What is your Name? Chris Balles (pronounced "ba-yez")
How old are you? Just turned 34
Where do you live? San Marcos,Texas.
What do you do for a living? I'm an insurance agent.
I work for progressive insurance.
I work for progressive insurance.
What got you into BMX Flatland? I really don't know to be honest with you. I mean, I think I was a
flatlander before I even knew what flatland was. I remember as a very young child literally doing tricks on
my big wheel. I used to peddle on that thing as fast as I could then stand up on the seat. I remember
seeing my big brother and his friends doing wheelies and bunny hops on their bikes and just thinking
that was the coolest thing earth. I used to think "that is what I want to do when I grow up". As I got older
and started riding "big" bikes, I started jumping and doing "tricks". I think it was when I was in 7th grade
the Castillo family moved to San Marcos this is when I met Ruben and Robert Castillo. I saw Robert do a
boomerang and that was it for me. From that day forward I knew I was going to be a flatlander.
flatlander before I even knew what flatland was. I remember as a very young child literally doing tricks on
my big wheel. I used to peddle on that thing as fast as I could then stand up on the seat. I remember
seeing my big brother and his friends doing wheelies and bunny hops on their bikes and just thinking
that was the coolest thing earth. I used to think "that is what I want to do when I grow up". As I got older
and started riding "big" bikes, I started jumping and doing "tricks". I think it was when I was in 7th grade
the Castillo family moved to San Marcos this is when I met Ruben and Robert Castillo. I saw Robert do a
boomerang and that was it for me. From that day forward I knew I was going to be a flatlander.
You rode during the time of the AFA how does that compare to
competitions of today? One of the biggest differences is how often
contests are held. Back in the AFA days there were at least 6
contests a year in Texas alone. That brought riders together more
often than today. On the other hand though, I think it makes us
appreciate the sport and other riders more now than it did back then
since we dont see each other as often. Contests were fun back then
and they are still fun today, thats what I care about.
competitions of today? One of the biggest differences is how often
contests are held. Back in the AFA days there were at least 6
contests a year in Texas alone. That brought riders together more
often than today. On the other hand though, I think it makes us
appreciate the sport and other riders more now than it did back then
since we dont see each other as often. Contests were fun back then
and they are still fun today, thats what I care about.
Are you planning for future contest or jams? I'm not sure at this point. I guess we'll see how the Texas
Flatland Round up goes.
Flatland Round up goes.
What kind of Impact are you hoping to make on the flatland
community? I just hope to have a good contest and have people remember
it and if all goes well hopefully people will want to return next year.
community? I just hope to have a good contest and have people remember
it and if all goes well hopefully people will want to return next year.
How often do you ride and with whom? Nowadays
I'm lucky if I ride twice a week. Normally I ride by myself,
sometimes with David Wethersbee. I sometimes hook
up with the Austin crew.
I'm lucky if I ride twice a week. Normally I ride by myself,
sometimes with David Wethersbee. I sometimes hook
up with the Austin crew.
What is your favorite memory about flatlanding?
Man!! There all good. I guess if I had to pick one it
would be during the X-trials in Grand Prarie Texas a
couple of years ago, riding with the Japanese guys in
the parking lot of the hotel. After we were done riding
they asked me where they could get some beer. Not
being from Grand Prarie and not being able to speak
Japanese, I did the best I could to communicate with
them. They found the place I told them about and
come back with cases of Dos XX witch is my favorite
beer. They offered me some and we wound up
Man!! There all good. I guess if I had to pick one it
would be during the X-trials in Grand Prarie Texas a
couple of years ago, riding with the Japanese guys in
the parking lot of the hotel. After we were done riding
they asked me where they could get some beer. Not
being from Grand Prarie and not being able to speak
Japanese, I did the best I could to communicate with
them. They found the place I told them about and
come back with cases of Dos XX witch is my favorite
beer. They offered me some and we wound up
Who are the riders that inspire you to progess? Everyone I see
flatlanding is an inspiration to me. Everyone from a kid learning an endo to
Chase working his magic but the riders who have a direct impact on me are
"EZ" Chris Anderson, Ruben Castillo and David Wethersbee.
flatlanding is an inspiration to me. Everyone from a kid learning an endo to
Chase working his magic but the riders who have a direct impact on me are
"EZ" Chris Anderson, Ruben Castillo and David Wethersbee.
What kind of bike are you riding and how is it set up? I ride a ARES
Choice with marti bars and bizhouse stem. I just put my brakes back on a
couple of weeks ago. I guess the breakless thing is just too new school for
me.
Choice with marti bars and bizhouse stem. I just put my brakes back on a
couple of weeks ago. I guess the breakless thing is just too new school for
me.
Do you think X-Games should bring back flatland? NO NO NO. I
thought it was cool when Flatland was in the X-games but now I feel like
ESPN has betrayed us. I mean because they were not making as much
money as vert or stupid street luge they take out flatland. If they wanted
to bring flatland back I think it would be like an old girlfriend who broke
up with you coming back crying talking about "I'm sorry, I didn't mean
it!!!" I'd be like, girl get out of my face.
thought it was cool when Flatland was in the X-games but now I feel like
ESPN has betrayed us. I mean because they were not making as much
money as vert or stupid street luge they take out flatland. If they wanted
to bring flatland back I think it would be like an old girlfriend who broke
up with you coming back crying talking about "I'm sorry, I didn't mean
it!!!" I'd be like, girl get out of my face.
