ISSUE #2
JOBY SUENDER INTERVIEW
2nd ANNUAL POSH HIGH AIR CONTEST
DAVE KRONE INTERVIEW
THE STREET SERIES IN PHILADELPHIA
CHRIS & COLBY RICHARD
UNCOVERED BMX CONTEST STOP #1
ERIC “ZOOLANDER” MILLER NILO HODGE PHOTO GALLERY
WOMEN’S WEEKEND IN THE WOODS THE INCLINE CLUB FINAL SESSION 1
RIDE PA BMX ISSUE #2 EDITOR IN CHIEF / FOUNDER:
Mike Purcell
ASSISTANT EDITOR:
Matt Smith
ART DIRECTOR:
Matt Smith
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR:
Mike Purcell EDITORIAL:
Josh McElwee Lewis Colascione Chris Doyle Jonathan Schimpf Brian Kachinsky Murphy Moschetta Frank Ashbridge Tasha Lindemann Mike Purcell Nilo Hodge PHOTOGRAPHY:
Josh McElwee Nilo Hodge Luke Marshall Frank Ashbridge Kyle Dipilla Murphy Moschetta Tasha Lindemann Shilo Staniech Smoked Signals Sammi Pine Lewis Colascione Sam Downs Kolbi Devlin VR Photography Dave Krone ADVERTISING:
advertising@ridepabmx.com RIDEPABMX.COM
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ON THE COVER: Dave Krone - “This fullpipe was the first thing I saw driving into Langhorne the last time I visited. It was at a construction site on a flatbed heavily monitored, but I waited till Sunday and got to sesh for like twenty minutes.” Photo: Sammi Pine
INTERVIEWS:
pg.24 Joby Suender pg.14 Dave Krone FEATURED ARTICLES:
pg.10 Chris & Colby Richard pg.20 Eric “Zoolander” Miller PHOTO GALLERIES:
pg.32 Nilo Hodge pg.58 The Street Series in Philadelphia pg.48 pg.38 pg.52 pg.44
EVENTS:
Women’s Weekend In The Woods Second Annual Posh High Air Contest The Incline Club Final Session Uncovered BMX Contest Stop #1 POSTER:
Brian Foster - Posh High Air Contest Jeff Purdy - The Street Series pg.08 pg.09 pg.03 pg.12 pg.30 pg.04 pg.57 pg.06 pg.19 pg.07 pg.29
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS & SPREADS:
Garrett Darr Evan Smedley James Harvey Matt Malone Matt Loughead Brandon Boyle ADVERTS:
The Yea Cella Doors Jaunt The Wheel Mill Bad V3ntures
ON THIS PAGE: James Harvey - One of our skater friends heard rumors about this ditch near St. Petersburg, and we ended up checking it out, we were not disappointed. Photo: Josh McElwee
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Brandon Boyle - Any chance to do an in-camera multiple exposure counts as a good night in my book. Boyle hauled ass at this ledge a bunch of times to get the perfect Smith on top. Photo: Josh McElwee 5
Rider: Daisuke Shiraishi /// Photographer: Hikaru Funyu /// Location: Taipei, Taiwan 11/23/2017
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Garrett Darr - Random find in Downtown Long Beach. Photo: Smoked Signals
Somehow, Evan manages to ride this 2-foot tall cement DIY quarter like it’s a 6-foot covered in Skatelite. Photo: Josh McElwee
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CHRIS & COLBY RICHARD Words and Photos by Josh McElwee
There’s always something unique about watching siblings who both ride. Different styles and influences are easily seen, usually in the form of the older sibling heavily influencing the younger’s approach to riding. With Chris and Colby, its always been a ‘ride everything’ ethos; growing up in a town with no skatepark tends to lend itself well to becoming a well-rounded bike rider. Hanover, Pennsylvania had a massive BMX scene (for being a small town on the Mason-Dixon line) for well over fifteen years, and Chris and Colby are direct products of small-town spot adaptation. With two decades worth of BMX in their blood, neither one plans on slowing down anytime soon.
Top Right: Once Colby figured out Flairs landing onto a pile of dirt a few years back, every other setup he tries it on seems to work out well. Right Middle: Tree stump Bump-Jump to Barspin, bonus points for the stump being barely a bike-length long. 10
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Matt Malone - This photo can’t begin to justify how savage this was in person. An unbelievably steep stump and about half a block of cranking at it resulted in one hell of a Tuck. Photo: Josh McElwee 13
DAVE KRONE INTERVIEW Words by Lewis Colascione | Photos by Lewis Colascione, Kolbi Devlin, Sammi Pine & VR Photography | Interview conducted by Purcey
Dave’s mentality of just having fun on your bike is one that needs to be more prevalent in BMX. By just having fun on his bike, he portrays riding in an appealing fun light. Dave’s style of riding is a flow that everyone can appreciate. He’s able to shred virtually anything he wants while still maintaining the style he’s known for. Even the saltiest skater will see his riding and say, “damn that was sick”. His positive attitude towards life and riding is something that we should all emulate. You moved out to Florida a few years ago. What prompted the move and what do you enjoy about living in The Sunshine State? My oldest sister lived in Florida for ten years, so I always stopped and stayed with her between traveling. Her house was basically home base. I ended up living with her for about a year before she moved out west, and I found a place here. The beach, the warmth, and a more relaxed pace of life.
