I’m not really sure where, or if, I ever fully had the chance to get to know Matt Desson. I think the first time I saw him was in Edmonton for Street Justice in 2006 and I think we only said like two words to eachother. The next time I met him was for Not So Metro in 2007. He flew in to ride the contest, and I only vaguely remember saying hello, and seeing him yell across the street to talk shit on some mountain bikers. He came to Winnipeg in the spring to shoot some photos with David for an interview in RED Magazine and I spent three hours putting all the questions together and getting him to answer them, except the whole thing got cancelled when David decided to stop doing RED.  We’ve been sitting on it for a while, and with the launch of our new website, we decided there’s really no better time to put it out then now.

I hate reading interviews with inside jokes, and stories that are only funny if you were there. These questions were about finding out how Matt Desson really feels about riding bikes, and his attitude towards it all. He’s a well rounded dude, and he certainly knows what’s up. So, finally, we can present the Matt Desson Interview.

Alright Matt, start us off with the basics. Age, where you’re from, and who’s helping you out.

Yo, I’m nineteen years old, From Kelowna, British Columbia, and I ride for 1664 bmx and distribution, No bikes clothing and outbound cycle.

1664 seems like a dope hookup. How did that come about?

1664 is fucking rad. Bernie has been awesome to me. It came about around Street Justice time last summer, I had flown up to ride in the contest and I guess he was stoked on me, so a week later he asked me to ride for him. At the time I was riding for Seshin so I was not sure due to Ted being a rad guy. Bernie told me to let him know anytime if I change my mind. Around the end of October I started thinking about it and figured 1664 was a better place for me. So I called him up and he told me it was still open. I think I was officially on the team October 31st.

Sounds like a Happy Halloween. You flew out to last years Toronto BMX Jam, too. Has it been a good year for traveling on your end? Any big plans for the summer?

Yeah man, Traveling this past year was rad, I went to Edmonton 3 times, Toronto once, and Vancouver like 7 or so. This summer I am driving up to Edmonton for a week to hang out with rad dudes and I am sure there will be a few weekend trips with my homies from here.

Of course, Edmonton is a fun city. What are you looking for in new cities? I’m aiming this question more towards your riding style. Do you have tricks you want to do but need a certain spot for, or are you looking to do your regular stuff on new spots?

I think its mostly my regular stuff at different spots, I don’t know really. A lot of the times when I am in a new city its riding with locals and I just cruise around to their spots and see what I can do.

Let’s get into current BMX issues a bit. What do you think of fixing spots, or even things like brakes and pegs, or lack thereof. I’m under the impression that you’re the type of dude who doesn’t care, but let’s get it on record and hear what you really think.

The way I think of it is as long as you are having fun do what you want. Ride your bike how you want to and set it up the way you want it.

That’s what I like to hear. So do you ever get into a serious mindset when you’re riding? For example, does your attitude change when you’re riding a contest, filming clips, shooting photos, or just rolling with the homies?

Some times I will get a little mad when it takes me awhile to do something but besides that I am just having fun, even at contests I just try and have as much fun as I can.

Fun is what it’s all about. Do me a favor and describe your ideal perfect, fun day in the life of Matt Desson.

Ha, If its a week day, get up and head to work for 7, run a CNC lathe till 3:30, peace the joint and head down to Penticton in Ridgeway’s Audi. Ride till about 9, get some food at Piggies, then head home to spend the rest of my day with my girlfriend Tenille.

Sounds like you have shit under control. What’s it like living in Kelowna, and what’s the story behind the whole BMX-Kelowna idea?

Kelowna is home, and always will be. The weather there is always nice. In the winter we can snowboard at an awesome ski hill, and in the summer we can go and camp in the bush or swim in wicked lakes. BK! is just a group of friend who started out riding together when we were young and now we are just good friends who still ride all the time. We had a website but the guy who updated that doesn’t ride as much anymore, and its to much work to do it ourselves. We don’t need a website though, we know what we are and that’s all that matters.

Who are the guys you ride with regularly? Do they motivate you to get tricks done more than a camera or a panel of contest judges?

The dudes I ride with are Mat Ridgeway, Richard Lind, Ty Scott and his brother Evan, Raz, Tyz, Brandon, and Andrew (aka Lazar Dick). Sometimes I will ride with Slinger Taylor and Slade as well.

My friends motivate me more then anything when I ride because they only care about having fun as well.

What’s your position on secret spots?

Haha, 100% truth? I have no secret spots. As soon as I find something I will show anyone of my friends or someone who is in town to shred. Kelowna is not as big as most cities so there is not a whole lot of spots. How ever if someone is living in big city and spends time looking for a something, why do they have to show people?

I guess that’s a legitimate enough answer. What do you think of kids who take BMX way too seriously? I know you’re all about having fun, but what do you think of the kids who seem to only want to learn whips so they can get a cheque in the mail every month?

Kids like that should probably stick to hockey. If the only reason your riding is so you can make money I suggest you take up something that actually pays out. There is no money in BMX.

Why do you say that? Do you see potential for BMX business wise? Why do you think we don’t have any Ryan Shecklers?

I see tons of potential for bmx business. As the “sport” gets bigger so will the companies, but right now there is not enough money in bmx for random kids that learn tailwhips before knowing how be in control while riding to get cheques every month from Mirraco.

On the same level, do you think it would be better if there was more money to pay the hundreds of no-name shredders enough to afford to travel and expose themselves past the level of BMX Forums and Blogs?

Mo’ money, mo’ problems.

True! Do you like the way BMX is going internet-wise right now? What do you think of the quantity versus the quality of web content, and the quantity versus the quality of the comments to go with it?

BMX on the internet is pretty funny when you think about it. It’s 14 year old kids talking shit on dudes who if they met in real life they would probably try and be best friends with. It’s shitty that all new videos end up on the internet though. It only means less companies are gonna make rad videos that you can look back on in ten years and say, ‘those were the days.’

So what sites do you check on a regular basis?

Facebook

Red BMX Blog

bmxboard

Bikeguide

and Repset.net when its got hot fire

Repset.net always has hot fire, that’s common knowledge. I think we’re gunna wrap this up though, so fill in these other Top 5’s for me.

Artists:

Biggie

Twisted Sisters

Jay Z

Dire Strait

Bob Seger

Riders:

Jaumell Campbell

Luke Santucci

Jeff Evans

Wade Lajlar

Jason Enns

Places to ride:

New York

Toronto

Cali

Philly

Winnipeg

Places you want to visit:

Africa

Europe

Northern BC

Alaska

Australia

Have a good one bro. Any last words? People you want to thank?

I want to thank my parents for helping me so much over my life so far, BK! for always being down to get rad. My girlfriend Tenille who is always there for me, and Bernie for helping me out as much as he has!

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