BMX Pro - Chad Kagy - The Man, The Myth, The Legend

BMX Pro - Chad Kagy - The Man, The Myth, The Legend
By: J9 Teck of www.FactorXSite.com
Photo's: Chad Kagy & DC


When you think of Professional BMX riders, there are a lot of names that come to mind, but there is only one that will always stand out in front of the pack, Chad Kagy. Chad is a legend in the sport and his name is synonymous with greatness both on and off of the bike. It is truly an honor to have had this interview with him. Thank you Mr. Kagy!

J9Teck: So Chad, being one of the most awarded riders in the sport, it seems like you've accomplished everything one could want. What keeps you motivated?

Chad: From an outside perspective it may seem as though I've accomplished a lot or everything, but I still have a lot of goals inside and outside BMX ahead of me. I feel like I'm pretty creative, so as my mind wanders, I come up with new things to do on my bike, and with access to Woodward Camp anytime I want, I have the ability to test out my ideas. Having good people around helps as well, I get a lot of inspiration from my friends and other riders that I'm around.

J9Teck: Speaking on Woodward Camp, what is your involvement with them?

Chad: I've been a resident pro since 2001. During the summer months that camp is open I'm helping out with the kids whenever I'm in town, which unfortunately in the last couple years isn't much, since I've been on the road so much. I've developed a scholarship program a little different from the few other guys that have scholarships. I only give my scholarship weeks to camp to kids that I'll meet that love riding and it shows. They just want to hang out with me and ride, might ask questions about how to do something on their bike, but never ask me for anything ridiculous like my bike or helmet. I like being able to help inspire kids to ride or teach them how to do something new on their bikes. You can see it on their face when the concept "clicks" in their brain and they understand how to do it and then go pull whatever their trying for the first time. Other than that I have a key to the buildings I ride at Woodward and ride there year round.

J9Teck: That’s real tight! I can only imagine at how many people ask you for free stuff. It seems like you take it all in stride and recognize and value when a person is genuine towards you. Pretty cool man! Back in '04 you broke your neck; most sane people would've thrown in the towel after that. Not only did you come back, but you came back harder, stronger and a much better rider. How did you do it?

Chad: I remember asking my doctor when he told me that my neck was broken, "How long till I can ride again?” He looked at me like I had three eyes or something and was talking about how bike riding almost cost me my life and how it's not really a good idea to think about that now. After talking to a few of my other doctors that know how stubborn and strong people like me are, I know it wasn't going to be too long. I wasn't done riding my bike and hadn't accomplished the goals I had set for myself, so I wasn't going to let someone else tell me when to stop riding. That's up to me and my body. Obviously my head was still in it and my body wasn't giving up yet. I became a smarter and more focused rider. I changed a lot of tricks that I used to do, because they would hurt my neck one way or another. I feel like I've become a more calculated, smarter and smoother rider since my broken neck.

J9Teck: Props to you! I can’t even imagine what you and your family had to go through. Did they (family) want you to stop riding after your injury or were they behind you 110% on continuing your BMX career and making a comeback?

Chad: My family has always supported me in my decision to be a professional bike rider, but they did urge me to think of other "jobs" right when I turned pro knowing how many injuries I had already had at that point in my life. They back me, but it's hard for them to watch things like a vert comp and Mega Ramp knowing the outcome I've already had and now I'm riding in two events that are even crazier than what I was doing when I broke my neck.

J9Teck: Yea dude, for real, huh? That Mega Ramp was sick! You really set the bar for BMX rider's on that. Describe what you were feeling just before you dropped in and was it your goal to blow people away like that with the tricks that you pulled off?

Chad: Anytime you enter a competition you're trying to do your best and hopefully win. I've loved the Mega Ramp since the day I first dropped in on it. It's my style since I like to go fast. I grew up as a jumper and the last 9 years I've been riding vert, so I just combine those two aspects of my riding and it works well on the Mega Ramp. Dropping into the Mega Ramp is a little nerve racking every single time and I had plans for something else on my last run at X Games, but then Mirra took over the top spot. So, I decided that I needed to do what I was comfortable with, but do it smoother and higher than last time. I dropped into that last run to see if I could meet my own expectations and hope it was enough in the judges eyes to win, so stoked it was.

