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The Famous Tony Hawks who is one of the biggest names in the skateoarding world achieveing fame and glory with the 900' . He has had the tony hawks pro skater series of games on playstation which were very successful and has now retired from pro skateboarding.
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BMX
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The famous Dave Mirra was the first in the world of bmx to do the double backflip and he revolutionised bmx.Dave Mirra aka Miracle boy
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Editor's Note: We caught up with Dave after a rough few weeks to see how he was holding up. This is first of a two part interview with Dave. Be sure to check back new week for the second installment.
EXPN: So what's up? What have you been up to?
Dave: I've been healing up. I got some stitches in my elbow at the Vans Triple Crown in Charlotte three weeks ago. After that it got infected and I had to go into the hospital for two nights. I had to have surgery on my elbow to get some fluid and stuff removed. So I've just been healing up and laying low.
I was up in New York to see my family recently and I went and rode in the Oz-fest parade. It's an Oz parade in Chittenango, NY where the author of the Wizard of Oz was born. That's where I'm from originally. I rode the show with my friends; they had a quarter pipe and a box jump so I decided to go for it. It was awesome, great for the town. The kids were really great, really cool. It was nice to be back.
EXPN: So how are things in Greenville? Do you have the house hooked-up yet? Is the new pool table in?
Dave: Still waiting on the pool table unfortunately, but it's coming along. For the most part it's getting close to being totally furnished. It's great, I am really enjoying the summer, being home a lot and being able to chill. An injury can sometimes be a blessing in disguise, you know? You get to hang out and relax. You can step away from it all. Now I'm recharged and ready to start training for the big events coming up in the fall.
Dave, one footer into the Atlanta winds.
EXPN: Yeah, you seemed kind of blown out when I talked to you in Atlanta a few weeks ago.
Dave: Yeah, that was a rough stretch. My elbow got infected when I got home from that contest. Right from the beginning I was wasn't feeling too good. Then it got infected and I had to go into the hospital that Wednesday for two nights to get it straightened out. It was kind of a drag, but it is coming along.
EXPN: That's cool. Don't you have a big golf tournament coming up soon?
Dave: Yeah, it's going to be here in Greenville from the 21st to the 23rd of June then on the 24th I leave for the Tony Hawk Tour.
EXPN: So what's the scoop on that?
Dave: It's going to be great, it all benefits The Dream Factory. We're going to have a benefit dinner on that Friday. Then a demo at JC Park on Saturday and Sunday is the golf day.
EXPN: Sounds good. So then it is off to the Hawk Tour?
Dave: Yeah I am out the next morning. I'll be out there for the mid-west leg of the tour from June 24th to July 7th. Should be pretty fun. We're going to take a year off from doing the Mirra Tour so next year should be great for that.
EXPN: Seems like there are a few big tours this summer. What did you think about the Huckjam kick-off?
Dave: The Huckjam was awesome man. The whole deal, it was so good being in Vegas and doing that show. The crowd there, how much they were into it all. The bands and all, Social Distortion is my favorite right there, so riding the ramp with them playing right there was like heaven. I had a great time. I'll be on that tour for the whole six weeks in the fall. Everyone should check that out if it is in a city near them, it's great.
It's definitely the future for shows and demo-type stuff. It's where it's all going, so check it out.
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EXPN: So the having Moto, BMX and Skate all at the same time worked out and it was a good thing?
Dave: Yeah, it was kind of like in the old days when we all did shows together. That's something that hasn't happened in awhile. Everyone was kind of hanging out, you just get motivated and feed off of the energy out there. It's not a bike thing either. Watching the skateboarders and moto guys, it just puts you in a whole different mindset. It just made you want to give 110% and throw out the best tricks you could. You want to show what you are all about when they are doing their thing. It's a great mix and that is the way to go.
EXPN: So what's the status on your new shoe? Is it all finished yet?
