TERRY ADAMS - THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME

Written by Betsy O’Leary | Photos by Robby Klein

“FROM A YOUNG AGE, I HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO BMX RIDING. IT SPEAKS TO MY SOUL

Kids in south Louisiana love riding bikes, but once they get driver’s licenses, their bicycling days end. Although for Terry Adams, who grew up in Hammond and Pumpkin Center, biking became a brilliant career.

Before he began homeschooling in the seventh grade, Adams was a dyslexic child who struggled to keep up in school. His mother tried to involve him in extracurricular activities like drumming and baseball, but it never really took.

When he discovered BMX flatland biking, Adams says, “It was like coming home.”

How It All Began

Adams states that BMX riding “spoke to his soul.” With no complex directions or rules to follow, riding made him feel free. He spent countless hours riding his bike on the driveway day and night, improving his techniques.

He also became a regular at the former Bike Zone in Hammond hanging out, performing stunts, and seeking advice. At 12, he pored over BMX magazines, finding 800 numbers he could call from phone booths (remember them?) to ask whoever answered what he could do to make a career out of BMX biking.

His First Big Break

He entered his first racing competition in Baton Rouge in 1993, and his biggest opportunity arose in 1995 when a BMX crew from New Orleans came to Hammond to ride. It was one of those life-changing moments because Adams realized this was his destiny.

In 2002, he flew to Japan where he entered and won the “King of the Ground” contest. That win led to sponsorship by Red Bull energy drinks. The company began covering his travel and expenses in 2003 — and still sponsor him today, making this his longest-running corporate partnership.

In 2006, he picked up another corporate sponsor: Louisianabased Raising Cane’s. Its founder, Todd Graves, and the Cane’s crew remain huge supporters of Adams’ endeavors.

A Friend and Mentor

While still a tattooed youth with braided hair, Adams used to practice in the Hobby Lobby parking lot. One day, he was ordered to leave their premises, but Hammond resident Ed Hoover, instead, told him that he would give him written permission to use the lot to practice.

Since then, Hoover became a financial mentor to the BMX biker. He taught him to wisely invest his money, helped him structure real estate deals and boosted Adams’ relationship with First Guaranty Bank.

The Next Phase

Although now 40 and father to a son, Adams hasn’t slowed his roll. He added his third title of number one rider in the world in 2020. He follows a strict daily routine, going to bed at 8 p.m. and waking at 3:30 a.m. to start a punishing 30-minute routine of slimming cardio followed by a 30-minute meditation and a long day practicing flatland stunt techniques.

While still physically fit and on top of his game, Adams is now easing into his own mentorship of younger riders. He gives advice on obtaining sponsorships and how to prepare for a post-BMX career. Adams wants his legacy to be the flatland riders he helped rather than the trophies he accumulated.