Many times when we do feature interviews in the magazine, not all of the questions and answers fit. Luckily the ol’ Interweb has plenty of space and we know how to make good use of it. Here are the left over questions from Sean Sexton’s interview in issue 156 and a few new photos too. And don’t forget about the Fox/Sean giveaway!
Interview by Jeff Zielinski and KC Badger.
I’m sure Jay has a thick skin. So I’ve only seen the nice side of you, but rumor has it that you turn into bizzaro-Sean if you don’t get a meal in you.
KC: Princess Sean…
I don’t know where this came from, but I’m not a princess. But when it comes to Jay, I really don’t care, if feel like I’m hungry and I think maybe I shouldn’t say anything—I’ll say something, you know what I mean? I’ll just blatantly be an asshole, it’s almost like I’m being an asshole on purpose.
I don’t know Sean…You definitely have at least one clear advantage over Jay; I heard that his diet is so poor he only sh-ts once every two weeks. And when he manages to push it out, there’s blood in it?
Ok, Jay Roe has some sort of eating problem—I’m going to put that out there right now. Nothing against him, it’s not like he has some kind of disease, but the dude will honestly eat ice cream, candy bars, and Dr. Pepper at eight in the morning when we’re getting breakfast. And he doesn’t look like he eats badly, but he doesn’t look like he eats good either. I’m not trying to bag on him and I hope he doesn’t get his feelings hurt, but you know, he’s got an eating problem, and I’m balding—f-ck it [laughs]!
Wallride to 180. Photo by Z.
KC: What about the time in San Francisco you were so hungry you slept in the van and didn’t go ride the spot?
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
KC: We go to ride this collage and we’re getting out of the van and you say, “I’m just going to stay here, I’m too hungry, I gotta eat, I’m going to take a nap, I’ll be in the van.”
I honesty don’t remember that.
KC: We didn’t ride sh-t, so it doesn’t really matter…
Does that make me a princess? Is that what it is?
KC: Sometimes you gotta get your way.
Sometimes I just gotta get my way.
KC: Just from your upbringing alone I think you should’ve been a completely different person, so what in your life do you think prevented that from happening?
Not to sound tacky or anything, but for me it was my bike. I would be bummed out, I would be real bummed out, and I would go out riding. I would meet people through riding because outside of BMX I was so depressed all the time that I didn’t even really socialize with people. Even though I’m always hyper and cracking jokes all the time; it kind of put a damper on things. Especially living in Washington, I’m used to the sun and it wasn’t there. Basically, I think that good friends, riding my bike, and meeting people saved me and kind of made me not take things for granted. I would travel around and see so many situations and most of the time I would realize that I wasn’t the only person out there who had it bad. You got to realize that it’s not just about you. If you’re going to sit around kicking rocks being mad all the time then that’s just going to be you, and I just decided to rise above the situation and be positive.
Didn’t a bunch of BMXers work at Full Race too?
When I was growing up there was this dude John Owens (Jason Owens’ older brother) and he ruled, he was the best dude ever— he did tailwhips just like Taj. He started working on cars and he became a total bad-ass, a total prodigy, he learned trigonometry on his own and started working with dudes who graduated from ASU with engineering degrees and was doing sh-t that had them scratching their heads. Eventually I needed a job and he helped me get a job at Full Race. Basically, all of my friends I grew up riding with got a job there through John and this dude named Aaron Garcia, who also ripped. These dudes were ahead of their time, especially for where they lived and what they were riding. We were like a family there and it was awesome.
Turndown. Photo by Z.
Ok, we’re going to deviate from he current topic a little, if I were to say that Jason Ryan was the reason that the bike-only Chandler park was made, what would you say?
I would say that he had something to do with it for sure. He definitely puts in his work and goes out of his way to do what he does, but he takes it to his head and acts as if he’s like the almighty and can talk sh-t to whoever he wants to. He’s like, “Hey, I’m doing all this for the BMX community.” Yeah, but when I was 12, 13, 14 years old I was going to those city council meetings trying to get the skatepark going too. The Chandler bike park was like Lucas Porzio, Jeren Poije, Dave Taylor, etc., we all went to those city council meetings. We were all pushing for that park and after years and years the park finally came about. I think “Old School” definitely has a big head and all this weight to throw around and he steps on whoever’s toes he wants to and talks sh-t about this guy and the next guy—he’s kinda crazy if you ask me. No confrontation, I don’t want any beef, I just think the dude’s kinda wack sometimes.
So you, Aaron, Chase, and Devon all bought scooters, who got one first?
I sold my car before I moved there so I had some money saved up so I wanted to buy a scooter. Devon and Chase knew of the Honda Ruckus first, and I was like, “I don’t know what you guys are doing, but I’m buying one. Take me to the Honda dealership.” So Devon and I went to the Honda dealership and get ours at the same time, as a package deal. We straight up started a movement; Aaron bought two of them like a month later. He called up Chase at like nine in the morning and was like, “I’m going to by second one and you can pay me back whenever you want.” And Chase was just like, “What? Uh…sure.” When you’re Aaron Ross and all you have to buy is ice cream and Cool-Aid, you have some money saved up.
Does being a bike rider in Austin make it easier with girls?
It could and it can, and if that’s what you want than it’s gonna happen, but it’s going to old quick and you’re going to get burnt. Because every dude who rides bikes has been doing that for the past decade so it’s nothing new for you to go there.
Have you met any girls, found out that another BMXer kept it warm, and had to make the decision if you wanted to warm it up, too? If so, what’d you decide?
Sometimes when you’re lonely and vulnerable it’s hard to say no.
Have you ever walked out of an Austin bar, met a girl, and gone home with her without learning her name? I heard that happens.
I can see that happening there, Austin is a dirty place.
Does Aaron follow around Chase with a duster in one hand and a handy-vac in another?
It’s actually the complete opposite, Chases room is immaculate, but Aaron’s is a mess, unless he had a girl come over and organize his sh-t. I’ve seen a girl show up to the house and organize his sh-t by color, hang it up and organize it by color. I’ve seen Aaron get hurt, call a girl, and then she’s there with cookies, bandages, and Neosporin.
What’s the typical day in Austin for you?
There is something about the place that just makes you want to take your time and chill out. It takes two hours to figure out what you’re going to do for the next two hours. Eventually I’ll get the urge and I’ll hop onto my scooter and drive down to the trails.
KC: You were working over 40 hours a week towards the end. How did they take it when you got sponsored and started going on trips?
Jeff Racer, the owner, rode BMX when he was younger growing up in Jersey. They all knew I rode and they supported me, but to be honest with you, I don’t think they took it serious, I think they figured I was going to be a serious employee. So when it started to pick up a lot it kind of became an inconvenience because I was half-assing both things. I wouldn’t want to be working because I wanted to be riding. I finally had to sit down with my boss and tell him that I had to do this and he totally supported me, but then he said to me, “You should pick up surfing or something because you’re never going to make a dime f-cking riding bikes.” [Laughs]
