
Diogo: July of 2004
How was the language barrier and was it hard to learn English?
Diogo: Definitely, speaking English was definitely another rock on my way, but as far as studying I’m really determined, and a year and half before I booked my ticket to U.S I was studying English almost everyday for at least 4 hours each day, I was really into it. English was actually a bigger factor once I got in the U.S I would say the biggest challenge to me when I was still in Brasil was to make enough money and get the visa for U.S.


Diogo: Officially once a year, I always spend the whole summer in Brasil (winter in U.S.). If I get hurt and have to be off my bike for a while I try to go to Brasil as well, not always though.

Diogo: My parents house with my dogs barking around the table on Sundays lunch, ride my bike around my city just because, the mountains in Amparo, my friends from high school, my mom's food, the air from my hometown and session with my friends that have been following my riding since day 1 at my local park!
You are self-representing the Brazil scene in the States, is there any shredders back home we should know about?


Diogo: Probably the podium helps the X games be one of my best experiences, but mainly for two other reasons. It was the first contest in U.S. within those 4 years in America that my family and friends from Brasil got the chance to watch live and cheer for me, and ride on X games was one of my dreams when I was younger, it felt real good just to be in there and remember those days that I would dream in bed that I was riding the X games! It was definitely a dream that came true! I couldn’t be happier... the podium just made it better!

Diogo: It doesn’t really matter if the rest agree with you or not, these words coming from one of my hero’s means more than anything! The reason I like doing those is that everyday I ride my bike I want the feeling of going as fast you can to the lip lean down and let explode it as high it goes, drop my shoulder gently and tuck my legs as close it goes to each other. And from up there my heads down and I see the whole thing between my arms...

Diogo: I don’t consider myself a style cat and I would love to be one... There is so many details that make the difference between the good and the not so good, and knowing it its the essential to avoid the little "mistakes".

Diogo: Straight legs kills it! Trying too hard, relax dude!
It's pretty cool that the way BMX is these days with all the triple whipping, quad whipping and 1080ing going on, that Mike Aiken won the 4th Stop of Dew tour Dirt cranking look-backs and such, I really think BMX might be coming back to how it should be, getting rewarded for your talent not what you learnt in the foam pit. What do you think?


Diogo: I had the laziest days in my life! Nowadays I’m all about using my time to learn new things... Exercise the brain is just as important as exercise your body. Learning keeps you excited about life, makes you young and opens the windows for opportunities... Now that I feel the benefits I’m not stopping!


Diogo: Feel better and better on my bike, get on college any day soon, learn German and a bit the Dow Jones index...
5 bad things about BMX?
Diogo: I like everything about BMX besides injuries, specially the ones on my face! Everything else is awesome!
5 great things about BMX?
Diogo: Friends, trails, travels, Shop at Vans for free, trouble!
Like to give a shout out?
Diogo: Always... Mom, Dad, my Brother, Jerry Badders at Vans, Trevor (Diamondback ), thanks for supporting me and give me the chance to be who I want to be!

