Adam Banton

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Location: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 35 years, 6 months
Riding since: 1987
Frame: Journey
Favorite riding:

Bikes

Sponsors:

EASTERN BIKES, ODYSSEY, FENDER GUITARS, C.T.i kneebraces, OGIO,  and OSIRIS makes sure my feet are fresh.

How long have you been riding?  An awesome long time, got my first bike in 1987.

What got you into the BMX world to begin with? I wanted to race when I was 13, my parents got me a Mongoose California race bike for Christmas ended up finding a track close to me only to learn that it was closed, then I think I saw DMC doing a demo on the local News station in DC, it was like 45 seconds, seeing that was the perfect bridge from wanting to race to the knowing  what “Freestyle” was. I was hooked after that. Thanks DMC!

You’ve been just floating around for a while. How does it feel to settle in one spot for a while? So far it feels very strange, I feel like I should be packing my bags every other week. Getting on the phone talking about trips, making plans and such.  I don’t like It that much honestly, I like staying busy. That’s such a part of BMX to me, the hustle, planning trips. I really think It’s going to take longer than 2 months to adjust.  I don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon though. Maybe enough to get good use out of my season pass this winter!

How do you like being back there so far? Other than amazing snowboarding , riding has been sparse. I get antsy if I’m home for more than 3 weeks, so I guess it all works out.  One of the great things about Utah, geographically, it isn’t that far from tropical year round climates with great riding spots, and 2.5 hour flight from either coast, it works well for me.

Who are the people that you ride with the most now?  Depends on what state, OHIO- Juicer, Gym shorts, Dorito, Bobby Meade all the other Chenga kids and all RAYS MTB park locals too.  UTAH- Riley, Rob Wise, Kenny Sanders 50/50 locals. I’ll ride with anybody really, doesn’t have to be someone with a “name and a game” haha. Of course the rest of the EASTERN BIKES team on trips too.

How much are you playing music these days? Well, lately it’s been in spurts, yet still really productive towards my new album I’ll be recording at some point, haha. It’s been a long time for me to get this far with it.  I played a lot over the summer though, so I guess a good amount, haha. It would be nice to think I’ll get my album done soon, I keep hitting road blocks with the recording stages though. We’ll see……….

How would you describe your style? Original tech mixed with some pop accompanied by medium size moves or making my own path with my thumb on the afterburners.

What countries are some of your favorite that you’ve been too?  Germany, France, Canada, The Netherlands and Singapore

You’ve been in the BMX game for a while now. What’s the biggest difference between when you first started to now? Two things really: 1.) The progression of the BMX bike. The quality, workmanship and designs are amazing now and 2.) TELEVISION. It turned the rest of the world onto what we’re about.  It helps getting younger kids into BMX and outside money finding a pocket of riders who deserve it. It also showcases the multiple aspects of riding. There are downsides to mass media coverage like this, but in the long run I think it helps everyone.

What gets you motivated…with riding and just life in general?  Filming does that for me. Traveling anywhere (close or far) to film for a video part is a great motivation for me, I love that part of BMX so much, the freedom to do what ever you wanna do, then have the internet knock it, haha  Just traveling in general motivates me completely. It’s almost always a BMX trip when I do, but even when it’s not, there is something still fulfilling from it.  Seeing how and where other people ride, live, work and enjoy life is a great way to appreciate what you have and find more about yourself, I know that sounds cli’che but have found it to be true.  It opens up your eyes and opportunity. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll get tired of traveling after all these years, but I haven’t yet.

Top five bands at the moment:  Pandora has been ruling my airwaves as of late but, At the moment, any Reggae, Helen Earth Band, The Statistics,  (Old) UnderOath, and a tie with Burning Paris and Arcade Fire

Any last words? Thanks to Jon and Mike and everyone else at EASTERN for making such an amazing brand, Leigh for getting trips dialed, my other sponsors Odyssey, Alex Perez at Fender, Ogio, C.T.i kneebraces, Kyle Carlson for the Osiris hookup, Dave and Scott at Chenga, everybody a Woodward West, Nina and crew at Rays MTB park, my family’s support,  all locals at my favorite park,s across the country.