Interview: Eli Platt Quits Subrosa & Shadow
Ryan Fudger
- June 09 2009
- 5,919 views
- 54 comments
Maturity reigns supreme over here. I first heard that Eli had decided to leave the Pro life when I was in Taiwan, so I called Sher when I got home to confirm, talked about asking some questions for the site, then was whisked off to the East Coast for a few more days. When I got back, I sent the questions off and in the meantime, the rumor spread. But now we’re here to fill in the blanks with answers from both Ryan Sher and Eli himself.
As for my personal opinion, Eli was one of my top five favorite dudes to see ride lately, so I’m a bit bummed that I won’t be seeing too much of him anymore. But, there’s more to life than BMX, you know? Well, sometimes…
Eli, rail ride-to-whip on the Shadow Albuquerque stay… Photo: Fudger
Interview With Eli Platt…
I feel like I can simply ask, “What’s up with all this?” and you’ll explain everything. But, is there any truth to the rumors have it that you quit both Subrosa, Shadow, and BMX all together?
Yes to all but the last. I recently told Ryan and Ronnie that I thought it was time for me to move on. I simply have other goals that I feel demand my entire attention, and being a pro BMX rider is not something I feel like I can do half-heartedly. I see that as essentially ripping off my friends. They deserve a team member that is as committed as they are, and I’m just not sure I can do that anymore. I respect everyone at Subrosa and Shadow too much to not give them my all, and there are too many people out there that could serve them well and would love the opportunities I have enjoyed.
I’ve been a huge fan of your riding for a long time, so I’m pretty bummed to hear that you’ve decided not to ride anymore. Have you chosen to step back from riding professionally, or are you just over riding completely?
Thanks a ton, and as the above suggests, I am certainly not done riding. I am just placing it on the back burner, while I move things that have been back there for a while up to the front. In doing that, I am not sure how my riding will be affected, and I don’t want to worry about it being worthy of the resources of my friends.
Did you come to this conclusion gradually or was it a sudden thing?
I certainly came to the decision gradually. I always knew that I would head back to school. Recently, I have really begun to crave that environment again, and I am increasingly anxious to get back. I knew it was time to move on when I started hoping it would rain so I could not feel bad about chilling and reading, instead of being out on the bike. In returning to school I want to give it my undivided attention. I made it through once with BMX on the brain, and I’m just not willing to do that again.
How did the conversation with Sher and Bonner go?
Absolutely as easy as the subject of conversation could allow. As I hope has become apparent, those guys are friends first. They are both such good people. I really lucked out in being involved with them.
What are your plans for the future?
Back to school. Honestly, the exact path is not clear at this point. My first degree is in Philosophy, but I’ve had bit of a falling out with it as a field of study. However, I do think it is an incredible foundation. Now I just need to build upon it.
Anything else you’d like to add?
More than anything right now I am filled with a sense of gratitude. I never would have seen the realization of so many dreams if it weren’t for the people that helped me along the way. Pro bike riders are seriously nothing without so many people behind them. Talent is everywhere, but good people to push some to the forefront are rare. In my own small case, I am so grateful to Mark Corbitt, Chad Shack, Jim C., Dave Jacobs, Rich Hirsch, everyone who has ever taken a photo of me, and, of course, Ryan and Ronnie and everyone at Sparky’s. I’ve met some of the most amazing people along the way. I am really just humbled by it all.
Sher, wallride over the rail in Albacrazy… Photo: Fudger
An Interview With Ryan Sher…
Did Eli quitting both Shadow and Subrosa catch you off guard?
It definitely did. Although I had always knew that at some point he would like to return to school. I just didn’t think it would be so soon.
In some sense, it’s pretty odd for someone to give up the “dream” of being a pro rider. What are your thoughts on it?
I’m beyond happy for Eli! I don’t think he’s giving up his dream at all. I think his dream just keeps evolving as he grows. I think it shows the strong character Eli has to giving up something that was going so well in his life and to start a new chapter. If his dream ever evolves back into being a pro rider, we’ll be here to support him again.
Where does this leave you guys with the Subrosa team video?
Well, it’s in just about the same place. It’s going to be a tour video, we are still going to be going on all the trips, we’ll just get to bring some of The Skeleton Crew riders with us on the trips. We have some footage of Eli from our Colombia trip that will certainly surface somewhere.
What about Eli’s signature frame, the Armada?
We still have a few Armada V2’s in stock. We’ll continue to sell them until they’re gone. Now it’ll be a collectors item to remember one of the baddest riders in BMX! We’ll add another frame to replace it when we have our new rider.
The Subrosa team is pretty small, so with Eli bouncing, are you looking for another Pro dude? Possibly bumping up one of the Skeleton crew?
