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

IN MEMORY: PAT CASEY

He not only dreamed it up — he made it happen

7 Jun 2023

2018 CASEY INTERVIEW SA RD 02

Words by Brian Tunney | Photos by Rob Dolecki

There are two very distinct eras of freecoaster riding in BMX: the early days of Standard Byke Co. and the riding of Rick Moliterno and Krt Schmidt, who pioneered the first fakie combinations on spines and minicamps, and Pat Casey, full stop.

On Tuesday June 6th, word began to spread that Pat Casey, pro for Mongoose, Vans and Monster Energy, passed away at the age of 29. Devastating news that was soon to be confirmed by a post on OUR BMX.

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing
2018 CASEY INTERVIEW SA RD 08

But Pat Casey’s use of the freecoaster, which he’s been riding for just about a decade, pioneered a path that no one else in BMX will be able to touch for years to come.

As a child, Pat “was nuts” according to his father. After attending the GT Air Show in a stroller in 1995, his parents enrolled him in BMX racing at age 5. He rode everything, from dirt to driveway quarterpipes, and even wrote reports in grade school about how he was going to be a professional BMX rider when he grew up. At age 13, he was asked to choose between football and BMX, and he chose BMX. In his first Dew Tour competition at age 16, he beat Dave Mirra. BMX progressed to the point where he bought his first house as he was graduating high school, and he immediately started building his “Dreamyard,” a backyard maze of minicamps and spines.

As a rider, Pat Casey was someone who lived BMX and embodied the definition of determination. Not only did he create new tricks on the fly, sometimes forwards and often times backwards. But once he had an idea, or got close enough, he was full send until he made it a reality. “It comes down to you defeating the trick, or the trick defeating you,” said Casey in a 2020 X Games interview. “You started it, now you have to finish it.”

Pat Casey Germany 2019 Rob Dolecki 0027

That type of commitment and determination, paired with Casey’s use of the freecoaster, created a revolution in BMX riding that no one has caught up to. It might be years before anyone gets as comfortable landing fakie off of a double whip 180 over a spine as Pat Casey. It might never happen. But Pat Casey made it look easy.

Late last Summer Pat posted a video (below) of himself doing a decade fakie air on his backyard ramp, stomped, pedal to pedal. In all of my years riding, it’s something that no one ever dreamed possible, to the point that no one even voiced a “what if this was possible” about it. Pat Casey not only dreamed it up — he made it happen, made it look good and then moved on to the next impossible feat.

Rest easy Pat. Our thoughts are with the Casey family and his close friends at this time. - BT

2018 CASEY INTERVIEW SA RD 04

Previous

PRODUCTIVITY - ETNIES X KINK WILLIAMS FRAME

EVERYBODY COULD USE A LITTLE HELP

Next

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

Latest Content

Fise 2025 thumb semi
Play Button

FISE 2025 STREET SEMI FINAL

16 riders go head to head in 8 red versus blue battles.

31 May 2025
Vpd Z h t Kj8hqdefault
Play Button
Xas UI Oqg0d Ehqdefault
Play Button

FISE X THE BLOOM BMX - 2025

Cash For Tricks

30 May 2025
SVX2 JJ0 Lu Qhqdefault
Play Button

SABBATICAL

Janis Oriovich takes a year off from work to live the good life and film some clips in between.

30 May 2025
MG4 Gf Dso D Oghqdefault
Play Button
Ugsczgpb Jashqdefault
Play Button
QV Iktuy Tb Mwhqdefault
Play Button

DIG 'CASH FOR TRICKS' / HIGH HOP - FISE MONTPELLIER 2025

"We got breakfast cooking with DIG Best Trick at 11am"

29 May 2025
5 SX5x5p0v2ghqdefault
Play Button

Matt Coplon - Year 48 - PROFILE BMX

Continuing to shred in his late 40s

27 May 2025
Wree00 Kbp B Ahqdefault
Play Button

TUMBLE

Jayden Fong, Kyle Ralston, Will Fraser and more

26 May 2025
HP3 Pw Z Gu Tlchqdefault
Play Button

Chad Kerley Bike Check 2025

The Henney Monster

26 May 2025
Cw NMR2cohr0hqdefault
Play Button

CULTURESHOCK

A Slaughterhouse Production

25 May 2025
R FXUC2 N Fymshqdefault
Play Button

Source BMX: Dennis Enarson Bike Check 2025

All-around machine

23 May 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Joe Jarvis x pegs CPH

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
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
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