You’ve never been big into social media, but you recently started an Instagram account. Any reason why you decided to join? The X Games Real BMX project required a certain number of posts on social media for the duration of the project. The main outlet being Instagram, it was necessary. I kept it because I have so many archived photos and videos it’s cool having a place to share them. Making myself somewhat relevant feels right too. Some people don’t think BMX exists outside the limelight. Quite a few people think I quit for a period of time because I wasn’t creating content. I never stopped riding. I think there’s something important in that to reflect on.
You’ve been posting some clips of Lewis Colascione who recently dropped a pretty mindblowing edit online. Tell us a little about Lewis and how you came to start riding together. Lewis is the man. His bike skills are extraterrestrial. He’s from NY. I met Lewis one day while I was pedaling to 14
I’ve gone through some really “demotivating times on my bike. It really made me realize what it is that I love about BMX and not to lose sight of it
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Tabletop at Treaty, my local and favorite park. Pretty much can find me there on any given day.
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the skatepark. He just moved here from NY to attend college and was out scouting for spots when I saw him. He pedaled to the park with me and we pretty much just kept that flow going. He is always doing new things and progresses ridiculously fast. It’s motivating.
Recently you posted some footage from the last session you had with Brian Histand. Can you tell us a little more about that session? It was fun. Brian, Viz, Sammi, Twinkie. All my buds. We stayed with Brian for about a week exploring the desert and the spots Phoenix has to offer. I found my dog Gypsy wandering the desert on that trip with Brian. I miss the guy every day and am super appreciative of that time I got to spend with him along with endless other memories. Histand forever.
Let’s talk a little about your entry into the 2017 X Games Real BMX contest. How did the opportunity to take part in the event present itself? Navaz called me one day and asked if I wanted to do it. Stew Johnson picked the teams, and I think Navaz and I are seen as a package sometimes, so that’s probably what sparked him to choose me.
Footjam in Slab City, California. Dudes in the background are some train-hopping kids we were traveling with.
Your part opened up with a pretty rough slam from the first day of filming in Dubai. Tell us a little more about the crash.
That wall was slippery and a really tight transition, so you had to do almost a Ruben Wallride to stick to the wall and make it through the tranny. I did it a bunch of times and just kept doing it better. We mentioned how much it would suck to clip my back tire, which I ended up doing a few tries later. I knew I was going O.T.B. the moment I tagged my tire, so I had enough time to put my arms down and soften the blow to my face. It really wasn’t as bad as it looked or could have been. I got a bit bruised and cut up and took a few days off. I’m thankful nothing more. I definitely freaked out the locals.
Being that far from home and taking that kind of slam couldn’t have been easy. Did you find yourself struggling mentally or physically to ride the remainder of the trip and were you a little more cautious or apprehensive about the things you were trying to film? Yeah, it was hard. I had to force through a mental block. My head and body were in crisis/healing mode, and I was trying to beat it down again. Nothing about that wants to work with you. Being far away was more motivation to get up and keep going. It’s not every day you find yourself in the UAE with a bike. Once I got through the block it was fine. I think if there was any apprehension it was from the beginning. With only 3-4 weeks to bang out a video, I knew I wouldn’t have the time to create the quality of tricks that I normally would take a year or two to do. We decided to give it more of a relaxed vibe. Search out street transitions and enjoy ourselves. We wanted to push the artistic and filming side a little more.
You and Navaz have been filming together for years and have worked on a number of projects during that time. What has been your favorite project the two of you have completed over the years? Probably my section in ‘Talk is Cheap’. We had two years to film and we lived together the whole time. It was a perfect dynamic for me. Just him and I going on missions with no expectations.
You parted ways with Cult back in 2013. What were some of the reasons behind your decision to move on from the team and did the relationship end on good terms? Sponsors are like any relationship and dynamics can just change over time. I left Cult because I felt like it wasn’t a genuine relationship anymore. I was with Cult for four years and almost that whole time was amazing. Things got murky when I asked to get paid. I have a hard time asking for anything, but I was advised I deserved it and that I would not get it if I hadn’t asked. I had a meeting face to face like a man. I was psyched when there was an agreement to take me to the next level, but I pretty much got distanced right after that. Things I was being 16
told became insincere and dissimulating so I quit. That’s really all that happened. Details are just dramatic. I’m indifferent towards the situation. It’s just another experience to learn from in the life of me. I had an amazing reminder about why I love my bike and not to lose that.
You have been pretty reclusive in BMX the last few years despite pulling in support from S&M and Merritt. How do you feel about sponsors and living up to the expectations they set? I think sponsors are rad. I have nothing against being a professional BMX rider, it just never seemed to suit me. Something feels super unnatural and I don’t know how to handle it. I really enjoy the pureness and the freedom of being a free-rider. My best riding is when it’s just me and a filmer out cruising the unknown. No expectations, no pressure. As soon as pressure, deadlines, and expectations exist, I start shutting down. The creative juices get turned off and I stop having fun. Don’t get me wrong, I work hard when opportunities are presented. Maybe I put it on myself. I’ve gone through some really demotivating times on my bike. It really made me realize what it is that I love about BMX and not to lose sight of it.
