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Well, why not post it here? I like how they said I was “one of the more interesting characters BMX has ever seen”… haha.. Thanks to the boys at Props for posting this.
Props Visual – – Videos Props Issue 6 – Krt Schmidt Interview.
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Thanks to Kurt Hohberger I’ve got a Rapid Response interview up at Dig. If you are interested click here and check it out!
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This was in a obscure local paper but I thought you would enjoy it because Tom is totally awesome to the max.
Had he nicked the furniture, Tom Haugen’s career might have been over before it began.
With Minnesota winters incompatible with outdoor BMX riding practice and few indoor sites available, Haugen and a friend resorted to honing their tricks in the Haugen family’s basement.
“I told them if they scratched the pool table, they were done,” said Roger Haugen, Tom’s father. “They never did in all the time they spent down there riding their bikes.”
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Twenty-two years ago, while living in St. Louis Park, Tom got his start riding in the basement, on the street in front of his house and on makeshift dirt jumps. Today the Twin Cities native makes his living on the bike, performing and competing around the world.
He had not had a chance to be in a major event in his hometown until April 25 of this year when he was part of the Action Sports World Tour event at the Target Center.
At 32, Haugen is getting used to being referred to as a “veteran” BMX rider.
“A lot of guys get hurt and are done at 23,” Haugen said before a BMX demonstration this week at the Mall of America. “But there’s also a guy, Dennis McCoy, who’s 42 and is still a top-level competitor. I’ve had injuries, but if you take care of yourself you can keep riding.”
Haugen, who has a residence in Plymouth, spends five to seven hours a day on his bike and another two in the gym to keep up with riders who are younger – some more than a decade younger.
He built a reputation as a consistent rider who is as comfortable on ramps as he is on flatland. He has competed in five X Games, three International X Games and seven Gravity Games.
“I always took pride in being versatile, and I think that’s one reason I’m still doing this,” Haugen said. “Today, most guys focus on one discipline.”
But in the late 1980s, when Haugen started riding, there were few if any BMX ramps. So he started out as a “flatlander,” with the practice facility often the street in front of his house. He rode flatland for six years – until he was 16 – before moving on to dirt jumps and eventually ramps. He moved to Orlando in 2005, making it his permanent residence, in part because it was better for practice in the winter.
“I’d always had a bike, but when I was a kid, the cool thing was to have a bike with pegs [essential for various BMX tricks],” Haugen said.
After he got a bike suitable for BMX, it wasn’t long before he was pushing its limits.
“One day when I came home, I was coming up the driveway and he was coming down the driveway on his bike, standing on the handlebars, steering with his feet,” Roger Haugen said.
Haugen’s parents were aware of the injury risk, but didn’t discourage their son from riding.
“I think they saw I had a passion for it,” Haugen said. “And I think they were OK with the friends I had. I have a really tight group of friends, the same friends I’ve had for 20 years. We were just a bunch of young kids riding our bikes.”
Haugen had a serious injury in 2006, breaking his tibia, fibula and ankle. That forced him away from competition for several months, but he was able to return by 2007.
He elected not to return to school. In 1998, Haugen had about one year until graduation from the University of Minnesota when he turned pro. He had been pursuing a teaching degree.
Haugen hasn’t ruled out teaching someday, saying it’s the only other thing he could see himself doing as a career. Going back to school was always a fallback plan in case his riding career ended catastrophically.
If worse came to worst, “he said the U of M was handicapped-accessible,” Roger Haugen said.
Watch some TH footage after the jump!
Popularity: 49% [?]
Tags: Bicycle Motocross, Cycling, Mall of America, Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Sports, Target Center, Twin Cities, University of Minnesota
Nigel Sylvester talks to Forbes.com about creating a brand for yourself in BMX. Interesting interview. It’s good to see the mainstream media taking our sport more seriously although the interviewer does seems to speak to Nigel like he’s 12 at times.
http://www.forbes.com/video/?video=fvn/sportsmoney/mo_sm072408
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Tags: BMX, Business, Cycling, mainstream media, Nigel Sylvester, Sports, VideoWhat can I say about a legend that hasn’t been said before? I can say this. I was always a Haro guy so I rooted for Dominguez back in the day. Eddie seemed more about the “show” while Mike seemed more concerned about the tricks themselves. Since I was spending so much time learning the tricks I never paid much attention to “style”. So people are born with style and some people need to learn it. When it came to freestyle Eddie Fiola embodied it. It wasn’t till I matured (debatable? yes.) that I was able to appreciate Fiola’s riding for what it was.
If you have watched the AFA Wichita flatland run I posted a while ago you’ll see his attitude towards riding shining through. Eddie wasn’t concentrating on “bangers” or “hammers”, he was all about the presentation. From the mohawk helmet to the moonwalk trick Eddie was there to entertain. Still to this day that’s exactly what he’s still doing. When not doing stunt work for movies like Spiderman 3 he’s still doing shows and inspiring a whole new generation.
I’m glad to see that there are some kids out there learning that a simple rockwalk can blow minds as much as learning a front-flip tailwhip into a foam pit. Which do I prefer? Really for me its all in the presentation. What does it for you?
When was the first time you ever saw Freestyle bike riding?
1979
Do you believe that the movie “RAD” was a contributing factor to ending the Cold War? Why?
YES, You had more important things to do , like RIDE
What does the lyric “Get ready to break the ice” mean to you?
