Up and Comers - Brett Rheeder

Brett Rheeder is one of the few riders in Ontario that rides and competes in slopstyle. Not only does he have lots of enthusiasm and skill on a bike, but has the abilities to use a mini digger like a painter uses a paint brush. Check out who Brett is and be sure to watch him this year at the slopestyle events...

Read on for more, pics,videos inside!Who are you?
My name is Brett Rheeder, and I am 17 years old.


What got you into riding?
I started riding when I was about 2 years old, but I guess watching TV shows like DROP IN and looking at biking photos on Pinkbike encouraged me to start riding jumps and doing tricks!

What has kept you wanting to ride?
Learning new tricks and riding new places.

If it weren’t for bikes, what would you be doing?
Hahaha. I don’t even know, probably riding free style dirtbikes or something crazy like that.


What do fish do when they get thirsty?
.....?

What is Ontario like for riding?
Well obviously it's pretty flat compared to a lot of other places, so you could say it's harder to build jumps and trails and slope courses here, but once they are complete, it's all good! The other thing is that I’ve never been riding anywhere else other than Ontario...so I cant compare it to anything.

What is good and bad about it?
What's good about it is I'm lucky to have my dads machinery and wood to build courses with at my house, but I guess also out here I don’t have too many riders that do the same kind of riding as me, I like to stay on the dirt jumps, where about 80% of the riders in Ontario ride at skateparks, so sometimes riding can get lonely!



Your family owns a lot of property. If it wasn’t for that, would you still have been able to get where you are now?
Yes my family does own a lot of property, but if I didn't have all the land I would find other ways to progress! Like build jumps on private property haha!

What shoe do you tie first?
Right foot.

Your dad came to watch while you were riding, how have your parents influenced and helped get you to where you are?
My parents give me more support than anyone on the planet! If it weren't for my mom I wouldn't be traveling to all these awesome locations this summer! And if it weren't for my dad I wouldn't have all my ramps and drops to ride.


How do you train for slopestyle?
IN MY BACKYARD!!

Why did you choose to build the slopestyle features you have now on your property?
After my accident at Crankworx Colorado last season, I immediately knew I would need to build stuff similar to the stunts on that course so I can get lots of practice for this year.

How long have you been operating machinery?
Probably about 4 or 5 years now!

What would your dream jump spot look like?
Uuhhhhhhmmmmm... it would look VERY similar to Paul Bass’s backyard, but a bit different.



Hairless dog or fighting rabbit?
Aaaahhh a hairless dog would be more frightening than a fighting rabbit.


Are you impressed/stoked/disappointed by the progression of the bike scene in Ontario?
The bike scene has changed quite a bit over the last few years, it went from dirt jumping and free riding to a lot of BMX riding, and the BMX population is pretty high right now. I'm not disappointed at all with the scene right now, because there are so many kids getting into riding and SOO many people riding bikes in Ontario. But I'm not necessarily ‘Stoked’ with the riding scene in Ontario right now either, I'm hoping it will change back with time to MTB.

What is your favorite type of sauce?
DIANA SAUCE!!!


Your current bike set up?
Right now I have 2 of the sickest bikes! My hardtail is a 2010 Norco 4 Hun with a Fox Float 36 and AtomLab Pimp wheels. My slope bike is a 2010 Norco Five SE, with a twisted/ bent Marzocchi 55Ata fork haha and also Atomlab Pimp wheels.


When is the best time to learn new tricks? Your favourite place for learning new tricks?
The best time to learn new tricks is right after you are warmed up, so that you can learn the trick and then have a solid ride and end it off without wiping out. Trying to land something when your tired sucks. My favorite place to learn new tricks would be on a nice wooden ramp to a softer landing so it doesn't hurt to much when you fall.

Your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration over the last 2 years has probably been Graham Aggasiz, he’s got the sickest style and tricks!!! His promo video in 2008 was my favorite video for the whole season!!



What are your plans for 2010?
This summer is going to be soo awesome! First we fly out to Creston,BC for Goat Style! After Goatstyle we fly to Highland Mountain Bike Park for the Claymore Challenge. After that we fly to Crankworx Colorado and then straight to Whistler for Crankworx!!!!!

Any big plans for the general future?
Not yet, just riding as much as I can, meeting new people and riding new places.

If you owned a time machine, where would you travel to?
I would travel to Whistler or Kamloops,BC where I could ride every day with kids that ride slopestyle/ jumps/ whatever.


Any shout outs and thank yous?
Ya, I would like to thank my parents for all their help and support with everything, Norco Performance Bikes for hooking me up with the bikes, Anton, Mike, and Steve for putting this interview together for me, Matt Pollington for helping me build and ride my course this year, and a thanks to all the other riders and friends that have given me support over the years!



All photos thanks to Steve Hayes.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_hayes

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