Chris Doyle - Through The Years

What is your very first memory of BMX?

I must have been in 2 ^nd or 3^rd grade when the movie, RAD came on television. I remember watching it and just being blown away. Like most kids my age, I already owned a BMX bike but I had no idea that there were people out there doing the things I was seeing on my TV.

When did you first start riding?

I started riding around the age of 11 or 12. In the town that I grew up in (Cary, NC) there were, literally, hundreds of kids that rode BMX. There was a huge undeveloped piece of land in the center of town that had dirt jumps and me all my dirt bag friends rode there on the daily.

When did you start hitting the skateparks?

I turned pro at the age of 16 primarily for dirt jumping. I really didn't start riding skateparks until the age of 17 or 18. Funny, I was already considered a professional bike rider and I could barely jump a spine or air a quarter.

Did your parents push you as a kid to perform in school or sports or did you motivate yourself completely?

I was raised by my Mom in a single parent household. My mom never pushed her children in one direction or another. However, she was always supportive of anything her children wanted to do. Her main goal in raising us was to make sure that we were independent, hard working, and self-sufficient. With the tools that she gave us, it was easy to be self-motivated in whatever I was doing.

Which riders inspired you early on?

So many. Brian Foster and Taj were the guys I was most excited about meeting in the beginning. I was heavily inspired by both of them. Also, I really liked Joey Garcia and Kris Bennett growing up.

Nowadays who are your favourite riders to watch?

Lately I've been really into watching Matt Cordova and Kris Fox ride. Larry Edgar is sick, too. I always enjoy watching Dennis and Garrett too, but who the hell doesn't?

For some riders their bikes mean freedom to them, what does it mean to you?

BMX is my ONLY creative outlet. I can't draw, paint, play music, etc… but through riding I feel like I'm able to achieve the same feelings of creativity that come with the more accepted forms of art.

What do you think has driven you to continue with riding?

Passion. Through all of the injuries and bullshit, it's my passion for riding BMX that keeps me coming back after all of these years. I still lay awake at night thinking of tricks I'd like to do and things that I'd like to film or shoot. The motivation has always been there and I dread the day that it's not.

Birmingham Bike Show - Birmingham, UK 2003 (I think). The barspin to fuf has been a contest favorite of mine for many years now. Most park comps back then had nice back rails or sub rails that always made for some cool tricks. Fun fact: I met Scott Ditchburn outside of my hotel in Birmingham, he must've only been about 13 years old at that time and he was smoking a cigarette. Photos: Paul Bliss

Road Fools 11 - Vans skatepark, Phoenix, AZ. I've said it plenty of times, but Road Fools trips were a marathon not a sprint. By the end of every Road Fools I was always so beat. Therefore, the first few days always seemed like the best and most productive. This downside fast plant was from day 1. Photo: Rob Dolecki

Fort McDowell Indian reservation. I never really liked this park or their trails. However, this trip took place in the middle of winter when there was 3 feet of snow on the ground out east. I was happy to kick this no footed can in the desert in a tee shirt. I should also mention that this was a pretty memorable session with Adam Baker that was well documented in Road Fools 11. Photo: Rob Dolecki

Backyard Jam - Derby, UK. This was my first backyard jam, it was really fun and the comp went off like they always seemed to. However, the thing that stands out the most to me was how sick I was during my stay in Derby - I could barely even keep water in my stomach for the entire weekend. There's a strong chance that I did this superman and headed straight to the bathroom to barf up whatever I had attempted to eat that morning. Photo: Ricky Adam

Backyard Jam - Derby, UK. One time Sheep Hills local, Ricky Ratt said online somewhere that I've been doing the same tricks for the last 10 years. He was wrong, I've been doing the same shit for at least 15. This might be the 2,000th 360 turndown that I've done but I've loved every one of 'em! Here's to 15 more years of 360 turndowns! Photo: Ricky Adam

Toronto Metro Jam 2004. I used to really enjoy the Toronto Metro's. They were always scheduled in March after I had been riding indoor wooden ramps all winter long and I always felt relatively fresh at these. This was the biggest sub rail that I've ever hurricane'd. I pulled it in practice, but I couldn't seem to get it done in the finals. No matter, Ricky got the sequence and Bob Scerbo filmed the clip and I was stoked that it was documented. Photos: Ricky Adam

Toronto Metro Jam 2004. The "fence quarter" at the Metro's was 6.5 feet of perfect transition. I remember hitting the jersey barrier hip and then seeing how high I could fakie on said quarter. It really felt like the sky was the limit on that thing. This pic ran in DIG and whoever wrote the caption compared me to the one and only Lord Volker. I was stoked! Photo: Ricky Adam

Dayton, OH, 2000. Van Homan did this rail in his part in Little Devil's "Seek and Destroy". I was shooting for a DIG interview with Steve Buddendeck and I felt like I was lacking in the street department, so when we randomly found this rail in downtown Dayton I decided to give it a go... even though rails at that time were a big gamble for me. Luckily, I got this done first try and was never called out on the ABD!

