America vs Europe. An interview with France's Alex Jumelin.

Mar 29, 2015

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 7150 times

Name: Jumelin Alex
Hometown: New Orleans uptown
Sponsors: Freegun, St Martin BMX, Ridegaston, Vans, Unkut.
Instagram: alexjumelin

As a kid growing up, did you always look for American things and needed to have those?
Alex: Yes of course! My favorite TV show was Fresh Prince of Bel Air, my favorite car was Kit from Knight rider and I was eating Mc Donald's everyday hahahaha.

Was the United States of Amerca a country you always wanted to move to if you had the chance?
Alex: Oh yes. From 1998 till when I moved there, I've always wanted to move to the USA, since I spent a lot of time there, either for riding or for personal occasions (like my Honeymoon).

When was the move from Paris to the USA set in motion?
Alex: In 2012, my wife got a job as a french teacher in New Orleans.

When you arrived, what were your first thoughts?
Alex: "Damn it's hot! "…finding a house is so easy compared to Paris but life in general is pretty expensive.

You've always been into cars. What car are you driving in the USA?
Alex: A $2500 98' Mustang.

People in Europe think there are riding spots and skateparks on every corner of the street in America. What is your experience?
Alex: Yes, there are a lot of skateparks in all big cities of the USA, New Orleans just opened a new one under the I-10. What I like is that most of the skateparks are made of cement. I was recently in Los Angeles and there I've seen a ton of skateparks, just in Long Beach I've seen 3 skateparks.

In general, there are not a lot of flatland riders making up the pro scene coming from America. Why do you think this is?
Alex: I grew up being inspired by riders from USA, like Kevin Jones, Chad de Groot, Jesse Puente and many more. I think USA riders like those I just mentioned built the foundations of modern flatland. So I cannot deny this precious heritage but these days it's very different. Most of the top american riders like Terry Adams, Matt Wilhelm or Pete Brandt are not really traveling that much into Europe or Japan where most of the contests happen. America have a lack of young and new flatland riders, so that's maybe why just a few like Tyler Gilliard, Gabe Kadmiri or some others will make it up to the pro scene if they travel. In the meantime, flatland in the USA doesn't bring a lot of sponsors, so for those young riders it's pretty hard to travel to Europe or Japan and enter pro contests.

But, hopefully for the American flatland scene, I've been to a few good events like the Voodoo Jam or Battle of the Rockies and those events are a sign for a good future in this country. Unfortunately, compared to the size of this country, that's a very little occasions for flatland to shine.

Most Americans hate things about Europe. What are some of the explanations that you had to make to change their mind? (girls don't shave their armpits, no ice in the drinks, the shit in the toilet just sits there, etc)
Alex: Yeah man, when I first met my wife, she had crazy hair under her armpits hahaha, no of course this one is not true, European girls, at least French girls shave their armpits (I am not totally sure about German girls hahaha).

What is totally true is about ice in the drinks and A/C, yes we don't do that. Every friend's place we've been going to was freezing cold.

Now let's turn it around. What do you think is stupid about 'Merica?
Alex:
- A/C at 65 F when it's 80 F outside.
- prize of car insurance ( $200 a month for no coverage on a shitty car ).
- High Fructose Corn Syrup in most of food you buy in regular grocery store.
- The bumper stickers.
- education is a business (my wife wanted me to say that haha).
- way too easy to get a driving license.

What do you eat on a normal day?
Alex: Hotmeal and fruits in the morning, white meat & vegetables for lunch, rice & salad for dinner. I do a crap food day every Sunday with donuts, burgers and fried chicken at night.

How often and where do you use the 'drive through'?
Alex: Hahahaha to get cash at the bank, to get my fried chicken at Raisin' Canes every sunday. I think I use it 5 times a week.

Have you ever been to a car cinema?
Alex: No, I wish. I've seen some in LA but I've never been.

Do you shoot guns?
Alex: Hahahaha yes sometimes, only when I am in Texas with my friend Morgan Wade.

Do you have an American flag in the house?
Alex: Yes, on my skin of course.

Do you have a French flag in the house?
Alex: No but in my heart.

What do you dearly miss about France?
Alex: Paris and FOOD! of course my friends and family too.

When are you coming back?
Alex: This June 3rd, for at least one year.

Thanks to: My wife and kids and you for the interview.