Yeah, now we’ll be adding to the Subrosa team. We had be planning on making the team bigger this year anyway, it’ll just be a little sooner. We want to do it soon, so the rider can start coming on trips filming with us for the video, and start designing a frame. Our goal with The Skeleton Crew is to give them an opportunity to work their way up the ranks and onto the pro team, so it could possibly be one of them as well. I think we’ll be bumping a rider up, and adding a new one.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks to Eli for being a part of Subrosa from day one.
Eli chillin’ with the rest of the Shadow team… Photo: Fudger
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June 9th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
dustin guenther?
June 9th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Man, its very hard to read this. really i cant explain this feeling.
its suck see a extraordinay guy, stop riding.
because for me its is impossible to see my life without bmx,and iam not a PRO,
its crazy.
tnks
June 9th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
wow thats disapointing, im just glad i have my frame to remember him by
June 9th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I lived in Columbus from 1999-2009. I was fortunate to watch the likes of Steven Hamilton, Ian Schwartz, and Eli Platt. Hard to ride with those guys around and killing it. I got to know Eli from taking my bike to the shop he worked at, we both went to OSU as well. He helped me pick out my first frame, the Macneil Ruben.
Of the 3 riders I mentioned, Eli was my favorite. He was so chill and quiet, but never rude to strangers. He gave good advice on riding and was always helpful, pleasant, and nice (even with the common annoying questions)I remember the day his Prototype frame came to the Bike Shop, he was like a kid in a candy store.
I always knew he would be a great rider, his Shook Winteractive part is sick. I also knew he wanted more from life than just riding. Eli, I hope you do well when you go back to school. Thanks for all the work you did on my bike, and the talks about studies, etc. You will do great and also be missed by BMX novices like me.
Poker Mike, with the light bike
June 9th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
It’s good to see someone is BMX has foresight. The mind deteriorates much slower than the body.
June 9th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
*in
June 9th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
thats wrong dude. half of this dudes life is waisted working so hard to get so good and just throwing it all away. thats messed
June 9th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
if you read the full article or even the first two questions, you realize that Eli is not quitting riding, he’s just switching his focus. If a guy that dialed can transfer the focus he has in riding and use it for school, power to him. He’ll still be shredding better than any of us, just not for any reason besides fun
June 9th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
If you were riding only to ‘get good’ then thats the “waist”.
June 9th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
nobody should ride besides for the reason to have fun
June 9th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
mad props to eli; mad respect
June 9th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
From one holder of a B.A. in Philosophy (The University of Arizona) to another…
You’re making a wise decision.
I used what I learned in Philosophy to become a professional software developer, get a Masters in MIS and Entrepreneurship, and start three businesses.
You are right about Philosophy - I don’t think any major better prepares one for life.
You can take the man out of the riding, but you will never take the riding out of the man.
Flow on.
John Dale
June 9th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I think it’s the other way around for BMX riders…
June 9th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Awesome video sections and great riding are not what Eli is going
be known by in the end. This was a great chapter that’s been read now.
I’m certain the next ones will be as remarkable.
June 9th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
this subject seems to be bringing the best out in everyone!im glad to see it.
June 9th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
good luck dude.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:13 am
I tip my hat to you sir!
June 10th, 2009 at 1:19 am
He seems super intellegent just by his answers. I guess it makes sense he’d want to go back to school.
June 10th, 2009 at 3:03 am
if a dude wants to step back from the pro life to persue another avenue in life thats awesome, there is so much out there we cant JUST ride bikes, ridings great but so is knowledge, definetly a cool thing he is doing
June 10th, 2009 at 3:56 am
good for him. a lot of kids dont understand why someone would “step down” from being a pro rider. it’s called “growing up” kids. it seems to me that, yes… bmx is important to him but learning and making a better future for himself is higher up on his list of priorities. it’s also admirable that he decided to do it all at once to not risk having anyone feel that he took advantage of them. dont rag on the guy for making a positive decision in his life. it just shows that he’s more self-aware than a lot of us. - Gregory R. Dickson
June 10th, 2009 at 4:34 am
All the very best to this young man………tuckdawg, follow suit and try school, they’ll teach you how to spell…….
June 10th, 2009 at 8:29 am
good luck then Eli. Hope you’ll be sucesseful as in bmx.
