"I went to a BMX School..." Meet Dean Larsen

The Next Generation

8 Apr 2022

Images courtesy of CENTRANO

Greenland born ramp riding prodigy, Dean Larsen has had a dream year and all at the young age of 18 years old. With his recent addition to the Red Bull team, adding to his sponsors, Centrano, SkatePro, FUSE and Tall Order, the future is looking very bright for this guy. He's part of a growing number of younger Park riders worldwide who see BMX as a potential career path and he even went to a 'BMX School' in his adopted home country of Denmark. It’s far removed from our own take on BMX here at DIG but we can’t deny it’s happening. Read on to find out more...

Greenland, circa 2010.

Where are you from and where do you ride?

I am born in Sisimiut, Greenland and I now live in Herning, Denmark. My local skateparks is Terminalen in Herning or Urban street Zone in Brande.

How old were you when you first started riding?

I started to ride freestyle BMX properly in 2015 at the age of 12 years. I just turned 18, so I have been riding BMX for a bit more than 6 years.

What first got you interested in BMX?

I saw some older kids riding in my local skatepark in my hometown and I got inspired by them. In Greenland is it not possible to travel from city to city, only by boat or helicopter. I was very lucky that my hometown Sisimiut had both a bowl and a small area with wooden ramps and grind boxes. (See below)

Later on my cousin also started to ride BMX and we could ride together. He went to the BMX boarding school Tjele and told me and a lot of good things about it. I ended up going there for 3 years.

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A BMX School sounds amazing. You're at a new school now, what do your friends there think of what you do? Do any of them ride BMX?

Yeah, I'm going to another school now and nobody beside me rides BMX. All my new friends ask me that I must be crazy since I can do what I do on my bike. But I am looking very much forward to the next school year because my good friend Emil Grønning will start at my new school then. It really motivates me to have some friends to ride with.

Do your parents like what you do? Are they supportive?

My mom has only seen me ride a handful number of times. No mom enjoys seeing their kids doing extreme action sports I guess :). And yes, they are very supportive of my BMX career.

Greenland - 11 years old.

What do you think the average person your age does with their time?

Going to the gym, work, playing computer or drinking beers

What do you like doing when you aren’t riding?

I try to relax and hang out with my friend when I do not ride. But I also try going to the gym a few times every week to stay in good shape.

Which riders inspire you?

Riders like Logan Martin and Kieran Reilly inspire me a lot.

What’s the best video part that you've watched?

I have seen the Brock Horneman - 2015 Vocal BMX edit a lot of items. The edit came out at the beginning of my own BMX career. I got inspired a lot by the tricks he is doing.

Filming for his Red Bull welcome promo.

How did it feel to get hooked up by Red Bull compared to being sponsored by BMX brands like Tall Order and Fuse?

I joined the Tall Order and Fuse team at the same time back in 2020. I remember how big it feels to get brand sponsors.

Red Bull is just different, I know how much they do for their riders, and I can´t wait to see what the future brings. It really feels like a dream come true every time I put my helmet on. I like pushing my limits when I ride my bike, so I really think Red Bull is a perfect match to make even bigger things.

What would you like to be doing when you’re older?

For now, do I want to focus on my professional BMX career. I have a big dream that BMX can be my primary job, so I try to stay motivated and hope for the best.

If my BMX career goes wrong, do I have my bike mechanic education to fall back on. That is why I stay in school for now and get that done.

If having a professional BMX career doesn’t work out, do you still see yourself riding BMX for a long time?

Of course! I went into BMX because I had so much fun on the bike. I never expected so much support or that I could get sponsors when I started riding BMX. I am really grateful.

Dean Larsen's Setup

How would you describe your personal bike setup?

I have been riding a black frame for more than 4 years now, black always works for me. I just like the clean look of a black frame. I normally ride without pegs, but I sometimes mount pegs if I am going to a street jam or just riding street with some friends. In the same way, do I also sometimes mount a freecoaster wheel, it just gives some other opportunities. My Tall Order frame is more than 1 year old now and I've never had any problems with it.

Which parts of your bikes are extra picky about?

I love the low stand over and the short chain stay of the Tall Order 187 frame. I help me a lot doing a double backflip and spin tricks. The Tall Order Wallride tires have always been a favorite to me, they just always work for me for both street and park.

Are there any special modifications or things you do when building up a new setup?

I always cut the handlebar just a few inches, there's nothing else do I really do.