March 15, 2008
The man who has been cleverly named "The King boost" has sat down with Pinkbike's own Dolla Bill to get some well needed facts written down on paper. This guy could give Chase Hawk a run for his money, and for that, we salute you, Jimmy Pratt.
Dolla Bill: Known as the UK's King of Boost, why don't you state your name, and where you call home?
Jimmy Pratt:Simon “Jimmy” Pratt, Leatherhead Surrey, UK
After your first big appearance in Earthed 4, how has your riding career changed?
Since appearing on Earthed 4 I have done several films with DMR, and I do find I get recognized a lot more!
Boost Much?
Were you signed with DMR before you were in Earthed 4?
I was on DMR before Earthed 4, but only just as I filmed for the video in summer 2006!
Has it turned more into a job, than a hobby?
Bike riding will never become a job for me as I think it losses a lot of the fun if it does! I find I always look forward to a good ride and I don't wanna ride 24/7!
1 Foot Downside
Do you feel like you “have” to ride now?
I never feel like “I have” to ride, sometimes I feel the pressures of going big all the time, but when I get into a session what happens, happens!
Most photos and videos we see of you, you're riding at the “secret” trails. Do you mind giving us some history of those trails? How did they come to be?
These trails are secret their not mine, they're local BMX trails that have been around for a decade or so. I do have my own trails which are very well known in the UK but very little pictures come from there as they're invitation only!
With so many line choices in 1 area, how long would you say the average “session” is for you guys at the secret trails?
It depends on how much light we have after work, the weekends ride for a half hour or so and then chill and dig and then ride some more!
Do you ever feel intimidated riding with no shirt on? (Crashing with no shirt=serious rash)
NO! I ride with no shirt on because I am always hot in the summer but normally I only crash once or twice a year so I don't get hurt really.
Your boost is incredible. Do you have any BMX background?
I tried BMX but didn't like it, I find it very twitchy, I love their style and the way they flow! They inspire me!
Boooooost
Did you attend the Super Session meeting at Woodward West?
I have never been to the states so I reckon no.
What was the first bike you ever owned?
My first bike I won in a fruit squash competition it was very cheap and didn't last long!!
26” wheels or 24”?
24" because it's just a nice bit smaller but not quite 20inch.
If you could ride with anyone, anywhere, where would you go, and with who?
Chase Hawk, Brian Foster, Justin Linman and I always wanted to go to the East Coast of America to go ride all the best trails!
Chase Hawk is known for his huge boost, and incredible flow. Have you ever ridden with him?
NO! But let me know if he is free to ride!
Chase Hawk has steeze
Wearing a helmet was something that most parents tried to enforce on their kids while they were young. Do you have a rhyme to your reason why do you don't wear a helmet?
I've been riding trails for 11 years and up until last year I always wore a helmet, last year was the exception. It was nice to have the wind in your hair! I will be wearing it a lot more again this year!
Concrete doesn't hurt
What's the worst crash you have ever had?
I was 15, I nose bonked a big jump and slipped a few discs in my back…that hurt!
The King Himself
Alex Rankin captured the UK Dirt scene very well in Earthed 4. Have you talked to him at all about doing more filming? Or do you have plans to be in any more videos in the future?
I haven't been in contact with the Earthed 4 guys but would love to do something again; they are amazing at what they do!
Any big shout outs you want to give out?
I'd like to thank all my sponsors, DMR, Ian @ DMR for getting me on the team! Nike 6.0, Mace, Marzocchi…, the list is endless! Without them I wouldn't have been able to fly so high! I would also like to thank Pinkbike for taking the time to hunt me down.
Thanks for being on the show Jimmy, grip it and rip it.
For more photos of Jimmy, check out my ALBUM.
Special Thanks to Ian over at DMR Bikes for tracking down Jimmy and getting the questions to us. Props to you buddy.
Photo Credits: Gareth Howell
Video Clip from Earthed 4
Jimmy Pratt:Simon “Jimmy” Pratt, Leatherhead Surrey, UK
After your first big appearance in Earthed 4, how has your riding career changed?
Since appearing on Earthed 4 I have done several films with DMR, and I do find I get recognized a lot more!
Were you signed with DMR before you were in Earthed 4?