Traveling seems to be a pretty big part of your life these last few years. What is it about nature and travel that you enjoy so much? The constant new experiences that exist within travels makes me completely content. It puts you in a good place. So does nature. I gravitate towards things that bring you to the present moment. Falling into a routine can really dull me out, so it’s important for me to remove myself from patterns and throw myself into the unknown.
You’re also somewhat of a surfing enthusiast. How long have you been surfing for? How did you become interested in surfing and do you find similarity between surfing and riding BMX? About four years but I’ve always been into surfing. North Florida has a huge surfing scene so after living here and coming here for so many years it was only natural I would pick up a board one day. BMX and surfing are rooted in the same soil. Both require you to be fully in the moment.
How did you learn to surf and have you had any bad crashes? Just by getting out there as much as possible. I surf almost every day if I can. There are so many rippers in my town, so it’s cool surfing with them. You can learn things quickly. It can be more forgiving than BMX, but I have had some scary hold downs and gashes on my head and limbs from my board and fins. Wiping out happens, but to do it as safe as possible is a skill and it’s the moments that catch you off guard when you get hurt.
The way you ride concrete bowls almost reflects your surfing. Do you feel like surfing has played a role in the progression of your riding and style? Thanks. Yes both physically and mentally it translates over to BMX and vise versa. I mean, look at a quarter pipe. It’s a stationary wave.
Do you have any thoughts about the decline of tangible BMX media such as the death of print and DVD production? We live in a constantly changing world. It would be silly to think something will be the same forever. In twenty years, BMX media will be shared in a way that is different from today. Progression can’t come about without change, and BMX absolutely changes as technology advances. While it seems sad to watch things you’ve adapted to disappear, accepting change is good, as long as the content is still pumping. The endless realm of the internet is progressing and connecting BMX so much faster than tangible media ever has. I think if tangible media makes a comeback, it will be at a time that more people remember what it is to be timeless. It’s harder now to attach yourself to something you can look at a thousand times, like a magazine, and still find it enjoyable or notice things you wouldn’t unless you had a connection with it. 17
Lewis Bump - 180 Bar up the five at our meet up spot when we ride street. Photo: Dave Krone
You released two full-length videos ‘Chocolate Milk’ and ‘Yo Guy!’. Have you ever considered filming another full-length video? No, I don’t think I would film another full-length of my own. I really just enjoy making little edits. I would probably still film a full part for something but, as far as dealing with the technicals of making a DVD or something, I’m over it.
Around the time you were filming for ‘Yo Guy!’ you had an ongoing knee injury that required surgery to repair. What happened? I started having weird pains in my knee when I was walking mostly. I basically had a dying section of bone on the end of my femur. The surgeons at Rothman in Philly did the best surgery they knew to keep me riding. They cut out the small section of dead bone and replaced it with a fresh piece of my shin bone. Then they drilled it to my femur and shaved it down round to match the curve of my knee. It’s literally exactly how you would fix a surfboard ding just with bone. I was off my bike for eight months and on crutches for five. It was really intense. I had to sit in this machine a few times a day to bend my knee one more degree every day. My ‘Yo Guy!’ part was the first two months of riding after that. That injury kind of defined my style because I started to lean different when I land from the habit of being gentle on that knee.
Do you think your outlook on BMX or the way you approach riding has changed with age? My outlook on BMX has changed many times throughout my life, but the root of it comes from just enjoying how it feels. I think now, at 29 years old, I feel like I did when I first pedaled on a bike or jumped curbs in my neighborhood as a kid. I have had an absurd amount of injuries on and off my bike so I really just try to keep myself feeling good on and off my bike. A lot of tricks I used to do just don’t feel good to me, so I stopped doing them.
What keeps you motivated to continue to ride BMX and progress? BMX itself keeps me motivated. Plain and simple. Having an outlet for creative energy and a tool that feels like an extension of yourself; there’s no better feeling.
Is there anyone you would like to thank? Any last words? Purcey for this Interview. Merritt. S&M. Fam. Dogs. Friends. Yo Guy!
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ERIC “ZOOLANDER” MILLER Words by Chris Doyle | Photos & Captions by Murphy Moschetta
Even though I’ve known Zoo for over a decade now, I really don’t think I know him well at all. He’s a quiet man and doesn’t generally reveal too much about himself. If you ask him a question, be prepared for a one-word answer. I used to find his quietness strange, but as time goes by, I appreciate it more and more. In a world where it seems like everyone wants to be seen and heard, it’s refreshing when people let their actions speak for them. He works a labor-intensive, backbreaking job that sends most of his coworkers straight to the bar after a long day’s work. Zoo prefers to go riding when the work day is done - and he’s not just riding, he’s ripping! I jokingly tell people that Zoo NEVER has a mellow session. Every session is chalked full of some of the heaviest riding you’ll ever see. He’s not doing it for a check, he’s not training, and he certainly doesn’t care about the recognition (he’s told me once that he hates compliments). He rides hard because that’s the way he likes it. He’s not afraid to take chances and he likes pushing his peers to progress their own riding. I’ve never met anyone who speaks so casually about taking heavy slams either - “I think the more you slam, the tougher you get” is an exact quote from Zoo. If that’s true, he might be one of the toughest humans ever. I’ve seen him get served on more than a few occasions. Zoo is a rare breed in this day and age, and I’m thankful to have him as a part of our (Pittsburgh) scene. Whether he knows it or not, he has helped bring the riding in our scene up a few notches. Of course, I would never tell him that to his face. Remember, no compliments!
