Lewis Nolan Interview
Unless you have been living in a hole for the past couple of months, you have most likely seen or heard of Lewis Nolan. His famous flair 540 tap footjam footage first amazed the MTB world and he has pumped up the jam since. I recently caught up with Lewis and got a quick insight into his life.
Pics and videos inside!![photo]()
Full Name, Date Of Birth and Current Age:
Lewis Patrick Nolan, 27/03/1991, Currently 19 years old...
Nick Name:
Lewy, Lew
Where were you born and where do you currently reside:
I was born in Perth, over on the west coast of Australia. I currently live in the suburb of Kelmscott, not too far from Belmont Skatepark where I usually ride!
You come from a background of trials motorbike riding, how long have you been doing that and what are your previous successes at it?
Yes I have ridden Moto Trials my whole life, and still do to this day! Got my first motorbike, a peewee 50 when I was 6, and haven't stopped since then! My greatest successes to date are winning the Australian Junior Championship in 2007, competing in Europe for 3 months last year, riding in the World and European Championships, that was an awesome experience, the terrain over there is crazy up in the Alps! This year I have been one of 4 riders selected to represent Australia at the 'trial des nations' in Poland, so I'm pretty pumped on that at the moment!
![photo]()
How does trials motorbike riding influence the way you live your day to day life, as well as riding mountain bikes?
Everyday when I get home from work I go straight out and ride my bike, whether it be my motorbike or hardtail. Riding is what I've done my whole life and I love it! During the week I mix it up, some days training on my motorbike, other days riding my hardtail at the park, mixing it up helps keep me fresh and pumped to ride, as I don't get tired of doing the same thing! I try and ride every single day... I like to think my style on MTB is unique, a mixture of MTB, freestyle BMX, and trials, I like to be different! My riding style is very 'tech', this being due to my trials' background and good balance!
How long have you been riding mountain bikes for?
I actually got a Specialized P1 when I was 15, that was my first real taste of mountain bikes! I did a few small dirtjumps, manuals and wheelies on it, pretty boring! I then sold that and had a BMX bike for a while, only used to ride it once or twice a week, only for fun when I wasn't training for trials, I think the only tricks I had for about 1-2 years was a fufanu, 540 tap and a footjam! I decided that I wanted another MTB, so I bought a Norco 250. I then learned to flip, learning it into water then onto concrete. Whilst being in Europe I missed riding my hardtail, so I decided when I got back I would push myself to get good and learn tricks! I loved watching flair – 540 tap on a BMX, so I just decided I could do that, and I went for it! Since then I have just been learning new tricks, difficult when I have never ridden a foam pit! I have learned all my tricks in the last year, and hope to continue pushing myself and innovating new tricks for MTB!
What do you like most about mountain biking, and what inspires you to ride? (personal fitness, people, stunts, media attributes etc.)
I don't really know what I like the most about riding MTB park, it's just the feeling I get hopping on my bike and hitting the park, learning new tricks, riding with friends, there are no limits! I can be creative and do what I want. In Moto Trials you have to train hard and cope with pressure to do well in competitions, whereas on my MTB I'm just riding for fun and to learn new tricks, it's much more relaxed and easier to progress. I am pumped to try learn tricks never pulled before on MTBs! This inspires me to ride. Plus watching other riders, mainly Danny Macaskill, he is amazing!
![photo]()
Random Question Time...
What was the last movie you watched, was it good or bad, and why did you watch it?
Haha, ummm last movie was 'Prince of Persia', I actually really enjoyed it, went to see it with my girlfriend!
There’s an all you can eat buffet of every one of your most desired foods, what do you go to put on your plate first?
Geez such a hard one! Probably the pasta with zucchini and bacon, because it's good to eat when you ride and I love it... next up would definitely be the Macca's cheese burgers, so good!
Out of a fight between a grilled cheese sandwich and a taco, who would win?
Ha ha the grilled cheese sandwich hands down!
Here are two of Lewis' VOD acclaimed clips and edits:
That’s all we have from Lewis for now, but expect to see his name pop up more and more in the coming years.
