Do people underestimate the athleticism required to ride BMX competitively?
BS: They may. There are a lot of slackers, so it’s okay. When our sport was first created, it was known as BMX Freestyle. Since then, they have dropped the “Freestyle,” but it really is freestyle to the fact that there are no rules [or] coaches, and you’re setting the boundaries and doing whatever it is you want to do. If you want to ride your bike an hour a week, you can. For me, I’m full time, so I ride eight hours a day. To be competitive and do it full time, I think there is a definite amount of overlooked training that’s involved. STACK: What are some of your favorite tricks? BS: I really like going down handrails. People walk down the street and see handrails all the time. When I see them, I see an obstacle to ride. I love grinding those on my bike. When I’m riding ramps, I like doing spins, 360s and opposite 360s. Going both directions feels fun, because it’s almost like you’re flowing or dancing through the ramps. I also like doing Tailwhips. That’s a trick I swore I’d never le