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Zoo is heavily influenced by the mid-school. This Cram-Can brought to you by the Props Box Set. 21
We shot this photo with dwindling daylight. It’s safe to say that Zoo is probably spotting his pedals by the light of my flash.
Zoo has a seriously deep bag of tricks. 22
You can take Zoo out of the trails, but you can’t take the trails out of Zoo. Downside Fast Plant on a tree trunk at The Wheel Mill
On all terrain, Zoo rides with a smooth and powerful style that few can replicate.
Cutting through the Pittsburgh humidity with a classic 360 Tabletop. 23
rather my riding “I’djustmuch look simple & have
a unique feel because of the landscape itself, the spot. Less is more to me
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INTERVIEW: JOBY SUENDER Words by Jonathan Schimpf | Photos by Luke Marshall
I first met Joby around fourteen years ago when my hometown friends and I would take trips, with our new licenses, to neighboring areas all over our county (Schuylkill County, PA). We would hit Pottsville quite often because it was the most interesting “city” to ride nearby without going to Reading. There was a local bank spot with a small sub and a wallride that everyone in that area would ride. Joby lived down the road from there and my first time meeting him, I remember he was pedaling full speed at the bank to shed wallride with zero sense of fear or any hesitation. We were all pretty young but he was even younger and his bike looked really big for him, so it was pretty impressive. Since those days we both relocated to Philadelphia for school and then later working here in our careers. During that process we’ve explored the city quite a bit, and filmed many clips together. He’s always down for heading in the lesser known direction, or taking that long pedal just to see if something of interest to ride is there. Joby is passionate about BMX, so much so that he’s been able to marry his love for riding with his daily work. He took a vision of creating a youth program for at-risk kids in his city and made it a reality. The program, ‘BMXlife’, aims to develop a healthy lifestyle and promotes peaceful positive activity through BMX riding. It is, in a sense, a BMX summer program for kids who might not have access to the sport. Aside from this and his other daily work, he still finds the time to catch as many sessions as he can, continuously progress his own riding, and film for various projects. I sat down with Joby and asked him a few questions about his background, the program, and his thoughts on riding.
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Who are you, how old are you, where the hell did you come from, and where do you live now? I’m Joby Suender, and I’m 26 years old. I was born and grew up in Pottsville, PA. I live in South Philadelphia currently, and I’ve been living in the city for the last eight years.
What initially got you interested in riding BMX and how did the region you grew up in influence your approach and overall style? I just loved riding bikes from an early age. My dad had me on two wheels by the time I was three, and it was on from there, pedaling fast and hitting little jumps on Huffy’s. Then I found out about actual BMX bikes and began to cycle through those. There was already a pretty strong trail riding scene in the Pottsville area because of the Minersville trails the next town over. I started to go out to those trails when I was going into 8th grade. Hitting dirt jumps on a bike is about as fundamental as it gets in BMX. Those basic concepts have definitely influenced my overall style, and I feel like that’s pretty obvious in my riding today. I can’t Barspin, I just do Tables [laughs].
What did the Minersville trails mean to you? How was your experience growing up when those trails were running at their peak? Minersville meant everything to the scene. It was a heartbreaker to see them plowed. Riding there as a kid and seeing all the dudes from magazines and videos like Chase Hawk, Doyle, and Kris Bennett was crazy. I couldn’t believe guys from as far as England and Australia were coming to my town in the middle of nowhere to ride. When the trails were at their peak from like 2001-2006, it was unreal. Awesome group of guys there running shit. Shawn Shoener, Jut, Craig, George, Kev, Jeff; those dudes kept shit dialed and were awesome to watch ride and learn from. Plus they taught me how to talk shit, always making fun of me and my friends for being street riders, not having brakes and not being smooth or flowing well enough.
Have you always rode a mix of trails and street? Would you say you prefer one over the other, or is riding more or less inspired by your surroundings at the time? Riding has always been a mix for me. I started out riding dirt jumps in the woods behind my house. I rode dirt jumps all around Pottsville for years with friends while we were too scared to go out to Minersville [laughs]. We knew the trails were no joke and that the older dudes were dickheads, so we made sure we had our shit together before trying to ride them. We also rode a lot of street during that time, but I’m not sure if I would consider it that by my own standards now [laughs]. I definitely prefer riding street today. I love how a constantly changing urban environment plays into what someone rides. That change and unrest is what makes the streets so awesome. Philadelphia is going through a ton of redevelopment right now, so there’s a lot of new stuff being built. But there’s still pockets in the hood that aren’t being touched with tons of great stuff to get at. To me, riders are usually all about either being down to pedal miles to find something new or a spot that no one else has hit, or they’re the dudes that are content with riding the same old shit forever so they can concentrate on the script for their vlog. Either way, I don’t know. Maybe I am still influenced by the surroundings at the time. Plop me down next to a nice set of trails and put some brakes on my bike for me, and I’ll ride them forever.
