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XG Chat: Bob Burnquist
Bob has been keeping busy this year traveling the world and living the skateboard dream - he represents skateboarding everywhere he goes. Bob keeps up by skating his backyard dream ramp and he recently won the OP King of Skate by completing the loop with a huge top panel missing. We're very lucky to have him take time out of his busy schedule to chat with you. Bob won last year's X Games VII Skateboard Vert and caught up with our crew for a two-part interview during the Latin American X Games Qualifiers. Read the transcript of Bob's chat below. Please check our upcoming chat schedule for your chance to chat with other X Games VIII athletes. Moderator: Hello Everyone, Bob will be joining us shortly. Thanks for your patience. Moderator: We just got word from Bob and he is on his way - the chat will be getting started any minute now. Bob Burnquist: What's going on everyone? I'm here, what would you like to know? Joe Chelsea: Sup bob I want to know how u guys do multiple flips and not worry about how u land the flip I can't land heelflips. Bob Burnquist: Well Joe, it gets to a point where you get real comfortable with flipping your board. Just like grinds and other basic tricks. Although they are still risky to put into runs. I guess you just practice them and gain confidence. Keep trying.... you got it! Travis (Houston): Do you think that moving to America helped your vert skating in anyway? Bob Burnquist: Hey Travis. It has helped a lot. Skating with all the great skaters out here just really got me progressing. It really makes a difference when you have other skaters push you to go further. Bethie: 1st off, I want to say that you're awesome, and when did you start skateboarding and what was the first trick you learned? Bob Burnquist: I started skateboarding when I was 10. I started right on to vert and the first vert trick I learned was a fakie ollie. Tyler - Pekin, IN: You did good, yet I was waiting for the blunt stall to kickflip. Thats my fav one you do. I could hardly believe you jumped from 10th to 2nd. Good Job! Bob Burnquist: Thanks Tyler... you know, I wanted to do it in the end of my run, but I fell, so I didn't get a chance to try it. Different tricks come to mind at different contests. Troy Gray, Winchester: How can I get into the X Games and become pro like you? do I have to go to college? How can I learn the big tricks you do? Bob Burnquist: Hey Troy, It takes some time to get to our level, but it's not impossible! And yes, you would want to go to college if that's what you want to do.You can definitley juggle both and it would help you a lot with handling the business side of things... Bob burnquist: Bob why won't my message show up? Bob Burnquist: There it is ...... Travis Clow: Who was your first sponsor and when did you get it? Bob Burnquist: It was Momento Angular, a clothing company in Brazil. I was around 14... James - Modale,IA: Hey Bob have you ever thought of switching to street? Bob Burnquist: Switching to street? What do you mean? Contest wise? I skate street whenever I can. I'm just not that good at falling. I get hurt to often when I ride street... Travis Clow: What was going through your head when you did the loop switch with an eight foot gap in it? Bob Burnquist: I just wanted to make it and get done with it.... when I tried the first one, I asked myself - what did I get myself into? Now I have to make it!! It took me about 3 hours. It was a lot of slaming and getting up to try again... falcon - rocinha: e ai maluco, se vai dar aquelas coisa doida no best manouver???? Bob Burnquist: Fala Falcao!!!!! Certo mano! A parada é o seguinte.....vamos andar de skate e ver o qual é certo? Tenta umas doideras la !!! Tchorrroooo indaha!!!!! Ben: Hey Bob when you did the loop switch with a gap in it was it the hardest thing you've done and did you get to keep the loop? Bob Burnquist: Yes and Yes....I have a loop in my backyard now.....I don't know if I'm exited about it, or just straight scared! Super Honey: Do you have any pre game ritiuals that you go through before you drop into the pipe? Bob Burnquist: Yes I do....I try to just clear everything out and make sure I feel good and smile before I drop in. It helps losen me up. If I don't smile, I'm nervous. So if you see me drop in without a smile, I'm shaking..... Ben: What are your religous beliefs? I am a Christian and was wondering about you. Bob Burnquist: I'm a Chrisitan too, although my beleifs go a little deeper than what you're probably used to. Check out www.Allan-Kardec.org....there's a lot of good info there... Chris (St