Mat Hoffman

Ride Bmx mag published a list of 20 most influential riders in bmx. There can be and will be many debates about who should feature in that list. 

I would have wanted Martin and Woody itson. And so on....

Anyways, one rider that unanimously will be at the no1 spot for almost everyone is Mat. 

Not just for his riding, which is mind blowing. But also for his belief in bmx and bringing it back from the dead, with help from his friends. Read on, ride on, head first .

As featured in Ride BMX

Mat Hoffman

"Mat Hoffman pushed the limits before shock factor was a reality in BMX. The fact that Mat did everything bigger, higher, and gnarlier than everyone else influenced me to do the same. His drive for pushing the envelope inspired me since day one. My biggest respect for Mat is his ability to keep getting killed and not letting it faze him. From his motor-boned quarterpipe airs, to grinding big handrails before it was ever even thought of, Mat Hoffman is the true deadman rider." —Sean Burns

It's hard to even comprehend what BMX would be like today if it weren't for Mat Hoffman. His influence is all encompassing—from his teenage years when he pioneered countless new variations on vert to his DIY Sprocket Jockey shows and the Bicycle Stunt contest series, Hoffman Bikes, the concept of "big air"—and how all of these endeavors not only helped keep BMX alive at its lowest point, but actually helped steer it in an even better direction.

When Mat first appeared on the contest scene as a fledgling 14-year-old in 1986, he was blasting higher and extending his tricks farther than most pros at the time. By 1989, Mat was dominating the contest circuit to the point where he competed in amateur and pro the same day—winning both. He followed that up by doing the first-ever 900 at his second pro contest three months later. By that time, Mat was considered to be the best freestyle rider in the world, but he didn't rest there, and his rate of progression continued with an almost runaway freight train pace. He later commented on his relentless pursuit for progression in his April 1995 Ride BMX interview: "I'm not satisfied just going through life and seeing who crosses the finish line first. I want to see how much I can do and what's possible." In Mat's eyes, anything was possible, and his limitless approach to riding was best documented in Eddie Roman's classic 1991 video, Head First, which featured a heavy dose of Mat riding where he felt most comfortable—on home turf at the secret Ninja Ramp. The sessions that went down and were documented within those Krylon-covered warehouse walls are what legends are made of—the backflip-to-fakie, flairs, a handful of lip tricks including icepick stalls, and countless contorted limbless variations were invented and/or dialed in on that ramp. But Mat didn't stick to the confines of the vert ramp; he ventured into the streets with equal fervor—being the first rider to conquer handrails down steps—including a super steep 22-stair aluminum monster in downtown Oklahoma City. Needless to say, Head First was a huge dose of inspiration for BMX in the early '90s.

During this explosive time for progression, the bikes couldn't withstand the new kind of abuse Mat and others were dishing out, and the overall health of BMX popularity, and the industry, in general, was at an all-time low—the vast amount of money, corporate sponsors, and media attention that freestyle garnered in the '80s dried up and along with it went the big contests and most of the magazines, as well. In response to this, in 1991, Mat made a series of bold moves, which collectively changed the course of freestyle forever. While Mat, and many other riders at this time were pushing their riding to new limits, their bikes weren't up for the punishment—Mat actually had a stockpile of broken bike parts under his ramp, and it was scary to see just how many parts had failed while he was riding. Injuries sustained from bikes breaking were becoming too common for him, so he started his own bike company, Hoffman Bikes. In regards to the dismal state of freestyle's exposure, Mat bought a semitruck, loaded it with a portable vert ramp, and the Sprocket Jockeys traveling freestyle show was born—Mat was going to bring BMX to the masses one way or another. He also started Hoffman Promotions, the BMX event organization Hoffman Sports Association (HSA), and the Bicycle Stunts contest series. The BS series was a much-needed breath of fresh air for freestyle—it became a platform for riders to feed off one another and continue pushing the progression of riding. And in 1995, ESPN collaborated with the HSA in the formation of the Extreme Games, later renamed the X Games. These televised events not only brought in corporate sponsors and bigger prize purses for the riders, but more importantly, they helped give BMX exposure to every household in the country—many of today's pros got their first taste of BMX via the X Games.

As if Mat's newfound responsibilities of running a bike company and contests weren't enough, he still found a way to outdo himself with a new goal for his riding with the advent of his big ramp. There were three different versions of his massive quarterpipe. The first version, which was featured in the October 1993 issue of Ride BMX, was allegedly blown over in a windstorm while Mat was in the hospital recuperating from a concussion after crashing on it—but not before he pulled a 26-foot air! His second reincarnation of the ramp was built next to the warehouse with a roll-in off the roof. Mat attached a weed wacker motor to his bike for more speed. While filming a segment for MTV Sports, he crashed and tore his spleen—causing internal bleeding to the point where he almost died. It wasn't until 2001 that Mat revisited his big ramp in response to a DC ad featuring Dave Mirra doing a 19-foot air on an 18-foot ramp with a headline stating it as a new world record. Although Guinness World Records was never on hand to officially recognize Mat's earlier efforts, the DC Mirra ad was still a slap in face. Mat felt like he had to claim what was rightfully his once and for all. He ended up setting an official world record for the highest air on a BMX bike at 26.5 feet above the deck of a 24-foot-tall quarterpipe on April 1, 2001.

If there were a category in the Guinness World Records for the world's toughest human, most selfless, and all-around badass, Mat would hold those records too, because he has paid dearly for all he's accomplished on his bike. The physical toll his body has endured is so astonishing it could be an article all on its own. When it comes to injuries, the quote from Mat's late idol Evel Knievel sums up his philosophy perfectly: "Bones heal, chicks dig scars, pain is temporary, glory is forever." Mat's glory truly will last forever, because BMX would not be where it is today without the countless sacrifices he has made—his contributions have affected every aspect of freestyle as we know it today, and for that, we can't thank him enough.

Thank You, 

Warm Regards...

Rahul

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