Interview with Specialized's TJ LAVIN

BMXtreme: We’re here with TJ Lavin at the Specialized 2001 product launch. How are you enjoying Woodward?

TJ: Oh, I always enjoy this place. I try to come down here at least once a month in the summer and I’ve already been here two times this winter. It’s always a good time here. If you can’t have a good time at Woodward then you can’t have fun anywhere.

BMXTREME: We see you learned two new tricks here this week: the nothing and the opposite 360.

TJ: Yeah, I learned the opposite 360, a nothing, and also a turndown flip. I’m pretty stoked. Every time I come here I learn new stuff, and those are things that have been haunting me. It’s cool that I got to fly Fuzzy out here with my frequent flyer miles because he’s never really sessioned here before.

BMXTREME: Yeah, he said this is only his second time out here.

TJ: Yeah, the first time he was only here for two hours, so he couldn’t really ride. You can’t really feel Woodward unless you stay here for a week.

BMXTREME: Do you ever instruct here or have you ever thought about doing that?

TJ: Yeah, definitely. When I’m out here in the summer that’s pretty much all I do is hang out and ride with the kids. But at night is when all the sessions happen with all the boys. I always try to help the kids out as much as possible and they know they can always come up to me and ask me stuff.

BMXTREME: As a pro BMXer you are eligible to race in the Vans Triple Crown Series of BMX. Are you going to?

TJ: Yeah, I’m thinking about it. It looks like there’s some pretty good sized jumps and that’s what I like. I think it will be a good time. I have to check it out schedule wise and make sure it’s not too close to the X Games, which is really what I want to focus my attention on. I really want to do well this year. So the answer is, yes I will try to race them if the schedule stuff works out.

BMXTREME: How do you like the new 2001 Vegas model?

TJ: It’s the best bike I’ve ever ridden. I’m really pumped on it. They took everything I suggested for it and put it all into one. They haven’t been as worried about cost as they have been in the past, but it’ll still be affordable. The headtube’s really holding up. Everything’s just real sweet. And I’m really stoked on the color (red).

BMXTREME: Yeah, how come they didn’t go to production with the gold plated frame? (Note: as a joke they production guys made up a really gaudy gold-plated frame and told TJ that it was going to be the new production bike that he’d be riding.)

TJ: That was so retarded! I don’t know who’s idea that was but that was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen in my whole entire life. If I could find out who was responsible for that, me and him would be in the parking lot. (Laughter) It was pretty rough. It was the most horrid thing I’ve seen in my life. I mean, seriously, you’d probably think I was a pimp or some kind of idiot if you saw me riding that thing. I walked into that room and it was just the ugliest, most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen.

BMXTREME: I’ll have to get a picture of that somehow.

TJ: No way!

BMXTREME: How are your backyard trails treating you?

TJ: The backyard is so awesome. It’s like a dream. Every time I get in a bad mood I just go and sit on top of my roll-in and just chill out. You look out at all the jumps and everything you’ve got and realize you can’t be pissed about anything when you’re living the life that I have. And I’m more than thankful for it. I appreciate it every single minute that I’m alive.

BMXTREME: Thanks TJ. It was great riding with you this week.

TJ: Thank you man. I really appreciate it.

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