EXCLUSIVE X Games Interview: BMX Legend Kevin Robinson

Kevin Robinson, who is one of the most tenured X Games veterans that you will come across, took time out of his busy schedule to have a few words with me about the upcoming X Games. Aside from breaking world-record heights or bringing new tricks to the BMX world, he’s also a family man. Just last week he received a new addition to the Robinson clan, his third child, Ryley.

Kevin was in Chicago when I called, practicing for the Nike 6.0 BMX Open that took place this past weekend. We talked everything from his new son to breaking Mat Hoffman’s BMX height record to beating Jamie Bestwick at the upcoming X Games.

Click more for the full interview.

If you’re unfamiliar with Kevin Robinson, here are a FEW of his many accomplishments: BMX height record-holder, X Games gold medals in BMX Big Air and Vert Best trick, and a slew of bronze medals in Vert.

Blackout (B): Well first off I just want to say congratulations on the new addition to the family.

Kevin Robinson (KR): Thank you so much, we’re so excited.

Photo: Allisports.com

B: Any plans on having your son Ryley follow in your footsteps or what?

KR: Well my son Kevin Jr., he’s already all about BMX, so I’m going to leave it up to him to teach his little brother. If he chooses that then cool. With my son, I didn’t force him to do it. He just wants to be on his bike 24/7, and he absolutely loves it. He’s 4 and he’s had 3 ER visits.

B: You couldn’t be more stoked as a dad, huh?

KR: It’s so exciting. It’s hard to see him get hurt but it’s so exciting to see him try things.

B: So in ’06, you brought the double flair to the table at X Games. Do you have any tricks up your sleeve this year?

KR: The trick up my sleeve is to stay healthy and get home to my baby [laughs].

B: Yea, I bet.

KR: I never, you know sometimes, like with the double flair I went into that knowing what I was going to do. But a lot of times I just go by feel. I see how I feel in practice. Fortunately we have quite a few days of practice and I really just try to feel things out and see how everything is going, pick and choose my tricks and base them on how good I’m doing them. Something could happen, something might not. Who knows? I’ve always been about pushing progression on my bike, and doing things other people don’t do. I always do that, that’s my personality. That’s the only way I really know how to ride.

B: That’s definitely key, trying to get that nice, fluid, consistent run put together to try and get that top score.

KR: I just want to stay comfortable in my own head and not get wrapped up in what’s going on around me. That was the key last year. I dislocated my ankle 3 weeks before X Games and I didn’t even think I was going to ride. We had to shoot my foot up with lidocaine to numb it out and I basically couldn’t even feel my foot. I just stuck to my game plan that my wife, doctor and I came up with and you know, I just stuck to the game plan and it worked out.

B: Yea for sure, you ended up getting that Big Air gold. How do you plan on remaining king of the Big Air?

KR: I just want to go out there and do what I know how to do. I just don’t want myself to get wrapped up in what other people are doing and what I’m hearing other people are doing. There’s all kinds of crazy stuff being done. I just try not to listen to that or get wrapped up into it. It all has to be done on that stage at that moment. What you do in practice is one thing, what you do on the day of is a whole different ball game. At this point I tell young kids, I’ve forgotten more tricks than they’ll ever learn. [laughs]

B: Yea, you’ve been around as long as I can remember X Games. I’ve been a fan since day 1 when it was back in what, Providence?

KR: Yep. I started in 1995 and X Games began in Providence, in my home state.

B: It must have been some exciting times for you. So a few years ago you broke Mat Hoffman’s height record. Does that still stand?

KR: Oh absolutely.

B: Do you ever plan on going bigger than that?

KR: I had the challenge, and it was more about bringing attention to what Mat did. I talked it over with Mat prior to doing it and wanted to make sure he was OK with it. As long as we keep it in the Hoffman family, that’s all that counts. I wanted to bring tribute to what he did. He’s never gotten the credit he deserves for coming up with the whole big ramp concept. I just feel like that always gets overshadowed. And I just thought it was time to pay dues to what he did. It’s not even about beating his record, it was about paying tribute to what he did.

B: That’s awesome that he was actually there too to congratulate you.

KR: I wouldn’t have done it without him there. He’s like a brother to me and I’ve been riding for Hoffman bikes for 19 years. He’s family.

B: Back in the day, you moved to Woodward to go improve your skills. Do you think you’d be where you are now if you didn’t make that move?

KR: Without Woodward I would have never progressed to where I am now, but that goes to stand for the entire sport. There’s no way that the sport would even be at the level it is now if it wasn’t for Woodward and places like Woodward. Woodward has changed the dynamics of the whole entire sport singlehandedly. With foam pits and all these ramps and stuff, the ability to break down the mechanics of a trick safely, and work on tricks safely, it’s just amazing the progression that it’s allowed BMX. Fortunately I still have that old-school mentality. I still kind of have that “go for it” attitude. So a lot of times I don’t take time to learn it on the pits and I push myself a little too quickly. It’s just my mentality and who I am.

B: So you’ve medaled every year since 2003, what’s your plan to beat out Bestwick this year?

KR: I have no intention of beating Bestwick. He’s in a class of his own on the vert ramp. He just has more natural talent, and he puts in the work and the time. At this point in my career, it’s never been about winning to me. It’s been about accomplishing the goals I set out for myself, like pulling a double flair.  “ ...it’s never been about winning to me. It’s been about accomplishing the goals I set out for myself, like pulling a double flair
” Kevin Robinson And what better place to pull it than on the biggest stage in the world? The same with Big Air. I go there with an idea and I try to stick to that idea to make it happen. If it results in me winning, then great. If it doesn’t, then I’m still happy because I did what I wanted to do. I just go there wanting to stay healthy and stay on my bicycle and pull the tricks I set out to pull.

B: Sounds like a game plan. One more quick question so you can get back on the bike and get ready for X Games. What is your favorite KROQ band?

KR: I’d have to go with [long pause] Guns ‘N Roses.

B: Well thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to do this. Best of luck next week.

KR: Thank you for having me, I really appreciate it. Can’t wait to see you guys out there and hope you’re out there to support the X Games. I’ll try and put on a good show for everybody.

B: Looking forward to it.

Kevin will be competing in BMX Big Air and BMX Vert. Get your tickets to see Kevin Robinson and the rest of X Games 16 here.

• BMX Vert takes place Friday from 4:00 – 5:00pm at the Nokia Theatre, televised on ESPN starting at 7pm
• BMX Big Air takes place Saturday night from 6:00 – 7:15pm at the Coliseum, televised on ESPN starting at 7pm