More than any other figure in BMX riding, Hoffman's responsible for the the popularity of big air tricks, hence the title of Spike Jonze's documentary about Mat, The Birth of Big Air. Despite breaking over 20 bones and getting his arm shattered to bits by a semi-truck, Mat continues to bike harder and invent wilder tricks than anyone else in the business—all to the deep concern/chagrin of his doctors, who considered his career finished after the accident.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.