BMX Weekly

With all of the coronavirus stuff going on, it was a good time to Podcast it up and Skype with Javier Colombo.

We talk about his start in racing in Argentina during the early days, going to his first few World Championships in the 90s, reading the magazines and finally getting a chance to line-up with the pros at the 2000 World Championship and put it in the main event as a virtually unknown at the time.

Javier talks about moving to the US, living in Miami and Orlando before driving to California to live the pro dream but having to stop off on the way at a race knowing in advance he had to win in order to pay for the gas to get him to California. Javier talks about living with Todd Lyons in Huntington Beach, working jobs to support himself and his racing, getting on SE and of course, winning the 2006 UCI Elite World Championships in Brazil. He also touches on missing out and his thoughts on not being chosen for the 2008 Olympic Team for Argentina.

We talk about turning Vet, starting his own business, his friendship and rivalry with Cristian Becerine during his Vet years and some of the USA BMX and UCI Vet Title runs and battles he's had during these years.

Javier proves that hard work, dedication, and drive - not just in his racing but also in his working life - are proof that setting goals and dreams and hustling is possible; it's all up to you.

Check it out.

https://www.instagram.com/p/3hmPRKBNMl/?igshid=1tjex7mmdxhhz

Quick Podcast and catch up with Dr. J now that the season is well under way. We breeze through a bunch of subjects starting with talk from the UCI World Cup Australia, coronavirus, possible Olympics cancellation, USA BMX Phoenix, new pick up on Haro, new USA pump track championships, gravel racing, Donny Robinson and the USA BMX Racing League parting ways, the Kimmann rap and more. Check it out.

We've been trying to nail down Mr. Andy Ruffell for awhile now and we finally sat down in San Diego and knocked out a podcast.

Lots covered, the early years being discovered by Richard Barrington and getting on Team ACE with early UK BMX legend Cav Strutt, winning his first race at Chatham back in 1980 right when BMX was getting off the ground in the UK.

Andy talks getting approached by Malcolm Jarvis and going to Ammaco Mongoose, traveling the country promoting the sport alongside racing and winning national titles in the process.

We also talk about racing with Tim March in 1984 (Superclass), the rivalry and the on-and-off relationship between both Andy and Tim even in current times.

We chat about the big money move to Raleigh in 85, winning the first official Pro Number 1 plate the same year, co-hosting BMX Beat and the Kelloggs with Mick Brown, the rise of Geth Shooter, his brothers Robert and Neil and Neil's rise to the top on the freestyle side competing and rivaling with Craig Campell (maybe not being treated well from the UKBFA) alongside coming 2nd to Ron Wilkerson at the 85 Kelloggs.

Andy talks about putting on Holeshot, bringing over big names from the US in both Freestyle and Skate including Dennis McCoy, Josh White and Mat Hoffman, to Skaters Jeff Grosso, Christian Hosoi and Mark "Gator" Rogowski, just to mention a few along with all the headaches and problems he encountered putting on an event, from hotel rooms trashed, pros demanding more money and causing havoc on the London underground.

Of course we have to cover his relationship and thoughts on Tony Hoffman, the 1986 Slough World Championships and the UK Pros (PRA) decision not to race, and again more recent drama with Tim March over it all last month.

We discuss and decide it's about time for an Official British BMX Hall of Fame to be set up and the talks are already in the works to make this a reality along with Andy's Stunt A Biker YouTube channel Stuntabiker.com and more.

While over in the UK this Christmas I got a chance to hang out and record a podcast with one of my long time friends, Kelvin Batey over in Derby.

Both Kelvin and his brother Liam were top British riders at an early age, winning bags full of National and British titles and they were always a contender in both the European and World Championships they attended.

We talk about racing and traveling in the UK and Europe during the 90's and 00's, some of the teams he rode for and making the jump into the Superclass (Pro Elite) ranks at just 16 and competing with the UK's top guys and progressing over the next few years in the Jr and Elite ranks.

We go into detail about the "all out drama" that surrounded Kelvin during the qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the hoops British Cycling made him jump though and the outcome, which was not competing in Beijing and his thoughts on it all today.

We also talk about Kelvin changing nationality to Ireland after 08, just missed qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics and moving into the Masters class in the next few years and capturing some World titles in the process.

We talk winding down his career, his great life today with is lovely wife Maria, and daughter. Kelvin and his wife both share their own successes with Kelvin working with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and still coaching and Maria is a social media blogger/influencer and heads her own notable make-up line.

Great to catch-up and hang out with Kelvin. It's awesome he continues to have success in life. You guys will enjoy this one. Cheers.

Mike Pardon Podcast Part 2 following up from the Aug 2018 Part 1, we continued the story from slowing down his BMX career in the mid 80s, getting into skating, sponsorship, opening a skate shop and competing in the Munster Skate World Championships in Germany. Mike then talks surfing, moving to Newquay living the camper life and working the odd jobs to support it.

