6 QUESTIONS WITH BRIAN VOWELL

I've interviewed a lot of riders that I look up to in the time I've spent doing this site, but you really can't fuck with BV. Pretty much everyone shows dude respect and he definetly deserves it. Check it:

1) What have you been up to? You kind of fell out of the public eye a few years back.

I've been working a lot... trying my best to be a good husband and father. I still ride a day or two a week, but it's definitely slowed down a little for me.... most of my spare time these days is spent with my lovely wife and son.

2) Did you have a falling out with Standard? Are you involved with them in any way now?

NO... not at all. Standard and I are just fine. I just needed a change at the time, and I thought that Rick was pretty cool about it. I really owe a lot to him for doing so much for me over the years... it goes way back. Standard was the first sponsor that I had that actually allowed me to travel to comps and demos and such... still love the products and I still have some SBC stuff on my bike right now...

3) You were one of the firt guys to come out doing a ton of hang 5's all over skateparks, now we see a lot more of that, usually with no front brakes, do you feel like you helped to usher in the change of everyone doing everything on their back wheel to people doing front wheel stuff too?

Man... I KNEW this one was coming... I would like to think that I had "something" to do with bringing on the hang 5 stuff, but I think it would have happened anyways... with the way this sport progresses in so many crazy ways, it was bound to happen... I love watching the no-brake guys do stuff because it's so much harder that way... most people don't realize that. Props to those guys. Either way, it's just a fun trick, and I'm psyched to see them more and more these days.

4) Are you still sponsored by Etnies or any other companies?

Yeah... I'm still currently riding for Etnies and UGP. I do get a lot of help from MACNEIL these days... as well as SHADOW CONSPIRACY and ODYSSEY... I really can't thank them enough... they have all been so great to me.

5) How old is your son now and how has raising him been? Would you say it has been more or less difficult than you expected? Any plans for more kids?

OH BOY YOU'VE DONE IT NOW! Raising my son thus far has been the absolute highlight of my life. There is absolutey no way to put into words the feelings that your child can bring about. Preston is about 2 1/2 now, and I would have to say that it's been pretty easy for both me and my wife (beautiful Stacy) to handle him... Every day with him it's a new word, or a new facial expression, he's always full of surprises. We may have another one, but not anytime in the immediate future...

6) What's the last thing you learned on your bike that really made you excited?

The last time I was REALLY psyched is when I pulled that 360 to hang 5 over the street spine in my run at the roots contest... that was the first one I ever pulled, and It was first try... IN MY RUN! I bet I tried that damn trick 500 times... blew out 3 front tires... I knew it would happen sooner or later... I get just as excited when friends do new stuff too. I'm just like that.

-------------------------

If you've got any more questions, leave them in the comments and I'll try to get him to answer them in a future installment ( even though he's pretty insanely busy ).