32 year old Pro BMX rider Mat Hoffman has been called the Godfather of BMX and I think it’s a fitting name for the legendary man who is known as the world’s greatest freestyle vert rider in history. Starting at only 13 years old, he has been all over the sport. In his lengthy career, he has jumped out of a plane at 14,000 feet landing on his bike, as well as earning a spot in the 2004 Guinness Book of World Records for bike base-jumping off a 3500-foot cliff above a 24’ tall quarter pipe. He carved his niche by inventing standard tricks of today like the now well-known 900. He was honored by ESPN in 2002 with the Lifetime Achievement Award and has recently teamed up with Activision to produce Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX video game.
Although he lives to ride, there is a business side to him that has proven successful. He also heads up a program called “Hoffman’s Heroes” that raises funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research. He owns the highly successful Hoffman Promotions as well as Hoffman Bikes that have been sold worldwide for more then twelve years.
All the work has certainly taken its toll though, after an insane amount of serious injuries he is still riding strong, up and around one day after his latest knee surgery where we were able to catch up to him and ask a few questions.
Crave: What do you think of the fact that many people are now calling you the godfather of ramp jumping?
Hoffman: Flattering. I’ve been doing this a long time and have seen our sports evolve from an underground sub culture to being embraced by the main stream. It’s been a crazy ride.
Crave: What have you been working on lately?
Hoffman: I was doing some stuff with the wildboyz in Mexico, riding with the bulls and getting in other particulars situations with Steve-o and Pontius and then I just finished building a ramp for some kids who had an Extreme Home Makeover. That was cool. Other than that just been riding and dreaming of ways to fly.
Crave: What do you consider the most daring stunt you have
ever pulled off?
Hoffman: Probably a no handed 900, but that’s pretty tech too… Daring? I’d have to say when I hiked up a fjord in Norway with my bike and rode off the edge of a 3200 foot cliff with my bike and BASE rig, did a couple flips and deployed a few seconds before impact or I rode my bike out of the back of a plane at 15,000 ft last year and held on for the ride or…
Crave: Do you think that the sport of BMX has changed a lot over the years?
Hoffman: Oh yeah.
Crave: What do your kids think about what you do for a living?
Hoffman: It’s normal for them. It’s nice to watch them dream through my perspective.
Crave: Is it hard to balance family life with your company, games, and other athletic adventures?
Hoffman: It’s all designed around my family and life. I let family be the center and the balance.
Crave: How is your body holding up after all of the old injuries?
Hoffman: I just got my 16th operation yesterday on my knee and I have another one scheduled in about two weeks. I’m down to duct tape and zip ties holding myself together.
Crave: What do you think has been the greatest sporting event this past year?
Hoffman: Surviving Tony Hawks BoomBoom HuckJam tour much less just getting through one show.
Crave: What gave you such an interest in flying?
Hoffman: I think I was a condor in my past life.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
2004 - Guinness Book of World Records For High Air World Record Holder For BMX.
World Record Slime Stunt for Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards.
2003 - Mat Hoffman’s Crazy Freakins Stunt Show CFB Series Became The Only US Qualifier to the X Games
Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom HuckJam Tour
Paperback Release of Autobiography “The Ride of My Life”
Founded Hoffman’s Heroes
2002 - X Games Silver Medalist For First Ever Record Setting No-Handed 900
ESPN Action Sports Lifetime Achievement Award
Release of Mat Hoffman Autobiography “The Ride of My Life”
Release of Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX Video Game
Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX2 Tour TV Show on ESPN2
Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom HuckJam Tour
2001 - X Games Bronze Medalist
CFB Finals – 1st Place
2000 - Bicycle Stunt Series Champion
Ten Time World Champion
High Air World Record Holder For Guinness Book of World Records
1999 - Hofffman Sports Association (H.S.A.) Organizing Body For Freestyle BMX Events Worldwide
Mat Hoffman’s Crazy Freakin’ Bikers Series
OTHER CREDITS
1996 - Participated in the “Sport As Art” Closing Ceremonies of The Summer Olympic Games
1995 - ESPN And Hoffman Promotions Produced And Televised The BS Series
1992 - Developed The Bicycle Stunt (BS) Series
1991 - Turned Professional
Founded Hoffman Promotions
Founded Hoffman Bikes
MAT HOFFMAN - INJURY COUNT SHEET
There are injuries, and then, there are Mat Hoffman injuries. Performing death-defying stunts as the world’s leading BMX biker doesn’t come without a price. Following is a tally of the numerous and gnarly injuries that Mat Hoffman has endured, all for the love of the sport:
MISC. INJURIES:
Torn ligaments, bruised tissue, severed arteries, spilled blood, and hunks of skin left stuck to plywood, concrete, dirt and bicycle components. In addition to the physical pain that accompanies injuries of this nature, Hoffman has also endured the mental anguish of relearning how to walk, ride his bike or even remember who he was!
Hoffman knows that not everyone will understand that he willingly volunteered for this lifestyle. “I consider each of my injuries a tax I had to pay for learning what I could do on my bike. But, I just love bike riding that much.”