I was on DMR before Earthed 4, but only just as I filmed for the video in summer 2006!
Has it turned more into a job, than a hobby?
Bike riding will never become a job for me as I think it losses a lot of the fun if it does! I find I always look forward to a good ride and I don't wanna ride 24/7!
1 Foot Downside
Do you feel like you “have” to ride now?
I never feel like “I have” to ride, sometimes I feel the pressures of going big all the time, but when I get into a session what happens, happens!
Most photos and videos we see of you, you're riding at the “secret” trails. Do you mind giving us some history of those trails? How did they come to be?
These trails are secret their not mine, they're local BMX trails that have been around for a decade or so. I do have my own trails which are very well known in the UK but very little pictures come from there as they're invitation only!
 |  |
With so many line choices in 1 area, how long would you say the average “session” is for you guys at the secret trails?
It depends on how much light we have after work, the weekends ride for a half hour or so and then chill and dig and then ride some more!
Do you ever feel intimidated riding with no shirt on? (Crashing with no shirt=serious rash)
NO! I ride with no shirt on because I am always hot in the summer but normally I only crash once or twice a year so I don't get hurt really.
Your boost is incredible. Do you have any BMX background?
I tried BMX but didn't like it, I find it very twitchy, I love their style and the way they flow! They inspire me!
Boooooost
Did you attend the Super Session meeting at Woodward West?
I have never been to the states so I reckon no.
What was the first bike you ever owned?
My first bike I won in a fruit squash competition it was very cheap and didn't last long!!
26” wheels or 24”?
24" because it's just a nice bit smaller but not quite 20inch.
If you could ride with anyone, anywhere, where would you go, and with who?
Chase Hawk, Brian Foster, Justin Linman and I always wanted to go to the East Coast of America to go ride all the best trails!
Chase Hawk is known for his huge boost, and incredible flow. Have you ever ridden with him?
NO! But let me know if he is free to ride!
Chase Hawk has steeze
Wearing a helmet was something that most parents tried to enforce on their kids while they were young. Do you have a rhyme to your reason why do you don't wear a helmet?
I've been riding trails for 11 years and up until last year I always wore a helmet, last year was the exception. It was nice to have the wind in your hair! I will be wearing it a lot more again this year!
Concrete doesn't hurt
What's the worst crash you have ever had?
I was 15, I nose bonked a big jump and slipped a few discs in my back…that hurt!
The King Himself
Alex Rankin captured the UK Dirt scene very well in Earthed 4. Have you talked to him at all about doing more filming? Or do you have plans to be in any more videos in the future?
I haven't been in contact with the Earthed 4 guys but would love to do something again; they are amazing at what they do!
 |  |  |
Any big shout outs you want to give out?
I'd like to thank all my sponsors, DMR, Ian @ DMR for getting me on the team! Nike 6.0, Mace, Marzocchi…, the list is endless! Without them I wouldn't have been able to fly so high! I would also like to thank Pinkbike for taking the time to hunt me down.
Thanks for being on the show Jimmy, grip it and rip it.
For more photos of Jimmy, check out my ALBUM.
Special Thanks to Ian over at DMR Bikes for tracking down Jimmy and getting the questions to us. Props to you buddy.
Photo Credits: Gareth Howell
Video Clip from Earthed 4
Comments
- + 7 props
dhb7
(March 15, 2008 at 9:46)
(Below Threshold) show comment
that guy has soo much flow and style....i love his earthed 4 segment
actually uur f*cking confused... you think that this guy airrs high but hawk clearly airs higher. i watch alot of vids with hawk in em and this guy failed to impress me compaired to him. whoever wrote this article is on crack
^^ clearly nobody gives a shit!
By that logic, there is no point writing about anybody but Sam Hill. Silly child......
yeah, sure if you compare jimmy to chase hawk you're not going to be as impressed but jimmy still boosts damn high and it isn't his falt this article has compared the two of them. Jimmy boosts higher than me and im pretty sure he boosts higher than you too, stpgeminirider. Jimmy's riding doesn't fail to impress me but you have a point about chase, im pretty sure he has never heard of gravity... look; http://www.pinkbike.com/video/6359/
he is a really good rider. his trails and the 'secret' trails are about an hour from me. hes a hardcore builder aswell as rider too
he's the only mtber allowed at those private trails because he lets the locals ride his place, some other mtbs got their bikes confiscated when they were caught there
confiscating bikes... sounds like bullsh*t to me!
nah it was true, and the police did jack shit, because they were trespassing.
confiscating bikes.....who the f. do those bmxers think they are? And for the police....tresspass doesn't justify taking someone's bike from him.
