https://kinkbmx.com/collections/handlebars

Rob Harris - Youth of Today Interview

"No idea how I didn’t get mugged, a 15 year old dragging around a broken bike is probably an easy target."

17 Nov 2015

Rob-Harris-Smith-Hard-360-DIG-BMX-NW

Rob keeping it 100 with the smith hard 360.

Photos by Nick Wotton Intro and Interview by Devin Feil

Rob Harris is a quick study, picking up BMX at an incredibly fast rate, all the while fueling his progression with meals at the world's largest fast food chain. Rob's developed a level of bike control that will leave many of his older peers jealous, already produced a full length video with his friends, travelled to Spain to ride, and he's got a couple of teenage years left to go. In conjunction with the release of a DIG exclusive video we decided to properly introduce this motivated young man...

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

Name, age, location?

Rob Harris, 17, from Chepstow in Wales

How long have you been riding BMX?

I’ve been riding BMX for just about 2 years now.

I was told you rode trials prior, do you think that's helped with your riding now? And in what ways?

Yeah, I rode for a company called inspired before I got a BMX aha. It definitely helped though, I always took influence from BMX so when I actually got on one everything became so much easier.

Cam Wheeler manning the VX at Park Grove.

Success on both sides of the lens.

Rob-Harris-Hard-180-Barspin-DIG-BMX-NW

Rail to hard 180 barspin on a gem of a spot.

How'd you come up with the name DSOTG, Dark Side Of The Goon?

Well, I have always been really into Pink Floyd, and I guess because of that I just came up with Dark Side Of The Goon. We all started writing dsotg everywhere and it just stuck.

So what is this I heard about you getting lost in Barcelona?

It was the last day of the trip and pretty late, like 2am. I’d got a puncture and a snapped chain, so I decided to walk back to the apartment, but didn’t think that it was at least an hour away and I have no sense of direction. I ended up wandering around till 6am, with no phone or money. No idea how I didn’t get mugged, a 15 year old dragging around a broken bike is probably an easy target. On the plus side I now know every homeless guy in the city haha.

Who'd you travel there with? Did Spain live up to the hype?

There were about 9 of us, me and Jordan both wanted to film for the dsotg video at the time and pretty much everyone ended up getting clips which was sick. That was pretty much all the local scene consisted of at the time, minus a few. Spain definitely did live up to the hype! I wish I could afford to go back right now, you can’t go anywhere without finding something to ride.

Tell us about your eating habits, is it true you are a big fan of McDonald’s?

Oh dear haha, you could say so. I’ll blame it entirely on Jordan Godwin and his awful diet though, definitely a bad influence. I’m pretty much addicted to any greasy food from that place now.

Quick crook under some gray skies.

Smile Rob, the drive-thru is probably still open.

Related Video

Rob Harris - DIG 'Youth Of Today' Video

17 years old and not scared! - More Info

Is your Youth Of Today video the longest you've spent on a video part of yourself?

Yeah it definitely is, there was never really a rush to finish but me and Cam have been working away slowly for a while now. The only real project I’ve worked on before was the dsotg video, I think I was way more hyped putting everyone else’s clips together and as a result didn’t end up putting much effort into my part. I definitely push my riding way more now.

What will you be working on next? Any new DSOTG projects?

I want to get another full length video out at some point, I’m going to work on that for as long as possible and hopefully make it something that everyone involved is happy with. That should be a 20-30 minute video with sections from all my friends. I have soooo many ideas for it already so I guess we’ll start stacking asap, it’s hard in the winter since the days are short and the weather sucks. Hopefully we can get a trip sorted to kick things off with that video soon though.

Thanks or shout outs?

I wanna say thanks to Cam Wheeler for smashing it behind the VX, and also to Nick Wotton for shooting the photo’s for this interview. All my friends and everyone I ride with. My parents for giving me lifts everywhere and my girlfriend for putting up with me constantly ditching her for a kids bike. Also big thanks to Devin and DIG for running this interview.

Rob-Harris-McDonalds-DIG-BMX-NW

Mickey D's induced food coma.

"I’ll blame it entirely on Jordan Godwin and his awful diet though, definitely a bad influence. I’m pretty much addicted to any greasy food from that place now."

Previous

Brad Simms: Have Bike - Will Travel

"How I wanna act… why don’t you tell me how you wanna act?"

Next

HARO FREESTYLER AUCTION

Your chance to own a piece of history and support and good cause..

Related Content

DSOTG-Video
Play Button

DSOTG Video

Kids these days are crazy...

7 Jan 2015
Stephan-August-DIG-BMX-Youth-Of-Today-180-thumbnail
Play Button

DIG Presents - Youth Of Today - Stephan August Video

Presenting one of Southern California's most promising young riders...

10 Feb 2015
YALETAPE-V1-uk-street-bmx-jordan-godwin
Play Button

YATETAPE V1 - UK Street

Dont ask questions, just watch

30 Sep 2015
jordan-godwin-dsotg
Play Button

DSOTG - Jordan Godwin

Man on a mission

15 Apr 2015
Felix-Prangenberg-Youth-of-Today-06-X

Felix Prangenberg - Youth of Today Interview

When your Dad looks out for the cops while you get a clip...

23 Jun 2015
FELIX PRANGENBERG SCREEN
Play Button

Felix Prangenberg - DIG 'Youth Of Today' Video

Proving that age really is just a number...

23 Jun 2015
Rob harris BMX toothy hang DS
Play Button

Rob Harris - DIG 'Youth Of Today' Video

17 years old and not scared!

17 Nov 2015
Stephan-August-DIG-BMX-Youth-Of-Today-Lifestyle-1-DF

Youth Of Today - Stephan August Interview

Fuck a Super Bowl. Let's ride...

10 Feb 2015
http://www.divisionbrand.com/news/

Latest Content

O YAL9 Zi LA0 Yhqdefault
Play Button

BOYD HILDER - JETLAG UNPLUGGED

Unseen Hilder

6 Oct 2025
O M9z YI0js W Mhqdefault
Play Button
0n0nssvm A Uohqdefault
Play Button

MIKI FLECK 'ELECTRIC ZUIN'

240v on those spots

3 Oct 2025
B7 Cl Ny w Dbchqdefault
Play Button

LISMORE ROAD TRIPPIN'

NOTHING BEATS A ROAD TRIP!

3 Oct 2025
K7lg 7k5yl4hqdefault
Play Button

Vans x Odyssey Anniversary Collection 2025

"In honor of their 40-Year Anniversary, Odyssey have partnered with Vans on a new limited-edition collection"

2 Oct 2025
13 J4 Ao Oc Akghqdefault
Play Button
Overtime Thumbnail Colour v2 copy
Play Button

OVERTIME

Ft. Chad Ferch, Kent Fuller, Matt Perrin & More

1 Oct 2025
NSA08 Ouah Zghqdefault
Play Button

Shred BMX - Think Different

Perspectives from the Cleveland scene

30 Sep 2025
Q dz J Ycs5b8hqdefault
Play Button

V1DA - 'NO WAY OUT' JAM

Plaza Universitat, Barcelona

30 Sep 2025
56 Pk4 X0bnv4hqdefault
Play Button

KINK BMX - DAKOTA BRATT

Original and unique style on the streets of the US West Coast

29 Sep 2025
G02 Kr RA3 V70hqdefault
Play Button
Bros lucas thumb
Play Button

BROS STORE RIPPER - LUCAS MARTINEZ

From Paris to the south of France

25 Sep 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

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
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