Chris: Name, age, location?
Matti: Matti Hemmings, am 21 and I live in Brecon (Welshflatlander)
Chris: Years riding?
Matti: I've been riding almost 5 years now and still enjoying it.
Chris: Sponsors/ Hook-ups?
Matti: Scott Sutton at Vendettabrand.com, he hooks me up with T shirts, Dorian Thorne at ExtremeCulture.co.uk in Pontypridd helps with parts. Also get help from Steve Green for custom parts making this and that valleyside for ts aswell and video coverage.
Chris: How do Vendetta support you?
Matti: Vendetta support me by hooking me up with t shirts and supporting welsh flatland scene.
Chris: Are you strictly a flatland rider? Matti: Yep, Strictly a fully pledged flatlander. I have rode bit of street in the past but flatland means more to me as I like the creativity and improvisation.
Scott: How many hours do you ride a week?
Matti: erm, in the week I try ride 3 to 4 days 4 hours in each
Chris: Who inspired you to get into flatland? (&) Who do you rate now?
Matti: I was inspired to get up flatland by the worlds in Cologne in Germany after seening it on the television was awesome to watch so I started doing the basic stuff and it evolved from there.
Scott: You seem like the most motivated person in the world to go out and ride, but do you find it hard working as a labourer in the day, then riding afternoons? Where do you get all your energy from?
Matti: Yeh, it's hard working as a labour with the work that I have to do every day moving heavy equiment here and there, music has big part keeping me motivated after work beening in the rain all day can put you off riding in the winter sometimes. My energy comes from eating right food I guess it's hard to say where I get it from. Could be in my jeans LOL
Chris: What is your current bike set-up? (&) How does it compare to your first bike?
Matti: The bike I ride at the moment is a KHE Paris 2. It's 18.9tb. I like the sweet thin tubing and the liteness on it. Easy on the back too. Steve Green sorted me out with custom parts and the bike weighs 19 lbs.
Chris: Latest trick/combo pulled?
Matti: Recent tricks pulled that I am stoked on is halfpacker to crackpacker back into half packer in 1 move.
Scott: What surface is your riding style best suited to or doesn't it make much difference? Matti: Arrrrrr, I can be fussy on surfaces and spots that I like to ride, but I've learnt to ride whatever I get now after losing my best spot in Wales hanger81 skatepark with basketball court. The indoor floor was awsome. Fast, smooth, easy. Didn't take a lot to keep rolling.
Chris: What is your proudest competition result to date? (&) How do you feel about contests?
Matti: Erm, proudest result must be Nass in Bath (uk) contest only entered two contests both taken first at that event. With feeling on contest I would like more jams than contests but if you want to promote I would say contests that's how people get involved from it by seeing it at them event.
Chris: How do you feel about the Welsh riding scene?
Matti: Erm, flatland scene is small but realy friendly riders and we all get along mix of new skool and old skool.
Chris: Have you ever arranged a flatland contest?
Matti: Erm, not as yet I have been looking into renting a hall out but the cost is incredble and outside spots aren't that good or open to the public. But if anyone is up for helping out let me know.
Scott: How do you feel about the lack of coverage of flatland in the media?.. it seems like flatland is getting a raw deal.
Matti: Lack of coverage with flatland all over the world really at the moment, Ride uk magzine have dropped it out of the magzine, nothing much on the television anymore Flatland coverage is just dead. The people who are doing something are the ones involved with the sport getting it more in the public eye getting them to understand why people ride flatland. Think that's more of a good thing because it shows the fun aspected in flatland.
Chris: Do you ever feel isolated as a flatland rider?
Matti: Erm, yeah but it has its advantages though. Easier to stay focused.
Chris: You recently won a flatland award on the web; Can you tell us more about that?
Matti: Yeah won global-flat rider of the month. I sent some footage in and Morgan sent me back an e-mail after a couple of weeks that I took the cut. Was stoked about it gave me more motatavion to ride.
Chris: When riding do you tend to ride in a group or go it solo? Matti: I tend to ride more on my own now just like being in my own world sometimes like to be shut off with what's happening around me. But I like meeting up with other riders now and then.
Scott: I can remember a few years ago you found it hard to find another flatland rider in the area, now there are quite a few, do you think the scene is growing.
Matti: Yes, I think flatland in Wales has grown since I last started riding. More riders come here for the university and started out. It's good to see more riding coming up and pushing flatland in Wales putting the country on the map in the flatland world.
Chris: What music do you currently rate? (&) How does music inspire your riding?
Matti: Currently listening to a lot of dubstep, breack beat, drum+bass at the moment seems to go with my riding and style in which I ride like rolling and pumping lot its.
Scott: Besides bmx what else are you into?
Matti: I'm into photography quite bit now and break dancing. Like to watch that. Gives me ideas for tricks and stuff and it's crazy to watch. I like anything that's active really, don't like stopping in house.
Scott: You wanted to enter Britains got talent last year, are you going to try out for the programme this year?
Matti: haha, I was told I should enter it by a few people it would be another way of pushing the sport by showing it on national tv. Who knows, maybe next year if I don't shit a brick haha.
Chris: Do you currently have any projects you would like to mention?
Matti: Erm I was in talks with b boy slammo about a break dancing vs flatland battle some place in Cardiff. He runs elementalforce.co.uk its organisation based in Cardiff, South Wales specialising in promoting true B-boy culture and its associated art-forms.
Right... A few random questions;
Chris: Best flatland product ever made? Matti: Erm not sure there are a lot out now, depends on stuff you like.
Chris: Best flatland combo ever witnessed?
Matti: So many, I could say right now Sam Foakes with his long links in a contest that's crazy to watch.
Scott: You always seem to be wearing yellow t-shirts, you even bought two of exactly the same t-shirt once. Is this some kind of colour feng shui, or do you just like yellow?
Matti: The reason behind that was I needed t shirts after riding in Cardiff as it was a hot day so went to route one and they had an offer on t-s. Didn't like any of the others so picked two of the same but I have 3 of the same now. Yellow bright colour it helps the police see me in the dark riding home. As I get pulled over for not having brakes and lights all the me. oppsssss!
Chris: Best video video part?
Matti: Flatland manifesto's
Chris: Last part (bike) you broke?
Matti: Broke my back axle coming off on a new trick, that sucked.
Chris: Up and coming welsh flatlander?
Matti: Erm most riders here are all good riders so I'd say almost all of them if they keep at it.
Chris: Finally - Any Last words/ Big-ups...
Matti: Thanks to Scott for helping me out with the vendetta hook up, Dorian at extremeculture for parts Matt denny Dyer for photos and coverage, Steve for his custom shizzle LOL. Not for getting Girlfriend Jess for puting up with me and helping me spell proper LOL better say that, don't want a beating. Anyone that's helped me out along the way thanks. Also Cheers for the interview Chris peace...............
Interivew (All questioning by Chris Smith with a little help from Scott Sutton.)
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.