Chase Hawk Interview

ride4life1100

• March 30 2004
• 960 views
• 3 comments

The first time I ever heard of Chase was when I saw a photo of him in Snap a few years ago. He was riding a total race bike in the photo (a Powerlite, I think) and I heard he used to ride a Hawk (a very race-specific frame with square tubing). So at the time I thought Hawk wasn’t his actual last name, but just a nickname. I eventually realized that was only a silly coincidence. I know that little story was basically pointless, so if you want to read something with a little more substance, check out Chase’s interview.

How long have you been riding and what’s your background?
I have been riding close to 10 years now. I got my first bike when I was seven and I have been going to the trails since day one. I started racing when I wasabout eight and I raced until I was about 13 or 14. I quit when the skatepark opened up by my house and I started going there all of the time. I’ve grown up in Austin and I don’t think I will ever leave it.

Weren’t you homeschooled? How do you think that affected your riding?
I started being homeschooled around fourth grade because my dad didn’t really approve of the public school system in Austin. At the time I was obviously not at the age to argue with being homeschooled so I just got kind of got used to it and I have been doing it ever since. I think in some way it has helped me because it has allowed me to travel a bit more, but I think people get the wrong idea about it sometimes. Most kids think that when you’re homeschooled you don’t really do anything, when in fact it’s actually harder to deal with than going to an actual school. The tests are harder, they take longer to do, and worst of all you have to spend all friggin’ day with your parents.

How do you think growing up in a BMX Mecca like Austin, Texas, has influenced your riding?
Growing up in Austin has been pretty crazy. I mean when I started riding Ninth Street there were maybe two or three jumps and now there are full-blown trails there. As the trails got bigger my riding improved. I think at a young age seeing people like Taj Mihelich, Joe Rich, and the Gute among other Austin locals on a day-to-day basis would have a positive affect on any young rider.

Which riders influenced you when you were younger?
I would have to say everyone that I have grown up riding the trails with. Patrick, the Gute, James Shepard, Taj and Joe, Moon and Noodles, and everyone else that I rode with all the time.

Which riders influence you now?
There are so many these days, but there isn’t any one rider that I likewatching the most. I like riding with all of my friends around here and I love to watch Mike Aitken; Chris Stauffer has always been a favorite of mine. And of course, Taj, Joe, Ruben Alcantara, and Garret Byrnes—they have always been in my top ten also.

You”re a pretty small guy and your bike still looks rather big on you. Do you think your size holds you back sometimes?
No, I don’t think that it holds me back at all. I can basically handle doing all the things that I’m into doing. I don’t think that there is a height limit to ride trails or just ride around.

You were just recently bumped up to the Fit Pro team and you joined the crew on a trip to Puerto Rico. How was riding with everyone and how was the trip in general?
I had a good time in Puerto Rico. It was really my first time riding with all those guys out of a contest environment. Overall it was a good trip. We got to ride some pretty good spots, went swimming a lot, and somehow pulled off filming a whole video. The weather was perfect as long as it wasn’t raining, but even when it did we could just drive ten minutes away to clear skies.