… ride your BMX like Terry Adams

The American Terry “TJ” Adams is one of the best flatland pros in the world. His successes include winning the Asian X Games in Korea, the Metro Jam and the Flatland Unlimited in Canada and the Urban Games in London. In interview, he shares the best tips for ambitious new-generation riders.

How do you know if someone has the skill to pull BMX tricks – even if you’ve never seen them on a bike?

Flatland is something that anyone can do if they have a creative mind. I’ve seen a lot of kids who may have a learning disability but who’ve succeeded very well at flatland. If the person has a creative mind and has a lot of heart and soul I believe they can learn to ride.

You started as a BMX racer, changed to ramps, and then specialized in flatland. Can you explain to us what you need for each individual discipline – except for a BMX bike, of course?

I’m sure someone who races needs a lot of endurance training to stay on top of their game. A person who rides on ramps and streets may need a very high tolerance for pain because those guys are always crashing really hard and breaking bones. Riding flatland is a bit different because even the simplest trick can take a month to master. To ride flatland is like trial and error. You need to learn the body movements as well as to control your bike.

What should you look for when buying a BMX bike – when you’re not yet sure what discipline you want to concentrate on?

If you’re looking to learn some flatland moves on the flat pavement then you need to purchase a BMX bike that’s pretty short and has all four pegs. Most flatland bikes are sold online.

Flatland riding is about showing a sequence of trick combinations on a flat surface. What trick would you recommend a BMX rookie trying in the beginning? How does this trick work, and what is the most effective way of learning it?

It would be very hard to explain this using just words because flatland is so intricate. I would say visit www.redbullusa.com and look at my bio page, and watch the hang-five on my trick tips.

What kinds of music, style or other insider clues give BMX riders away even when they don’t have their bikes with them?

It’s hard to tell actually. That’s what’s so great about BMX. We’re all so different. Everyone I ride with listens to different music and has their own personal style. That’s what makes flatland so awesome. So many different cultures are involved but sometimes the only thing we do have in common is our love for riding.

You come from Louisiana and called one of your most difficult tricks “Katrina”. What can be learned from BMX riding about getting over major or minor life catastrophes?

I learned that trick while my small town was experiencing the aftermath of that storm. I was amazed about how fast things can turn bad when a tragedy occurs. People were losing their lives just an hour from my home and all I could do to keep my mind off everything negative was to ride my bike and focus on the great things in life. During that time, I worked very hard on one trick. I named it “Katrina” because I thought the trick resembled the severity of the storm that hit our state. I’d encourage riders to always try and stay positive during any type of tragedy because if you lose hope, everyone around you will do the same.

Because flatland riding is still overshadowed by the dirt and vert disciplines, riders like you have to fight for every magazine cover, for every big show. What does one need to be able to survive as a pro in a peripheral sport?

If you want to make something happen for your sport, you need to go out and make it happen. Through flatland, I’ve learned that anything is possible if you work hard at it. I have been taking a very different approach to getting flatland in the media’s eye. I wanted to show riders around the world that flatland can look just as crazy as the ramps, so I did a photo shoot that consisted of me riding flatland through water, on the edge of buildings, and even through fire. Nowadays, if I am shooting with the magazines I try and make sure we’re at a location that will wow every person who sees the photo.

Despite having severe asthma you’ve managed to become a top athlete. Finally, can you share with us your insights on how to overcome one’s weaknesses – or even transform them into strengths?

When I was a little kid my asthma was a big part of my life. I took medicine at school and took allergy shots twice a week. I even had a desk that was bigger than the teacher’s to keep a machine that cleaned the air next to me. During that time, I realized that the dust that made me unable to breathe was coming only from inside dust particles. My mom pulled me out of school in 6th grade and began to teach me at home. I managed to finish high school at age 15 and start college right after. Looking back on my childhood, I’m very thankful to have had a mother who cared so much about my health. I was able to ride my bike everyday while other kids were at school. Through that difficult time in my life I took my love for flatland and used it as a key not only to keep motivation going to finish my schooling, but also to make all my dreams a reality.