Ride your bike
What was your favorite BMX Freestyle video ever?
GTV
Now that your retired as a professional rider, what is your focus on today?
STUNT WORK
If I gave you an elephant where would you hide it?
Why would I hide it?
If you could be any other rider in history who would it be and why?
EDDIE FIOLA. I think he had fun riding.
Concrete or Plywood? Why?
Concrete, no flex
Were there any riders that rubbed you the wrong way?
YES!
What was the most interesting tour you ever went on? Why was it so interesting?
Japan, ass sliding!!
How would you convince me that the world is round?
When your gut talks to you, you listen
What knowledge would you like to pass on to up and coming riders?
RIDE HARD, STAY FIT, HAVE FUN
What do you wish I had asked you that I didn’t?
What do you hate about interviews online?
Just f#$%en with you, LATER
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Tags: Eddie Fiola, Interview, Japan, Old School BMX, professional rider, Rad, Spiderman 3So instead of just having videos I’ve decided to expand the offerings and since the invention of MySpace it’s never been easier to get in contact with other bike riders. So for your reading pleasure I’ve come up with a few questions and spread them around. Also, I’ve opened up the comments so feel free to give your feedback on this interview with Woody Itson!
Meeting Woody the first time for me was a bit disappointing. I thought for sure he was a big ego manic being as In my mind I had come to the belief that he could breathe fire and have any girl he wanted just by smiling at her while somehow not looking effeminate on pink bike. So let me be completely honest… Woody is a really good guy.
I remember growing up you had to choose. R.L.? Martin? Woody? Who was the flatlander you emulated? Well, as everyone knows Woody was the obvious choice. Was it the tricks? No. Was it the mustache? Well… No! Was it the unusually attractive tight uniforms? Hello no! You know what it was? Woody always looked like he was having the time of his life.
Inspiring, technical and stylish.
When was the first time you ever saw Freestyle bike riding?
At an ABA national I raced way back in the early 80’s in Anaheim, CA. It was held inside the Anaheim convention center on concrete with wood jumps. They had a pro racing spectacular on one of the nights and there was a freestyle show featuring Bob Haro, RL Osborn, and Jumpin Jim Pratt (He jumped some cars).
Do you believe that the movie “RAD” was a contributing factor to ending the Cold War? Why?
Not so much.
What does the lyric “Get ready to break the ice” mean to you?
Crew Jones.
What was your favorite BMX Freestyle video ever?
The first Dorkin in York video I saw. Can’t remember which one it was. Watching K ride flat for the first time was very inspiring.
Now that your retired as a professional rider, what is your focus on today?
For sure my family. I do bicycle stunt shows because it gives me so much free time to be around them. I don’t have to drive to an office each day and that gives me extra time to spend with my kids and wife any time I want, life is good and I still get to ride bicycles.
If I gave you an elephant where would you hide it?
At your house.
If you could be any other rider in history who would it be and why?
I would have to say Jamie Bestwick. He is the most amazing rider I’ve ever seen. I don’t think people really know how good he is because he doesn’t always show his hand at the contests. He has a great family and likes to play golf, what’s not to like.
What was your favorite trick you invented?
I never really had a favorite trick to be honest, I just liked riding. Bar rides and hand stand tricks were always at the top of my list of fun things to do.
Concrete or Plywood? Why?
Plywood, because is has some give and it’s not as slippery.
Was there any riders that rubbed you the wrong way?
I’m sure there were, but I think those were more specific instances that related to something stupid rather than an ongoing personality conflict. You can’t expect people to be perfect and we all have our bad days. So it wouldn’t be fair to hold someone else to those expectations when I know I can’t live up to them either.
What was the most interesting tour you ever went on? Why was it so interesting?
I think they were all interesting and for different reasons. I did quite a few tours over the years with Vans, Hutch, Diamond Back, GT, and Giant. So I guess I would say my first ever Vans tour was the most interesting. It was my first ever real summer tour and I was with Mike D, Brian B, and Martin A. That in itself made it a lot of fun.
What was the worst/most embarrassing show or appearance you ever participated in?
There was a show in Maryland, I can’t remember the name of the city or the bike shop. That was the day my front wheel (ACS Z-Rim) gave way when I landed low on the Hutch ¼ pipe. It buckled underneath me when I landed on the front wheel and I ended up smashing my face and losing a couple of teeth in front of about 1,500 people. That always makes you feel real good.
How would you convince me that the world is round?
Sorry, I can’t help you there. Geography wasn’t my thing, I was an accounting major in college.
What actor would play you in a movie about your life?
Ben Stiller or a younger John Travolta. It’s all about the hair.
What knowledge would you like to pass on to up and coming riders?
Enjoy it while you can, because it goes by faster than you think. Oh yeah, when your friends tell you to “go for it” because pain is temporary and glory is forever, well I’m hear to tell you it’s just the opposite. The only ones that will remember the glory are your long time friends and people that live on UTube but the pain will be a daily reminder when you get older. So pad up!
What do you wish I had asked you that I didn’t?
I think what you asked was plenty.
I should have asked about the mustache…
Popularity: 6% [?]
Tags: actor, Anaheim, Ben Stiller, BMX, Bob Haro, California, Golf, Interview, Jamie Bestwick, Jim Pratt, John Travolta, Maryland, Old School, pain, professional rider, Rad, Woody Itson, York
