Iezh9jchqdefault
Play Button

MIKI FLECK - PROJECT Xtras

"Oh I nearly landed on my dick!"

23 Oct 2025
Zgnvr Nj e R4hqdefault
Play Button

Powers BMX 21st Anniversary Jam Recap

Richmond jammin'

23 Oct 2025
Jc01 F2 H Ak I4hqdefault
Play Button

PATERICO - STILL HAVING FUN

TECH MASTER

22 Oct 2025
Eduardo thumb 2
Play Button

EDUARDO RODRIGUEZ - STREET CODES

Coming out swinging

22 Oct 2025
C7 Yjf61q KM Ehqdefault
Play Button

DAISEN JAM 2025 at BIG MOUNTAIN ROOMS

Two days in the school turned BMX park

22 Oct 2025
Cybbuo Pd ZS Uhqdefault
Play Button

Albe's $59 Game of Bike

Abuse & Neglect

21 Oct 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

IMG 2986

Inside KHE Bikes - 44 years of BMX history with Thomas Göring

“I didn’t have a proper cutting machine at the time, so I hand-cut each peg. They all ended up different lengths.”

24 Oct 2025
Dig motobunka collection square Recovered

THE DIG X MOTO-BUNKA COLLECTION

An all new collaboration with Japan's finest

22 Oct 2025
VANS ODYSSEY 2025 COLLECTION FF RAMP 003

"The inspiration was right in front of our eyes" The story behind the Vans X Odyssey 40 Year Collab

An interview with Nuno Oliveira (Odyssey) and Justin Villano (Vans)

25 Sep 2025
07 2025 Huffy Sledgehammer Launch Project 132

Product Drop: HUFFY Sledgehammer frame

Huffy returns to BMX...

22 Sep 2025
Team kevin peraza boh winner 2025

BATTLE OF HASTING 2025 - TEAM PERAZA TAKES THE WIN

Results, Livestream re-runs, DIG Highlights & more

27 Aug 2025
Dig book cover mock better CROP

DIG - THIS BIKE COULD BE YOUR LIFE - "DOCUMENTING OVER 30 YEARS of D.I.Y. BMX CULTURE" PRE-ORDER NOW OPEN

An all new photo book from DIG focusing on our magazine history and the rise of the mid-school

1 Aug 2025
Thumbnail 2

Product Drop - ODYSSEY '85 Splatter kit

Nord, Walsh stems and Hazard lite rims

29 Jul 2025
Shirt swell k0150m back

Product Drop - KINK 2025 APPAREL

For Fall/Winter

23 Jul 2025
Big boyd black

Product Drop - ODYSSEY BIG BOYD RIMS

Boyd Hilder signature BIG BOYD rims in Black and Coffee.

11 Jun 2025
LOW Street station Saturday Jarvis 1 copy

MONSTER ENERGY 'CASH UP' 2025 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Another Year - New Locations - Even More Jams!

26 May 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

26 May 2025
Vans 11 27 21 014 Bruno Gap wall

BRUNO HOFFMANN INTERVIEW - 'FOREIGN'

"I think the scene is doing good..."

21 Apr 2025