Name: Hector Garcia
Age: 32
Where do you live? Houston,TX
What do you do for a living? I own Dunamis
Designs / Dunamis Media, which is a
progressive graphics and web design company.
We’re getting into film and video as well..
What got you into BMX Flatland?
When I was 11 or 12, I remember seeing a guy in our apartments doing some tricks out in
the street. I vividly remember him riding over a hundred yards away, but it caught my
attention. My first real bike after that was a diamond back which later cracked at the
head tube. Peace of crap. From there I started riding GT’s and Haros and got into riding
full force, with my new vision street wear shoes of course.
When I was 11 or 12, I remember seeing a guy in our apartments doing some tricks out in
the street. I vividly remember him riding over a hundred yards away, but it caught my
attention. My first real bike after that was a diamond back which later cracked at the
head tube. Peace of crap. From there I started riding GT’s and Haros and got into riding
full force, with my new vision street wear shoes of course.
How did you create Dunamisdesigns?
Dunamis has a long history and has had its hands in
so many different areas. It started out as a fun tshirt
production project back in 1997. A couple of friends
and I didn’t like any of the shirts that were out at the
time and we had messages of our own that we wanted
to get out, so we decided to make our own shirts. Our
first dozen sold like crazy to all of our friends and the
demand made us bust out more. During that time, I
wasn’t riding much, but we had a lot of skater friends
and so forth, so that’s who was buying all of our stuff.
Most of what we were doing was just for fun and the
novelty of seeing people run around with our
creations on their backs.
Dunamis has a long history and has had its hands in
so many different areas. It started out as a fun tshirt
production project back in 1997. A couple of friends
and I didn’t like any of the shirts that were out at the
time and we had messages of our own that we wanted
to get out, so we decided to make our own shirts. Our
first dozen sold like crazy to all of our friends and the
demand made us bust out more. During that time, I
wasn’t riding much, but we had a lot of skater friends
and so forth, so that’s who was buying all of our stuff.
Most of what we were doing was just for fun and the
novelty of seeing people run around with our
creations on their backs.
How did the elevation competitions evolve? In the time that the clothing line began to evolve
and my interest in flatland starting growing again (I had stopped riding after high school and didn’t
get back into it until 1999), my desire to meet other riders gave me the idea of putting on a small
flatland event. the original idea was to just put together a small event that would draw other riders
out and allow people to hook up, meet and ride. In planning the event, I met Art Thomason, who
was in school at Texas A & M in College station. I talked with him about my jam idea and he was
totally supportive and interested in seeing something happen. Plans were moving forward.
What was supposed to be some little event, slowly evolved into something larger. I got permission
from a local car stereo franchise to hold an event in their parking lot. They even offered to bring
out their large semi-truck that had a built in p.a. system. New connections were being made as we
promoted the event and the interest from riders all over surprised us. This little flatland rider hook
up day was turning into a full fledged jam.
After the success of the first jam (Houston Flatland Jam), we had to outdo ourselves, so we made
larger plans for the next year. The same stereo franchise offered their property for the event once
again and we started appealing to other companies to become sponsors. We began using the
name “Elevation” for our jams, so this second event, became known as Elevation1. More people
came to this second event than the year before, and that’s how it’s been ever since. Each year we’
ve increased our vision and brought in more sponsors.
We’ve always enjoyed keeping things real and keeping these events as “grassroots” as possible.
People come and enjoy themselves at these jams. The idea behind the jams is to bring riders
together to ride, hangout, meet, eat, play and ride some more. We add the contests and so forth
so that there’s more of an incentive for riders that live far from Houston to come and compete and
enjoy an Elevation.
This past year, we celebrated our 5th flatland event called Elevation4. As I mentioned, more and
more riders come out every year and this was still the case for number 4. It was our largest venue
yet, but the location seemed far away and out of place. It was a good event, but had us
questioning the Elevation series and whether or not there would be more. That leads into your
next question.
and my interest in flatland starting growing again (I had stopped riding after high school and didn’t
get back into it until 1999), my desire to meet other riders gave me the idea of putting on a small
flatland event. the original idea was to just put together a small event that would draw other riders
out and allow people to hook up, meet and ride. In planning the event, I met Art Thomason, who
was in school at Texas A & M in College station. I talked with him about my jam idea and he was
totally supportive and interested in seeing something happen. Plans were moving forward.
