Top BMX Legends of All Time

Jun 23, 2021

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 4160 times

The best riders that the BMX sport brings to our attention can change from season to season, that we can admit. However, the all-time legends of the sport rarely change, but just get updated with one or two newcomers that have made a profound impact to the sport. Today, we will be revisiting those legends that have remained in the sports history books, long after their reign. Some of them actually helped mould the sport to what we see today. If you are intrigued to know more about the sport and keep up to date after the FISE World Montpellier, check out all the latest sports news today.

Mat Hoffman
The first of the biggest legends that this sport has to offer, is none other than Mat Hoffman. We genuinely cannot think of anyone else that deserves the top spot more than him. Mat is a 10-time world champion, with six medals from the X Games alongside the credit he has for inventing multiple forms of tricks that we see being demonstrated, he certainly deserves the spot and remains a role model to many youths participating today. Mat is able to perform a perfect 900 landing, in addition to a no handed 900 too!

The Guinness Book of World Records also mentions Hoffman for his 24-foot quarter pipe that he executed. During the year 2002, Hoffman managed to get an award from ESPN Action, the Sports Lifetime Achievement Award. Not many BMX riders can say that they have an award named after them, so this should justify enough how he is most deserving to be named as an all-time legend.

Ryan Nyquist
Ryan Nyquist has been referred to as a robot within the BMX community. Why? Well, he is one of the best BMX riders that have ever managed to live, and managed to get top spot rankings for many of the competitions he participates in. The most recent rewarding moment within his career, is the FISE World Montpellier just last year. There he managed to secure second place, and showed as a perfect example of how he can manage to stay at the top spot for quite some time.

Tinker Juarez
Everyone knows who Tinker is, he does not need an introduction, due to being the old school legend that he is, and always will be. Born in 1961, he was the first adopter in the BMX sport, due to him making the sport what it is today really. During 1980, he was named as the King of the Skate parks, within the publication of the Bicycle Motocross Action. In addition to this, he also graced the covers of the magazine within the 80s, and was the first ever freestyle BMX related magazine covers to appear within the community. Even though there were no contests during his time, he was able to swiftly and elegantly execute some of the best manoeuvres that we see current stars perform. Like we said before, he was the reason as to why many things became current and introduced within the sport. It became fashionable, due to Tinker Juarez.

Dakota Roche
Dakota Roche is the key reason as to why there are so many BMX movies out there for people to admire and inspire them. In fact, Dakota has admitted on many occasions that he prefers to get behind the camera and make movies concerning the sport, rather than take part in competitions. The consistency that he brought to the sport, is the reason as to why he has been nominated as the Transworld Ride BMX Number One, for four years on the run (2009-2013). Even up until today, he is very much hanging about the scenes, and making waves for others to ride and look up to. Yup, he is a legend.

Dennis McCoy
Dennis McCoy is one of the many riders to have gained attention for his talents, but one of the only ones who managed to land a title from the Vert Park, and Flatland in a consecutive year. This should certainly say it all to you, as to what kind of BMX rider he really is. He also became a member of the American Freestyle Association, with other legends like Mat Hoffman and Dave Mirra, meaning his influence still lives on with him keeping the sport alive. Despite him being in his 50s right now, he is very much still killing it and has not lost any of his spark at all.

John Tomac
John Tomac has been a serious BMX pioneer from the years he began to race and explore the genre. His first ever BMX events were in Michigan, during the year 1975. It was there that he began to compete and perfect his teenage racing skills. That period was admittedly for himself the opportunity to discipline himself and become more competent overall. Due to that attitude, it allowed him to grow and win the National Cruiser Title at the young age of 16. He also managed to make it to the factory Mongoose team too and for that reason today, is considered to be in the same skill zone as Mike Chapman and Tim Root too.

Mark Webb
Mark Webb is one of the most influential riders for BMX today, and has created quite the community within the UK, Portsmouth home base. Mark, also known as ‘Webby’, has long been a favourite amongst the FISE, and has managed to really push the boundaries within the sport and what people are truly capable of from the mechanics and motion of a bike. Watching the footage of him during the FISE World Montpellier 2016, you will truly be able to see how a legend moves and makes the world keep eyes on his talent. One word, spectacular.

Bob Haro
Last to be mentioned on our list is Bob Haro. Bob has managed to make many argue on the fact he invented BMX-whether or not you agree, that is up to you. We think he was not far off that at all. He is the founder of the Haro bikes that many use today, and in fact, was the inventor of the freestyle in BMX, so he does have quite the foundation for himself. Let’s just say that with Bob Haro, BMX would not be what it is today.