The readers have spoken (or clicked a very small button on the computer.)
November 23, 2009, 3:03 PM
By: Brian Tunney
For last week's interview poll, I asked the voters to help us figure out who we should interview next here on the site. I picked four random names: Edwin Delarosa, Sean Burns, McGoo and Dave Voelker. Early on, it looked like I was definitely going to have to travel to Santee, CA to catch up with the Lord Voelker, but then Edwin and Burns began to edge slightly ahead. And in the end, Edwin Delarosa won the vote with 33% of the vote. So it's official. Edwin Delarosa, you're on deck for an interview. Look for that feature sometime in December.
Not much to say here. Dan Foley is Premium's newest pro, and his riding is pretty darn sweet. Thumbs up for the E.T. nose wheelies, intentional nose cases and footjam to cancan. Quit reading this already and just watch the vid!
Back in the early '90s, there was a guy named Jon Peacy. Being one of the few riders who could handle a vert ramp, he found himself on the GT freestyle team and subsequently circulated the demo and contest scene: but he wasn't cut from the same kind of mold as everyone else. There was a little more of a free spirit about the guy and his influences were a little different than most, on account of the type of guys he hung round and rode with. Click below to check out the Jon Peacy interview package, including interview, photos and video.
DuFFS has just released some really nice limited addition kicks for the Holidays. No word on how limited they are but Jimmy Levan'sForge shoe is amongst them in red. I imagine these will go pretty fast, so jump over to the Duffs blog to find out more or order them right here.
In somewhat related news, DuFFS and long time team member Adam Banton have parted ways. According to Adam, it's been a long time coming now. Whether or not his spot on DuFFS will be filled remains to be seen though.
Joe Stakun's amazing documentary on FBM Bikes, I Love My Bicycle, is going to be released on DVD on December 10. To celebrate, Joe's created a new trailer for the film, which is above. You can also pre-order the DVD through the ILMB Web site, so head on over there, treat yourself to an awesome early X-mas gift and do it for FBM.
Mutiny Bikes have added UK rider Nathan "Safe Nath" Rule to the bro team. According to his new bio on the Mutiny team page, he hails from Hull in the UK and isn't afraid to tell you what he's thinking. But I'll be honest, I would be more interested if someone would explain where the nickname "Safe Nath" came from.
The '80s race legend speaks on his return to the track.
November 20, 2009, 2:35 PM
By: Pat Nugent
Eddy King, circa 1980.
Honestly, I was 3 years old when Eddy King put down his BMX bike to pursue a career in real estate. I think that the only time I had ever even heard his name was when someone was talking about the King brothers (Mike and Eddy), because I knew who his brother Mike King was. Just recently I heard that Eddy was teaming up with Free Agent and Stay Strong Apparel to run Stay Strong colors at the ABA grands and 2010 season. Thanks to the ease of social networking sites, I tracked down Eddy and fired a few questions over to him about the past and present, and how he hooked up with Stephen Murray, Dale Holmes and the Stay Strong campaign.
Coco Zurita during a day off, amongst his non-stop traveling schedule.
I have to say the best part about my job is getting to know and meet so many inspiring riders. It seems every pro has their own story on how they came to be but I've never heard one as impressive as Coco Zurita's. Emailing back and forth for this top 5's, I was astonished to learn his back story. Born and raised in Chile, he learned English to get to America, worked dozens of odd end jobs, (like selling water filters door to door to Spanish people in Texas), put on shows with the GT crew for 4 years, (including working the Dew Tour action tent- padding up little kids), until he finally got the nerve and guts to enter the Dew Tour series himself. All while living off a temporary tourist visa and traveling back and forth to Chile every 6 months. The rest as they would say is history. Now, Coco Zurita travels the world riding his bike, lives at Woodward West and is able to live his dream as a professional BMX rider. Now go read his Top 5's...
While making some POTD's selections for this week, this shot from Keith Romanowski really caught my eye. I didn't know Sean Burns and Edwin Delarosa were friends, but Keith brought up a good point and in the caption and it all made sense...BMX.
"One of the greatest elements that BMX has to offer is its wide range of diversity. People from all around the world are part of the sport. There is no such thing as color; race or sex in BMX, the only thing that matters is you and your bike. Age is also not a factor. Unlike some sports, in BMX it's not frowned upon or out of the norm to ride with someone substantially younger or older. BMX has a unique way of bringing people together. It allows the possibility to meet and interact with other individuals, that one may have never have met before. BMX acts as a bonding agent, where life long friends can be found. Do you think if it wasn't for BMX would Edwin Delarosa and Sean Burns be friends?" -Keith Romanowski
A scene from Penelope Spheeris's seminal 1984 film Suburbia could have been filmed in this lot. Vacant, dusty, trash ridden, it's probably been abandoned for years even though the wall that serves as the wallride is actually the back of a 7-Eleven on a busy street. There's also a gas station next to the 7-Eleven and another one diagonally across from that one. Maybe gas stations and 7-Eleven's are the only businesses that can thrive in a place like this. Maybe that's why it's been left vacant; there's too much gas station competition in the one-block radius. Down the street there's a skatepark too. The weird, Southern California ones that are recessed into the ground with high fences and barely any room to take a breather between a run. It's the ultimate example of a "Skatepark as a ghetto." And like so many skateparks in Southern California, bikes are not allowed.
This is Brian. He lives in Jersey City, rides BMX bikes often and somehow ended up in the X Games a few times. Facebook him if needed.
Cody York
From Cleveland, Ohio, Cody was raised on a steady diet of backyard jumps and skateparks and his photos have graced the pages of Ride BMX, BMX Plus!, Ride UK, and Dig magazines. Got something to share? cyorkphoto@me.com
Mark Noble
Mark is from the U.K., and has over 28+ years experience in BMX. He has launched, published, edited and written for more BMX mags than you can shake a bike at. He also runs Deluxe BMX.
Nick Ferreira
Nick Ferreira is a BMXer, photographer and zine maker from Taunton, MA. He has been extolling the merits of tucks and tabes in print and online for the better part of the past 10 years.
Pat Nugent
Born and raised on Long Island, the only outlet to BMX that Patrick grew up knowing was racing. For a while, he got into all those weird forms of BMX, but eventually returned to the race scene. He enjoys shooting races and snaking practice laps.
Steve Crandall
Hails from Ithaca, NY, created FBM in '93, paints pictures of eggs, soup and pigeons in his spare time, throws down a mean tabletop.
