https://rixinbikes.com/

Tony Hamlin - Why The West Ain't Best

"I don’t give a shit what anyone says, but East Coast street is way better than the West Coast street."

15 Jan 2016

Hamlin  Bmx 5 Reasonsne  Nj  Rd

Intro and photos by Rob Dolecki

“If you could live anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?” A hypothetical question that’s been asked countless times, usually between friends joking during a shitty snowy and cold winter, or sweltering summer.

Tony Hamlin has his answer. Being in the fortunate situation of having some damn good sponsors backing him, he literally could live anywhere in the world right now.   

You’d think it’d probably be some tropical paradise, or laid-back European city that’s a spot heaven. Yet, the call of cold seas, grimy back-alley spots, and the Big Apple keep him living in the Northeastern U.S., in the same region where he grew up. Read on for his reasons why he prefers to deal with the outrageous traffic, winter, and salty attitudes that permeate the place he chooses to call home.

Hamlin  Bmx 5 Reasonsne  Nj  Wllrdrail  Rd

No wasted time here. With a Beautiful autumn day on hand and the police politely asking him to leave a few tries prior, Tony got this sick wall-ride to rail to hop over in the bag.

1. Four Seasons 

 I like seasons, and I like weather changing. I can surf, snowboard, and ride my bike through out the year. You could do all that in Southern California, but it’s a whole different vibe. When it’s a nice day out and it shouldn’t be, it’s the best thing. You want to be outside. Like today- it’s November, and we’re so excited to be out when it’s seventy-five degrees. The amount of  beautiful perfect days I’ve wasted in like California- I can’t even count the number. People just take that shit for granted. When it’s shitty out, I go surfing.

Hamlin  Bmx 5 Reasonsne  Nj  Trndwngap  Rd

Tony with a little winter surfing on the ice rings of Saturn.

2. Winter Surfing

Winter is way better for surfing, and way more rewarding than in the summer. It’s one of my favorite things to do. You’re only out there with like five people that know what they’re doing. It doesn’t hurt like riding in the winter, where it feels like you’re going to shatter when you hit the concrete.

Hamlin  Bmx 5 Reasonsne  Nj  Wll180  Rd

This is about as East Coast rugged/cutty spots as you can get. Wallride to 180 on one of Mr. Hamlin's dream spots.

3. East Coast Street

I don’t give a shit what anyone says, but East Coast street is way better than the West Coast street. California has perfect spots, but I don’t want perfect spots. I want the imperfect, fun ones. The sketchier the handrail, the cooler it’s going to be. Just growing up in Rochester teaches you to appreciate the crappy loading dock banks, that stuff is way more fun and rewarding to me than the perfect waxed ledge. I like the uniqueness that East Coast street has. Growing up, my favorite street riders were Edwin De La Rosa, Vinnie Sammon, and Vic Ayala. I watched their first Animal parts over and over again.

A little caffeine re-fueling before cruising up and down the hills of West New York.

Checking out a line with Dan Coller; Tony's Kink "Intervention" part is going to be badass!

4. Living Next To A Major City

I live in Jersey City in particular because this is where my girlfriend lives, and we’ve been dating forever. The public transportation is great. It’s something you don’t have in Rochester, it sucks in L.A. and some other cities. Here you can get anywhere you want via train; it makes it so easy. As much as living next to New York City is a pain in the ass, you’re living next to a cultural Mecca of anything you want. I never saw myself living next to a major city, but after traveling- with Kink we’ve covered so much ground- I have no choice but to live next to a major city. With smaller cities, the people don’t seem to understand or get it. Racism is still prevalent in Rochester. At least here people are culturally open-minded. 

Hamlin  Bmx 5 Reasonsne  Nj  Roast  Rd

The views of the NYC skyline from Hoboken skatepark are pretty epic. Combine that with a Cali-esque sunset and Tony roasting on an endangered species called a mini-ramp, and you got quite a visually pleasing experience.

Related Video

Kink Intervention Trailer

Kink have really outdone themselves - More Info

Tony is supported by DIG partners: KINK, MERRITT, DANS COMP & ETNIES

Previous

Setups - Dan Foley

An all-round weapon

Next

http://animalbikes.com/

Latest Content

Uo Tb TA6c H Ahqdefault
Play Button

jib bmx - 'late tape' number five

Better late than never

21 Dec 2024
From the north in the cut 1
Play Button

FROM THE NORTH - 'IN THE CUT'

42 Minutes of Extras

20 Dec 2024
Gll DC2 H5p M0hqdefault
Play Button

One Man Show 3 | Urban Wander

Weird & Revered

19 Dec 2024
QR9 Zlg Sjn 4hqdefault
Play Button
Mankind Catalog Cover jpg
S P7t6 Xn8g4 Yhqdefault
Play Button

JASON ENNS - DIG 'FRAGMENTS' - Episode 3

Taking his tech roots to the streets

18 Dec 2024
Y K Hu Q9ys R Qchqdefault
Play Button

Cold Cuts - Harrison Arcari - THIRTY - Kink

Raw and unfiltered

16 Dec 2024
Qe S9 Zym SHW Ahqdefault
Play Button

Sin Camino

A trip through Spain and Portugal

16 Dec 2024
0 F9p Ku S6gc4hqdefault
Play Button

Jack Seymour - LXB - United BMX

Lit in Luxembourg

16 Dec 2024
Qwv Hp8y VI Qhqdefault
Play Button

Vans Europe Presents: GIRLHOOD | BMX

Linda Grabner - Teresa Fernandez - Francina Fernandez - Anahi Valentina - Wibke Vogel

16 Dec 2024
5m G9j3x X H0hqdefault
Play Button
E y0 Wy WAB Ihqdefault
Play Button

FROM THE NORTH

Reynolds, Adams, Hoffmann & Ntavoutian

12 Dec 2024

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

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
Greystoke issue 2

GREYSTOKE BMX MAGAZINE - ISSUE 2 OUT NOW

132 pages of tangible, hold-in-your-hands BMX print media.

11 Oct 2024
SUNDAY Silvawave Frame 3 Q web

PRODUCT DROP: Brett Silva's signature SUNDAY 'SILVAWAVE' frame

"It was only a matter of time before Brett got to call the shots."

26 Sep 2024
Osomatsu 4

SETUPS - Kazuei "Osomatsu" Oimatsu - ALIVE INDUSTRY

A Ben Lewis signature frame stacked with Animal parts

12 Sep 2024
20240907 BOH 019 perris

BATTLE OF HASTINGS 2024 - Everything you need to know

Schedule, livestream links, highlights, results & more...

2 Sep 2024
Garrett ss24

SIMPLE SESSION 24 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Highlight videos, schedules, results and more

24 Aug 2024
Volume frames 2

PRODUCTIVITY - NEW VOLUME JASON WATTS & KRIS FOX FRAMES

Certified for roasting - THE SMOKO & THUNDERHOOF

6 Aug 2024
Efise leader results

WHO WON THE €22K at E-FISE 2024 WOLVERHAMPTON?

The results are in!

12 Jul 2024
Kink 2025 bikes

PRODUCT DROP - KINK 2025 BIKES

That New New!

12 Jul 2024
DSCF5547

MIKE MASTRONI AND THE STORY BEHIND THE 'TELOMERE' VIDEO

Backstories behind the clips

24 Jun 2024