Any last Comments? I want to give props to my Family, friends, my
Wife Stephanie and my kids Ian, Jaylon and Michael. I would not be
here if it weren't for them. Don't stop doing what you love doing,
wether it be Flatland, playing sports, bowling, singing, whatever, just
stay true to yourself and keep an open mind. The worst kind of prison
is a closed mind and a closed heart.
Wife Stephanie and my kids Ian, Jaylon and Michael. I would not be
here if it weren't for them. Don't stop doing what you love doing,
wether it be Flatland, playing sports, bowling, singing, whatever, just
stay true to yourself and keep an open mind. The worst kind of prison
is a closed mind and a closed heart.
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Contact me at:
raddad67@bmxfreestyler.com
raddad67@bmxfreestyler.com
You are putting together a contest in on July 9th, how did the
idea for the Texas Flatland Round Up evolve? I've been wanting
to put on a contest in my home town for a long time. I was really
influenced to move forward with it by Hector Garcia who put on the
Elevation contests and by Scott O'brien who put on the VooDoo jam.
Being that it will be held in Texas and there is a silly stereotype that
everyone from Texas is a cowboy, I wanted to give it a cowboy theme.
idea for the Texas Flatland Round Up evolve? I've been wanting
to put on a contest in my home town for a long time. I was really
influenced to move forward with it by Hector Garcia who put on the
Elevation contests and by Scott O'brien who put on the VooDoo jam.
Being that it will be held in Texas and there is a silly stereotype that
everyone from Texas is a cowboy, I wanted to give it a cowboy theme.
What is your favorite kind of tricks to do? I love doing hang 5's. It just
feels so good when your going really fast and rolling on the front wheel, I love
going downhill on a hang 5 . Any combos out of hang 5's is my favorite
feels so good when your going really fast and rolling on the front wheel, I love
going downhill on a hang 5 . Any combos out of hang 5's is my favorite
What tricks are you learning currently? I've been really focused on putting
the Texas Flatland Roundup together over the past few months so I really
haven't had too much time to ride, but when I do ride I work on jugglers and
G-Turning deathtrucks.
the Texas Flatland Roundup together over the past few months so I really
haven't had too much time to ride, but when I do ride I work on jugglers and
G-Turning deathtrucks.
What was your worst accident on a bike? Back when I used to dirt jump, we built some trails
here in San Marcos. The first jump was a set of doubles and I use to 360 it pretty consistently. I
remember it so clearly, there was a lot of people there and everyone was yelling and screaming, I
was so pumped up and just got going way too fast for that jump. I went for a 360 and way overshot
the landing, my body kept turning in the air and I landed on flat ground in an angle and hype
extended my left knee. I tore two ligaments in my knee and had surgery on it. I wound up having
to get it reconstructed. No more dirt jumping for me.
here in San Marcos. The first jump was a set of doubles and I use to 360 it pretty consistently. I
remember it so clearly, there was a lot of people there and everyone was yelling and screaming, I
was so pumped up and just got going way too fast for that jump. I went for a 360 and way overshot
the landing, my body kept turning in the air and I landed on flat ground in an angle and hype
extended my left knee. I tore two ligaments in my knee and had surgery on it. I wound up having
to get it reconstructed. No more dirt jumping for me.
drinking all night but the best part of all was when we all got to the point were we were a bit overserved
and I was teaching them how to say curse words in spanish and they were teaching me how to say
curse words in Japanese, then Stephen Cerra drove by and they were all yelling spanish curses at
him. I dont think Stephan ever realized what was happening so that made it even funnier. Classic!
and I was teaching them how to say curse words in spanish and they were teaching me how to say
curse words in Japanese, then Stephen Cerra drove by and they were all yelling spanish curses at
him. I dont think Stephan ever realized what was happening so that made it even funnier. Classic!
What is your worst memory about flatlanding? I guess the only bad
memory I have is seeing the end of the AFA. I remember thinking "this is
it, this is the end of Flatland". A lot of riders quit after that but the people
who really loved flatland stuck with it and made it to what it is today.
memory I have is seeing the end of the AFA. I remember thinking "this is
it, this is the end of Flatland". A lot of riders quit after that but the people
who really loved flatland stuck with it and made it to what it is today.
What do you think is in the future for flatland? I think only time will tell. Progression is defiantly in the future
but how much and how fast?? I don't know. I remember talking to one of my old riding buddies, Paul Bennet
about 20 years ago. He was an old schooler back then and I remember him saying "Where do you think it will go
from here, I mean do you think there are really that many more positions we could come up with to hop on a
bike??" Then all the rolling tricks came out and look where were at now. So, who knows.
but how much and how fast?? I don't know. I remember talking to one of my old riding buddies, Paul Bennet
about 20 years ago. He was an old schooler back then and I remember him saying "Where do you think it will go
from here, I mean do you think there are really that many more positions we could come up with to hop on a
bike??" Then all the rolling tricks came out and look where were at now. So, who knows.
Come out to the Texas Flatland Round up!!! www.texasflatlandroundup.com