What is your name? Jeremy Wilder
How old are you? 34
What part of the world do you live in?
Salem, Oregon, U.S.A.
Salem, Oregon, U.S.A.
What do you do for a living?
Foreman in a custom cabinet shop.
Foreman in a custom cabinet shop.
How long have you been riding Flatland?
About 19 years off and on.
About 19 years off and on.
What got you in the BMX Flatland? Well, flatland used to be what eveyone did. Flatland was a part of
all freestyle riding. So getting into flatland was inherent in riding a freestyle bike. The more things I
tried, the more fun it became. Then when the tricks started really getting interesting and fun, riders who
were rolling inspired me. I am not a rider who sets trends or invents tricks, I have mostly enjoyed following
in the footsteps of riders like Jones, Chase, Chad Degroot and Day Smith.
all freestyle riding. So getting into flatland was inherent in riding a freestyle bike. The more things I
tried, the more fun it became. Then when the tricks started really getting interesting and fun, riders who
were rolling inspired me. I am not a rider who sets trends or invents tricks, I have mostly enjoyed following
in the footsteps of riders like Jones, Chase, Chad Degroot and Day Smith.
How did you find Pedal BMX?
Through Flatland Fuel.
Through Flatland Fuel.
How often to you practice? Well, not as much as
I like to or as much as I used to. I just got custody
of my two kids, so that has really cut into my riding
time. I try to get out at least once a week and on
the weekends I have free, I pretty much ride the
whole weekend and pay for it later. But, of course, I
am constantly riding in my head...running through
tricks and daydreaming. BMX is such a part of me,
it is kinda cool how that aspect of myself hasn't
really changed all these years.
I like to or as much as I used to. I just got custody
of my two kids, so that has really cut into my riding
time. I try to get out at least once a week and on
the weekends I have free, I pretty much ride the
whole weekend and pay for it later. But, of course, I
am constantly riding in my head...running through
tricks and daydreaming. BMX is such a part of me,
it is kinda cool how that aspect of myself hasn't
really changed all these years.
What is your toughest combo to complete? Here's the deal; I don't really complete many of my
combos. I am not a competing rider, so if I get to the point where I am getting it, I add to it. The result is
that I never really have a string that I am pulling, because I am constantly stepping it up. I learned
fire-hydrants to half-bar-flip to half-hikers pretty good and so now I am trying them into turbined hikers to
switch-handed steam rollers. WHystop with a few combos? Flatland is a journey, after all.
combos. I am not a competing rider, so if I get to the point where I am getting it, I add to it. The result is
that I never really have a string that I am pulling, because I am constantly stepping it up. I learned
fire-hydrants to half-bar-flip to half-hikers pretty good and so now I am trying them into turbined hikers to
switch-handed steam rollers. WHystop with a few combos? Flatland is a journey, after all.
What trick are you working on now? Well,
aside from the previously mentioned combo, I am
working through hang-tens to half-packers back
over into hang-tens, switch-handed steams into
tomahawks and doing some kind of bar-flipity thing
out. Then i played with a karl-kruizer to pivot into
fork-wheelie and then an ankle pivot to
switch-footed karl kruizer on the other side of the
bike with the bars backwards...but I've hit a wall
with that one. I first tried them in almost complete
darkness and got pretty close, but haven't gotten
very far since then.
aside from the previously mentioned combo, I am
working through hang-tens to half-packers back
over into hang-tens, switch-handed steams into
tomahawks and doing some kind of bar-flipity thing
out. Then i played with a karl-kruizer to pivot into
fork-wheelie and then an ankle pivot to
switch-footed karl kruizer on the other side of the
bike with the bars backwards...but I've hit a wall
with that one. I first tried them in almost complete
darkness and got pretty close, but haven't gotten
very far since then.
Where is your favorite spot to ride and with whom? The Grant tennis courts, with all the locals, Joe,
Darrell, Scott H., Justin, Paul (aka Sarge, The Machine, Scuffinator) and Tzim.
Darrell, Scott H., Justin, Paul (aka Sarge, The Machine, Scuffinator) and Tzim.
Who are your BMX Hero's? Kevin Jones, Chris Moeller, Joe Lamena, Chase Gouin...but the rider I look up to
the most has to be Mat Hoffman. Mat has done more to, for and in this sport than any other rider and he's still
totally approachable and cool.
the most has to be Mat Hoffman. Mat has done more to, for and in this sport than any other rider and he's still
totally approachable and cool.
What is one of your best memories from riding?
Feeling free. Sounds cheesy, but it's true. The way my life
is now, and has been for several years, riding is the one
thing that I can just enjoy without reservation. The best
memories I have are just scenes where I am riding with
friends with a smile on my face. The time I stayed the night
with Joe more than ten years ago. We spent the whole
night riding in a little crappy town. Doing rolling tricks down
hills in the dark. THAT is freedom.
