Chris Doyle Interview
attorneyco
- June 18 2004
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How did you know when it was time to join the pro ranks?
I’d always wanted to try my luck at a contest, so I asked my mom for a plane ticket to the 1997 Christmas Classic in Columbus, Ohio, for Christmas. At that time there were no am dirt comps, and if there were I probably would’ve entered them instead of pro. I honestly didn’t think I belonged there. I ended up making the finals and it just grew from there.
How different is being a pro than you thought it would be?
When I was younger I never really had dreams of being a professional bike rider or anything like that. I didn’t even think it was a possibility. Cory Muth, Scotty Clevenger, Mike Ritchy, and Jon Moak lived around my area when I was growing up, and they showed up and rode our spots sometimes. Those guys were “pro in my eyes and they were/are really cool guys. I figured all pros were cool, down-to-earth, normal people who just got free parts. For the most part this is true, however I never expected BMX to take me this far and nothing could’ve ever prepared me for it.
Of all the places you’ve been to, name one place you would go back to in an instant and why.
Hawaii. If I could, I would live in Hawaii all winter long. Good riding, good scenery, and plenty of things to do while not on your bike (surfing, snorkeling, hiking, etc.). I’d like to make it a yearly thing to go back at least for a week or so.
Name a place you never want to see again and why.
Knock on wood, but I’ve never been somewhere so bad that I would never want to see it again. I’ve had bad experiences in good places and good experiences in the bad places. I guess it’s what you make it.
What motivates you to learn new tricks; contests or personal progression? Or chicks?
Personal progression. I’ve never learned anything just to do better in a contest.
Since you ride all types of terrain, do you get tired of people referring to you as a dirt jumper?
No, dirt/trails are my favorite thing to ride. So someone referring to me as a “dirt jumper” is more of a compliment than an insult.
Name one important thing that bike riding has taught you about life in general.
Anything is possible, and that doing what makes you happy is much more important than trying to make everyone else happy.
When you look at all the pros in BMX, who are a few guys that you think are good role models for kids? Do you care about being a role model at all?
Fuzzy, Ryan Barrett, Matt Beringer, Nate Wessel, Gary Young, Seth Kimbrough, Bestwick. These are (just to name a few), all kick-ass riders and all good role models in my eyes. I think it’s important to be a good role model and be cool with the younger riders. I think it’s a pro’s responsibility to keep the younger riders psyched on riding.
You’ve been in BMX magazines for years. Do you still get psyched when you get a new photo?
Hell yeah! It never gets old. Especially when it’s something you worked really hard for, like a sequence, or if it was something you were really scared to do. I really like going on photo shoots and filming for things. It’s a whole lot more relaxing and less stressful than contests.
You go to a lot of contests. Do you ever get burned out or is it a lot of fun?
I always have fun at contests. I always try to joke around and have a good time with everyone there. I actually haven’t been going to a lot of comps lately. I’ve been pretty selective this year when it comes to contests—they just aren’t as important to me as they used to seem. However, when I do go to a contest I always try my hardest and I try to represent my sponsors as best I can.
Rumors say you have 720s. When are you going to spin one at a contest?
I wouldn’t say I “have” them. I actually think I had them and then lost them a week later. I don’t like doing things in contest that I don’t have dialed. I’m never one to “huck and hope.” Hopefully they start to become more routine. I’ve taken some pretty serious slams trying them lately, so who knows when you’ll see one in a contest.
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