BMXlife, a unique outreach program that you started in Philadelphia, has grown quite a bit since it’s inception. Can you talk a little bit about how this concept was conceived and what went into making it a reality? Why did you start it? How did you pitch the program to secure funding and sponsors? The concept for the ‘BMXlife’ program just kind of organically came about between myself and Steve Tassone. We were both studying and living together at Temple University at the time. Steve was in a business class focused around Social Entrepreneurship and developing nonprofit programs. We were closing out on filming for ‘Chocolate Truck’, and our experiences throughout the city often had a common theme. Show up to a spot, possibly piss some neighbors off, maybe get some bad vibes. But if younger kids from the block were around, they were instantly attracted to our bikes. We’d let them ride our bikes or help them learn how to, and that was always the instant hood pass. If people on the block weren’t initially feeling the group of white boys that just rolled onto their block or park, they were cool once we let the kids ride and they saw how hyped they were.
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people on the block weren’t “Ifinitially feeling the group of
white boys that just rolled onto their block or park, they were cool once we let the kids ride and they saw how hyped they were
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That’s probably what made Steve and I want to do it in the first place. It’s an awesome feeling to see how hyped kids are when they first get on a bike. I was also just kind of continuing the trend that I grew up around; older guys at the trails truly connecting me with BMX and showing me what was up. Because of the neighborhoods we were riding in and the unfortunate social (socioeconomic) issues the communities are dealing with, we saw that there was a real need for a mentorship program like this due to the interest in BMX and bikes we saw from kids. The pitch kind of started when I was interning for a nonprofit in the city that oversees about fifty other programs and smaller nonprofits. I was finishing my internship there and had talked to a few people about the idea to develop this BMX program for at risk youth. They set me up with the president of one of their program partners, ODAAT in North Philly, and he was all about the idea from the jump. I was hired as a program coordinator and the assistant to the president, but I also had the freedom to run with this program and develop it. I lucked out there. While I didn’t (and still don’t) have any funding secured from the city or state, ODAAT has all of the ‘front and back of the house’ support the program needed; office space, program space, a food bank for our clients, vehicles, insurance, staff support etc. I make the program work with help from private donations and fundraising efforts, plus support from a few people in the industry I was able to reach out to. So big shouts to Ryan Cork and the awesome dudes over at Kink, Ralph and everyone at Animal, Quality Bike Parts for the full tool set up, and Bern Helmets for all sponsoring the program. Also, a big thanks to Van and Fit Bikes, Colony BMX and Illumine Collect for their support and donations as well.
Is there any other BMX specific programs like yours out there that you could pull inspiration or get feedback from, or were you on your own planning this? How long does the program run throughout the year? And what does an average day feel like working with the kids? I didn’t know of any other BMX specific programs when I was developing ‘BMXlife’ at ODAAT, so I was definitely on my own. It made it hard but cool at the same time. It felt that much more like my own thing just for the kids in Philly. Now I’ve come to learn there are some other programs although I don’t know much about them yet. I think some of the guys like Tammy or Jeff Wescot that do the BMX tradeshows at schools are also teaching kids to ride? Not too sure though. The program runs just during the summer months while the kids are out of school, June to the first weekend in September usually. I run it three days a week for four hours a day. The kids usually show up an hour before the program is supposed to start and then it takes another hour before they all will finally roll out after lunch [laughs]. But, that’s what it’s all about, I love it. The kids are so hyped every day and always want to go ride something new and learn something new. I think the favorites are Ghetto Banks and Whitehall or Paines. Plus, the more time they spend with the program, the less time they have to be getting into anything negative on the streets. A few of the kids that live right around the office will stop in and say what’s up or even help out with things in the office, so that’s awesome too.
Do you enjoy traveling to new places to ride? Where has BMX taken you on the map? Where would you love to go? I love traveling on or off the bike. Whether it’s domestic or abroad, I love to try and get the true experience through the local history and culture, food, street offerings and locals. In the US, other than the Northeast, I’ve ridden L.A. and San Francisco. This past April a bunch of the CT homies and I made our first international trip to Barcelona, so that was wild. In 2016, Zac Costa hit me up and said it was cool to slide through his spot in Colombia. I went down and stayed with him for two weeks in Medellin. Ratkid was also there staying with Zac at the time, and Hoder arrived four days before I left. Was lucky to be in that type of company, we rode incredible shit that Zac had in the bag. That trip was a blur, hard to keep up with the King Cobra, Zac Costa, though [laughs]. That shit was an everyday vibe for him. Off the dome; Paris, France, Santiago, Chile, Bogotá/Medellin, Colombia, Buenos Aires/Cordoba, Argentina, Tokyo, Japan, Lisbon, Portugal, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
You’ve put in work filming for many independent projects over the years, each offering giving a bit more insight into your wide-ranging skill sets. You always seem to find unique setups to clip up on. When stacking footage, do you do a lot of pre-planning and spot searching? Have you ever stalked a spot for a long period of time until the opportunity is finally there? Yeah, when I’m filming for anything the first thing I’m taking into account is a unique selection of new spots. There’s not usually anything in my mind in the way of specific tricks, more so just some spot I recently scoped out that dictates something in particular. When I go out to ride after work, I’m not going to my local flat ledge to practice grind combos for three hours. Instead, I’m pedaling a couple miles to a less familiar area, zigzagging around trying to find something unique and new. Then I put it in the spank bank until I can get back there with someone to film it. Progression is cool, 27
but personally, I’d much rather my riding just look simple and have a unique feel because of the landscape itself, the spot. Less is more to me. Yeah man, I’m always stalking numerous spots possibly waiting for something to change structurally to make it rideable, or for a car to move or something like that. That stuff is the worst but makes things so interesting at the same time. That’s just one more thing you have to work around.
