http://colonybmx.com.au

Questions and Answers: Maxime Bonfil

Making Bicycle Motocross easy on the eye...

24 Jun 2016

Bonafil Bmx Austin Rd 2

Photos by Rob Dolecki

"Maxime Bonfil is an Enigma. A free spirit that marches to the beat of his own drum and just so happens to make Bicycle Motocross very easy on the eye. Hailing from the south of France, his his nomadic lifestyle keeps him traveling and exploring the globe for adventure." -Gaz Sanders

Quiet, humble, and modest would be three words that come to mind when I think of Maxime. Granted, I only really hung out and rode with him a few mornings in Austin, so who knows, maybe he’s some raging party animal when he’s back home across the Atlantic. 

But I doubt it. 

During those days I met up with Maxime, he’d go to House Park at 8AM to avoid the crowds, and ride Mabel Davis park during the mid-afternoon peak of Texas heat, once again probably to avoid the crowds. I’m not sure, though, since he doesn’t seem to speak a whole lot of English, and I can’t speak more than two words of French, so our communication was quite limited. Bottom line, Maxime’s introverted tendencies showed through, as well as his tendency to rage transitions of all types on two wheels, in that silky smooth style. As Gaz put it, he rides like a French version of Roey. 

Shout out to Fabien Conry for translating the following interview from French to English; without his help, you’d most likely be looking at a very bad mess of indecipherable gibberish, thanks to a poor attempt via google translate. -RD

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing
Bonafil Bmx Tireslide Austin Rd 1

Steep transitions, concrete, hips, pool coping, and friends? Check. Looks like Austin's Mabel Davis skatepark had all the factors to be a favorite spot for Maxime this day.

If one day you had the opportunity to design a bowl, what would you do?

I don’t know ha, ha, ha. That’s a sketchy first question ; I really don’t know…

 For example, would you do something like in Malaga, the bowl that Ruben made ?

That bowl looks great. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to ride it, but yeah, it looks really fun to ride. In Malaga, the whole area there seems to be cool, not only the bowl. I really need to ride it to get my own point of view on it.

 Tell us what kind of tricks you dreamed of when you were younger ?

There so many, but the first one was the backflip!  I dreamed of doing it more on big jumps than on fly-outs. Today I’m not doing them really often; but it’s not only the trick, but more the sensation you get that I like.

When you dreamed about tricks, what was the spot it was at? Was it a skatepark, dirt? Try to describe your dream.

It’s not about a huge skatepark but more a cool and fun place to ride, and for sure with my friends. A concrete spot would be nice, as now I’m 100 % concrete, ha, ha, ha. This is all I need, with a great landscape; the atmosphere is also something very important for me.

Bonafil Bmx Canseatgrab Austin Rd 1

This may not the back flip Maxime dreamed about when he was a kid, but any of the classics fit perfect with his style.

Describe your favorite spot to ride in five words.

I like a steep spot, a concrete one, with some hips and pool coping. And with my friends. That would be my five things. At the end, I like to ride everything from a pool to a flat ledge, but you  can understand the concrete bowl is my favorite spot to ride.

What was the most memorable experience in your whole life?

There are a few, but last year when I rode some real pools in Arizona, it was crazy. It’s hard to describe, but it was all perfect when I was there. Riding some stuff that was not create for bike riding to begin with. This experience was cool, I was with some friends, weather was great, atmosphere was nice too! Riding those real pools was like a dream.

What are the difference between the pools in Arizona and the ones you’re riding in France?

In France, most of the pools are square ones; here the pools have got some transitions and are more fun to ride.

 What are your favorite parts on your bike right now?

It’s my frame. I’ve been riding it a while; more than four years. I’m not into frame specs or geometry, so I don’t really know why I’m loving it, but I’m feeling good on it. I don’t want to try another one, because I know this one is perfect for me. I guess that the weight and the size help to get that comfortable feeling on the bike. Maybe there is a mental thing that has helped to enjoy it, as I know that I’m feeling good on it.

Related Video

Control - Maxime Bonfil

Raging in Austin, on two wheels... - More Info

Bonafil Bmx Transfer Austin Rd 1

Maxime turning on some A/C with a high speed transfer during the first days of the Austin summer heat onset.

Maxime Bonfil is supported by Official DIG Partners: Mutiny Bikes

Previous

Setups: David Grant

Six Foot Five And Ready To Jive

Next

The Dave Voelker Podcast

DIG X SNAKEBITE

Related Content

Jeff Wescott Mutiny After School  Mg 4132 By Greg Moliterno

Jeff Wescott: "Why being interested in something untraditional can be positive and beautiful"

Why the Arizona based Wheels In Motion After School program is doing things right...

16 May 2016
Justin Simpson mani duster MTNYABQ WM 2
Play Button

Mutiny Bikes - The Land of Enchantment

Justin Simpson, Andy Martinez, Jeff Wescott, Mariano Santiago, and Grant Castelluzzo

6 Jul 2015
MUTINY BMX MTNYCTTY PA BKES RD

Cruising That Catty Clay

Mutiny's week-long Autumn stay at one of the best trails in the world.

1 Dec 2014
Screen-Shot-2014-09-10-at-7.29.10-PM-2
Play Button

Mutiny - Synthesis

Mutiny's Synthesis: a compilation of footage from the last 24 months...

1 Sep 2014
mutiny-catasauqua
Play Button

Mutiny 'Catasauqua

One week on sacred Pennsylvania dirt with Robbo, Matt Roe and Andy Martinez...

1 Dec 2014
Andy Martinez dirty shirt MTNYABQ WM 2

Mutiny Bikes - Albuquerque Trippin' Photo Journal

In a city of rumors, you just have to find out for yourself!

6 Jul 2015
Mutiny-bikes-bmx-street-synthesis-III-3
Play Button

Synthesis III - Mutiny

A connected whole

24 Nov 2015
mutiny product screen

Productivity - Mutiny

5 of the best from Mutiny's 2016 line

4 Dec 2015
Golden Navaz MTNYABQ WM 2

Ryan Navazio - Breaking Bad For Real

Chaos at The Crossroads Motel with Navaz and Mutiny Bikes in ABQ

6 Jul 2015
10 rules of the road Malouf Wescott McGrath Puerto rico

10 Rules of the Road - How to be a good BMX House guest

BMX Travellers Respecting The Local Connection in Puerto Rico

9 Mar 2015
Dig 10riders Title Graphic

10 Riders We Wish Still Rode*

*In the public eye...

16 Mar 2016
Bonafil Control Video
Play Button

Control - Maxime Bonfil

Raging in Austin, on two wheels...

24 Jun 2016
https://www.profileracing.com/

Latest Content

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
6ir G r40 Ishqdefault
Play Button

Joe Smith- Watch This

Raw, real, and all Joe

14 Apr 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

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
24 photo comp web leader

THE 2024 DIG PHOTO COMP IS NOW LIVE!

OVER $1000 WORTH OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

15 Oct 2024