Neither does the fact that they built those trails...in a civil society people should respect the monopoly of violence of the state....even within some trendy clique.
Typical bmx/scene/myspace/hxc behaviour
Neither does the fact that they built those trails...in a civil society people should respect the monopoly of violence of the state....even within some trendy clique.
Typical bmx/scene/myspace/hxc behaviour
haha, that's one of the very few good things about scotland! we have no trespass law. don't really know why, we probably forgot to put it in the rule book. so we can ride just about anywhere and not get any grief for it. although you are more likely to be stabbed and have your bike stolen by a drunken 12 year who couldn'd spell the word 'confiscated'
East Coast of America? Best Trails?........Uh, someone get that guy over to Oregon and Washington soon. I think his opinion would change quickly and dramatically.
come ride the east coast then kno decide.... k
Let someone have an opinion maybe?
No need to come to California, nothing here to see-just keep moving on.
Skip New Jersey, been there that was beat.
depends on what you like....generally steep and large=east coast enormous and flat=north west
Hes legend.Best trail rider.flow&style.
Smooth and flowy, but boring as hell to watch.
Why doesnt he wear a helmet. Thats so stupid. Why does everyone think that his style is good. He looks silly and cramped on his bike. Yes, below threshold -4324204329 props
In the majority of the photos and in the video he is wearing a helmet, personally i think he should wear a helmet all the time, but im not him and he does what he wants. Dont have a clue what you are going on about with the whole no style thing though, did you even watch the video or look at the photos, he is an immense rider and has so much style......
im sorry but "silly and cramped on his bike..." thats complete b*llocks ive never seen nyone with more style
reall sick, and to all you mtb'ers who think its completely necessary to have 26" wheels and 24" are gay, tell that to him when he shows your asses up.
He couldn't do that on a 26". 24" are still gay.
different jumps in the uk 26'' suck on them in canada and america 26'' is way more nessasery but over here its stupid not to have 24''
i agree with cdavis about the 24" thing, but not that he couldn't do it.
24"s are not frowned upon in the uk. our counrty and wood lands are smaller than those in canada and the us so we rarley have huge straight 10 packs. we need 24" wheels to ride the techy windy dirt jumps that we have in the uk.
f*ck those who say u cant do tricks on smaller wheels, i got 21" and i can do most of the jumps anyone here can do easy
its a mountain bike 2
hes well good
only in england
only in england
they didnt mention his stick fighting skills...
hell yea ... wisley !!!!!!!!!
awesome rider... still i dont think he got shit on chase hawk.
"they didnt mention his stick fighting skills..."....yea as well as being a trails ninja he can handle a stick or two like one as well...
any pic ive ever seen of pratt, hes like ten feet in the air. fckn awsome bro!
ive seen that vid so many times though, but thats my fault
such an great rider, high and sideways all the way!!
i love his style. its really bmxy too. its what i try and do haha, but dont quite acheive lol. but ye he's a great rider
man this guy's got skillz and style up the yin yang. and to all those of you who say 24" wheels suck, GO TO HELL!
jesus christ!
that dude has talent. he's one of the mtber's i will watch ride all day. he's soooooo good
that dude has talent. he's one of the mtber's i will watch ride all day. he's soooooo good
he got the best style i love is so somooth nicee
were a f*cking helmet.... i hope u f*ck your self up reall bad cause of it...