Joe Missouri): How many messages are you getting at once? Bob Burnquist: More than I can handle.... thanks for sending them all in!!!! Bob : Hi Bob. Do you have a dream trick? Like a trick that you'd love to pull off but, not able to? Bob Burnquist: I would love to do a 900... I'm skating with Tony later on. Maybe I'll try a few and see if it happens today! Sean (Holbrook): Do you pick the questions or do they just come up? Bob Burnquist: They come up and I pick them....there are more than 500 questions posted....I'm trying my best to respond. David: How does the water get out of your ramp when it rains? Bob Burnquist: We drilled some drain holes on the flat bottom.And when it gets really wet we just mop it and wait....but it usually dries up really quick. Rafaekl: Bob aki eh o Rafael o menino que te conheceu no tunel do RJ!!!!! depois fui pra globo me manda um e-mail por favor eu implorooooooooooo rafaum_sm@hotmail.com ! entra no meu site www.sk84life.kit.net Bob Burnquist: Fala Raphael,eu estava andando de moto com um amigo meu...valeu pela força... John: Bob what do you think about in the middle of your runs during a big contest like the X Games? Bob Burnquist: Stay on and don't worry about it..... That's usually what I think about. Marc(BCN): Do you think Tony Hawk would win the vert world championship if he was running? Bob Burnquist: I think that Tony has the ability to do it. But the level of competition right now, it wouldn't be as easy for him to do as before. Matt: What is it like to own heaven in your backyard? Now you have a loop too ... Have you ever thought of opening it for public sessions like a skate park? Bob Burnquist: It is a dream come true. You have it right, it is heaven on earth for a skateboarder. And since it is heaven on earth, I don't charge to skate. If I'm around and there are people around to skate in the neighborhood, they come by and we skate!!! Jason Hsin (Arcadia, CA): Do you ever ride BMX for fun? If so, what bike? Bob Burnquist: Yes I do, it's a Dave Mirra bike. It's a lot of fun! But it ruins the surface of my ramp... Mallory (Oak Hill): When did u decide that skateboarding was the thing for you? I mean, did it just hit u one day, or did someone push u to do it? Bob Burnquist: I got on that skateboard and I never wanted to leave it again. Cochran.GA: What's up Bob.....nice to talk to ya.....what's ur favorite band dude? and...maybe...possibly....u don't have to ( it's okay if u can't ) but at the X Games)....would u mind saying...hey... what's up eric..on camera...cause my friend might lose 50$ if u don't....it's okay if u can't ...please reply....cya man... Bob Burnquist: Tell your friend to get prepared to lose 50 bucks. Matt: I started skating about a year ago and I was wondering how you learned to skate switch so well. Did you learn a trick regular and then switch or just start skating switch one day. Bob Burnquist: I just started skating switch one day and it was fun. I kept learning tricks so, I just kept doing it!! Stanley (Puerto Rico): Yo Bob when are you going to come down to puerto Rico? Bob Burnquist: I don't know man, but I would love to do it sometime soon. I will probably bring the whole family for a little vacation. Travis Clow: How do you feel about getting the number 1 opener in 411's 50 greatest openers in issue 50? Bob Burnquist: It was a HUGE honor. David: Whats the best trick you have done over the hip of your ramp? Bob Burnquist: I would say bs smith grinds.... Robert - Modale, IA: Yo Bob do you have any other hobbies besides skating? Or does skating take up most of your free time? Bob Burnquist: Photography... Flying single engine planes....surfing..... Yuval: Bob you are my hero I'm from israel and I love skating Bob Burnquist: Hey man, How is the skateboarding in Israel? Aviv (Israel): Hey Bob wassup? I just want to ask you what's your wierd country you ever been in a tour? And what's your strangest illustrate skate object? b.t.w - why don't jump to Israel, we have planty of fans of you here... Bob Burnquist: Thailand was awesome to visit. I would love to go to Israel. Maybe I'll get a chance to one of these days.... Jojo Mahali CANADA: Hey Bob. what type of half pipes do you like better concrete or wood, and why? Bob Burnquist: Wood feels better when you fall. Cement feels awesome to ride. I would pick wood though.... Bob Burnquist: Alright everyone, thanks for sending all the questions. I'm sorry I couldn't get to all 800 of you.. stay cool and we'll catch up some other time. Peace. Copyright ©2002 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site.
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