2003.
Q.What made you start?
After buying my first BMX bike I ran into a couple of flatland riders while cruising around the city, I couldn’t stop thinking about the amazing tricks they did and I had to learn it. I loved the freedom you had while riding, and it was just me pushing myself to progress and learn the tricks. After getting introduced to the world of Flatland, the events and the lifestyle, my heart was sold, and I have been riding ever since.
Q.What’s your riding style?
My style is mostly based on a moment within the links. I try to keep it smooth and controlled by doing pivoting tricks and throw in some bangers to make my riding more spectacular. I try to make my riding diverse and to mix all kinds of different tricks and techniques. I love the thrill of pulling a hard trick.
Q.Any big influences?
Events like Flatground, BMX Masters and Red Bull Circle of Balance and all the great DVD’s, is what inspired me the most. That’s where I got introduced to the riders that I looked up to. Over the years a lot of riders helped to inspire me and shape my riding as it is today. Riders in particular that inspired me are: Yanmar, Viki Gomez, Alex Jumelin and Yoshihiro Shinde. Nowadays there are a lot of different riders that inspire me and help me to push myself to progress and become a better rider.
Q.What’s your killer move? Explain.
Steamroller 360 pressure flip to inwards halfpacker. It’s kind of like a kickflip, but instead
of kicking, you pivot and pressure the wheel to flip it. It’s a really gnarly trick, because it’s
pure footwork. I’m super stoked to have pulled it because I didn’t if it was possible.
Q.How’s the flatland environment in your country?
If there is one thing Dutch people complain about the most, it’s the weather. The past few
years I have been lucky to have an indoor riding spot, so that helped me out a lot.
Q.What was the highlight of your career?
Previous year was one big highlight for me. I got to compete in a various contest and score
4 stage places at one of the biggest contest. Also I got to hangout and ride with a lot of
great people all over the world!
Q.What is Red Bull Circle of Balance to you?
The Red Bull Circle of Balance is the ultimate contest. Everything looks perfect and makes
flatland look so damn good! It’s history in the making. Being part of the next event is a
dream come true! Growing up riding and seeing the video footage, where one of the things
that inspirited me the most. I have literally had dreams of competing at the Red Bull Circle
of Balance. I feel so honored to have been invited and I can’t wait till the 8 th of September.
JEAN-WILLIAM PREVOS
TQ.When did you start riding?
I started in 2003, and I’ve been riding for 9 years now.
Q.What made you start?
As a kid my dad had rented a movie where a BMX Gang had stolen Walkie-Talkies from
bad guys who were planning a heist. They did all sorts of cool tricks through the movie,
real hero like. I think my subconscious mind was imprinted with it. We never returned the
movie which I must have watched a dozen times. Later in my adolescent years I grabbed
a copy of BMX Plus magazine and that lit the flame again. I rode a bit of everything back
then. I bruised my kidney riding dirt then peed blood which scared the crap out of me. So I
decided flatland was the way to go. I’ve been riding flatland ever since.
Q.What’s your riding style?
My style is rough and aggressive. In addition, tricks like Pumping Pedal Junkyard and
different types of pivots make my style unique from others.
Q.Any big influences?
I’ve traveled a lot in the past few years, mostly in China and Chile. Meeting up and riding
with people from around the world inspires me the most. Also, guys like Simon Marsan,
Jeff Desroches and Jesse Puente have pushed me into a more innovative/creative side of
Flatland, they continue to inspire me to this day.
Q.What’s your killer move? Explain.
One trick I call ‘La Mariposa,’ it’s a cross footed peg wheelie where the bike does a complete 360 around my back into a ‘switch footed peg wheelie with the bike on my left side’ if that’s how you call it haha…I came up with pumping Pedal Junkyard to pivot on the pedal. There’s also a trick where I glide no handed with only one leg resting on one peg and leaning on the seat…
Q.How’s the flatland environment in your country?
Our summers in Montreal don’t last very long. We usually have really cold winters which
last about 6 to 8 months depending on the year, and lots rain and snow!! I went to
Santiago de Chile the past 2 winters to ride and made some good friends there. I spend
most of my summers in China where I used to do shows, now I bring riders here to do
shows in 2 amusement parks in Chengdu and Beijing, so I have to be here to take care
of things. I heard Vancouver is good for riding almost year round, but I’ve never been. I
haven’t been so many places in Canada, I know China better than my own country, the
weather is kind of mean in Montreal.
Q.What was the highlight of your career?
Doing shows in China, and now getting to offer the opportunity to others is pretty
awesome. Traveling and being part of the BMX family in general. Also, the time I won first
place in the CX-Games in Beijing, 2011.
Q.What is Red Bull Circle of Balance to you?
One word: “EPIC!”
BERT RIBUL
Q.When did you start riding?
I started when I was 12. So that would be something like 2003 or 2004.
Q.What made you start?
I saw two guys riding flatland near my house, and I just watched them riding for weeks,
after some time I welded pegs on a 16 “ girls bike and started riding flatland. I just fell in
love with flatland and I feel exactly the same until this day.
Q.What’s your riding style?
Maybe short and hard combos, there’s also a lot of street influence, like whips and
decades.
Q.Any big influences?
Progression, there’s no other feeling like when you pull a new trick. Also events and
meeting other riders just riding with different people around the world inspires me the
most.
Q.What’s your killer move? Explain.
Opposite pedal hang five jump to steamroller and brakeless cliffhanger bar turn. Also one
footed whopper.
Q.How’s the flatland environment in your country?
There used to be around 10 riders, but now there’s only about 4 riders still active. There
are some new faces here, that I hope will pick up flatland more.
Q.What was the highlight of your career?
Riding for Jungle Rider. As for contests, earning 11th place in BMX Masters and 4th in
Groudtactics.
Q.What is Red Bull Circle of Balance to you?
It is the biggest event for flatland and I’ve been watching it for years. Words cannot
describe how happy I am to be a part of it now, it’s definitely an event that people talk
about long after.
GEORGE MANO
SQ.When did you start riding?
I started riding 12 years ago, and thankfully I get more passionate every year!
Q.What made you start?
Ever since I first saw BMX I fell in love. BMX to me is something special and magical.
Q.What’s your riding style?
My style is simple and direct, as well as being understandable for both the audience
and myself. It’s rare in the flatland world, but I ride without pegs. I guess that’s what also
makes my style unique.
Q.Any big influences?
Everything and everyone that shows me new possibilities.
Q.What’s your killer move? Explain.
No matter how simple you make a trick, it’s easier if you just see it instead of listening to
the explanation. Explaining it would ruin the surprise. I like surprises, you see.
Q.How’s the flatland environment in your country?
In general it’s ok. It needs patience and commitment to do this here (like everywhere
else). It could be better I guess but I’m content for the years past, everything fell into place
and I’m grateful for this.
Q.What was the highlight of your career?
Red Bull Circle of Balance 2012!
Q.What is Red Bull Circle of Balance to you?
It’s a subconscious dream coming true!
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.