Your section in the ‘Chocolate Truck’ DVD was really well received. During that era, many of the guys featured in the video lived at, or near 18th & Berks in Philadelphia. Having a home base where the majority of the involved members are hanging around is obviously an advantage for productivity when working on a large scale project like that. How does the process of accumulating clips for your CT2 section differ from the first one? Are you currently working on filming for any other projects? Thanks for buttering me up [laughs]. Yeah, those two years at the CT House will always be an unforgettable time. You barely had to give filming a second thought unless it was something serious you had in mind. Matt was a soldier with the camera so he always had his bag on when we went out to ride. There was just always an opportunity to get something done, so it was mad easy to feel, and sometimes even be, productive [laughs]. For CT2 it’s much different. It’s harder to get the crew together because everyone had to grow up, get real jobs and a few of the homies moved. Matt comes down from NY regularly to film, but those sessions definitely feel more like a mission. Not a bad thing though because we’ve been able to hit mad shit, I just have the list ready each time and try to cross something off when he’s around. Shit worked out well this time around and I have pretty much all the shit done I wanted. I’ll just keep adding a thing or two of quality until the filming process stops (cough, cough, let’s go Miller). In addition to closing out CT2, I’m working on a section for the next Animal piece that is dropping soon, and I have a pretty good amount of footage for the next Atown Trash video. Other than that a few clips from Colombia that will be in the project Zac Costa’s working on.
As you get older and the responsibilities of adulthood continue to pile on, what keeps you motivated to get out and progress your riding? Just to find something new and unique. My riding style definitely progressed (or maybe regressed) over the past few years. The days of learning a bunch of new shit are long gone, I’m way more concerned with finding something no one else has hit and hopefully hitting the one or two things on it that the spot calls for or dictates. I’m not worried about getting any attention from anyone or any companies or brands. I just want the memories to look back on and remember the days cruising the streets with the boys and all the ridiculous shit we saw and good times we had.
Thanks, man. Hit me with some last words and shout out your real ones. Love to the family, especially my parents for the opportunities they gave me and for dealing with my shit. Love and thanks to my beautiful fiancé Sarah for dealing with even more of my shit and not being phased by any of it. As for the homies, all the CT dudes for keeping each other motivated and all the support and good times in general. Mad love to the homies I first started riding within Pottsville as well as the Atown Trash and Stink Pit homies. Also, huge thanks to Ralph at Animal for being the realest out there and all the support.
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Matt Loughead - Up rail T-Bog Photo: Shilo Staniech 31
NILO HODGE PHOTO GALLERY Words by Purcey | Photos & Captions by Nilo Hodge
Nilo Hodge has an incredible eye for detail that is prominently displayed through his work. Over the last couple of years, Nilo has become increasingly devoted to photography and mastering the tools of his craft. What began simply as an extension of his passion for riding BMX and documenting the scene around him, has grown into a passion all its own. Nilo has helped to keep the ECD name alive for the better part of five years now, but his passion for photography stretches far beyond the limitations of BMX; shooting everything and anything he can get in front of his lens. As a photographer, Nilo is constantly learning and progressing with each photo he captures, and the results are a sterling example of his hard work and devotion. ECD will never die!
For more: nilohodgephoto.com ecdbmx.com instagram: nilohodgephoto
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Left: This is another spot that I grew up riding and never thought much else could be done. Dustin Clewell had this one in mind for a while and was really apprehensive about giving it a go. After a couple of minutes, he sent this Opposite 60/40, and it worked out so smooth I didn’t realize he actually did it till I saw the photo.
Above: I grew up jumping this alley gap on the way to other spots. It was awesome seeing the array of tricks that Chopper did across this gap. He’s one of the few guys I know that can ride flat ground like it’s a box jump. This T-Bog was way too dipped for being a high-speed hop.
Chief came back up to Allentown to cruise around for the day. We almost rode right past this set up on the way to another spot. After a few goes, he got this curb cut to Opposite Smith Threader done. 33
One of the dopest things about Penn Skate is the Little Devil bowl. Marky T rips the hell out of this thing every time he’s there. You can hear the 2x4’s being stressed to hell every time he’s getting speed to blast this Transfer. Dude rips!
If you ever rode this spot, you’d know how crazy this Wallride from the storm door is. The door is super slippery and pretty steep. Dustin Clewell couldn’t have done this Wallride any better. 34
Ryan Muschlitz is usually good for any Handi Hop you set in front of him. So when we came across this one, it was all him. The curb right after the trash can made this even rougher, it was either he landed it or waffled his rim. Ryan cranked up the ramp, flew over the rail, trash can, and the curb first go. One and done is the way to go with these things.
