Bruce Crisman Interview

Bruce Crisman has been around BMX for days. He has gone from a consistent park and contest shredder to a fakie hopping pioneer, all done with originality and style for days. Bruce is still in the mix with some new projects going on including a highly anticipated video he and the Shola team are about to drop. 

(Photo: Tal Roberts)

FUEL.TV: How’s life in Portland been treating you lately?
BC: It’s been amazing because I’ve been at home more than ever lately, instead of being on the road 24/7. I’ve been working a lot which is good, doing grocery store remodels, and riding my bike as much as I can. There’s a new park in southeast Portland, it’s probably one of my favorite parks in the world. It has almost every set-up you could want on street, plus a little tranny here and there. It’s a great park.
 
FUEL.TV: Have you been traveling much at all lately?
BC: We did one trip filming for the Shola video down to San Diego for a week or so. It was Davey Watson, Jack Maddock, Darin Read, and myself. We just kicked it down there and got some really good filming done. It’s the only trip I’ve done since one I did to Brazil last year. I’ve been really burned out on traveling lately, and I’d rather just stay in Portland as much as I can.

Fakie Hop (Photo: Tal Roberts)

FUEL.TV: You used to always travel and would end up staying places away from home for extended time. Where were your favorites?
BC: I did for like 10 years. During that time, one of my favorite places was Brazil. I really like England a lot; I lived in London for 5 months. London was one of my highlights since I was on my own out there without a car, just relied on their transportation. It was fun.

Best of Bruce Crisman from Federal BMX on Vimeo.

Fakie Wallride (Photo: Tal Roberts)

FUEL.TV: You have a new bike sponsor and some new signature parts coming out right?
BC: Yes I do. It’s with KHE, about 2 years ago they gave me a signature hub called the “Reverse”, and we recently came out with another signature hub called the “Astern.” This last year they approached me with a bike deal too. So, I now have a signature frame coming out as well.

FUEL.TV: Over the years your riding style has gone through a huge transition. Explain why you decided to leave the park contest scene to push and innovate freecoaster tricks.
BC: As I began approaching my bike career the only thing we really rode at that time were contests. That was the main style at the time, everyone from Mirra, Miron, Joe Rich, Taj, everybody was riding comps back in the day. So we as kids, of course, followed along with that. But, I guess I did contest for so many years I just got burned out, like with traveling. I got tired of riding the same style, brakes, pegs, and doing the same tricks. I got bored so I just made the transition that eventually ended up in me putting a freecoaster on my back wheel and rolling backwards more than forward.

180 Turndown (Photo: Tal Roberts)

FUEL.TV: Who were your inspirations as you were coming up in BMX?
BC: Of course Mat Hoffman and Dave Mirra. Jay Miron and Joe Rich as well. Those 4 guys were my biggest inspirations.

FUEL.TV: Mat Hoffman was a really big part in your BMX career, huh?  
BC: Oh Yeah, Mat Hoffman just inspires me up to this day. I rode for Hoffman Bikes for a few years and we got to be great friends. I can’t believe what a rad person he is. He’s the biggest celebrity in BMX and is the most down to earth guy I’ve met.

Wallride (Photo: Tal Roberts)

FUEL.TV: Who or what keeps you inspired to keep pushing yourself?
BC: I guess the fact that BMX is so much fun. This week I’ll be 30 years old, I’ve been riding for 17 years. Of course I have a lot different motive than I had as a kid, then my pursuit was just trying to progress. Nowadays I just love the feeling of going downtown and cruising the streets, filming a clip every once in a while. Those are the things that have kept me gratified over the last years.

FUEL.TV: Plans for the future?
You never know, I’m just trying to take it one day at a time, you know. Trying to focus on the video and enjoying my life. I’ve been playing a lot of music, which is good. I’m enjoying my life to the fullest.

Check out these trailers for the Shola video.

Shola BMX Trailer from No Run Ups Productions on Vimeo.

Shola Video Trailer 3 from No Run Ups Productions on Vimeo.