06.19.02
by: Alex
EXPN.com

10 Questions with Alex featuring Drake McElroy- Tell Alex who you want her next 10 questions to be with my e mailing her at alex@freestylemtx.com.

Drake just got back from riding in Hawaii for three weeks for a Moto X Co. demo with Nate Adams, Brian Deegan and Jeremy Carter- and is primed and ready for the Summer X Games. He missed last years competition to a broken leg, but Drake is back and riding strong with plans on taking home a medal from Philadelphia.

You pull a trick called the "corpse" that most top riders are finding hard to work into their trick list. Did you work it out in your mind before you pulled it or did it just evolve?

Drake pulls the Corpse.

My friend Jeremy Carter and I talked a lot about combining a coffin and a bar hop. Just before I started filming for SR3 I pulled it for the first time, and since then I have really worked on throwing it out as big as I can.

What freestyle tricks look easy, but are really hard and vice versa?

Nac Nac and a whip look smooth and easy when they are done right, but are both really hard tricks to do. Tricks that are hard really differ from rider to rider. Corpses look hard to do and most riders haven't worked them into their runs, but for me they come pretty easily.

What tricks would you tell an up-and-coming rider to learn so they have a good solid trick base and enough variety to be judged well in their first competition?

McMetz, cliffhanger, whip, double-grab, can-can.

If you had a day to ride anyplace in the world, where would you ride?

Well, it would have to be two places because I love to ride tracks and freeride. I would want to ride motos on Kahuku on Oahu's north shore, but hands down the funnest place to ride is Cainville, Utah.

Kahuku on Oahu's north shore.

What needs to progress in the sport of freestyle to better the competitive aspect of the sport?

More attentiion needs to be paid to an athletes ability to execute a full range of motion in pulling tricks on their bike, and better attention needs to be paid to the more technical aspects of executing tricks as far as judging goes.

When did you know for sure that you would be able to earn a living riding freestyle motocross?

In 1999 things really started to come together. I knew there were enough events where I could earn a living, and going into 2000 I really focused on working with people and riding as much as I could. In 2000 I knew for sure if I worked hard I could do it.

Drake and the boys in Hawaii.

Which type of ramp do you prefer, wood face or expanded metal?

Well, I like wood because you get a bit of wheelspin and that is more like riding dirt, but metal is much more durable and lasts longer with much less maintenance. On tacky dirt you want metal, but on slick dirt you want wood. You don't want to be slipping on slick dirt and then have your wheel grab onto expanded metal. The instant traction can throw you off.

Did you spend a lot of time courting the sponsors that you have, or did the relationships just develop?

It was 50/50. Early on I worked hard developing good relationships with some key sponsors. As time went on I just started attracting interest from new sponsors. I still work hard though making sure my sponsors are happy and I have been lucky to work with some great companies.

You have suffered a few bad injuries. Did you ever consider not pursuing riding as a profession?

No. No way.

If you could have any band play live during your run, who would it be?

Well, they aren't together anymore, but it would be Misfits with Danzig, and they would play "Skulls"

You can learn more about Drake by visiting his web site www.drakemcelroy.com.

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