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the televised scene because it’s all helping our sport grow. A strong local scene is just going to draw more kids into BMX.

Get them to see why BMX is so amazing. By now, I am sure anyone reading this knows you are from a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada. How did you get so good simply by riding ramps built at home and from a miniramp in the top of your garage? What was the park scene like when you first started really getting into BMX?
Drew: I just love riding my bike so I guess I just rode a lot. We had an indoor skatepark for a year when I first started riding before it got shut down. After that we never had a local skatepark, it was just ramps or dirt jumps we randomly built and street.

I have seen you firsthand on a dirtbike and know you love riding them in your spare time. How does riding motocross help or hurt your BMX career?
Drew: If anything motocross would help out. In motocross you go a lot faster and jump a lot bigger jumps. It helps you be more comfortable when riding BMX because it makes stuff feel smaller. Also the physical side of motocross, if you can do a 45 minute moto, you’re the man ha ha.

Who has played important roles in your life and your BMX career from family, sponsors, friends and people you’ve met along the way in the BMX culture?
Drew: Starting at the beginning with my parents. They have always been behind me and supported me with any decisions I made. Can’t thank them enough. All my friends have played an important role and the friends I’ve made through BMX. Also DK bicycles for supporting me and giving me the opportunity to get where I’m at today. Along with all my other sponsors.

Tell me a little bit about your trip to Columbia last year. What was the best part and was there anything that surprised you or was unexpected?
Drew: Colombia was one of the most amazing trips I have ever been on. To be able to experience stuff like that first hand is priceless. You don’t realize how good we have it till you experience the opposite first hand or see it. Even though some of them didn’t have much, they were the happiest people I’ve ever seen. They know they have everything they need and don’t worry about stuff they want. They just live and love life.

2009 was a tough year for you in terms of injuries and you had several pretty good ones: hip, face/lip, ankle, staph infections, etc. How bad they were and what did you do to overcome them? How did you remain focused on getting better and not let the pain make you lose focus on achieving your goals?
Drew: Injuries sometimes help out. They help you put things back into perspective. When I had my hip injury this summer all I wanted to do was riding my bike, It made me realize again how much I love riding and not to take it for granted ever.

Riding at this level is both a mental and physical challenge. Do you prepare for events differently now than you did a couple of years ago when you were first trying to make it in the BMX world?
Drew: I do the same thing I have always done. I’m getting more comfortable with riding contests now. You just have to have fun with it and not worry about doing good or bad. There will always be another contest another day.

Who are your favorite riders to just kick back and hang with? Who are your favorite riders to watch ride?
Drew: My favorite riders to just kick back and hang with are just my friends. Questions like this are always so hard because you could write down names forever lol. My few of my favorite riders to watch ride are, Danny Hickerson, Garrett Reynolds, Morgan Wade, Corey Bohan, Dave Mirra, and Jamie Bestwick. If you ever get to watch Jamie ride in person at Woodward it is thee most incredible thing you will ever see.

I hear you are a huge Tim Horton's fan. In the US, Dunkin Donuts is huge and the slogan is “Runnin’ on Dunkin.” Are you then “Running on Ho’s?” Any chance you’ll be the next Tim Horton’s spokesman?
Drew: Ha ha, Yeah I guess I am running Tim’s Ho’s. . . . .Does this make me a pimp? Ha ha.

Final question…is all of the DK team convinced of extra-terrestrial activity or just a select few?
Drew: Catfish is in charge here lol.

Drew Besanzon is not only a rider everybody is talking about these days, he's also one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.  Last summer, Drew helped promote Harborshred, a contest at Freedom Skate/BMX park to raise money for free and low cost skate parks in NY state.  Even though Drew couldn't compete due to a fractured pelvis, he still managed to throw down some tricks including a flair and rode in the Best Trick Contest (coming in 2nd, and it was neck and neck to separate the top two).  Drew also helped the local Make A Wish Foundation, a charity that works with terminally ill children while he was at my park by signing autographs for an auction event.  I can't wait to see what the rest of 2010 brings for this talented rider. Best of luck Drew.

By Susan Linerode