Let’s start with how you ended up on a bicycle in the first place. Where are your BMX roots planted and what are some of your earliest memories of BMX?
BMX started for me at the local racetrack ten minutes from my house. My parents took me for the first time when I was like seven years old and I got 2nd place to a girl, ha-ha. I didn’t even care about that though. I left that night just thinking about how much fun that place was, and I knew that I was going to be going back to that track no matter what.
Some riders have a specific moment where they can recall thinking to themselves that they want to be a part of it all. Would you consider yourself one of them, or did it all come together organically?
I’ve always known that I was going to ride my bike no matter what. After the first year or two of going to local tracks I remember telling my parents this is what I’m going to do. I told them I was going to save up for a Motor home when I’m older and just travel to new tracks. I didn’t know anything except being on a BMX bike was my favorite part of life, even at those super young ages.
Can you remember your first BMX bike in detail?
Yeah, my first legit bike was this half-freestyle, half-race Redline frame, with all the goofy race parts we had pieced together. I loved that thing though. I could rip the track on it, and it was strong enough to start messing with little dirt jumps too.
It’s always interesting to read about pro riders early influences and have an understanding of what stood out to them, and what got them stoked when they were nothing more than a kid on a BMX bike. What or who do you recall as doing just that in your life?
It was this kid Justin that randomly moved into my neighborhood. We had a sick little mini racetrack in my back yard when I was like ten and I still barely knew about freestyle at that time. Then this kid that was a little older than my brother showed up one day and started riding way different then anything I had ever seen. He blasted and had a few sick jumping tricks. That dude moving in made the biggest impact on my slow switch from racing only, to eventually completely stopping racing. It was so sick following this dude around San Diego. He knew where all of the legit jumps were at the time. Going to those jumps for the first time are still some of my best life memories. Being this little kid rolling up to trails where all these guys were shredding having the best time. I still remember it like it was yesterday. Unfortunately I had to stop hanging with that dude Justin. He was gnarly and his life path was going in a wild way so I had to say peace out. That random homie from the neighborhood for sure was the reason I thought freestyle was the coolest thing in the world at that young age. Thanks Justin, wherever the hell you are right now.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Did you ever imagine yourself to be in the position you are now?
No, not at all actually. I didn’t even know people got paid to ride. As a kid I knew I was going to be riding until I physically couldn’t, but I had no clue people would pay me money so I didn’t have to work and I can just focus on my BMX. It’s something that I am thankful for literally everyday.
Going from being an average California kid with BMX dreams to one of the most influential riders to ever do it seems like one hell of a journey. If we fast-forward to current day, what would you say was the biggest factor to getting to the level you are at in your career?
Thanks for the kind words, even though I still don’t see myself as all that. All I’ve ever done is exactly what I’ve wanted and it just led me to where I am now. Nothing ever felt forced, rushed, or wrong. I wanted to learn every trick I could, I wanted to travel, and do well in contests. I always liked riding everything, and I enjoy meeting cool new people. I feel like everything happened naturally because I pursued the things I enjoyed and truly loved.
After all these years, do you actually look at your riding as a job, and your years as a pro an actual career?
Honestly, not at all. It’s something that I would have done regardless. Getting paid for all of it is just some mind-blowing thing that I am truly grateful for, but still don’t understand fully.