J9Teck: You really have accomplished so much thus far, what’s one of your proudest moments in your career?

Chad: For me personally I loved going to the Target house around Christmas a few years ago to pass out gifts to the kids and do a demo for them. The kids that stay in the Target house have different types of cancer and are staying in the hospital for treatment for long periods of time. These are kids that are hanging onto life by a thread and somehow they have more life in them than anyone else I've ever met. Running around the Target House chasing each other with squirt guns, playing tag, smiling and when we gave them gifts they were all so appreciative. After our demo they all came to talk to us and were so amazed. By far the best experience BMX has gotten me involved in and as much as it felt like we were doing something for them, I also got a lot out of that trip.

J9Teck: That’s so cool. You really do appreciate life after being a part of something like that. Cancer is crazy… Anyone that has that disease and are going through the treatments are heroes in my book. OK, I have to lighten it up a little, have you had any word on whether or not vert will be included in the 2012 Olympics and how important will it be for the sport to have it included?

Chad: No official word and I haven't had an update on the status in awhile. I hope it does get included, but it obviously has to be run by the BMX industry, so we don't end up with a judging system like gymnastics. As long as our industry stays in control of it then we'll keep pushing BMX to new levels and it will continue to be freestyle rather than no-style.

J9Teck: “No-Style”? Hahaha! That’s a good one! If vert does get added, I know you and Jamie Bestwick will be going at it for the Gold! It seems like you two have been one-upping each other every time out since you de-throned him and won the Gold at X Games 12. Besides the comps, I heard you two ride together a lot. What’s you and Jamie’s friendship like?

Chad: Jamie and I are constantly battling each other back and forth at the events but, when we're home we'll help each other with our riding. We have such different styles that it's not like we can steal each other’s tricks or copy each other’s runs. I feel like Jamie has such a smooth finesse to his vert runs where as I have so much aggression and power in mine, some of our tricks don't work with the other’s style. We have interests outside of BMX in common as well, so our conversations are about cameras and motorcycles more often than bikes. It works better that way, if you compete against someone and all you ever do is talk about bikes... as often as we see each other, living near each other, riding the same ramp and traveling to the same comps we'd go nuts not talking about other things.

J9Teck: Yea, I can see how you would need to have other topics. That’s way cool that you guys have a good friendship and help one another. That’s the way it should be. Speaking about cars, when you're not on a bike, what do you drive around town in?

Chad: Right now I'm pretty practical in a Toyota Tacoma double cab. Living in PA I need a 4x4 for the winters and I've got to have the extra room inside for my son. When it's warm outside I'll be rolling around on my Counts Kustoms chopper and pretty soon my '68 Chevelle will be done. I like my toys.

J9Teck: A ’68 Chevelle?! Dude, you have to send me a picture when it’s complete! When cruisin’ around or riding your bike, what is your favorite type of music and what are your favorite groups/artists to listen to?

Chad: I'm a fan of different music for different parts of life. I like rock, rap, alternative… It all depends on my mood and what I'm doing. I need something fast or with a good beat for riding, so heavy metal and rap are on the riding playlist, Slayer, Pantera, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Luda. Driving I'll have random shuffle on of Linkin Park, Apocalyptica, Cavalera Conspiracy, Kanye. I'm all over the board when it comes to music.

J9Teck: Hahaha! Yea, that’s quite a mash-up of music you have going on! That’s how I am too. I listen to whatever fits my mood or activity at the time. That’s some good info! Can you tell us something that people wouldn’t necessarily know about you?

Chad: Most of my life is public knowledge and whatever isn't public knowledge is like that for a reason so, ha ha!!, Good luck finding out!

J9Teck: Hahahaha! Is that a challenge? Hahaha! Just kidding! Thank you so much for this interview Chad! Do you have any last words or thank you’s that you’d like to shoot out to the world?

Chad: My son Tanner most of all, since he's the main reason for me to smile every day, my family, my sponsors (DC, Amp, Bell, Kicker, Failure, Ogio, Woodward, Bonspeed Wheels). Anyone I've ever ridden with has in one way or another influenced my riding, so thanks!

TO CHECK OUT CHAD IN ACTION CLICK HERE

A special THANK YOU to C. Zulian at Ogio for hooking this interview up!