What was supposed to be some little event, slowly evolved into something larger. I got permission
from a local car stereo franchise to hold an event in their parking lot. They even offered to bring
out their large semi-truck that had a built in p.a. system. New connections were being made as we
promoted the event and the interest from riders all over surprised us. This little flatland rider hook
up day was turning into a full fledged jam.
After the success of the first jam (Houston Flatland Jam), we had to outdo ourselves, so we made
larger plans for the next year. The same stereo franchise offered their property for the event once
again and we started appealing to other companies to become sponsors. We began using the
name “Elevation” for our jams, so this second event, became known as Elevation1. More people
came to this second event than the year before, and that’s how it’s been ever since. Each year we’
ve increased our vision and brought in more sponsors.
We’ve always enjoyed keeping things real and keeping these events as “grassroots” as possible.
People come and enjoy themselves at these jams. The idea behind the jams is to bring riders
together to ride, hangout, meet, eat, play and ride some more. We add the contests and so forth
so that there’s more of an incentive for riders that live far from Houston to come and compete and
enjoy an Elevation.
This past year, we celebrated our 5th flatland event called Elevation4. As I mentioned, more and
more riders come out every year and this was still the case for number 4. It was our largest venue
yet, but the location seemed far away and out of place. It was a good event, but had us
questioning the Elevation series and whether or not there would be more. That leads into your
next question.
What can we exptect for Elevation 5?
I’ve had some totally different ideas for a number
5, but right now there are no plans for any more
Elevations. These events take a lot of work,
planning, energy and resources. From the time
the event date is scheduled and promotion
begins, it’s a non-stop machine to try pulling off a
successful event. For me, these events are
more work than fun, and I’d rather be a part of a
flatland event where I myself can have fun, ride,
and enjoy the company of other riders.
I’ve had some totally different ideas for a number
5, but right now there are no plans for any more
Elevations. These events take a lot of work,
planning, energy and resources. From the time
the event date is scheduled and promotion
begins, it’s a non-stop machine to try pulling off a
successful event. For me, these events are
more work than fun, and I’d rather be a part of a
flatland event where I myself can have fun, ride,
and enjoy the company of other riders.
What was your worst accident on a bike?
I use to ride a lot of street, so there were some
accidents there, but as for flatland, I’d have to
say that it’s as follows. I was working on time
machines and in the middle of one, the back
tire slid out from under me and I came down
hard on top of the bike. The rear peg went
into my gut and knocked the wind out of me. I
literally blacked out, and started seeing stars
for a little while. It was crazy. I sat there for a
little while, and then got back up and started
trying them again.
I use to ride a lot of street, so there were some
accidents there, but as for flatland, I’d have to
say that it’s as follows. I was working on time
machines and in the middle of one, the back
tire slid out from under me and I came down
hard on top of the bike. The rear peg went
into my gut and knocked the wind out of me. I
literally blacked out, and started seeing stars
for a little while. It was crazy. I sat there for a
little while, and then got back up and started
trying them again.
How often do you ride and with whom?
Haven’t ridden much lately. On average I’d ride about once or twice a week. Mainly ride at night
because it’s cooler and there are more parking lots around here available. My riding crew
usually consists of many of the Houston guys like Lee Edwards and his son, Elias, Art Thomason,
Charlie Hawkins and Kelly Baldwin. There are some other riders that come out that I don’t have
names for. For the most part, I usually ride alone.
Haven’t ridden much lately. On average I’d ride about once or twice a week. Mainly ride at night
because it’s cooler and there are more parking lots around here available. My riding crew
usually consists of many of the Houston guys like Lee Edwards and his son, Elias, Art Thomason,
Charlie Hawkins and Kelly Baldwin. There are some other riders that come out that I don’t have
names for. For the most part, I usually ride alone.
