FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

Name: Sean Yarroll
Age: 36
Hometown: San Diego
Hook-ups/Sponsors: Brian Castillo/ Volume Bikes and Henry Davies/East County Bmx

The favorite list:

-Spot to ride: Back in the day Mission Trails

Name: Raymond j Schlechtweg jr
Age: 40 like the beer
Hometown: King of Prussia

The favorite list:

-Spot to ride: NYC
-BMX video: Joe Kid
-Website: FATBMX
-Web video: Youporn
-Food: free lunch, gum
-Travel destination: China
-Riders to ride with: Marvel n Noodles
-Car: Saleen
-Movie: First Blood
-Colour: black

Name: Zachary Gerber
Age: 24
Hometown: Ridgway, Pennsylvania
Sponsors: Alienation and Albe's

The FAT FAVOURITES list:

-Spot to ride: Street anywhere
-BMX video: Little Devil - Criminal Mischief
-Food: pizza all day
-Travel destination: Mostly local but I need to head down to shred Georgia when I can.
-Riders to ride with: Local talent, friends
-Web video: Too many to have a favorite
-Car: 02 VW Jetta
-Movie: Rambo First Blood or Predator
-Shoes: Vans

Companies not traditionally involved in BMX such as Levi’s, Nike, Target, Mountain Dew, and Ball Park have drastically changed the overall landscape of the sport in terms of awareness, size and scope of events and money invested into charitable donations. This large-scale corporate sponsorship is seen by many as a positive contribution. Others however, seem concerned that these new relationships somehow “dilute” the spirit and culture of the sport. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Mark “Flip” Flipowicz of Albe’s regarding his views on corporate sponsorship and BMX.

How do you personally feel non-traditional corporate sponsorships have impacted the sport? Either positive, negative or both?
Well, you can look at it both ways. I see a lot of my friends that get to ride their bikes as their "job" because of big corporate sponsors. Without the money coming in from these companies many pro BMX riders would have real jobs and not be able to ride as much.

This was a crazy 12 Questions to get. Let me tell you. We went to the Animal warehouse and rode to shoot the photos for the 12 questions, and Grimaldo’s son George shot better photos then I did and he never used a G11 before. After the warehouse Shane, Bupsy, Grimaldo, his son George, and I went to Tops Dinner. While typing the 12 Questions Grimaldo was telling us that he is 33 years old and has 3 Kids -- George 9, a 3 year old son and a 9 month old girl. We were there until 12:30 am keeping George out late on a school night. Well here it is.

1 Where are you from?
I am from Mexico

2 Do you miss back home?
Well is been a long time. I came to Newark New Jersey in 1989. 

Name: Mike Taylor aka Jersey
Age: 26
Hometown: Warrington, UK
Hook-ups/Sponsors: gsport/odyssey, BSD, dub bmx, MJ cycles

The favorite list:

-Spot to ride: Weird stuff is fun.
-BMX video: Hmm hard one, I mostly only watch sections. Need to

Name: Arrash Saidi
Age: 27
Home Town: Hitchen England/Huntington Beach Ca
Sponsors: S&M Bikes, Bicycle Union, Segment Clothing

Fav List.:

Spot to ride: Chino park, Any trails.
BMX Video: Bicycle Union Nails In The Coffin
Website: Youtube
Web Video: S&M Day in the LBC
Food: Mexican
Travel Destination: Hawaii
Riders To Ride With: Andy Hall, Midget, Farnborough crew, Riverside crew, Any trails locals.

Name: Chester Blacksmith
Age: 27
Hometown: Homeless! But Portland, Oregon if I had to choose
Hook-ups/Sponsors: Wethepeople, Eclat, Lotek, Shitluck, Goods Bmx shop

The favorite list:

Name: Timo Mrukwia
Hometown: Darmstadt, Germany

The Favourite list:

-Spot to ride: Skatepark Darmstadt
-BMX video: Nowhere fast
-Website: youtube

Name: LELAND W. THURMAN
Age: 35
Hometown: LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Hook-ups/Sponsors: SHITLUCK, UNITED, ANIMAL, FBM, ALBES

The favorite list:

-Spot to ride: ANY PLACE WITH A FOOT HIGH LEDGE
-BMX video: OLD:1201. NEW:THE BANNED VIDEOS
-Website: Facebook; suicidegirls.com
-Web video:’S RUINED BMX
-Food: SUSHI
-Travel destination: ROMANIA OR BULGARIA
-Riders to ride with: FIDS, IAN MORRIS, RYAN METRO, RYAN CORRIGAN