Taxonomy upgrade extras
NICKNAME:
Matti
HEIGHT:
5”11”
HOMETOWN:
Currently Fort Collins CO, but Bainbridge Island WA is where trials began for me.
FAVORITE TRAIL FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING:
Kokopelli between Fruita CO and Moab UT.
FAVORITE PLACE TO RIDE?
Anywhere with friends. Preferably in the singletrack of Colorado, but most trails will work.
NATURAL OR URBAN?
Natural, anything to get away from concrete.
WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN BIKING WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?
For trials, it was seeing people doing the impossible on a bike. For mountain biking, it was the freedom that a bike offers.
WHEN DID YOU GET INTO BIKING, AND WHAT FORM OF BIKING WAS IT?
I began riding red dirt in Kauai on cane haul roads when I was six. Trials began at 14 when my buddies starting hopping their bikes up and down stairs. I couldn’t believe my eyes and had to try it.
DO ANY OTHER SPORTS INFLUENCE YOUR BIKING OR STYLE?
Weight lifting to improve strength and power. Trail running for endurance, and to remind me that running is no fun, biking is better.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY SERIOUS INJURIES WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BIKES?
Mostly my pride when kids realize I can’t back flip my trials bike in a show. Otherwise just banged up shins.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE RIDERS?
Hans “No Way” Rey; not many people have done as much for sharing mountain biking with the world.
WHAT BIKES DO YOU OWN, AND WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE?
Koxx Level Boss (trials), Independent Fabrications Steel Deluxe (cross country), Santa Cruz Chameleon (commuter). My favorite is my son’s tricycle that he wants to “ride like daddy” over bumps.
WHAT OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY BIKING?
My friends were hanging out with a girl who wanted to get into mountain biking and learn trials. For some reason they didn’t introduce us, but eventually we met and got married. Jeanne owned an original copy of the 80’s movie Rad. It was love at first sight.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST GOAL FOR THIS SEASON? NEXT SEASON?
Share the love of riding with others, and inspire the next generation to pursue their own goals through our RipStoke Mountain Bike Stunt Shows and Skills Clinics.
IF YOU COULD ONLY GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO OTHER UP AND COMING TRIALS RIDERS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Master the basic moves. Daunting sections are often accomplished by linking many simple maneuvers that are difficult because they require precision.
WHAT EVENTS DO YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING OR COMPLETING IN THIS SEASON?
Our schedule this year for RipStoke involves bike events, charity fundraisers, and public school shows throughout Colorado.
IF YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON PAST OR PRESENT, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Charles Darwin, to discuss evolutionary theory in light of our current knowledge of molecular biology.
Photo: Carmichael Photography & Denali Productions
Photo: SustainablePhotography.com
