so much has happened ...traveled to over fifteen states just to ride at various skateparks....finding myself doing things I may never ever do again on my bike...RIP Chenga!!Q : You are quite involved with your genders participation in bmx. How many lady riders are out there at the moment roughly ?
A : The numbers are growing and I have heard of about 200 around the world.
Q : Bike parts are pretty universal for both genders but do you think here is a part out there that is needed specifically for the lady riders out there? For instance how the frame of a ladies mountain bike differs from that of a gents?
A : This is an interesting subject, The frame that I have now fits me like a glove (Dirt Bros.Shortbus) but my friends have encouraged me to buy a lighter one with a shorter top tube..so that my muscles don't feel like they are going to jump out of my skin from soreness. I have gotten it (Solid Killing Machine) , but its not together yet, I still need some parts. After that is done, I will be able to answer that question better. For now, the typical bmx frame is fine, but maybe that's because I have adapted to it and I have always had a heavy bmx bike. Knee pads would be an area that I know of for sure that could use some alterations, I have even morphed my pair to make it fit better, I have been working on drawings to create some for girls, but that is not my focus now...
Q : What is the Emerald Nation zine all about ?A : This is hard to summarize, It is basically about female freestyle bmxers (active females) lifestyle and in a way it documents what's happening in the girl bmx world and it is also a conglomerate of other interest such as skating, surfing, health tips, poetry, photography, we want to encourage girls to explore more things in life, even if it is something that people do not ordinarily see girls doing. We just want to encourage females to find a passion and grow with it, who knows where it will lead.
Q : Do lady riders even wear girl pants ?
A : Do I really have to answer that? I myself sometimes do not because some girls pants will cut my circulation when I ride and it can distract the guys, so usually casual guy cut pants are preferred, it helps us to blend in a 'lil better. It gets a little old being the girl wonder at the park who just wants to ride like everyone else does.
Q : What are the main jams/comps that ladies can compete in ?A : The last main one was Metro Jam in Vancouver... Bestrick... Worlds Freestyle Contest... Roots, I hear is working on one or they already have done it, Im not sure. There have been in the past Women of Freestyle Jams and Emerald Nation Jams. I am not really up with all that, Kim or Nina would better answer that one. Other than jams that I have helped organized or am informed of, I don't really seek any out, but I do want to start going, although it takes all my money.
Q :What got you into BMX and what makes you stick with it?A : When I was 16, I wanted a mountain bike to ride with my buddies. My old friend gave me an ugly yellow Holmes. I used that in the mountains and I started to bunny hop, my friends freaked out and took me to Calabazas and ever since then I was hooked. Later in 1999, I rode at my first cement park and my eyes just glazed over... I think that Holmes had some kind of bug that infected me with this itching twitch to always ride, no matter what mood I'm in or how injured I am. It's ridiculous, it's like some twisted death wish. There seems to always be something I want to do with my BMX and that interest keeps me tickin, I guess.
Q : The annual WOFbmx road trip : what is that and how does it work ? ( featured in Props issue 52 )
A: Ask Kim Klisiak this one. She gave birth to this great event and it is dormant now for some unknown reason. She rounds up all the lady riders from everywhere and then picks out places to ride and we all ride. It is a wonderful event and I look forward to more...
Q : What would you say are your main influences in terms of riding style ?
A : Cement bowls and fun
Words/pics: Lloyd Ramsay
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.