"Luckily, I got this done first try and was never called out on the Van Homan Little Devil video ABD!"

- Chris Doyle

Do you remember your first video part?

My very first video part was in Leigh Ramsdell's "A Useless Video". I had a split part with Steve Crandall and Paul Murray. I never cared much for Paul Murray as he was a dick to us as kids, but I was 15 years old and I was a huge fan of FBM, their team and their image. To have a split with Crandall meant a lot to me… him and I still talk about that video from time to time and have a laugh. I had no idea at that time that I was actually filming a video part. Ramsdell would just come out to our spot and film.

What's been your most memorable BMX experience?

Quitting college to give being a pro BMX rider a go. The feeling of being 18 and making a life decision like that is one that I will never forget. I can't help but to wonder what my life would have been like if I had chosen college instead of BMX.

What else other than BMX gets you really pumped to ride? I like seeing people do things that they're passionate about. I don't care if it's a different sport, art, cooking, etc… Watching people do something that they're passionate about is really contagious to me.

Favourite spot to ride?

POSH out in Bethlehem comes to mind.

Favourite trick of all time is...

360 turndowns, duh.

"BMX is my ONLY creative outlet. I can't draw, paint, play music, etc… but through riding I feel like I'm able to achieve the same feelings of creativity that come with the more accepted forms of art."

- Chris Doyle

You have had the chance to travel all over the world over the years, where are some of your most memorable places you have been?

New Zealand was the most beautiful place that I've ever been and Iraq was the most shocking place I've ever been. Every place that I've traveled to has its ups and downs, but I'm always thankful for the opportunity to travel. The 2004 Worlds, Cologne, Germany, June 2004 was truly was one of my favorite European experiences. I will never forget that contest and all of the antics that surrounded it.

What's something the average BMX'er wouldn't know about you?

I think I, somehow, paint the picture of somebody who's secure in mind and body, but trust me; I'm as insecure as everyone else.

Why haven't you gone brakeless like so many other riders?

At this point in time I do not feel like removing my brakes is going to make riding any better. Plus, I cannot stand watching people "crab walk".

Do you ever want to get a real job?

I think about this a lot, almost too much; my life after riding and what I'll do as a job. Simple answer, I don't want another job. Who would? I've dedicated so much of my life to riding and I can't help but to feel that whatever comes next will not even come close to measuring up to what I'm doing right now.

What's the best advice that you've ever received do you think?

"You should stop wasting so much time and energy thinking about the next step and just enjoy the life that you have now and the world that you've created for yourself" – My wife, Denise

The Forks skatepark - Winnipeg, MB 2009. I was pleasantly surprised by the BMX scene in Winnipeg. This park was awesome and the Kink team had a good time there. I feel like the toboggan might be one of the most butchered tricks in the modern era. If you don't nose dive at least a little bit, than you're just doing a turn bar seat-grab. Photo: Jeff Allen.

Holy shit! Two pics from the Fort Mcdowell Indian reservation. One of my favorite tricks to do, the 360 no footed can-can. Minutes after this pic was shot, I crashed on my face and separated my chin yet again. By now, the underside of my chin looks like a damn railroad track. Photo: Keith Terra.

Invert from the Monroeville trails in Monroeville, PA. I don't remember the year that this was shot, but I remember Dolecki saying that he was using a different kind of film that would give everything an infared-type look. I still dig and ride at these trails on the reg. shout out to all the past and present Monroeville locals! Photo: Rob Dolecki

On the plains somewhere between Winnipeg, MB and Saskatchewan. Photo: Jeff Allen.

