The episode is with MTB slopestyle legend Nicholai Rogatkin. It covers how he started riding bikes before age five, began competing around age seven in skatepark contests, and how his father coached him by placing him in the highest categories to push his level. Rogatkin describes his gradual switch from BMX to mountain biking due to more contest opportunities and support from Martin Söderström and Specialized, while still achieving major BMX results like winning BMX Worlds in Cologne at 17 and winning an ASA Triple in Miami.
We discuss BMX vs MTB culture and perceived one-sided BMX animosity, along with positive crossover moments at Swatch Nines. The conversation shifts to making a living in action sports, the lack of public salary/contract transparency in mountain biking, and how that can leave riders with less negotiating power.
Rogatkin explains why he hasn’t returned to Rampage in recent years, describing his notable cliff crash, the fact he was largely uninjured, how Rampage’s structure changed after that year (including detaching from FMB), and how Utah requires extensive familiarity due to exposure and technical terrain. They discuss the emotional difficulty of watching friends crash at Rampage (including the year’s major incidents involving Adolf and Emil), how certain life-risk moves can’t be motivated by money, and how athletes manage intrusive fear thoughts.
The episode also addresses whether Rampage can be made safer, with Rogatkin suggesting a new site would reduce the escalation that comes from repeated venues. They talk about slopestyle crash training and durability, riders’ differing injury luck, and whether there’s an ideal body type for elite riding. Rogatkin shares moments of throwing tricks without full confidence, including landing a “cashy whip” under pressure at Innsbruck, and identifies his most memorable competition moment.
We discuss how judged events can be confusing compared to racing, Rogatkin’s crowd-pleasing style versus technical judging priorities, and the supportive camaraderie among slopestyle competitors. He names riders who impressed him most, highlighting Emil Johansson’s dominance and technical level, Cam Zink’s determination, and Thomas Genon’s longevity and Rampage progression. Rogatkin talks about his regrets around occasional reckless partying before contests (including the night before Joyride 2022), and his interest in future hosting/commentary and a “Drive to Survive”-style series for mountain biking.
00:00 Intro
02:30 Growing Up on BMX
06:19 Switching to MTB
09:11 Turning Pro for Real: Crankworx Breakthrough
12:54 BMX vs MTB Culture
16:20 Slopestyle vs BMX, Money, and Pay Transparency
23:49 Risk vs Reward in MTB
28:06 Rampage Crash, and Why He Stepped Away
33:49 Watching Rampage as a Friend
35:21 Adolf Silva crash
38:14 Emil’s crash
40:33 Mental Strength
46:37 Can Rampage Be Made Safer?
50:32 Why Slopestyle Riders Crash So Much
57:15 Is There an ‘Elite’ MTB Body Type?
01:00:44 Sending It Without 100% Confidence
01:07:20 Career Highlight
01:11:38 Riding for the Crowd vs. for the Judges
01:13:47 Sportsmanship
01:18:13 Best riders ever
01:24:22 Worst injury
01:28:37 Regrets
01:33:58 What’s Next
01:39:29 Defining Success
01:42:21 Future Collab
Watch on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDkKm6czEms
Follow Nicholi:
https://www.instagram.com/nicholirogatkin/
Follow me:
https://linktr.ee/stefangarlicki74