This is one of the weirdest Pole Jam setups I’ve seen in a while. Pat Quinn had to move a fence, ride up a handicap ramp, and hit a tight swerve to get this pole jam done. Glad we got to go before it was ripped out the following week. 35
I’ve had this shot in my mind for a couple of years now. This walkway at Bethlehem Steel is no bikes allowed and heavily surveilled. Grant Bass is always down to try my photo ideas out, so he was willing to risk getting the boot from security to get this Hop Whip done.
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It’s been super cold lately, so we started getting the indoor sessions at Penn Skate going. Evan Smedley was up from Harrisburg and was down to do his best Wallride to Bird impression. I think it’s pretty believable.
This is one of the dopest PA cities to ride street in. I met up with a few guys at this spot, and I saw Dylan Keenan locking into these Opposite Tooth Hangers pretty much every go.
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Bobby Lutz
2ND ANNUAL POSH HIGH AIR CONTEST Words & Photos by Frank Ashbridge
Posh Woods Second Annual High Air Contest took place on Saturday, October 21st. If you were out in the woods that day, it seemed more like Spring then the beginning of Fall. The temperature was high, and so was the stoke! The Butcher Jump resembled a launchpad rocketing the likes of Brian Foster, Clint Reynolds and Charles Scott (FiftyFoe) to name a few into the air and through the trees of this small but important patch of land nestled in the Bethlehem landscape. Even with the Blue Falcon throwing twelve-foot-high 360 Tabletops it couldn’t stop the seemingly unbeatable Clint Reynolds who was able to take top honors once again to make him High Air King two years in a row. But with all the excitement going on we couldn’t help but be snapped back to reality with the injury of FiftyFoe who broke his femur while throwing it big and overshooting the landing. A somber reminder of the high stakes these guys face on a daily basis doing what they love.
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Clint Reynolds
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2ND ANNUAL POSH HIGH AIR CONTEST Top Left: Marky T. Bottom Left: Marky T No shirts required to lay a Flatty. Left: FiftyFoe – The calm before the storm. Top Right: BF – Master Blaster / One Handed 360 Table. Bottom Right: Rob Dolecki – Renaissance man, what isn’t Rob good at?
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Unknown
Tyler Truman 42
James Nutter – Next year’s High Air champ?
Brian Foster
Clint Reynolds – High Air Champ roasting @ 14ft.
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Results: Semi-Pro - 1st - ‘Mad Mike’ Guth, 2nd - Alex Leibrock, 3rd - Jamie Thayer Intermediate - 1st - Adem Gunaydin, 2nd - Harry Grzybowski, 3rd - Dalton Clare
UNCOVERED BMX CONTEST #1 CHARM CITY MASON-DIXON Words and Photos by Josh McElwee
Brian Kachinsky and Van Homan are obviously veteran BMX legends, but their commitment goes far beyond riding at some of the highest levels we’ve ever seen. In terms of giving back to BMX, both of these guys are unwavering in their roles as ambassadors for our culture. After deciding that an amateur-focused contest series was something that BMX could use more of, they took it upon themselves to create one of their own. The first stop was hosted by Charm City Mason-Dixon Skatepark in Rising Sun, MD. Attendance was high, bringing in riders from all over the Northeast as well as some from as far away as Michigan and Ohio. The vibe in that warehouse was, to put it bluntly, fucking off the hinges, especially during Semi-Pro finals. ‘Mad Mike’ Guth isn’t a household name yet, but there is no doubt he will be in the future, along with guys like Aaron Simone, Alex Leibrock, and Jamie Thayer. Stops two and three are still to come, and if the first one is any indication, they’ll be even crazier and just as much fun. The primary goal of Uncovered: “To get riders together to have a good time on bikes. Anytime that happens, you get your friends together and likely make new friendships that last a lifetime. In addition to that simple goal, Van and I wanted to take it a step further and put the entire spotlight on the Am riders. Pro contests/ events are insane. We all love them and are motivated by them but it’s events like Uncovered that can ignite the flame and turn some of these riders into tomorrow’s pros. At the core of it all, we just want up and coming riders to pull a new trick, create a rad line, cheer on their homies, make new friends, and leave with a smile on their face and maybe a sense of accomplishment. BMX has given me all those things and more. We want to do our part in keeping that spirit alive and well.” - Brain Kachinsky 44
‘Mad Mike’ Guth - Wallride
Jamie Thayer - Barspin Gap over the rail.
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Aaron Simone - Tabletop
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UNCOVERED BMX CONTEST #1 CHARM CITY MASON-DIXON
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Back Row: Tia Kelly, Mo Malone, Heather Jusczyk, Christi Hughes, Becky Olive, Tasha Lindemann, Chelsea Fietsgodin. Middle Row: Joce Camarra, Becky Deweaver, Jen Halahan, Kaci Halahan, Kristen Lenart, Daniela Cifuentes, Carley Young, Amanda Toth, Brooke Trine, Unknown. First Row: Adrienne Mauro, Tracey Anthony, Kierstyn Williams, Sarah Dinel, Bette White, Taryn Hipp, Delia, Ashley Macdonald, Monique Paré, Andrea Truesdell, Jazzy, & Peyton Ridenour.