Pics and videos inside!
Meet Lewis Nolan. One of the easier tricks of his repertoire.
Full Name, Date Of Birth and Current Age:
Lewis Patrick Nolan, 27/03/1991, Currently 19 years old...
Nick Name:
Lewy, Lew
Where were you born and where do you currently reside:
I was born in Perth, over on the west coast of Australia. I currently live in the suburb of Kelmscott, not too far from Belmont Skatepark where I usually ride!
You come from a background of trials motorbike riding, how long have you been doing that and what are your previous successes at it?
Yes I have ridden Moto Trials my whole life, and still do to this day! Got my first motorbike, a peewee 50 when I was 6, and haven't stopped since then! My greatest successes to date are winning the Australian Junior Championship in 2007, competing in Europe for 3 months last year, riding in the World and European Championships, that was an awesome experience, the terrain over there is crazy up in the Alps! This year I have been one of 4 riders selected to represent Australia at the 'trial des nations' in Poland, so I'm pretty pumped on that at the moment!
Putting his moto trials skill to use. Lewis' style is unique and bold.
How does trials motorbike riding influence the way you live your day to day life, as well as riding mountain bikes?
Everyday when I get home from work I go straight out and ride my bike, whether it be my motorbike or hardtail. Riding is what I've done my whole life and I love it! During the week I mix it up, some days training on my motorbike, other days riding my hardtail at the park, mixing it up helps keep me fresh and pumped to ride, as I don't get tired of doing the same thing! I try and ride every single day... I like to think my style on MTB is unique, a mixture of MTB, freestyle BMX, and trials, I like to be different! My riding style is very 'tech', this being due to my trials' background and good balance!
How long have you been riding mountain bikes for?
I actually got a Specialized P1 when I was 15, that was my first real taste of mountain bikes! I did a few small dirtjumps, manuals and wheelies on it, pretty boring! I then sold that and had a BMX bike for a while, only used to ride it once or twice a week, only for fun when I wasn't training for trials, I think the only tricks I had for about 1-2 years was a fufanu, 540 tap and a footjam! I decided that I wanted another MTB, so I bought a Norco 250. I then learned to flip, learning it into water then onto concrete. Whilst being in Europe I missed riding my hardtail, so I decided when I got back I would push myself to get good and learn tricks! I loved watching flair – 540 tap on a BMX, so I just decided I could do that, and I went for it! Since then I have just been learning new tricks, difficult when I have never ridden a foam pit! I have learned all my tricks in the last year, and hope to continue pushing myself and innovating new tricks for MTB!
What do you like most about mountain biking, and what inspires you to ride? (personal fitness, people, stunts, media attributes etc.)
I don't really know what I like the most about riding MTB park, it's just the feeling I get hopping on my bike and hitting the park, learning new tricks, riding with friends, there are no limits! I can be creative and do what I want. In Moto Trials you have to train hard and cope with pressure to do well in competitions, whereas on my MTB I'm just riding for fun and to learn new tricks, it's much more relaxed and easier to progress. I am pumped to try learn tricks never pulled before on MTBs! This inspires me to ride. Plus watching other riders, mainly Danny Macaskill, he is amazing!
Getting some hang time and throwing down hard.
Random Question Time...
What was the last movie you watched, was it good or bad, and why did you watch it?
Haha, ummm last movie was 'Prince of Persia', I actually really enjoyed it, went to see it with my girlfriend!
There’s an all you can eat buffet of every one of your most desired foods, what do you go to put on your plate first?
Geez such a hard one! Probably the pasta with zucchini and bacon, because it's good to eat when you ride and I love it... next up would definitely be the Macca's cheese burgers, so good!
Out of a fight between a grilled cheese sandwich and a taco, who would win?
Ha ha the grilled cheese sandwich hands down!
Here are two of Lewis' VOD acclaimed clips and edits:
That’s all we have from Lewis for now, but expect to see his name pop up more and more in the coming years.
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it would be sick to see you throwing it down in some MTB comps overseas. like some of those awesome comps over in poland and whatever