What is your favorite memory about flatlanding?
My favorite memories are from back in the late 80’s, when flatland was at it’s peak.
Those days were fun. Riding was so pure and all about having fun. I remember the
summers where all we did was ride everyday, all day and all weekend. Progression was
easy and natural because all we did was ride. The scene was a lot more positive back
then as well. Now there are too many attitudes, negativity, and cliques within the scene.
We’ve got to keep things fun and real. Flatland should always be about just having fun
riding and friends.
My favorite memories are from back in the late 80’s, when flatland was at it’s peak.
Those days were fun. Riding was so pure and all about having fun. I remember the
summers where all we did was ride everyday, all day and all weekend. Progression was
easy and natural because all we did was ride. The scene was a lot more positive back
then as well. Now there are too many attitudes, negativity, and cliques within the scene.
We’ve got to keep things fun and real. Flatland should always be about just having fun
riding and friends.
Continue Interview on Page 2
Contact me at:
raddad67@bmxfreestyler.com
raddad67@bmxfreestyler.com
The two other guys involved later lost interest, but I wanted to run with Dunamis and continue
producing goods. They handed over the rights of everything to me and I ran with it. I started
putting out more shirts, caps, beanies, jackets, sweaters, etc. and did fairly well with it for a while.
During this time I got back into riding flatland, so all of the designs that I was doing slowly evolved
into more rider friendly product, instead of what we had been doing.
Over time, we’ve produced less and less product and what Dunamis is mainly doing now is
graphics, web design, and video, with the clothing line being something that only caters to the
flatland world here and there.
producing goods. They handed over the rights of everything to me and I ran with it. I started
putting out more shirts, caps, beanies, jackets, sweaters, etc. and did fairly well with it for a while.
During this time I got back into riding flatland, so all of the designs that I was doing slowly evolved
into more rider friendly product, instead of what we had been doing.
Over time, we’ve produced less and less product and what Dunamis is mainly doing now is
graphics, web design, and video, with the clothing line being something that only caters to the
flatland world here and there.
Through these events, we’ve met so many great people and other riding crews. A lot of
good friendships have been built through flatland and through the Elevation experience. I
have ideas for an ideal event, but unless we can get the conditions right, it’s up in the air
whether we’ll see another Elevation. RedBull was the reason the last two events took place
because they hooked us up financially. It paid the bills and cushioned the purse money, but
we’d like to at least come out ahead on these events, since we put so much time into them. I
know that no more Elevations is not good news, but you gotta admit, these events were all
good for riders and for flatland in general.
good friendships have been built through flatland and through the Elevation experience. I
have ideas for an ideal event, but unless we can get the conditions right, it’s up in the air
whether we’ll see another Elevation. RedBull was the reason the last two events took place
because they hooked us up financially. It paid the bills and cushioned the purse money, but
we’d like to at least come out ahead on these events, since we put so much time into them. I
know that no more Elevations is not good news, but you gotta admit, these events were all
good for riders and for flatland in general.
What is your favorite trick to do?
Man, I don’t know if I have any favorite tricks. You know, as long as I’ve been riding, I still don’t
know the names of most flatland tricks. I’m the type of rider that has never really paid attention to
trick names. I’ve never really cared about the names of tricks, I just do them. I guess my favorite
trick (and I’ll try to use the correct trick names here if I can) is the 360 bar flip to opposite hand
steam roller to crack packer, back to opposite hand steam roller to turbined inside circle k to
jump to pedals. I can’t always get the jump to pedals or ride out at all, but I’m close.
Man, I don’t know if I have any favorite tricks. You know, as long as I’ve been riding, I still don’t
know the names of most flatland tricks. I’m the type of rider that has never really paid attention to
trick names. I’ve never really cared about the names of tricks, I just do them. I guess my favorite
trick (and I’ll try to use the correct trick names here if I can) is the 360 bar flip to opposite hand
steam roller to crack packer, back to opposite hand steam roller to turbined inside circle k to
jump to pedals. I can’t always get the jump to pedals or ride out at all, but I’m close.