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Years Riding
Began riding in the Vintage era (75-76 Schwinn Stingray), but most of my riding was the date range of old-school (last show was 89).
Riding Experience
A few neighborhood kids and I built our own BMX track in a nearby field complete with a starting hill, berms, and jumps in the late 70’s. My neighbor down the street was Richard Russel who raced at Trosper and was an inspiration plus my dad took me to the 81 Grand Nationals where I got hooked. For that next Christmas I got a Kuwahara KZ-1 and began racing. Raced mostly at Trosper and made my way up to 13X where I raced in the OK/TX Shootout, Bandito Nationals in Longmont, CO, and the 83 Grand Nationals, but did not make the mains. It was around 82 when the Freestyle bug got me.
Favorite Bike & Trick
My 1st freestyle bike was a GT and I loved it. My favorite trick would be double ramp riding with Steve Radeka at shows. We called one trick the egg-beater air as we aired toward each other with me turning inward first and him slightly higher. We were super close to running into each other in the air, but it was a crowd pleaser.
Accomplishments
Getting on Tricks Unlimited in early 84 opened doors to competitions, magazines, tv shows, sponsorships, and shows in 4 states. For that, I am grateful. I could not have experienced this on my own. In an early competition in Tulsa, Steve (ramp rider) got 1st for ramp riding and I got 1st for flatland. Then later I competed in Tulsa against Stowe Emerson in expert class and I think I took 2nd at the Armory. I did compete in one of the AFA Masters but was unable to travel and complete the whole series. Our team was highlighted in The Daily Oklahoman, a dedicated OKC Channel 5 news segment, and then on the tv show “PM Magazine.” In 86, Tricks Unlimited was in the April edition of Freestyle Magazine where Darren Price (our ramp rider) got a 2-page photo spread. This led to the May edition of Freestylin’ Magazine where our team was one of 20 listed as an option to vote for. Results came out in the November edition of Freestylin’ Magazine Nora Cup Awards where our team made it into the top 10 and the only privateer team (and from Oklahoma) to make the cut. Shortly after we received SE Bikes and Vision Street Wear sponsorships. In 87, our team did a summer tour that included Pensacola, FL and Mobile, AL. We made sure to include a safety demo as part of the show for kids who may be interested in trying Freestyle. In 88, I was in a local TV show called “Street Talk” which was shot in studio with one take. Lots of pressure to not make a mistake which fortunately, I did not make any. With the team, I performed hundreds of shows across Oklahoma City, and rural Oklahoma trying to help grow the sport. In the summer of 88 I was in Canada and got to spend time with an SE sponsored team in Toronto. Nearing the end, I recall a show in Kansas and then the final show in late summer or early fall 1989 in Enid, Oklahoma. It was difficult to see it come to an end. But the biggest accomplishment was not a trophy or accolade. It was intrinsic. BMX/Freestyle helped me learn what it takes to be part of a team, to compete, to believe in yourself especially when you perform, to be creative, grow skills, fail, learn from failure, and try again never giving up while maintaining patience and keeping a clear mind. I continue to use these skills to this very day and have BMX/Freestyle to thank for that.
