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IT WAS MY FIRST YEAR ATTEMPTING DIRT AND I WAS A BIT OVERWHELMED WITH THE SIZE OF THE JUMPS AND FOUND IT PRETTY HARD TO SETTLE MY NERVES. ON THAT NOTE ALSO ONLY HAVING A FEW PRACTICE RUNS BEFORE QUALIFIERS AFTER JUST STEPPING OUT OF PRACTICE FOR STREET KNACKERED ME A BIT TOO. IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLE OF COMP COMPARED TO EUROPEAN ONES. THE COMP IS ON A HUGE SCALE AND EVERY RIDER OUT OF THE HUNDREDS THAT ATTEND LOOKING FOR THOSE QUALIFYING SPOTS IS AMAZING, SO OVERALL YEA IT IS PRETTY TUFF. THIS YEAR I'M HOPING IT ALL TO BE DIFFERENT AS I AM LOOKING FORWARD RIDING MORE DIRT AND SPENDING MORE TIME IN THE USA .
 
So you have a new signature frame with amity bike co, can you tell me more about it?
Ben Wallace: I HAVE RECENTLY DESIGNED AND RELEASED MY SIGNATURE FRAME CALLED TROY. I MADE IT ESPECIALLY TO SUIT ME AS I AM A TALLER RIDER AND COMPETE IN BOTH DIRT AND PARK, THEREFORE GAVE IT A 21" TOPTUBE TO MAKE WAY FOR MY LANKY LEGS AND 13.75" REAR END SO THAT TECH TRICKS ARE STILL POSSIBLE. IT HAS AN 'ORIGINAL' LENGTH SEAT TUBE AS MY BOW LEGS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CLAMP ONTO NOTHING AND IS ALSO LIGHTWEIGHT. IT'S NICE TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DESIGN A FRAME TO SUIT YOUR EXACT NEEDS AND NOT HAVE TO JUST ADJUST TO WHATEVER IS MANUFACTURED FOR THE MARKETS MAJORITY.
 
The season started off well for you with a third place in Estonia. You seemed well happy with that?
Ben Wallace: COMPLETELY STOKED WITH THE WHOLE WEEKEND. 2010 SIMPLE SESSION WAS MY FIRST EVER AND TO BE PLACED IN THE TOP THREE AFTER BEING OFF THE RADAR FOR A WHILE PUT ME ON A HUGE HIGH, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE AMAZING COMMENTS FROM THE OTHER RIDERS.
 
Even in practice you didn't hold back, did you like the ramp set-up, was it the girls in the stands, the other riders on the ramps, did you have something to prove?
Ben Wallace: NOTHING TO PROVE TO THE LADIES AS I HAVE A DAPER ONE AT HOME, NOR DID I WANT TO PROVE ANYTHING TO ANY OTHER RIDERS, I WAS JUST LOVING THE COURSE SET UP AND WAS HYPED ON THE AMAZING ATMOSPHERE AND FEELING REALLY GOOD ON MY BIKE. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I FELT THAT COMFORTABLE DUE TO PREVIOUSLY STATED REASONS AND ALSO A WHILE SINCE SEEING AND RIDING WITH EVERYONE, JUST THOUGHT THE WHOLE THING WAS FUCKING AWSOME.
 
Can you explain the 360 lookback to downside whip?
Ben Wallace: YEA IT'S FUCKING GOOD AIN'T IT! HA HA.  RANDOMLY CAME UP WITH IT WHILST SESSIONNING THE FOAM PIT WITH WEBBY AND THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE A GO....IT WORKED AND FELT GOOD.....THAT'S ABOUT THE EXTENT OF IT.
 
Where did the barrell roll go?
Ben Wallace:  WHO KNOWS. HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT ONE OF THOSE FOR A GOOD FEW YEARS. I CAN STILL PULL IT PERFECTLY BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I DON'T REALLY DO ANYMORE. DON'T REALLY HAVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHERE IT WENT, IT JUST DID.
 
Where do you normally ride?
Ben Wallace: USUALLY LOCALLY AT KINGS PARK OR BAITER (BOTH NEAR BOURNEMOUTH) OR AT ROB RIDGE'S INDOOR PARK CALLED THE TRICK FACTORY IN BRIDPORT. AS THE WEATHER HAS BEEN PRETTY SHITE I HAVE OCCASIONALLY MADE THE THREE HOUR DRIVE TO ADRENALINE ALLEY (CORBY) AS THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST DECENT INDOOR PARKS THAT IS CLOSE.  
 
Who do you ride with?
Ben Wallace: ALL THE BOURNEMOUTH LOCALS: PAUL JEFFRIES, JACK AND LUKE MARCHANT, LUKE BROKLEBANK, RORY PICKERING, LUKE KAYE, STEVE SHAVE AND ALSO TONY WATKINSON WHO SEEMS TO HAVE MOVED HIMSELF DOWN HERE AND ALSO JAMES ROGERS AND MARK WEBB.
 
Do you consider yourself a full pro?
Ben Wallace: THE ONLY BMXER WHO I THINK IS A FULL PRO IS DAVE MIRRA. A GUY THAT HAS ACHIEVED THAT MUCH THROUGH SOMETHING HE LOVES DESERVES THAT TITLE 'PRO'. ONCE I HAVE ACHIEVED AT LEAST HALF OF WHAT HE HAS, THEN MAYBE MY ANSWER WOULD BE YES.
 
What's on the schedule for the rest of 2010?
Ben Wallace: I HAVE T-MOBILE DIRT COMING UP, FISE, MASTERS, DEW TOUR, LORDS OF DIRT, NASS.....ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING REALLY. I'M JUST CONCENTRATING ON RIDING WELL THIS YEAR, MAKING SOME NEW WEB EDITS AND PUTTING MYSELF BACK ON THE RADAR.
 
Thanks to: EVERYONE REALLY.... SPONSORS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY.