https://harobikes.com/collections/bmx

Weird & Revered: Country Livin'

Some elbow grease and making the most of what you have

20 Oct 2016

Filmed by Colin Reimer, Justin Schwanke, Tyler Steckly, Austin Schwanke Edited by Justin Schwanke

Sometimes when you're younger you don't have a lot to ride, and instead of complain about it you make the most of it and build it or find somewhere near by. That's just what Justin did as a throwback to when he was younger, and it's pretty awesome. Check out his full story on the video below.


Growing up in rural Alberta all of my life, riding back in the day was a much different experience than it is now. As a kid without a car, there weren’t many people to ride with and there wasn’t much to ride. Living in the middle of nowhere meant you had to make your own spots and your own set-ups. When I was young and before I had ramps, I spent a lot of time pedaling around on country roads looking for 'spots.' Hardly considered spots by popular standards, these places to ride were as simplistic as could be. One might be a ditch that was smooth enough to jump or another might be a shed to use as a drop. Often you would have to modify the spot with some plywood or shovel work to make it rideable. As unconventional as the set-up may be, it was always what you did with it that mattered most. And naturally, the more creative you got the more entertaining it could be. 

Inspired by my buddy, Brodie Gwilliam of Bush League fame (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhhrZOm-Tvs), I felt the need to return to this period of my BMX experience. I wanted to make a video chalked full of my own 'country spots.' I pedalled and drove around to search for places with potential. Some spots needed a lot of work and others were ready to be ridden. I think I put the most effort into that trailer I found at 0:25. I had to clean all of the junk off of it, cut down a bunch of trees, and make some trails so you could pedal on the grass. Once I had a list of spots and had some of the modifications done, I hit up my friend Colin Reimer to join me. We filmed most of this video in the spring before Colin left for a work term in France and I left to go travel myself. Tyler Steckly came along on some sessions to film and goof around. I don’t think we spent more than 7 days filming and all of the spots were within a 10 km radius of my house. We had a ton of fun making this video and I hope it shows. Enjoy! -Justin Schwanke 

Previous

Peep Game - Posse Cuts Vol.10

It's sort of like, well, another way to call a cat a kitten

Next

Derrick Girard- FBM All Time Low

The Maniac was a force to be reckoned with

Related Content

weird-bmx-austin
Play Button

Weird BMX in Austin

Keep It Weird...

17 Oct 2014
digbmx ericel
Play Button

Erik Elstran Madera 2014

Erik Elstran Madera 2014

24 Dec 2014
Kareem Chad Kerley
Play Button

Kareem Williams - CHAD KERLEY STUDIO SESH Reaction

Kareem Strikes Again!

5 Aug 2016
Weird 4 Life
Play Button

Weird 4 Life

Brodie Gwilliam and Justin Schwanke

3 Aug 2016
Brett-Silva-Welcome-To-Sunday-BMX
Play Button

Brett Silva Welcome To Sunday Bikes

"Really this was a no brainer."

8 May 2015
elstranded
Play Button

Elstranded In Denver

Keeping it weird in Colorado...

13 Mar 2015
tall-boy-promo
Play Button

S&M Charlie Crumlish "Tallboy" Video

Door knob fufanus and more...

3 Mar 2015
Jordan Krupa 2015
Play Button

Jordan Krupa for The Northern Embassy

All the grimy spots and some on point filming

20 Apr 2016
Devon Lampan Mag Wheel Guy
Play Button

Devon Lampman and Mag Wheel Guy

Weird spots, roof drops, mag wheels, ditches and backyard bowls

20 Apr 2016
Weird And Revered
Play Button

Weird & Revered: FIENDING 4 FUN Mixtape

From California to D.C.

26 Apr 2016
Trent-McDaniels-2015
Play Button

Trent McDaniel 2015

Everything's bigger in Texas

13 Jun 2015
The-DWOK-Promo
Play Button

The DWOK Promo

Great riding, solid filming and an awesome vibe

31 Jul 2015
https://cinemabmx.com/search?type=product&q=reynolds+wheel

Latest Content

Snow Fight – Naoki Gaman2

20 Tips For Surviving Simple Session 2025

Check yourself before you wreck yourself!

20 Feb 2025
Simple screen 25

SIMPLE SESSION 25 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Highlight videos, schedules, results and more

19 Feb 2025
Street station graphic

STREET STATION RETURNS for 2025

"Not your average BMX jam"

18 Feb 2025
ONE ROLL IN A DAY  - Cologne Revisited
ONE ROLL IN A DAY  - Cologne Revisited
ONE ROLL IN A DAY  - Cologne Revisited
ONE ROLL IN A DAY  - Cologne Revisited

ONE ROLL IN A DAY - Cologne Revisited

Ryan Corrigan pointing and shooting at the real BMX Worlds

22 Jan 2025
Yanosharches 1 sur 1

HIGH FLYERS - AN INTERVIEW WITH JANOSCH KLAUS

"My close friends inspired me the most."

21 Jan 2025
Will and NJ

BMX AFTER 30 - The Hard Dad Jam

"Watching old friends step into the unknown..."

8 Jan 2025
Stack

DIG BOOK #2024

AVAILABLE VIA THESE BIKE SHOPS AND DISTROS

30 Dec 2024
New dig apparel main image

NEW DIG BMX APPAREL

Available now

27 Dec 2024
30 YRS POSH BOOK MNTN V V 004

(Almost) 30 YEARS OF POSH WOODS

Now available for pre-order

24 Dec 2024
Mankind Catalog Cover jpg
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

DIG Partner stores

More Videos

S Zf M M Bvtqchqdefault
Play Button

SHUFFLE | Odyssey BMX

Filmed throughout California, Washington, Nevada, Texas, and South Africa

21 Feb 2025
V Hd Ay0w0m Uhqdefault
Play Button

ISAIAH JOHNSON - LR2: CHICAGO BLUES

Fully Roasted

21 Feb 2025
E3 Xvdd z TG8hqdefault
Play Button

Source BMX: Jason Watts Bike Check 2025

"A rear end like a limousine"

21 Feb 2025
Lj8 H47 RT Sc Mhqdefault
Play Button
Tailwhipping parallel thumbnail final
Play Button

TAILWHIPPING PARALLEL - KRISTS KANUKS

Behind That Huge Whip

19 Feb 2025
TIN LIZ Gyx Qhqdefault
Play Button

'Sonitum'

Turku, Finland

19 Feb 2025
8 PV4q GF6 UA0hqdefault
Play Button

THE QUEENZKIDZ DVD

Queens, NY

19 Feb 2025
Had Pue PU Yu Ihqdefault
Play Button

DAN BANKS - 'INNER CITY LIFE' | PROCEDURE

Mudhut Mashup

18 Feb 2025
Q Uc Kblh I2 V Uhqdefault
Play Button
U S8 Qyoj Ffg Uhqdefault
Play Button

SALUD BCN

Featuring Sergio Layos, Santiago Laverde, Ondra Leo & More

17 Feb 2025
Jg Myau Rhe V Ihqdefault
Play Button

2024 Batalla de Crews winning edits

Mexico represent

15 Feb 2025
A7 HQSFD Os6 Qhqdefault
Play Button

Julian Molina - MANO AMIGA

Unreal progression

14 Feb 2025