Name: Bodo Hellwig
Age: 35 years
Hometown: Oldenburg, Germany

How long have you worked at Sport Import?
I started in the beginning of 1998

What companies does Sport Import distribute?
At this moment we have a very good program and carry the following companies:
Odyssey, FlyBikes, SundayBMX, G-Sport, KingKong, ACS, ODI, Tioga, Voxom and FeltBikes.

Can you explain the FELT BMX situation? Is it a German or an American company?
Our roots are in California, our product development is located in Lahe Forst, California. The German Headquarter and California product development team work very close in product development.

You probably do 101 things at work, what do you like to do most?

The part as Team Manager! It's always fun to ride with the riders and to hang out with them..., it's more than a Team, we are friends and that is true.

What part of the job do you dislike?

I don't like the winter season, it's time for meetings and statistics.

How many weekends per year are you on the road?

I don't know exactly, 15? This year I didn't travel so much, I have a new family and a young daughter..., it's not from me though, and I needed a contest break. Now I'm full of new energy and I have new plans for 2006.

Do you get to ride a lot yourself ("product testing")?

I rode a lot all the years, but this year it was a new situation in my life..., new family...! 05 I didn't ride a lot, maybe I need the break for my motivation? And I like to ride when the sun is shining, hot weather...., this year the summer sucked and we had a lot of rain.

You have your own frame coming out at FELT, was that always a dream for you?

For sure, not that the frame has been namded "Bodo", but a frame that have 100% my ideas and my geometry.

Give us the details of your frame?

I give you my personal wishes, ok? Brake mounts at chainstay but for small gears (my gear is 28-10), without Gyro-Tabs, without Wishbones (Monostays), 14" rearend, 74.5° headtube and a 21" toptube. Yes, I like long frames and I know that a lot of rides don't understand it, as I'm small (172 cm).

What riders do you sponsor through Sport Import?

We have different Teams...,
FeltBikes: Michael Sommer, Matti Röse, Rene Jansen, Jürgen Funk, Sebo Iacob, Markus Braumann and our one and only Racer is Olaf Steen.
Odyssey: Björn Heyer, Christian Ziegler, Ali B., Frank Lukas and Markus Hampel
FlyBikes: Timm Wiegmann, Benni Paulsen and Sebastian Pospischil
SundayBMX: ????? I'm not sure yet

How was your trip to America?

It was good, the flight was easy and now I'm a man. The time was too short, so it was my first trip to the States for me in Vegas.

Tell us a good experience?

From Vegas? That the flight was easy and that all my fear was for nothing.

Tell us a bad experience?

I think that nobody knows the word "energy-conscious" in Vegas and nobody thinks about that.

Let us know what comes up in your mind when you hear the following words:

Eurobike:
Hard week! In the beginning (when I was young) it's a lot of party, but now I can't drink a lot because I must work in the morning at 9.00 a clock. I think I'm old...., now it’s a hard job, but it is funny and you can meet a lot of friends.

Interbike:
It's a bike show. The weather was beautiful, I love it. Hardrock Cafe rules! After the Interbike I saw the movie "The Cooler" and I think a lot about Vegas and the Casinos. It was nice to know a lot of the places and see the playing grandma's again...

Flatland:
I like it, maybe the number of flatland riders in our Teams shows that? I think it's very hard to learn some of this stuff and I have a lot of respect. When I see some combos, I have goose-bumps.

Becks:
Ohhhhhhh, in my eyes the best beer worldwide, a fun maker!

Oldenburg:
Nice, small town in the north of Germany, with a very good BMX scene. I hope that the indoor park will open again and I hear some different stories. If the Skatepark will open the doors again, Oldenburg will be “THE BMX TOWN”

GT:
What can I say to GT? It was a good company but they forgot their roots. The best in the story for me, I meet you and learned a lot from you, it was a good time.

Dirt sessions:
I love it: Summer, sun, riding, hanging out and have a good time with friends, that is Dirt!

Green Felt camper van:
A lot of fun! The van will be perfect with a motor from Porsche.

Signature frames:
Now I love it;-) ......, too many signature stories...

2006:
More riding then 05, maybe the second Sport Import DVD, maybe a Team tour, where are the worlds?.... After a lot of practice, I will make my own child and maybe I'm ready to get married. I think I found the perfect lady....

Last words:
I would like to thank a lot of people, but before I start with names and forget somebody I don't do it. We will meet next year, for sure!

Thanks Bodo.

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