Locals: Specialized's Jon Buckell - Video

Welcome back to Locals this week for episode 10! We traveled up to the San Gabriel Mountains to get a shred in with our rippin' buddy, Jon Buckell. Known throughout our local scene as one of the most genuine people, Jon is as solid as it gets. His quiet nature is often mistaken for shyness when in reality, he is just sitting back taking it all in and learning from every interaction. It was rad to point the lens at him as he mobbed some of his local trails.


Buckell’s skill and precision on a bike make him lethal in any discipline of racing. Living in Pasadena, CA he has Mt. Wilson in the middle of his back yard. Filled with miles of single track, gnarly roots, and long climbs in/out, it's a rad place to keep your skills sharp. Jon has 2 guys he rides with a ton at home. One is an up and coming world cup racer, Bruce Klein, and the other is a pro XC racer. Although Jon’s current focus is on enduro, the three all grew up riding the same trails. It's cool to see such different athletes all come together and push each other out on the trail.


When Buckell isn't out slaying trails, he works as a suspension tech at his local bike shop. He services and rebuilds suspension for all caliber riders on all brands of equipment. Coming from a racing background has allowed Jon to gain a lot of insider knowledge and tricks with the products. When companies like DVO or Fox send out race support, their employees are there to help the racers tune and service their suspension. Jon made a point to asked why they did what they did and always took his time to watch how they serviced his products. Consistently picking the brains of those most skilled and trained in an area is the sometimes the best classroom you could ask for.


Everyone gets into biking for different reasons and through difference paths. Although I’ve heard a million variations, Buckell’s was one of the most unique. As a young kid, it was his grandfather that brought him into the sport. He would take Jon up to Big Bear once or twice a month and they would both get fully decked out in rental gear. Jon remembers being a little squid and watching the bad ass juniors riding at such a high level. Guys like Kyle Strait, JD Swanguen and Alfonzo Garcia we role models to him. They motivated him to push himself and try racing. One time at Bear his grandfather took a gnarly OTB, cutting off a good portion of his ear. Instead of seeing the sport as too dangerous for the youngin, he told Jon that when he was back to 100% that they would come back up and conquer that trail. Fast forward to current day, Jon’s Grandpa is now at room temperature, 72, and still gets out and shreds with him. Seeing him keep the stoke alive and still motivate Jon is a wonderful thing.


DJ Young Buck is focusing on Enduro for 2016. He will travel nationally for these events as well as hit some select DH races. Racing a World Cup has alway been a dream of his. Competing at an event of that caliber means you have to be in peak physical and mental condition. Buckell’s problems in the past have been fueled by his insecurity in his own strength. He's been hammer down on his moto for the past year and he said this brought up his strength substantially. Jon’s throttle time has gotten him to a mental state in which he is now confident enough to go out and fully risk it for the biscuit. Hopefully, we will see him smashing a World Cup in the near future!

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MENTIONS: @suspended-productions / @Specialized

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