that's where my friend, an EX/MX World Champion was born. He has been a big influence to me and I will never forget those 90's where everything came up for the first time… But I guess BMX is very similar for some reason so I love it. But I have a 125cc so I can enjoy my free time... Coming from Italy you had facilities to ride MX and mountains, but you were riding BMX by yourself and had to build your own park to ride. How hard was that?
Ale: Yes, it has been very hard for multiple reasons. The bad side is that I live in a very small town in Italy but I think having a personal park to ride is a prestige. I just want to say thanks to the people that made it happen, like my friend from Pro Loco Priero and also RED BULL. They help me to fix it every year.
When the park is covered in snow in the winter, how often do you go to the mountains to ride snowboards?
Ale: At least 2 times a week. I live 40 minutes away from Prato Nevos
o resort. I have a lot of friends up there like Gherry the owner of the snow park. I even used to work as a shaper back in 2001-2002-2003. I will never forget that great time... You were going to get your pro model bike at Hyper but that did not work out. You do however have a signature model snowboard at Hostile, right?
Ale: Haha YES. I mean they are good friends of mine since I started snowboarding back in 1995. One day Andrea the owner came up with this idea to design one and this year was my 3rd signature board. It's sick to surf around on my own board… Thanks again to Gianni and Andrea at Hostile for this opportunity..
Do you see many similarities between snowboarding and BMX? Ale: Yes, a few. Every spin in a way is similar where you pomp a kicker, and I guess everything helps out to keep you with your stuff...
Do you wish BMX Freestyle was in the Olympics just like snowboarding is an Olympic sport during the winter Olympics now?
Ale: Yes, no doubt. I think we missed the right time to be in the Olympics a few year ago. I think BMX is a lifestyle but also a sport like every other sport so why shouldn't we be on TV promoting our sport.
Do you ever wish that you stayed on the snowboard scene some more?
Ale: Mmm, not really but I was good on Boarder Cross and I used to beat the dude "Mauser" who went to the Olympics in Torino when I was 16 years old, so that maybe was my last opp
ortunity to participate in the Olympic Games hahha. I am very happy to ride a BMX bike and I am still doing it no matter what... How hard would it be to do both at the highest level?
Ale: Damn I guess there is only one Shawn White! Although he does two board sports I think.
Do you admire Shawn Palmer?
Ale: He is still one of my idols and was a big influence back then. He was the man of the X-Games sports and ruled. I think people easily forget what Palmer used to do on a Mountain Bike, on a Dirt bike, on a Snowboard and also Ski cross… All around ruler with a crazy attitude...
Or would you like to be Toni Cairoli instead?
Ale: I respect Antonio for what he has done all these years winning many world championship MX titles in a row, but I think after a while you should try to go overseas and try to make it in a AMA Super Cross… No sorry Antonio, I prefer Shawn Palmer hahha.What’s your current situation in BMX? Who supports you and what are your plans for 2014?
Ale: I am at Woodward Camp so I am keeping riding almost every day. My plan for 2014 is to stay healty because if you're healthy you can do anything you are going to touch…
Thanks to: Diadora, Red Bull, Oakley, Profile, Maxxis, Woodward, 43 hardware and Kobra BMX Team who all support me.
Pics provided by Alessandro Barbero
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.