He was kind of like an inspiration for riding, you know? He had fun riding and I think that's how you get better at riding?is just have fun with it and take it for where you're at. How much older is Jimmy?
Six years older than me. When you were a little kid, were you just trying to keep up with him?
Yeah. Actually, I just kind of followed him around, you know? And he rode, and I rode, and I just had fun being around everybody - being around a lot of people that rode. Do you think you got better at a faster pace than most people? You got good a lot younger than most people, is that because of your brother?
Yeah, I think that has a lot to do with my brother. I mean, when you ride with someone that is older and already experienced, you just learn all of the good habits of riding instead of learning bad habits and having to work around them. I could always just look up to him for advice, basically. What was the transition like going from racer to dirt jumper?
I dirt jumped the whole time I raced. Pretty much I've always dirt jumped since I was young, and we used to ride trails across the street. And then it was just concentrating more of my energy to a different type of riding. It wasn't like I had to learn something completely different. Do you miss racing at all?
I miss hanging out with everybody who used to race. I miss the whole family environment and people hanging out all day, it was almost like a little festival where you ride a little bit, hang out a lot and have fun. Competition wise - no. I'd rather ride my bike and have fun. You can't win a contest unless you're a little bit competitive.
I don't see contests as being completely competitive, because in practice I get to see my friends I haven't seen in a long time and we're all riding together. That part doesn't seem competitive to me, except for when it comes down to your qualifying and finals. And even then I'm psyched for my friends that are doing really good. It's not like I'm like, 'Ah, man I've got to beat that guy,' whatever, 'I'm looking for number one.' I don't have that kind of perspective on contests. You don't put your game-face on?
Ohhh, I do, but I mean for some people it's a mental game; You've got people out there who ride three days before the contest straight and the contest comes around and they blow up. And I just don't see it that way. I kinda ride and have fun and whatever happens, happens. I don't want to stress out on it or else it's not going to be fun. Do you think that comes from racing - being able to focus?
No, I don't think so. I think it has a lot to do with riding with my friends. It just comes from riding trails with your friends, to being in a contest with your friends, and you're sessioning the jumps anyway. Or, riding together learning different things about the jumps and how to ride them and do certain tricks over certain jumps, and it's just kind of like a big session. When the contest comes around, it's just whatever you learned in practice. What do you think you'd be doing if dirt jumping wasn't your job, or your livelihood?
Um, that's hard to say - I'd probably be in school. I went to school as long as I could, until it conflicted with riding(Joey received his A.A.). Riding was going really good, so I kind of took a break on school, but I'm sure I'd definitely be going to school, and getting a normal job like most people. Yeah, your job is not a normal job. Are you amazed you're able to make a living doing it, and probably make more money than you'll ever make in your life?
Yeah, it's not hard money at all - it's not hard labor. You're really good at something and sponsors want you to ride for them, they want to be associated with good riders. It came easy for me - I didn't live the hard ghetto life like most people claim, and they're doing super good now. I've never really had a hard labor job either. I just went to school, and was riding at the same time, and just kind of went from there, and kept riding. Are you afraid of hard work - a lot of people are scared that their riding days are going to be over and they're going to have to get a job - are you afraid of working?
No. I'm not afraid of hard work. I'd rather learn and go to school, and I don't have any problem doing any hard work as far as school. You know what kinds of jobs require what type of work, and what you want to do, and I'm not really afraid of that. And right now, you have to be smart with your money. You can't just be making this money and spending it on whatever you want. I try to invest my money, and I try to spend it the right way. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I see myself probably going to school in five years. We have to see how long BMX lasts and how long I can hold up and compete, or whatever. But, I see myself going to school, and getting a normal job in the BMX industry. Do you think it's going to be a physical, or a mental thing?
It could be either - I mean, I can understand that happening to where you just go into a different stage of life, or you're just done riding. You just don't feel the need to ride anymore. I like being with my friends right now, I like who my friends are, and what they do, and everyone rides, so it feels like the right thing to do. And if all of that goes away - there's nothing in riding for me then, and that's when I might say, yeah, it's time to quit. Is there anything you would change about what's gotten you to where you are now?
No. I think everything has happened really good as far as my riding. I've had really good friends since seventh or eighth grade, I've had a brother to look up to, I have a skatepark to ride whenever I want, and there are trails right around here. Any final thanks or comments?
I'd like to thank my parents just because they are still supportive of me in what I do, or whatever I do, if it's bike riding, or school or whatever, and all of my sponsors, Schwinn, Airwalk, UGP, and my girlfriend Marnie, we've been together for four years and everything is great.
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