maybe he should wear a helmet but you're just jealous of him
"This guy could give Chase Hawk a run for his money" how dare you pinkbike, your going to hell for saying such a thing...this big wheeler aint got shit on chase hawk
http://www.devonhutchins.com/images/update_04_05_07/chase_hawk_boost_whip_box_t1.jpg
http://www.devonhutchins.com/images/update_04_02_07/chase_hawk_tuck_corner_pocket_air_T1.jpg
http://www.devonhutchins.com/images/update_2008_01_11/chase_hawk_360_xup_eastside_trails.jpg
i rest my case
http://www.devonhutchins.com/images/update_04_05_07/chase_hawk_boost_whip_box_t1.jpg
http://www.devonhutchins.com/images/update_04_02_07/chase_hawk_tuck_corner_pocket_air_T1.jpg
http://www.devonhutchins.com/images/update_2008_01_11/chase_hawk_360_xup_eastside_trails.jpg
i rest my case
none of the pics in this article really show how high he goes. I dont see how you can judge a 24" mtb'er against a BMX'er really...
Stop taking things so seriously kid.
woo heres a pic of him taken from a video. Higher than Chase Hawk!!!!!!
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f261/amazing_dave/img-1157664266.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f261/amazing_dave/img-1157664266.jpg
stop whining about who go's higher ,there both great riders that actually ride,
much better then those nerds on pb that are talking shit about everybody.
much better then those nerds on pb that are talking shit about everybody.
seriously guys, i bet most of you havent even seen him ride before, go down to wisley sometime this summer and watch jimmy ride, he goes higher, further and bigger than anyone else, and he most definatly is the most stylish rider in england...that i have seen! who gives a f*ck about bmxer's, its totally different on one of those little bikes!
oh, and he has the sweetest 360's!
oh, and he has the sweetest 360's!
i agree with dmrchris, he's so stylish and you really notice it when you see him ride in person. and yes his 3s are nice
for all you guys that say he has no style or flow, i think his numerous videos and a signing with DMR must mean summin, ever think of that, i bet most of u guys that r sayin he has no style or flow can't do half that stuff he's doin cuz i know sure can't
what a rad guy contributing so much to the uk scene! good flow too, but copmpared to hawk??? not even f*cking close his style's not even close. watch what you say pinkbike or the 20 inchers will be all over you lol.
Comes down my local park quite often. He boosts EVERYTHING. Still can't take his hands off the bars though 
Hawk > This loser
jimmy is a legend and pretty much the most stylish rider in mtb dirt but pb is silly to compare him to chase hawk, to different riders and 2 different sports. by saying hell give chase a run for his money is noobish on behalf of pb and will cause the 20"ers to have a paddy.
otherwise jimmy rules and is a wicked builder and rider, he shows that mtbing isnt just how its represtented by films like NWD
otherwise jimmy rules and is a wicked builder and rider, he shows that mtbing isnt just how its represtented by films like NWD
i agree with you man. when i first saw that statement on the first part i was kinda shocked they put that there. don't compare rider to rider in an article, that is kids forum talk. takes the fun out of it. sorry i just get annoyed like when people say "wohohohooo! looks like somebody is catching up to cramner!" dude they're just riding.
exactly....its not about who's the best or who's better if you think like that go play football
guys nuts!!!!!!!! wow!!!!!!!!
man this guy is sickk!!!
holley crap he crazy he is the chase hawk of mtbing but the two shouldnt be compared because they ARE 2 different sports
I cant belive a simple,well neeeded review of jimmy has so many people whining and comparing him to other people,He is one of the few smooth stylish riders who has the ability to inspire fellow riders everytime someone even sees a photo of him,Why should he be compared to chase hawk rather then just agreeing they are both legends, Only difference i see between hawk n pratt anyway is the fact that you always here of jimmy helping a hand with the digging at all the well known trails and secret ones and his own ones where as you dont hear that about hawk,But still that shouldnt matter.Jimmy goes high,and well,so does hawk so who cares whos better.And the whole 24 thing,He's just using the size he prefers to ride on...simple
Oh and the whole secret trails thing,really annoying me that everyone calls them this,both jimmys trails and the 'SECRECT TRAILS' do have names and have been published in magazines,so 'private trails' should be the word to use
jesus seeing people flow trails like that gives me the itch!
spring thaw and shovels out, cant fuggin wait!
spring thaw and shovels out, cant fuggin wait!
wow, really nice trails and super sick tricks.
but it's a pity that he doesn't wear a helmet everytime.
but it's a pity that he doesn't wear a helmet everytime.
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