- Tom, Long Valley Mat Hoffman: Hey Tom, I was 17 years old. I did it at a 2-hip KOV comp in Waterloo Ontario, Canada; March 25th 1989. I have to give props to Mike Dominguez for being the first person to try 900's. I watched Mike come so close to them and it looked like the most aggressive trick I had ever seen ... I had to try it. It haunting me for a few months prior ... I couldn't stop thinking about it. When I landed it, the feeling was amazing. Anytime you push yourself and venture through uncharted territory it is the utmost satisfying feeling. That's why over 12 years later I still try to venture into uncharted territory with my bike as much as possible. Question : I have two questions for you. Number one: were you riding in the opening credits of the movie "RAD"? Number two: I have been watching you and other vert riders progress over the years and it seems to me vert riding just keeps getting bigger and better. Do you think there will ever come a point when you just can't do it anymore? Or while the limits always be pressed until people are pulling crazy stuff like switch handed backflip rocket lookdowns? And, you ruled in Road Fools 5.
- Braxo, Henderson
Mat Hoffman: Hey Braxo, 1) I wasn't in the opening credits in "Rad", but that was definitely the best part in the movie. 2) Vert riding is only limited to one's imagination and determination, so if you can visualize a "switch handed backflip rocket lookdown" and are determined to make it reality, then that's all it takes, so I think it's very probable things are going to get crazier and crazier.
Question : I have been a fan of bike riding for a long time. I was wondering how long did it take you to make the monster jump?Peace
- Dark Angel, Monterey Mat Hoffman: Hey Dark Angel, The first 21 foot tall 1/4 pipe I started building in 1991 took a month or so to build and the 21 foot tall 1/2 pipe I built in '93 took a couple months to build. I pretty much built those ramps myself, so it took a while, but not as long as it took to save up for the lumber. My new 24' tall ramp I put on my credit card and had the Payne crew build it. It was finished in four days ... live and learn. Question : How much steel do you have in your body?
- Jeremy, St. Paul, MN Mat Hoffman: Hey Jeremy, I actually have titanium in my body because your body rejects steel, plus it's lighter. I had to get a plate and 10 screws out of my leg, so now I'm down to hardware in my shoulders and right knee ... "Nothing to be proud of Russ." Question : Hey Mat. Your my Favorite BMX Rider ever. I ride a Condor Pro Team Series. Anyways, I have three Questions:
First: How do you get so much air?
Second: Mat who's your favorite BMX rider to watch?
Third: on Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX, can you ride The Condor? Can you start out with The Condor?
- Spiderman, San Francisco, California Mat Hoffman: Hey Spiderman,
1) Getting air is one of my favorite things to do. I guess the secret is to go fast and hold on (just kidding). 2) There are and have been a lot of amazing bike riders. I think riders I get to hang out with and learn what motivates their riding become my favorites. With that said I would have to say every one on my team. They rule! 3) In "Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX" you can start out with the Condor if I'm the character you're playing. The more points and levels you get, the better the Condor is, so if you're ruling then you can ride your personal ride, The Pro Team Series. By the way thanks for the support Question : What are some of the tricks that you made up for BMX?
- Kevin Wise, Washington Mat Hoffman: I had to make a partial list for some press thing last year so here you go:
1986 -- Swich handers
1986 -- Frame stand bar spin on ground! My only claim to fame in flatland?
1987- 1988 -- Disaster variations?
1987- 1991 -- Fakie variations i.e no foot can can, nothing, rocket, bar hop etc?
1987-1991 -- Combination tricks like: No hand to no footer- and other combos like to no foot can can, look down, no foot I hander, no foot candy bar etc?
1987 -- Indian air
1987 -- Swing legs
1987 -- Pendulum air
1987 -- Tomahawk
1987 -- Un x up- (double switch hander) + variations like one footer, no footer, can can ect.
1987 -- Fiminguezs- Fiola style to Dominguez style (one footer one hander bottom side to top side)
1987 -- Indian air classic. How I originally envisioned Indian airs, but I like the original ones better. Like when coke tried to reinvent the coke recipe, but everyone liked the original one better and they came back out with the coke classic. Never mind.
