So what have you been up to?
I’ve been living in Tokyo, Japan and working on helping organize the BMX freestyle event for the 2020 Olympics. I’ve been going to work like a regular human, 9-to-5, and just riding and exploring on the weekends.
Is this the first time you’ve ever had an office job?
Yeah, I rode professionally basically for 20 years. I had a couple things here and there, like I had my bike shop which was a lot of work but not a 9-to-5, and helped out at my friends wood shop here and there when I needed some extra money, but nothing ever like this.
You feel like you living in the movie “Office Space”?
(Laughter) It’s definitely funny working in an office. If you watch that movie, there are so many ridiculously funny things I can relate to. My brain just goes to “Office Space” multiple times every day.
Is there a Bill Lumbergh?
Nah, there really isn’t a Lumbergh; it’s pretty free. You have stuff to get done, but there’s no one hounding you. There’s never really anyone getting on my case about dumb stuff.
No TPS reports?
Kind of, It can be a slow-moving machine, but no one really hounding you.
You’ve been in Tokyo now for six months.
Yeah, it’s been awesome. The people are super-welcoming and the country is safe. The language barrier is challenging; I’ve been trying to learn basic things to get me by in every day life. I’m a long, long ways from being able to speak Japanese fluently.
You got “check, please” down pretty good.
”チェックしてください“
There’s no way I can transcribe that. (Laughter)
Sometimes I wish I had a little more free time to explore the city and spots, but when I get those chances I’m definitely making good use of my time, sightseeing and riding spots. It would be really easy to think I have all the time in the world. Next thing you know you’ve been in Japan for two years and you didn’t actually do anything other than go to work. It’s been awesome; I really love it. I love being able to take the trains everywhere. When I’m in the States, I don’t eat outside my comfort zone. You’re kind of forced to be adventurous here, which is nice, since you end up eating a lot of good stuff.
What’s up with Japanese Denny’s?
Denny’s is a fraud here. (Laughter) The very first day I arrived here I was super jet lagged and tired, and I saw a giant Denney’s and I think, “I’m going to get the Grand Slam breakfast.” I walk in there, and it’s just all Japanese food. It wasn’t Denny’s like we know Denny’s. I was really let down. I haven’t been back. Don’t fall for it.
I like the rail into bank spot in front of your crib.
The spots are ridiculous here. Stuff is less tapped than it would be in the U.S.; the architecture is different here. A lot of the playgrounds are concrete slides and things like that. In the U.S. there’s more prefab, cookie-cutter, safety-code construction; a lot of the creativity has been stripped away. Kachinsky was here for three days pedaling around, and he's posting spots I’ve never even been to before that were completely ridiculous. The riders here are so amazing. They are psyched I’m here and welcomed me with open arms. They go out of their way to help you figure out whatever, find a spot, if you need to eat, or get your residency card, etc...