June 10th, 2009 at 9:13 am
i agree with u on that bro…my body will definately agree on
June 10th, 2009 at 9:15 am
it…forgot one word….dam i hit my head on the ground too much
June 10th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I think it’s great. Isn’t riding supposed to be something you ‘want to do’ anyway? Who cares if this guy actually wants to do something else with his life and not limit it to a recreation, although may give a momentary personal satisfaction, that has nowhere to go. I think too many ‘pros’ don’t really want to ride anymore or they know they shouldn’t be making money because they don’t have ‘it’ anymore but they’re afraid to man up and move on. Nothing wrong with that. In the end we will all have bad knees and aching joints which will prevent us from riding anyway. So you see, Eli did not waste anytime at all. He got the most out of this thing that a lot of people take way too serious. Actually, Eli used his time much more efficiently than most.
June 10th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Good for Eli Platt! It was probably a tough decision but it’s the best choice for him. He’ll still ride and he’ll still rip…but he’ll have an advanced degree to help him out when he’s really and officially done riding and ripping. Props to Eli for forging his own path and seeing above and beyond what’s right in front of him.
June 10th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I agree with your words. Great words for a great rider, keep it up man and luck Eli.
June 10th, 2009 at 10:53 am
so how many Road Fools riders have ‘officially’ quit bike riding?
its a good thing props atleast gets those guys during their good years.
live your own life. thats for sure
June 10th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Hell yeah man. Much respect.
June 10th, 2009 at 11:59 am
to some people.. there is more to live than bmx
good luck to him
June 10th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
With so many factors involved I’m sure while the decision was easy, the explanation was the hardest part. While I would tell you how accomplished of a person you are for not running away
problems I feel that a person of your quality simply regards it as an everyday moral. So I suppose a simple thanks for all the great riding(uderstatement ; amazing) and good luck.
June 10th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
word
June 10th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
good luck Eli!
June 10th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
amazing guy, amazing rider….totally under rated and covered.
June 10th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
john dale is a cock sucker.
not that what he said here was wrong or anything.
he’s just typically a huge douche bag .
so fuck you john dale.
June 10th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Man this is a real downer. Possible my favorite rider and BMX mentor, is stepping down from the pro bmx life. But, I can respect the fact that he is leaving to pursue his goals and aspirations by going back to school. I would like to wish you the best of luck in hopes you’ll find that inner drive, to strive to be the best and accomplish your dreams in school.
June 10th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Seems a lot of people think this is some huge tragedy. The guy is just giving his sponsors up, not riding. You read what he said, he is just putting riding on the “back burner”. Riding might be on the back burner, but he’s still cooking.
And yes, it is cool that he is going back to school…but even cooler that he dropped his sponsors because he felt he couldn’t give them his all. I respect that.
June 10th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
hahahaha word
June 11th, 2009 at 9:33 am
bmx is pretty gay anymore! its all the same ol shit! frames are all the same and its just a goofy trend that makes you broke unless your mirra! its over rated! now cyclecross………theres a sport! or rugby!
June 11th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
you’re kidding, i hope.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
i’m kidding about cyclecross and rugby but not about bmx being gay! i’m sick of gay bmxers saying bmx is a life style! thats gay as hell! just work 40 hours a week and heckle on bike videos on what you can do or do better! talk trash and spread rumors all that you can because every rider just wants free shit and the kids buying parts all the time usually suck at bmx! Eli is very smart for getting the hell outa dodge! p.s. http://www.ricardolaguna.com
June 11th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
agreed.
June 11th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
funny…
a person that hates bmx goes onto a bmx website to tell us how gay we are?
and I’M wasting my time.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
haha, neals got an awesome point.
It really is a bummer about Eli though. he was sweet. I hope they bump up Greg Smee though!
June 12th, 2009 at 10:22 am
yeh agreed john dale needs to shut the fuck up and suck a dudes dick
June 12th, 2009 at 10:23 am
greg smee would be a good choice
June 12th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
neal takes it in the ass!
June 12th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
jimmy had anal sex with bill cosby. no joke
June 12th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
dude john dale, you are the best man. You and i should go fishing sometime.
Yours truly, Mr Tacosh
June 12th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
john dale is a cool fellow. me and him go pheasant hunting regularly. and all you homos have anal sex with cows. i can tell
-Cornholio
June 12th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I feel the same dude.
Some good advice a friend once gave me chimes into mind “don’t ever feel trapped”
June 13th, 2009 at 7:33 am
bill cosby has a big black cock that will slide into Neils butt crack! http://www.jrodsphotoshop.com
June 13th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Dude i feel the same I almost wanted to cry because Subrosa is my most favorite company, and with the few guys that are Pro on it make it the great team it is.
Will miss you Eli, thanks for being a great rider that was super inspirational to my riding a bmx bike.
June 14th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Im glad to see that some people in bmx are interested in studies…Especially philosophy.
I think I’m currently in the past situation of Eli : I think about studies, but I just wanna ride more, it’s in the front burner.
I think It’s great he’s able to do both, just doin’ what he wants separately!