From what I was told, the Winnipeg China town rail was the most talked about and sought after rail in the city amongst the BMX scene. Apparently, just a few months prior to our Kink trip through central Canada, a skateboarder gave the rail a go and broke his back. It was one of those things where the consequences of messing up greatly outweigh the skill that it takes to get it done. The rail is very low (barely above stem height), but is STEEP, and has blocked stairs. I think I played every head game with myself before finally giving it a go. Thankfully, it worked first try. Later that night, I drank a bottle of merlot, and Jeff Allen converted a lesbian babe back to "the other side". Photo: Jeff Allen.

I had driven by this rail in downtown Pittsburgh dozens of times. Having Stew Johnson in town and gathering clips for my part in Anthem 2 were more than enough excuses to give it a go. The rail has a small curb right where you need to hop. Therefore, I had to hop about a foot before where you would normally have to, making it a little bit more stressful than it needed to be. Brian Yeagle shot the photo with his medium format camera and when I asked how he felt about the pic, he said, "I dunno, I think I blew it". I love the pic, Brian you did good. Photo: Brian Yeagle.

The Forks skatepark, Winnipeg, MB 2009. Tailwhip on the serpent. Seeing all these pics from our trip through central Canada has me thinking that we should do a trip there again sometime soon! Photo: Jeff Allen.

This pic was shot on the last day of Road Fools "Kink vs. Etnies" and also happened to be on my 28th birthday. I actually think this was the last pic and clip of that entire trip. By this time, I knew how to pace myself and have some lasting power on trips. Take it as a metaphor. Kids, it's a marathon not a sprint. Photo: Rob Dolecki

Shout out to all of my Canadian friends and fans. Always a warm embrace when I’m north of the border! Photo: Jeff Allen.

Those "Emprie Of Dirt" comps were some of my favorites. However, it was a bummer that this one, the very first one, was cancelled due to rain. Nevertheless, this was a really fun weekend of riding the Forte's local stomping grounds and getting to ride, at least, a few of the jumps on the EOD course. This 360 table was shot in between rain showers at the original course site in beautiful Devon, England. I like this pic, but it was early in my 360 invert days and I like to think that they've come a long way since then. Photo by Ricky Adam

How many no footed can-can pictures have I captioned now? It's probably no surprise that this is one of my favorite tricks. Once again, this is from the 2007 Empire Of Dirt course in Devon. I like Devon. If I were to move anywhere in the UK, Devon would be it. I've told this to Kye Forte on multiple occasions and he likes to respond with something like, "yes, this is REAL England and you're welcome anytime". Photo by Ricky Adam

Tucson, Arizona 2007. This pic was shot on a trip for the filming of Kink's "Safety First". If I remember correctly, it was one of the first trips for that video. The day after this was shot I ate shit and split my chin wide open which lead to the end of that filming trip for me - I ended up flying home early. A few months after this pic ran, I traded Keith Terra an iPod for a print of this photo - It's framed and hangs in my basement. Photo: Keith Terra.

"A few months after this pic ran, I traded Keith Terra an iPod for a print of this photo - It's framed and hangs in my basement."

- Chris Doyle

(SC) Chris, can you tell us about being solicited threesomes?

Ha! Well, there was this one time in Florida… I was a very shy 19 year old, we were at a bar for a video premiere, and a man looking slightly older than me offered me his girlfriend (who, according to him, was a big Chris Doyle fan) for the night. It sounded like he just wanted me to have my way with his lady for the night WITHOUT him being involved. It didn't sound like he wanted the threesome, but who knows, anyone willing to let their girl sleep with somebody else probably has a few unsavory plans.

(VH) It's easy to spend all day every day in the woods digging and riding when you're 17 but with your constant traveling and having a family life how do you maintain that balance and is it challenging to find time to get behind the shovel?

I do the most of my digging in the spring when the ground is soft and my travel schedule is slow. At my local spot, I think we have an understanding that I'm not going to be around to shovel as much as a lot of the other locals, but I put my time in when I can.

(VH) You're obviously a well-rounded rider and I feel that riders from the older generation tend to be more open to all types of riding.... How do you feel about the shift to be so specifically a trail rider, street rider, park rider etc as opposed to just being a bmx'er and why do you think you excel or at least be most well known for dirt?

It must be a generational thing. All of the guys that I looked up to when I was younger were guys that seemed like it didn't matter what they were riding, they were going to look good no matter what. Nowadays, so many different riders have gained popularity by excelling at only one facet of riding and if the younger kids are into what they're favorite pros are doing then they just feed off it. Before you know it, those riders are on a road trip where they wind up at a set of trails and they're the guys that just sit in amazement. I will say that growing up jumping and riding trails made figuring out street and ramp tricks much much easier.

