RD: So, what do you want to talk about? What do you want to talk about? I don’t know. Mostly about us keeping BMX in our hands 100%, and trying to cut out all the bullshit.
R: Like what? Like when I couldn’t ride the Dew Tour dirt jumps in Salt Lake City because I didn’t qualify. I can’t ride in my own city because I didn’t qualify? It should be like, “Oh no, these guys are locals, it’s OK.”
Greg: Especially when you helped build the jumps.
R: But to an extent everything with you and your bike riding is the same way. You have your own shop and you ride for rider-owned companies… Some companies do a lot for good for us, but at the same time, “No man, this is how it’s supposed to go down. These people need to be drinking on a roll-in if they want to.” Let people really see how bike riders are.
R: When did you first start running into real riders in Salt Lake City?
C: About four years after I started. I always had to ride a mountain bike because my dad wouldn’t buy me a BMX because he thought they were stupid since they didn’t have gears. “You can’t ride those in the mountains, boy.” (Laughter) I just wanted to do tricks, cruise through the city and jump off a curb. Then I ran into people, and it was like “Whoa.” Shit got serious.
R: Who did you run into?
C: Beringer. Then Aitken and Yoda one time.
R: Where at? I was sitting in high school in class and looking out the window. I had found about Mike Aitken about six months before, who he was. I was in Health class or something, and I look out and Mike is doing a manual on a curb along the school. We had an hour left of school, and I was so mad, I knew I wasn’t going to make it out in time to go see those guys. Class got out, and I was like, “You guys never going to believe it; Aitken was outside riding our school!” We found out Beringer lived in our neighborhood.
G: Fuzz had a Mongoose trailer parked out in of Matt’s house. There was a lake jump kicker in the back of the house, and I saw Mike blast an air on the lip. We were so scared to talk to those dudes. Cam rides back there first, and says, “You guys are pros, aren’t you?”
C: I said something stupid like that; I was so nervous. Beringer gave us a preview of one of the sweetest videos of all time, “The Beginning” before it was even out.
R: What did you think of the video?We were really blown away. They were hitting stuff in our own backyard; “I know where that’s at.” We couldn’t believe it.
R: After that, how did that influence you? It was the gateway drug for sure. (Laughter) I don’t know if we were just consistent enough going over there and hanging out, but they liked us enough to keep us around. Having such cool dudes to look up to is probably what kept us going. After that we would go to contests with Matt, or go to Proving Grounds. Luckily we were able to hang out with them and progress with them.
R: What was your first clip in a video?
C: Probably Road Fools 13? Yeah. I was riding a Mongoose.
R: So your first clip in a video, real road trip, etc. was Road Fools 13? That’s crazy. How did that come about?
C: Matt Beringer, the sweetest dude. That Road Fools was cool. Van Homan, Steve Crandall, and Matt got to pick three people each to go along. Matt picked Fuzz, Elf and me. I think he just wanted to see me get fucked up. (Laughter)
R: I guess he was successful, huh?
C: Oh yeah. Don’t drink and 360 off a vert ramp. (Laughter) Especially in the dark. By the time everyone set up…
R: My flashes probably blinded you…
C: Oh, dude, completely. I remember that. I couldn’t see the landing. I only overshot it by like three feet though.