Interview and Photos by Brendan Boeck AKA B-Dog
To me character is everything, period! I don’t know if I’m one to preach about integrity because really, who really knows who I am? I’m not sponsored, I haven’t had interviews in magazines or web edits every second month on epic camping and filming adventures to foreign lands, nor do I have a bike, components or energy drink sponsor so why even read this? What I do have is history in the BMX scene here in Canberra and great dudes around me whom I respect and can call friends. Most of these people I associate myself with are older, around the same age and at the same point in life with a serious relationship/job/kids etc, because let’s face it, nearly 30 that’s generally how it goes right? And then there are some of the young dudes that seem the same age, or maturity as you, that are in my opinion, ‘one of the boys’.
When I’m about to read an interview about a rider I always think to myself, ‘Why is this dude so special that someone would want to interview him?’ So I thought I might just share a little insight into my good friend from Tuggeranong A.C.T, who recently turned 18, all round shredder, Jack Gruber….
Supporter
What is BMX to you?
BMX to me is basically a lifestyle, it is such a great thing to be able to go to the skatepark and instantly have something in common with the people there. The amount of people I have met and made friends with just by riding is crazy. I don’t see BMX as a ‘sport’, even though you are striving to progress and become better, it’s a thing where you can have a good balance between riding harder and just chilling at your own pace. It’s not like you have some revved up coach screaming at you to run harder or faster 24/7. Its also another way that you can present yourself, obviously everyone has their own ‘style’ within BMX whether its park, trails or street or even to the clothes people wear. I think in that sense it’s a thing where you can chose what you want to ride and how you want to ride it, which is awesome. We all aspire to better ourselves (at least I hope people do), inside and outside of BMX,
Who would you say inspires you to do so and would you care to share whom they might be?
Inside of BMX I think watching edits/ DVD’s really gets me pumped to be better and inspires me to learn new tricks or think about things in a different or new way, riders like Garrett Reynolds and Alex Donnachie do it for me. Even though they are some of the best riders in the world, they manage to inspire me by the way they bring something original into every clip and push the boundaries. Off the bike doing a lot of photography gets me pumped to better myself, if its thinking of different techniques or throwing concepts around my head it always keeps me alert as anything can be shot in a different or new way. There are several photographers who have work that inspires me a lot, whether it is online or in magazines… too many to name.
Are you sponsored, if so by whom?
Fortunately I am! I recently just got hooked up with Odyssey, which I am super stoked about. It’s still a pretty surreal thought for me. I’m riding flow for FIEND through ECI, flow ODI grips, Royal Rat team for Back Bone BMX and cannot thank Rhys and Tyson enough for all the opportunities and help they’ve given me.
What does being sponsored mean to you?
I’m still only a young dude in BMX, although I have seen what the whole sponsorship ‘label’ does to riders and how it is in the forefront of their mind. Being sponsored is a great thing however I feel it is becoming such a priory for people they are getting caught up in it. Its an awesome thing and does mean a lot to get recognised for the hard work you put in and think that if you give back as much as you receive it forms a good connection.
Describe an average weekday…
During the week I get to school at around 830, usually have some spare time to kill which I either have a little ride at Tuggeranong skatepark (Just down the road from school) or hang out with some mates. After school I ring around and see where the session is at, generally at Tuggeranong and shred with the locals till around dinnertime.
What about the weekend?
On Saturday I work at Back Bone BMX. Start at 10, put some hours in fixing bikes, selling the goods and building up some fresh bikes. Finish at 3 and usually meet up with the boys and B-Dog to hopefully clip for the Back Bone DVD, which is gonna be crazy! Saturday nights I normally hang with the girlfriend, although recently I’ve turned 18, so I may go to the club to play some pool or go out. Sundays are generally a bit more chilled, still ride all around Canberra depending on where dudes are.
Last trip you took?
I’m always out and about with mates finding new spots although I went to Jindy and Berridale with some of the Back Bone dudes and had a blast. The biggest trip I went on was just this year with the whole A.C.T Back Bone crew. It was really dope as it was my first major trip and went to places I’ve never been before (Newcastle, Port Mac). While we were there we went to the Blake Butterfield memorial jam at Kempsey and that was really cool to be apart of.
Anything you would do-over if you could?
Not really in a social way, although sometimes in riding I do. When I’m filming a clip or trying something scarier/big I rush into it too fast and normally end up crashing.
Do you set out to achieve anything riding a BMX bike?
Of course I’d like to achieve a lot with riding, I think the main thing would be to travel around the world with my bike. Nothing in BMX excites me more then riding around an unfamiliar area with a good group of riders and finding a spot to session that you rarely ride or have never ridden before. The idea of being in a totally different area or part of the world and looking for spots which have never been touched or are something unusual to what you would ride at home gets me stoked. Another thing I set out to achieve is just to keep filming and shooting photos, filming gets me pumped on BMX and achieving something like a DVD part would be great (Hopefully the Back Bone DVD)!
The crew my age and older have seen many riders come and go from the scene. Growing up as a young teen and moving into manhood comes many responsibilities, the biggest in my eyes would be the license to party. You don’t seem to caught up in the youthful trends I see today, in other words, I feel you have a good head on your shoulders. Care to speculate on that comment?
Even though I’ve only been riding for about 5 years now, I have seen a lot of people fade away from the BMX scene and even just disappear from it all together. Obviously there are people who lose the interest in riding and progressing that end up slowly fading out, due to many things; girls, parties, cars or whatever. However finding a balance between them is important in maintaining a positive and enthusiastic view on BMX. Where as people may get stoked over one thing and totally lose the interest to expand as a rider. I think the main thing that’s kept me into riding and not fading out is the want to do it, to meet new people, experience new places and to progress as a rider.
Who would you like to thank in life that helped you become the person you are today?
I can’t really narrow it down to a few people that have helped me become who I am right now. Obviously my family have helped me my whole life to overcome problems, and also my mates are the same.
Supporter