Feeling free. Sounds cheesy, but it's true. The way my life
is now, and has been for several years, riding is the one
thing that I can just enjoy without reservation. The best
memories I have are just scenes where I am riding with
friends with a smile on my face. The time I stayed the night
with Joe more than ten years ago. We spent the whole
night riding in a little crappy town. Doing rolling tricks down
hills in the dark. THAT is freedom.
What was your very first BMX bike? Huffy or something like that. I lived in a bad neighborhood full of
cholos and pimps. It was stolen, just like many of my bikes were.
cholos and pimps. It was stolen, just like many of my bikes were.
What kind of bike do you ride now? Federal Fraction. Oh man, I
love this bike! This is by far the best bike I have ever had. Now that I
make a little money, I can have parts that I want, rather than parts I
can afford. I really think having a better bike helps my riding, though I
would ride what I have, regardless. So many companies are making
good/great parts, that you can have an incredible bike and not have it
look exactly like everyone else's.
love this bike! This is by far the best bike I have ever had. Now that I
make a little money, I can have parts that I want, rather than parts I
can afford. I really think having a better bike helps my riding, though I
would ride what I have, regardless. So many companies are making
good/great parts, that you can have an incredible bike and not have it
look exactly like everyone else's.
Did you ever see the movie Rad? In the theater. It was
great. As a rider, back then, I really thought that movie was
going to open people's eyes, but it didn't. Just like the younger
generation thought ESPN was going to open eyes...but it didn't.
Rad made little kids ask us, "Can you do a cherrypicker?"
Whereas ESPN made little kids ask us, "Can you do a backflip?"
great. As a rider, back then, I really thought that movie was
going to open people's eyes, but it didn't. Just like the younger
generation thought ESPN was going to open eyes...but it didn't.
Rad made little kids ask us, "Can you do a cherrypicker?"
Whereas ESPN made little kids ask us, "Can you do a backflip?"
What do you think is in the future for flatland bmx? The future? Well, I think it will always be what it
always was...riding, progressing, freedom. I think as far as tricks go, we all keep waiting for things to slow
down, but the tricks are just more intense. Marti seems to have such a creative mind for flatland that I don't
know WHAT he will try next. Yanmar, too. I hope that flatland grows more in the U.S., though. So many
riders tell me how cool they think it is, but yet, they don't really try it. I'd love to see some movement or trend
thatinspired more riders to take up flat. So I HOPE that the future is more riders.
always was...riding, progressing, freedom. I think as far as tricks go, we all keep waiting for things to slow
down, but the tricks are just more intense. Marti seems to have such a creative mind for flatland that I don't
know WHAT he will try next. Yanmar, too. I hope that flatland grows more in the U.S., though. So many
riders tell me how cool they think it is, but yet, they don't really try it. I'd love to see some movement or trend
thatinspired more riders to take up flat. So I HOPE that the future is more riders.
What contest have you been too? = The last
contest I attended was the B3 in Portland. I tried to
get to the Va. Metro, but the kids come first. And,
really, what point is there to go to most of the contests,
anyway? It seems that flatland is being amputated
from the ass of BMX by the "Industry."
contest I attended was the B3 in Portland. I tried to
get to the Va. Metro, but the kids come first. And,
really, what point is there to go to most of the contests,
anyway? It seems that flatland is being amputated
from the ass of BMX by the "Industry."
Will you be competing in any contest in 2005?
Probably not. Now, I will be going to as many jams as
I can.
Probably not. Now, I will be going to as many jams as
I can.
Any Last Comments? I just want to say that flatland is the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life.
BMX has effected every facet of my life, including my relationship with my kids, my world view and my self-image.
It really has become much like a sort of religion or martial art-type thing. As I get older, riding becomes more
precious and rewarding (or maybe I just appreciate it more). I'm glad whenever I meet or see or read about an
older guy riding, because everyone told me I would have to grow up some day..but they were wrong and we are
right. Riding has never been better.
BMX has effected every facet of my life, including my relationship with my kids, my world view and my self-image.
It really has become much like a sort of religion or martial art-type thing. As I get older, riding becomes more
precious and rewarding (or maybe I just appreciate it more). I'm glad whenever I meet or see or read about an
older guy riding, because everyone told me I would have to grow up some day..but they were wrong and we are
right. Riding has never been better.
Contact me at:
raddad67@bmxfreestyler.com
raddad67@bmxfreestyler.com
What is one of your worst memories from riding?
Times when I wouldn't have money to keep up with things
that would break. Way back then, the bikes were junk, but
still expensive to a jackass with apart-time job. Being unable
to even try a trick because my bike was incapable sucked.
Times when I wouldn't have money to keep up with things
that would break. Way back then, the bikes were junk, but
still expensive to a jackass with apart-time job. Being unable
to even try a trick because my bike was incapable sucked.
