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between contests, which was perfect for shows, but I was used to riding 5 or 6 hours a day. We would ride shows like it was a contest pushing each other, it was fun but we paid the price on a few occasions. I remember the owner of Circus Krone calling us into her office, and told us to calm down and take it easy in the shows. Secondly, this is a dangerous sport, know your worth, if you're expected to perform two back flips per day every day, you need to think of the days you feel like crap and still have to go out and ride those two flips, these are the ones your really getting paid for not the ones you throw down when you're having a good day. Save your cash, it ain't going to last for ever. Welcome to show biz!

One way to get paid riding your bike was to join the circus. How long did you do that for?
Jason Ellis: All in all, about nine years.

Where did the Circus take you?
Jason Ellis: Germany, Holland, Belgium , Greece, Crete, Cyprus, Italy and the odd show in England. I also rode some shows for Haro whilst I was in the States, covering for Lee Reynolds when he broke his leg in 89.

How many shows a day and how much free time?
Jason Ellis: Mostly two shows a day and three on special occasions like Christmas day. Two five minute shows a day does leave you with a lot of free time, which is cool in the summer if you're in a nice place with cool people and there’s a skate park to ride, but the winters can be long.

Do you know if Rob Alton and Dave Blundell are still doing this?
Jason Ellis: As far as I know they're both still riding shows, I've checked out Dave's web site, he's a clown, BMXing, DJ or something like that, good to still see he’s riding.

Has life experience taught you things that you would not have learned in school?
Jason Ellis: Very much so. I left home at 17 with a bike and a few good sponsors, and came back at 26 a much wiser person.

When was the first time you saw BMX bikes on a ramp or in a skatepark?
Jason Ellis: Kellogg’s. Eddie Fiola, Mike Dominguez, Neil Ruffell, think it was about '83 or '84-ish, got my first BMX and I was hooked, I would skive school and ride with my friend Shane Hawk, he had a quarter pipe in his garden. We’d watch Kellogg’s then try and learn the tricks. Good times.

Where did you ride on a regular basis?
Jason Ellis: We all used to ride the half pipe in a back yard in Retford, it was the best of times. Weekends would start with everyone hooking up at the ramp have a 6 hour session, then to the local street spots and session those until midnight, then do the same all over on Sunday. This happened every week with no plans or phone calls in between, we all knew the plan would be the same the week after.

Did you prefer the quarterpipe contests or were you digging the halfpipe contests?
Jason Ellis: Half pipes were my favourites, as I grew up riding half pipes.

Did you put any value in the titles that you won?
Jason Ellis: Well I might reference them every now and then, it’s much cooler now.

Vision Street Wear, GT, what were some of your other sponsors when you were hitting all those contests?
Jason Ellis: I rode for Haro, Skyway for wheels and Converse for a while, but Vision were cool , they kept us hooked up with clothes and shoes, in fact I’m wearing a pair of original DV8’s from when I was sponsored, they are about to fall to pieces though.

Did you make it to the USA to show your skills?
Jason Ellis: Yes I went over to stay with Lee Reynolds and rode the 1989 King of Vert Finals in LA, The only contest I got to ride there. 6th place Pro which was cool to say I was the new boy. But for me it was all about getting to ride with my all time hero’s like Ron Wilkerson, Brian Blyther, Mike Dominguez, Dino Deluca, Dave Voelker, Joe Johnson and of course Mat Hoffman. And I got to meet Eddie Fiola.

Do you follow the BMX scene a bit today?
Jason Ellis: Yeah, I still love riding and checking the new school kids, they just blow me away with the stuff they're doing these days. I don’t think much to the fashion over function attitude but they're kids and they need to make BMX theirs which is cool, we did exactly the same, only we didn’t have foam pits, but imagine if we did.

Best riders ever: Mat Hofmann, Eddie Fiola, Josh White

Best spot you've ridden: That’s a tough one, it’s more about the people I’ve ridden with than the places for me.

Best sponsor you've had: They were all good to me, GT were great, so were Haro and Vision. I owe them a lot, and also Pete Hawkins for hooking the deals up.

Best show you've done: I enjoyed them all, except if I was injured.

Best contest result: For me definitely KOV finals 6th place Pro.

Any shout-outs?
Jason Ellis: Yeah, to all the cool people I’ve ridden with, Shaun Allison, the London crew Andy Brown, Lee Reynolds, Jason Hassel, Greg Guillotte. Ged, Nik, Hudsons and the Retford guys. Simon Lea, Sid (you need to pick up the phone some time) Stu Allison, SAW, Mark Atkins, Rodger Atkins, Mike Canning, Dave Blundell, Yourself Bart, Albert, Miran, love riding with you guys. Joe Johnson, Mat Hoffman, Zak Shaw, Simon Tabron, Jamie Bestwick. Darren Gascoigne, Daz Whitfield, Shaun (the sheep) Ramm, Pete Simpson and all the old school riders. Finally: Stay strong Stephen Murray.