Matt: I drove from Colorado to Arizona after the 4th of July weekend - I witnessed a drug bust at a truck stop! Q4) Have you been following the "World Cup"?
Matt: Yeah I watched a bit of the cup when I was in Vegas - I wish I had watched more though!
Q5) How did you start riding?
Matt: I started to race when I was like 12, and I haven't stopped riding my bike since.
Q6) Who did you look up to when you started? And who do you look up to now?
Matt: When I started riding I looked up to riders like Jamie Bestwick, and Van Homan. There are a ton of good riders these days, and everyone has put their own style to every trick.
Q7) How would you describe your riding style? - And what moves are you working on now?
Matt: I just like to go fast no matter what I am riding. I try to make everything I ride look like it’s smooth and flows just like a good set of trails.
Q8) Describe a bad day? Matt: Spending an hour and a half waiting for a tow-truck on the side of the highway in AZ. I had to flag down a trucker to use a phone because my motor blew up and my phone died. Haha, it was like 118 out that day, bad day for sure.
Q9) How about a good day?
Matt: A Good day would be any day that I can ride my bike. I am usually working pretty late during the week, so when I get A day of dialed weather and riding, I’m stoked.
Q10) What bike part do you go through the most?
Matt: Lately I have been going through pedals and handle bars. I have been riding a lot of street and it seems to be a little harder on the bike.
Q11) Who is the most crazy person you’ve met.
Matt: This bike messenger named J bone. He is like 65, rides a bmx bike everywhere. I see him around in Denver and it’s awesome getting the chance to stop and talk to him.
Q12) When was the last time you slammed hard? – What have been some of your worst injuries?
Matt: The last time I slammed hard I was in Las Vegas for the Extreme Thing contest. I flat landed the first set and broke my handle bar
s, I am so glad I was wearing a helmet. I was in the hospital for about five days being monitored because of hemorrhages in my brain. I have had a ton of injuries; broken teeth, ruptured spleen, an ACL replacement on both of my knees, broken leg... This last one has to have been the worst though. Q13) Are you working on any video projects at the moment? (Or perhaps preparing for a contest, etc)
Matt: I have a few friends that I have been filming with lately, but nothing too serious. I would like to travel more and make it out to some contests but I have been enjoying healing up.
Q14) What brands do you currently represent?
Matt: Deco, Pusher, Vendetta, Foothills cyclery, and Cactus cyclery in AZ for always helping me out when I travel through.
Q15) If you were abandoned on a desert island, what one material item would you request.
Matt: A walkie talkie.
Q16) What moves are you currently working on?
Matt: I have been trying to get heel clicker whips dialed, but I have yet to land one.
Q17) Smoke/Drink?
Matt: No, I quit smoking at the beginning of the year and I drink every now and then.
Q18) Finally, any big-ups, shout-outs, etc?
Matt: Ya, Chad at Deco, Clay at Pusher, and you of course, Alex Raban Mike Miester, and all of my friends in AZ and CO. Holla Jackson house.
Questions by CWS, Photos by assorted friends of Matt Olson.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.