Photos courtesy of Mikey Mooore.
YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THE ADELAIDE SCENE
The Adelaide scene has always been fairly small and tight-knit unlike a lot of Australia’s bigger cities. Everyone knows each other regardless of location and I think that has played a pretty big role in the strength of our scene past and present. Along with this, Adelaide tends to breed incredibly underrated riders which has kept things interesting. We have to work a little harder down here.
WHAT WOULD MAKE THE SCENE IN ADELAIDE BETTER?
My biggest gripe with the scene has actually be resolved in the past 12 months. We have finally received our replacement City Skatepark after 7 years of broken promises by our local council. This has given new life to our scene which was in a pretty desolate place leading up to this. Now all we’re missing is a central core BMX shop with the loss of our beloved Little Black Bike. Though, HUGE shoutouts to Danny at South Coast Cycles for always looking after me and my boys.
FAVOURITE PLACE YOU’VE TRAVELLED TO FOR RIDING?
Honestly I’m not much of a traveller, I’m a bit of a creature of comfort. Pretty stock standard answer but Melbourne always provides. The city is just so much larger and cuttier – providing plenty of crust and urban gems. A little bit of a grimier feel than Adelaide which I’m definitely in to. I’d live there if I didn’t have such a home base here, that’s for sure.
Supporter
LEDGES OR RAILS?
Ledges, nearly every single time. I’m not really into technical riding, i’m far happier pedalling flat out at a crusty ledge and letting the steel pegs spark. Though I wish I preferred it the other way as South Australia is quite a handrail heaven haha.
CITY SPOTS OR SCHOOLS?
City spots. There’s something about being surrounded by urban architecture that does it for me. I couldn’t care less what comes out of a day out in the city – I just really enjoy people watching and exploring how our city is evolving over the years. Though I do enjoy a school or two as there’s always some niche 60/40 grind hiding somewhere behind a gate.
YOU SKATE AS WELL, DO YOU FIND THAT HELPS WITH YOUR RIDING AND OUTLOOK ON IT AND VICE VERSA?
I think if anything my skating is in complete contrast with my riding. I skate mainly transition and skateparks which I find hilarious because if you put me in a bowl on my bike absolutely nothing is happening.
It’s been nice over the years though, I burn out super easily on stuff so it always been great to take a break from one and vice versa.
I rarely skate street, and I think this may be why I was so drawn to street riding when I got my first bike. I was always too scared to skate ledges and rails so I guess thats how my riding has evolved into what it is. Plenty of polejams, wallies and crusty spots. I think it’s definitely bred a bit of extra creativity within me.
WHAT IS 1836?
At the end of 2020 we created the collective 1836ADL. Our crew ended being a mix of the riders left from a bunch of smaller crews spread all around Adelaide and it just felt right to put a name to the content we were creating. With obvious hesitance (about Australia’s colonial past) we decided to use 1836 as it was the year Adelaide was settled. It’s a unique city – being the only freely settled province in Australia. The people and places are even more unique.
A RIDER PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR FROM SOUTH AUS?
Brayden McPharlin. I’ve never seen such raw talent on a bike ever in my life. He comes from a trails background but is now destroying every single spot in front of him. There’s not much footage of him out there yet, but let it be known he’s sitting on nearly two video parts that are gonna smack the BMX scene over it’s head. It’s really been incredible watching him grow from a shy kid from the hills into the rider he is today. Keep those eyes peeled.
OUTSIDE OF RIDING WHAT ARE YOU INTO THESE DAYS?
I’m a bit of a history geek, and have a keen interest in psychology as well. The interest in history has 100% come from skateboarding and biking over the years, but has been expanding as I’ve grown older. But honestly, skate and BMX have been in my blood since I can remember and I really couldn’t imagine my life without either – they’re my lifelines.
Though my relationship with riding has been slowly changing over the past few years, it’s been nice to take a step back and appreciate things for what they are and were. I have so much love for this city and its scene, and I’m hoping I can be here to contribute as much as I can to it’s history. I want the people from here to have a platform to achieve what they deserve.
Supporter
