mad lib
interview
from Dig Magazine Rapid Response
Name:
Mike Hinkens
Age:
28
Sponsors:
Madera, Sputnic, Sun-Ringle, 4Seasons Skatepark
How are you?
Busy. Bored. Stoked. Bummed. Anxious. Fulfilled. Homesick.
How are things going with Sputnic these days? Any big plans as far as edits, trips, signature parts or anything like that coming along?
Sputnic has been nothing but awesome to me! I was hooked up, sent new stuff, and left to chill and ride. I try to send them as much stuff as possible, but they have been really awesome about me not producing as much down here. I told them that this summer, I plan on returning FULL BLAST to BMX so they can expect lots from me since I wanna continue to give back. I know they just went on a trip to New Orleans which, though invited, was out of my budget and schedule due to me living abroad. Nothing solid is in the works, but rumor has it, North side of the US and Canada may see a Sputnic trip this summer. I do know that they are pumping out parts everyday though, so keep your eyes on the site.
What about Madera? Anything going on with them you can tell us about?
Madera...oh my family! Man, I cannot see myself not being a part of Madera. I just feels like I have always been cool with Matt, which I have, and that Madera just happens to be a bonus to a great friendship with the dudes involved. As of now, I just named the new spline drive sprocket that is coming out asap! Its called the “Helm.” Yup, I, named it, NOT Matt! Don’t let him fool you! Ha! But seriously, Madera is constantly looking forward. We have new prototype front hubs in the works and rumor has it, they will work with a hub guard of some sorts, maybe even a plastic one! Stay posted. As far as trips go, we are pushing for Megatour this fall, but thats not really our call!
So I heard a good portion of the Madera team is making a trip down to Nicaragua this week then? What do you have planned for the crew? Any plans of filming and what not or is it just going to be a team bonding thing?
Well, actually, a lot of stuff fell through and though 7 guys are coming, only McDermott, Dowhen, myself, and our filmer Wade Young will be representing Madera. Thankfully, some other awesome dudes are coming down too, in order to round it all out: Aaron Bostrom, Conall Keenan, Rob Dolecki, and Brian Kachinsky. We plan on filming for multiple things, shooting photos and stuff for a Dig article, and also, being tourists and checking out the sites and the beaches!
What’s new in your life?
My little Lupita! My girlfriend and I adopted a stray dog from the only shelter down here. Street dogs are more common here than squirrels are in the Midwest! They are mistreated and ignored and often fall over dead in the roads from starvation. There is a shelter here in Granada that tries its best to spay and neuter all of them so they stop reproducing. They nurse some back to health and adopt out others. We took in Lupita after she had given up her litter and its so amazing to see her become more like a dog everyday. She had no idea how to play or trust anyone. The truly sad thing though, is that people here do NOT understand what we are doing. To them, strays are “not animals.” Just pests, and therefore we are almost a joke with our dog....
How has teaching been going down in Nicaragua? Has it been easier now that you have had the chance to really get an understanding of how things work there?
Teaching = a ton of damn work. Everyday you learn something new and get better at something, just to realize you need to work on something else. I can see how it will get much easier in a few years, but it’s been super demanding and rewarding at the same time. I have no idea what’s next though, if I leave here, the market in the states is shot, so I may end up out of my field...any offers out there?!
How did that demo you did go? Did they leave the rail they built for you after it was over to ride?
I did do a demo here at my school during a festival. My Nica friends and I shredded for a few hours and got plenty of positive feedback. I jumped over all sorts of kids, but one mom yelled at me and said that it was too dangerous! I said, ok, but really wanted to say: “Do you know who the f*#% I am?!?!” Ok, maybe not, but I was a bit aggravated by this over protective and clearly uninformed mother. BMX is “cool” down here, but as in the states, its for “you,” not “my children.” With a few hundred riders in this county already, I can’t see that lasting long. PS...they left the amazing rail and pyramid they built for me here!
Where are you right now?
Sitting in the front of an empty classroom during an off period!
Where are you off to next?
Today, or in life?! Today: Home to my lady and puppy and then to the airport to pick up Wade Young. In Life: Milwaukee. I am not finished with my home city yet...
I know you were home over the holidays and for the Baco contest. When do you plan on coming back to Milwaukee?
I will return to Milwaukee June 5th and with a vengeance! I have plans for another MidwestBMX Video Contest as well as something I am only going to refer to as “The Shutdown.” Stay tuned for details about both of those soon. I update the MidwestBMX site often with Milwaukee events as well as the BMX Events section of my website.
What does your average daily routine consist of these days?
Though life is decent here, it does not compare to my old routine of riding every day. A normal weekday looks something like this: 6 am: Wake, stretch, get ready for work. 7am: Start my school day, teach all day until 2:30 with a break or two during the day to check The Come Up! 3-4pm: Chill out with the lady before she leaves to work. 4-7pm: Depending on the day, ride alone on campus, meet the dudes and ride some street, work all damn night on teaching stuff, or chill out with the dog and watch a movie. It’s tough to ride everyday here since its so damn hot so I watch lots of movies! 8pm: Cook dinner with the lady and take the dog on a walk. Sleeping by 11! On the weekends, we try to get to the Pacific Ocean at least once and to see some sort of wild thing here...like active volcanoes!
What does the rest of 2010 have in store for you?
Way more BMX! I have been on a bit of a hiatus down here. I have been riding, but not as much as I love to. More riding, more filming, more photos, more events, more travel! And maybe a bit of work here and there!
Any plans for tonight?
Picking up dudes from the airport and trying to scare them their first night in a third world country!
|
