Our sport has really resurged over the last 10 years, but none of us should ever forget our roots. There is a lot of press out there about the new era of our sport and the "fathers" from the 2nd and 3rd generation who have helped shape it into what it is today, but I want to honor one of our sports greatest forefathers, the creator of our sport, Bob Haro. He is one of my all-time hero's.

Bob airing out in 1983 - Photo by James Cassimus

Around 1976 Bob took his skateboard skills and his BMX skills and merged the two together to invent what we now call BMX Freestyle. Bob took the momentum from all his tricks he had created on his bike and started his own company in 1978, and inspired the "do it yourself" attitude that drives our sport. Throughout the 80's Bob, along with his brother Ron "Rhino" took me under their wing in my early days of riding. Bob sent me on tour (where I crashed his tour van about 13 years ago, sorry Bob!) and to most every bike event in the world giving me my start to take his idea and help build it into what it is today. Through his artwork, courage, creativity and determination over the past 25 years he has laid the foundation for a movement to show what is really possible on a bike. I've dedicated my life to this, and want to thank him for all he has done. If it wasn't for Bob Haro I could very well not be here. Bob Haro is the "originator of BMX Freestyle". Thanks from all of us. "
-- Mat Hoffman

Quotes:
"... he and John Swanguen had invented a bunch of tricks with 20 inch bikes that would make you brains fall out. Our two young heros were making BMX History. They were chiseling a whole new facet into the sport. It's called trick riding and it's totally different..."
-- January/February 1979 Bicycle Motocross Action

1/4 pipe kick turn close to the edge. - Photo by James Cassimus

"Being an experienced skater and an excellent biker, Bob is the first to merge the two together. "Freestyle riding on 20 inch bikes could be the next phenomenon. Ramps are being realized for bike riding, as well as skateboarding, and fundamentals like fakies, kick turns, footplants, and aerials are being done by bikers and skaters alike. Haro has almost single-handedly inspired this movement."
-- January 1981 Skateboarder's Action Now

Bob's early days skateboarding in a pool. (from Skateboarders Action Now, feature by D. David Morin)

"Not Many people are lucky enough to make a living doing what they like to do. However, when Haro was growing up he saw no alternative. Having a rare character combination of a lot of creativeness and an equal amount of ambition, Bob blazed his own path into unknown territory."

"Being the innovative type Bob eventually applied his creativity to his bike riding. With a background in vertical Skateboarding, Haro decided to try tricks he could do on his skate on his bike. Approaching the unthinkable with an open mind and determination, Bob slowly began the creation of Freestyle BMX."
-- Biography in Bob's how to book Freestyle Moves.

Bob's How to book, I could have used to help me learn... (edited by D. David Morin)

"Bob Haro is what you might call a legend in his own time. Haro and R.L. Osborn and an old friend of Bob's John Swanguen, started BMX Freestyle. No arguments."
-- Fall 1984 Freestylin' BMX Magazine

Bob Haro. Originator of BMX Freestyle. - Photo by James Cassimus

"Although freestyle is an evolutionary process, one rider in particular is credited for creating it. His name is Bob Haro. Haro, who was also a skateboarder, decided to take his bicycle into the cement skateparks of the late seventies in Southern California. Adapting skateboard moves to his bicycle, he started something of a fad. Others soon joined in and the ball of progression started rolling. Adapting vertical oriented tricks to a parking lot, he created what is now called flatland riding. Haro was not only a rider but a shrewd businessman, starting his own company and dominating the 1980's scene, but more importantly he was an artist."

History Speaks for Itself -http://www.notfreestylin.com/historyspeaks.html
-- anonymous

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