Big James Interview.

( Portrait photo by Kim )

Big James is pretty notorious in the NY area for being one of the craziest riders with the wildest style. He's getting more and more well known as time goes by, and a bunch of clips in the Animal road trip DVD have people talking non-stop. We did a quick interview to make sure people know what he's all about:

1) Where'd you get the name Big James?

I actually got the name Big James from a tattoo artist. I was getting my first tattoo, 12 years ago. I was gonna just get James on my arm, but the tattoo artist said if I would've got just plain "James" on my arm, it wouldn't have fit me , because I was too big for it (Even at 19, I was a big guy). He suggested that "Big James" would suit me better. And it did; it fits me perfect.

2) What motivates you to ride as hard as you do?

A dialed bike, great music, good weather, when everybody comes out to ride. Plus it's hard not to be motivated, when you have guys like Ed, Rone, Nigel, Blackman, Skinny and Oba killing spots on a daily basis. Well, this doesn't motivate me, but one of the main reasons I ride as hard as I do is pain from not being able to see my kids, my son Kevin & daughter, T'Ajah. But, laughing my ass off motivates the shit out of me.

3) What was the first time you saw yourself in a video or in a magazine and
how did it feel?

The first time I saw myself in a magazine , it was in Transworld BMX. The photo was taken by Dolecki, who I would like to thank.

I was psyched. Me and my girl bought every magazine we could find from Barnes and Noble, Tower, Borders. Wherever they had that mag, we bought it. My whole family had that mag. At the time, even some of my peoples from Dunkin Donuts had it.

My first video part was in the Animal, Can I Eat DVD; it was a tabletop. Me and my girl rewound and slow-mo'd the clip so many times, that the damn DVD don't work anymore. I need a new one.

4) You're known for boosting some of the highest tabletops and tucks off of banks that most people can't get very high off of. What's the secret to popping that high?

Boosting the banks is the best, besides surfing the banks. To blast out of the banks, holding tucks like holding your breath under the water and snapping tabletops like you're doing karate, shit nothing feels better than that, no trick, nothing. As for what¹s the secret, there is none, except for laying down the murder game.



( Footjam tire grab at the banks by Matt Brown )

5) Is it true you're planning on entering all the bunny hop contests this year? Have you measured your hop and do you think you can beat guys like Ruben and Seth Kimbrough who have won bunny hop contests in the past?

If I could afford to, BEWARE...

My hop was measured once, by Bob & Vinnie. It came in at 47 or 48 inches. As far as competing in a bunny hop contest, against other competitors, last I heard, the highest jump was 44 inches -- by my peoples.

6) Who are you sponsored by currently and what are you filming for?

I'm not actually sure. I know I ride for AM:PM, Prototype and J-T Customs and I think I'm getting flow from Volume. I never heard anything officially, but I believe I'm on Animal flow and I'm trying to get on Team-X, with Willie Lopez & Duke Stevens and Larry Bird. Also, I'm trying my best to get officially put on LRG.

Right now, I'm filming for Prototype, Skavenger, AM:PM and possibly for Team-X, or anything else that comes my way; as far as new opportunities, whatever comes my way, I'm on it.

7) It said on the Animal site that your doctor called you an alien... haha
what did he mean by that exactly?

My doctor can't comprehend what I do with or on my bike and he says my strength is phenomenal; that's why he calls me an alien. There's a few other little things, but that's the main reason.

8) Why did you move to San Francisco from NYC and how long were you gone for? Why did you move back?

Well, my girlfriend moved back to Chicago, so I went with her. We lived there for a year, which was pretty good. Then, she got a job offer in San Fran, so "vroom" we moved there for a year. It was great for her, but for me, I missed home too much. Then, her mom died; that's when we felt the need to go back to our real home, New York City baby!!!

Shout-outs to You Adam, thanks. Also, my wife, Kim, my mom, Ralph, Shane and Oso, Robbie Morales and Nick Benson, Glen Mulligan, Skinny, Edwin, Nigel, Rone, Joey, Bob, Vinnie, Tijon, Ramon, LRG, Erin, Cole, Andy, Russ, Ian, Oba, Blackman, Steve-O, Charles, Marlon, Ralph Berry, Dave, Jerry, A.K.A. Launchpad, Jersey Mike, RahRah and to everybody else that I know in the East, Midwest and the West. Peace!!!