Dave: The shoe is all done. It should be out in the fall of 2002. It's a redesigned shoe, it has a sock liner that keeps everything in place so you can keep the laces loose or whatever and not worry about it. It's really comfortable and more flexible in the forefoot so you can feel the pedal. It's definitely a great sequel to the first shoe.
EXPN: How long has the redesign for that been going on?
Dave: We worked through the fall and spring to get it done. I have a bunch of the samples at home and I am pretty psyched about how it turned out. I've been rocking those for the past few months.
EXPN: Yeah they have some nice lines.
Dave: We went in a bit of a different direction but I really happy with the outcome. It's one of the best shoes in my opinion.
MOTOCROSS
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Travis PastranaOne of the best and youngest upcoming bmx stars to grace the industry.
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"This season sucks so far." Those are words we never thought Travis Pastrana would ever say. But the truth can't be ignored, even by Travis. The SoBe Suzuki rider can usually take a bad situation and make it seem great but 2002 has been so far from great that even Travis thinks it sucks so far.
Pastrana, just healed from his nasal and throat surgeries, suffered yet another set back when he broke his wrist at round two of the AMA National Motocross series. With six weeks of healing ahead, Travis is hoping to make the X Games his gold star in an otherwise dreary season. From his home in Maryland he still has his 100% positive demeanor and that's where we caught up with him.
EXPN: What happened at Hangtown?
Travis Pastrana: Hangtown was just kind of a nightmare all around. I was hoping for cool weather and rain, but the rain didn't come soon enough.
EXPN: You were running well that first moto but it ended with a broken wrist.
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TP: I was sucking roost from Tortelli and one lap I got into a bad position through some jumps; the bike started swapping and I got chucked over the bars. I really wasn't running too good anyway. I need to get back into shape.
EXPN: And looking at it on TV, it didn't seem like that big of a crash, especially comparing it to some of your other get-offs.
TP: No, it was a little crash. I was kind of bummed when I saw it on TV. If you're going to get hurt, you may as well go off big.
EXPN: Will there be an operation on the wrist? What's the damage?
TP: We had a MRI done on the wrist and everything looks good. I don't need an operation and I should be good in about six weeks. It's a clean fracture, a vertical break. Usually the problem with the navicular bone is having a horizontal break which doesn't get the blood to the wrist.
EXPN: What do we do now? Rest up?
TP: Actually, the good thing is that I can do everything; bike, run, weights, I can do pretty much everything but race. Hopefully I can get in better physical shape than I was for when I do come back.
EXPN: Is Red Bud a possible comeback?
TP: No, I think more like Unadilla.
EXPN: What about the X Games?
TP: I figure that will be the only thing I can salvage out of the year. It should work out pretty well. Obviously racing comes first but being out of the championship this year really helps my decision for the X Games.
EXPN: In one sentence, give me your perspective on the season.
TP: In one sentence? This season sucks so far. There's always that possibility that it can get better, right?
But seriously, I'm kind of disappointed. I knew this year was going to be a learning year, but I didn't know there was going to be this much learning.
EXPN: What have you learned?
TP: I've learned how to train a little better, and even over train. I don't know, hopefully I'm not making the same stupid mistakes over and over again but I've realized that if I'm in shape and if I can run the pace, I'll be fine. But I can't play catch-up if I'm not in shape.
EXPN: Brief us on Shawn Hamblin picking up the Suzuki Factory ride to replace you and Kevin Windham. How big of a break is that for someone like him?
TP: Hamblin is a great rider. It's a funny story. He didn't even know if he was going to go to the first round. He was testing since Kevin and I were recuperating so he was getting our bikes ready for the season. Then he actually went out to Glen Helen and Hangtown and put in better rides than any other Suzuki rider and he got his first big break. As soon as he gets into shape, I think he will be in the top five every week.
EXPN: Back to you and freestyle. You have some new tricks up your sleeve?
TP: Of course
EXPN: That was a dumb question wasn't it?
TP: (Laughter)
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