(VH) Your roots are in NC but you've been in Pittsburgh for a while now. What prompted that move and do you ever for see yourself heading back south? How would you compare the two areas?

I did the bulk of my growing up in the Raleigh/Cary, NC area. After high school (and after I quit college) I just wanted to try something new and I had always wanted to live in Pennsylvania. I decided to move up for only a year and see how it went.... that was 14 years ago now. After I met my wife, there was no reason for me to move back to North Carolina. Pennsylvania is home. Compared to Cary, NC, Pittsburgh is pretty raw, the weather isn't very good, but it's home. Cary is beautiful, people are friendly, but I think I just outgrew it and I can't picture myself ever living back there.

Is there anything you'd like to know more about?

Today, tiling a 3X4 shower stall

And finally, any last words...

Ride a bike, not a bandwagon!

The Nike Pool comp in London, UK was, by far, one of the coolest contests that I’ve been to in the last few years. I was representing Team Kachinsky this weekend along with Kevin Porter and Tony Hamlin. I know BMX is all about individuality, but I’ve always enjoyed when people bring the “team” aspect to comps. Random fact: I flew home from the UK after this comp and then flew to Italy the following day with my wife for our honeymoon. Photo: Ricky Adam

360 invert in France. A few years ago Heath Pinter, Dave Dillewaard, and Myself joined up with the Compression crew for a week and a half jaunt through southern France. We rode trails every day; BBQ’d in the evenings, and drank red wine at night. It was one of the best trips I’ve been on in the last few years. I believe that this pic was shot at stop number 1. Thanks to the trail locals in France that let our massive crew of international visitors come invade their trails that week! Oh, and I have to say thanks to Jeremy Mueller, too! Merci beaucoup! Photo: Vince Perraud.

Yet another 360 turndown. This was from the Compression trail trip through southern France at stop number 1. I was doing 360’s on this set during the end of the session when Vince Perraud asked me if I wouldn’t mind shooting a few 360 turndowns. What you see is the result. Vince has slowly become one of my favorite photographers and I enjoy anytime I get to shoot with him.

Mug shot in the now departed Action Village warehouse in Chicago, IL. Photo: David Leep.

I don’t think I’ve seen this photo until just now. I wonder if it didn’t run due to the tree blocking my legs? I want to say that this is probably from 2010ish at the Potoczny home in Pittsburgh. Also, as this photo was being shot, Dolecki’s bike was being stolen. Bike thieves suck.

No footed can-can from the best event of 2014, the TRA comp in Allentown, PA. When I was a kid I wanted to be the next Brian Foster. BF could win races and dirt comps in the same weekend and make it look all too easy. Last year’s TRA comp was probably the closest I’ve come to fulfilling the fantasy of being a decent racer AND dirt jumper. 3rd in racing and 3rd in the jumping comp and some pretty kick ass memories that I will not soon forget. Thanks for putting on such a rad event, Gentilcore! Photo: Devon Hutchins.

Last year Devon Hutchins and Aaron Ross drove 22 hours from Austin to Pittsburgh to come ride and hang out. I ended up bringing them to one of Pittsburgh’s most dangerous neighborhoods to ride one of Pitt’s best kept secrets, The Sheraden Park. The lewd graffiti and fall colors made for some decent photos that day. Aaron didn’t ride much at this park, but he did make the day for few fans by posing for pictures and signing autographs. Photo: Devon Hutchins.

About that intro photo...

I busted out 3 of my front teeth back in late 2000. The main problem with getting them fixed was that my insurance, medical or dental, wouldn't cover the cost of replacing the pieces of my missing grill. Therefore, I ran this "flipper" for about a year. Sometimes the teeth would pop off of the fitted pallet piece on the flipper and I would have to super-glue them back on. At the end of 2001 I ended up winning the DK Dirt Circuit which came with a nice ten thousand dollar check... a large portion of which went to dental implants, the next best thing to REAL teeth. However, for nostalgic purposes, I hung on to the flipper... shit, I hope I never need it again! My mother still likes to remind me about how beautiful my teeth were BEFORE I broke them out. Random story: My teammate at the time, Robbie Miranda lost his two front teeth shortly before I did, he also ran the flipper, and I really pushed for DK to make an ad that just featured our matching fake teeth. They never did. Photo by Steve Buddendeck