WOMEN’S WEEKEND IN THE WOODS Words and Photos by Tasha Lindemann | Flyer by Alexis Mabry
Pennsylvania is home to arguably the best BMX trails in history, Catty and Posh Woods. To witness these trails in person is awe-inspiring, like something out of a dream. Hours upon hours have been spent perfecting these dirt sculptures, each one telling the stories of the incredible riders that have come before. The weekend of September 30th, 2017 these woods were filled with women shredders, good vibes and endless laughter for the first annual ‘Women’s Weekend in the Woods’. Ages two to fifty-two and travelers from as far as England and Puerto Rico came together to create history for women’s BMX. With attendance close to forty lady shredders and overwhelming support from the BMX community, the stoke was high. Saturday, the riders piled in at Catty, making introductions and hitting the trails with endless motivation. Posh was the stop for Sunday’s Jam and everyone rode into the last glimmer of daylight, holding onto the magic that the weekend had created. Each day was fueled with encouragement, creative energy and invincibility, pushing each riders’ progression to the max. From taking on the roller section, flying over doubles and even roasting some of the largest jumps, the ladies made their presence known at every skill level. Lasting friendships were created, built with the strongest foundation of BMX, authenticity and pure joy for shredding. This event was made possible because of Taryn Hipp, Bette White and the help of some incredible sponsors; Empire, S&M and Fit. Thank you for bringing such an incredible group of people together. I can’t wait to see what next years event will bring!
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Bikes Make Me Smile, Chelsea Fietsgodin and Bette White.
Joce Camarra Heather Jusczyk & Andy Schwartz.
Tia Kelly and Mo Malone Andrea Truesdell Carley Young
Becky Olive Taryn Hipp Jason Lonergan & his daughter, Jazzy
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Andrea Truesdell
Kristen Lenart AKA Sparkle Shreds.
Lioba Struck
Support from Legends Joe Doherty & Mike Gentilcore.
Joce Camarra
Bette White
Brooke Trine.
Taryn Hipp and Becky Deweaver
Clint Reynolds
Christi Hughes
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Matty Cranmer with a casual air out of the 7-foot quarter after taking a lap around the pocket.
THE FINAL INCLINE CLUB SESSION Words by Purcey | Photos by Kyle Dipilla
In mid-December, Scotty Cranmer broke the news that The Incline Club would be closing its doors for good on December 31st, after eighteen years of business. Located in Lakewood, New Jersey, The Incline Club grew into a world-class facility and one of the most renowned skateparks on the East Coast. The closure of the park has undoubtedly caused a sting that will be felt for years to come but the legacy the park leaves behind will live on forever. The parks last session was held on Saturday, December 30th, 2017, following a final lock in the night before. The closing of The Incline Club drew a tremendous turnout in a show of support for both the park and the Cranmer family. Kyle Dipilla made the three-hour drive to bid the park a final farewell and document the last hurrah on our behalf. A big shout-out to the Cranmer family (Big Scott, Donna, Bobby, Scotty, Kelsey, and Matty) for eighteen years of unforgettable memories and fighting the good fight. Cheers!
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Scotty Cranmer calling the shots during the ‘Best Trick’ contest on the kinked rail.
Middle: Dom Simoncini serving up a Crooked Grind during ‘Best Trick’. Right: Simple and clean. Eddie Rovi, spine Tailwhip. 53
Colton Civitello working through the boxjump line.
Middle: If you know who this is reach out!
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Right: Colin Akerman, high-speed Barspin over the hip to start the line.
Colton Civitello huge Tailwhip air.
Davon Johnson sends a Tailwhip over the rail during the ‘Best Trick’ contest.
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Alex Avilla Bar to Pegs to Crank down the kinker. 55
Flair at height by Logan Martin getting the crowd on its feet.
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RYAN “GROOVY” MUSCHLITZ 60 / 40 Feeb | Photo: Matt Smith | Use “RIDEPA20” to get 20% off @ theyea.com
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Matt Miller | Photo: Sam Downs
Photo: Frank Ashbridge
Mike Hebert - Feeble to 360 | Photo: Frank Ashbridge
Unknown - Tabletop | Photo: Kyle Dipilla
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Ralique Glasgow- Roof Drop Photo: Kyle Dipilla
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Oscar Ruiz - Rail Ride Photo: Frank Ashbridge
Tom Dugan - Footplant Fakie Photo: Frank Ashbridge
George Miller - Wallride Photo: Frank Ashbridge
Dr. Bonus Grind - X-up Grind Photo: Kyle Dipilla
Daquan Watkins - Roof Drop Barspin Photo: Sam Downs 61
Jonathan Jaramillo - Rail Ride | Photo: Kyle Dipilla
Evan Smedley - Toboggan | Photo: Frank Ashbridge
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Unknown - 270 Tabletop | Photo: Sam Downs
‘Mad Mike’ Guth - Backwards rail, 180 out. Photo: Kyle Dipilla
Dan Lacey presenting ‘Mad Mike’ Guth with The Street Series ring. Photo: Kyle Dipilla 63
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