1987 -- Switch handed no footer
1988 -- No foot candy bar 1 handers
1988 -- Candy bar look back
1988 -- No hand I footer
1988 -- Bar hop airs + 1 handed
1989- 1991 -- No hand 540- and other 540 variations i.e switch hand, x up, no footer, no hand 1 footer, invert, no hand to no foot?
1989 -- Adapted grinds down hand rail from skateboards to bikes
1989 -- 900 (first to pull it. Mike Domingues was the first to try it)
1989 -- Rocket queen
1989 -- Ice picks
1989 -- Feeble grinds (adapted from skateboarding)
1989 -- Smith grinds (adapted from skateboarding)
1989 -- Flip fakie
1990 -- Flair
1990 -- No hand peg grabs
1990 -- Candian airs: i.e. candy bar Indian (no foot candy bar with bottom foot backside upwards can can)
1990 -- Flip fly outs dismount (adapted from Tony Hawks front flip dismount)
1991 -- Toadstool airs
1992 -- Flip fly outs with bike flipping
1993 -- No hand back flip jumps
1993 -- Look back back flips jumps
1993 -- No hand one foot 540
1994 -- Rocket bar spin
1995 -- Bar spin to bar spin back (on vert) + rocketed and to no footer
1998 -- Switch hand bar spin + rocketed
1999 -- No hand one foot peg grabs
1999 -- No foot seat grab x ups
2000 -- Superman seat grab x up (adapted to vert)
2000 -- Switch hand look down (adapted to vert from Kevin Gutierrez box jump trick)
2000 -- Peacock (no handed peg grab no footers)
Question : How did you start Hoffman Bikes?
- Larry Gibson, Glendale, AZ Mat Hoffman: Hey Larry, I just started it. I just decided that was what I wanted to do and did it, really. I had to learn a lot: Business plans, marketing, how bikes were manufactured. We manufactured all the bikes ourselves for a while. Linn Kastin gave me some help. He made my first prototype. Mike Divett from SE Racing helped me out a lot. It was probably best I didn't know all it took to operate my own business. If I did I might not have started it. For me the best way to start something is to just go for it. Question : Hey Mat. I was just wondering if anyone discouraged you or criticized you as a young rider when you told them you wanted to grow up and be a pro BMX'er? Thanks a lot and Hoffman bikes rule!
- Fred, Hopewell Jct., NY Mat Hoffman: Hey Fred, I had a lot of great friends that were into doing different things and my parents were supportive so that helped a ton. But there were many idiots that would give me a hard time because I wasn't into school sports or their "cliques." But, no matter how many people screamed, "get a car" or harassed me because I was into my own thing, it didn't bother me because I just wanted to ride. I didn't need to be accepted by them to ride, and plus it made street riding late on Friday nights even more interesting. Question : Hello Mat, I am a fellow BMXer and I am trying to get a "bike" park because where I live, starting next month, if you get caught in our skate park you will get fined. Last week my friend and I were riding there and the mayor came to kick us out and she said that if we get at least 20 signatures we can get the ball rolling for a "bike" park. well, today I got 103 signatures around my neighborhood for a bike park. Any suggestions? I am going to try to send in the petition Monday. Hopefully everything goes as planned. P.s. your products kick ass and you do to.
-Matt Smith, Lebanon
Mat Hoffman: Congrats Matt! I wrote an article about this a few weeks ago with help from my friends at the BMX Riders Organization. You can visit their site at bmxriders.org or e mail them at info@bmxriders.org. good job and keep making a difference.
Question : I think you are the greatest BMX rider there is, I would really like to get involved in street and vert, but I don't really know where to start, any suggestions?-Zach Myers, Delaware Mat Hoffman: Get a bike. Question : Hey Mat, have you ever thought about when you get old and you can't ride your bike anymore? Anyway, I am just wondering OK? Please write back!
- Jose Vasquez, Santee Mat Hoffman: Hey Jose, Oh yeah. Though I wish I was, I'm not the Highlander. Every injury I wonder if this is the one. I wrecked my knee once and it took me a year and half to get it back working. It's a long story, but I kept tearing my ACL over and over. I thought that my time riding was up. I really had to think about it then. I thought there are a lot of other things I enjoy doing, but they will all take a second to riding, so I will ride as long as I can.
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