We also touch on living in Ireland, Australia, getting back into racing and winning a handful of national titles running a team for Alan Woods in the mid 2000s alongside getting into coaching with the BCF.

Mike also talks being a paramedic these days back down under in Australia, becoming a dad, injuries, continuing to ride and race bikes and more in his 50s.

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NEW Erick "Big E" Bartoldus Podcast is up - starting with his early days in Florida making his way to California and couch surfing at Gork and Spike Jones' place, a stone throw away from Wizard Publications / BMX Action Magazine.

We talk about Erick's time with E-Team, Jive, working at SBS, before interviewing with Rich Long and getting a job at GT providing he cuts his hair. Once at GT, Big E went out on tour, becoming the Powerlite Brand Manager, and picking up a young Donny Robinson, Randy Stumpfhauser and later, Mario Soto; his thoughts on Mario's passing in 2001 alongside the success Powerlite had during the 90s.

Big E talks about starring in GT videos and TV commercials, his end at GT, moving into the moto industry working for Transworld Motocross, Answer and later and his current job at Yoshimura where he is the Marketing Manager for R&D and so much more.

Todd Corbitt podcast posted, starting out in Florida TC talks about getting into BMX in the early 80s, the Orlando scene riding for Oakridge Bike Shop, meeting guys like Lenny Batycki, Big E, doing clinics and selling stickers to support his racing. TC talks getting a Torker/Max hook-up from McGoo, Factory sponsorship with Murray, racing the 86 Worlds in England, Zellwood, BMX Action, Cycle-Craft racing AA and moving to California and partnering up with Todd Huffman riding for Auburn before transitioning to a job at GT and becoming the Team Manager.

TC talks all things GT working for Rich Long how big things got in the mid 90s with teams, sponsorships, the infrastructure and everything GT was involved in at the time. We talk TC and Huffman moving on from GT - putting together a program with Giant, working for Felt and later on to his current employer, Jamis Bicyles and what his job entails. We chat current times in BMX and the Bicycle world and so much more.

Been working on this one for awhile now with Paul Roberts (finally sat down) in Huntington Beach with Robbie Miranda and I for a pod.

Lots covered, early days riding for Cycle Craft, meeting Steve Buddendeck, getting on DK and moving to California in the 90s.

Robbie talks being teammates with Neal Wood, Winning the X-Games, 3 Nora Cups, racing the Vans Triple Crown DH Series and some of the pay days that came with it.

We talk Robbie's longevity with DK and Buddendeck showing value to his sponsors and going the extra mile in a pre-social media era with websites, clinic tours and working with the magazines, to building a fan base.

We touch on the RM59 Tropical Challenge in Puerto Rico, making the 97 UCI World's main, winning the NBL Christmas Classic and going into the 3rd Main at South Park tied for points with Gary Ellis.

We hit on DK's marketing, team and image during the 90s, Jumping the DK Trailer, his thoughts on clips coming into Pro racing and maybe being pushed into the DK/Neal Wood's "Clips For Kooks" campaign when he might have been more open to it himself.

Robbie talks about winding down his racing, setting himself up for life after BMX going into the Sheriff's Department, hitting the Mega Ramp, 360s at Sheep Hills and more.

This week on the Pod, Eddy King and I sat down with BMX Hall of Famer, former CW rider and Vegas local Tracer Finn, during the USA BMX Hall of Fame weekend in San Diego.

Coming from an entertainment family and working and growing up in Vegas, Tracer shares some great stories outside of BMX as well as many in the sport.

Tracer talks CW days, losing his finger in a crash, jumping his dad (Mickey Finn), playing the piano on the Vegas Strip for a BMX Action shoot, team managing for Specialized during the mid 90s to early 2000s working with his long-time friend TJ Lavin, alongside Christophe Leveque, during Leveque's dominating years on the team.

Tracer talks about still riding, the importance of supporting your local track, after parties at the X and Gravity Games with the likes of Stephen Murray, Nasty, Fuzzy, TJ and more.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrgzbnCF_TF/?igshid=8p17kzy68gp4

Podcast with Brits Ross Cullen (2x World Champion and current European Junior Champion) and old, mid and current-school rider/coach Julian Allen, who are both in California with 25 other Brits on the Zell Tour’s So-Cal BMX trip for a few weeks.

We talk about both Ross' and Julian’s history and their careers in BMX and go more into detail on the current UK race scene, from the club and coaching structure with British Cycling to how the sports sits today in the UK, and some chat on the next wave of British riders coming through the ranks.

Ross talks about getting ready to turn Elite in 2020, being part of the National Team, the guys he looks up to and lots more. Check it out.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz5o3AyAExd/?igshid=13a4v5zmc9c0z

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