|
05/17/2008
|
 |
BROS NOT PROS - NEIL MEIER
Click on the images to enlarge.
Photographer = Drew Gorgichuk
I first heard tell of Neil when he sent me an email about his website. I think
he wanted his site (freerydecentral.com)
listed on our links page. Since that time there have been several photos of
Neil's hijinks on NSMB. Then, when I was over in Parksville for the Hammerfest
DH race, there was a bit of a buzz around about some kid riding a Planet
X. I had no idea it was Neil until I checked the results at the end of the
weekend. I had myself a kickass run. Everything seemed to fall into place and
I made few errors. I managed 3rd in the 30-39 sport cat. There I was feeling
pretty okay about my performance when I began perusing the online results for
the entire race. It turns out my sorry ass' pedalling a total of 15.5 inches
of suspension travel was edged out by a 14 year old. Kid. That didn't put much
of a dent in my ego - until I found out he did it on a hardtail. Neil shows
a lot of promise.
CM
Photographer = Drew Gorgichuk
NSMB - Please state your full name, date of birth and seatpost size.
Neil - Neil Benjamin Meier, March 28 1987, it's big…um yeah
NSMB - Where do you live?
Neil - Nanaimo, BC, Canada, eh?
NSMB - Where do you ride?
Neil - On earth
NSMB - So how long have you been riding?
Neil - Been riding/racing BMX for 7 years, mountain bikes for 3 years
NSMB - What is your favourite breakfast cereal?
Neil - Lucky Charms!!!
NSMB - What sort of riding do you like to do?
Neil - Any and all
NSMB - How is the scene on the island?
Neil - Awesome, here in Nanaimo we have plenty of fun trails, mostly
up Mt Benson. I haven't really ridden many other good trails on the Island but
they're out there
NSMB - Tell us about your bike?
Neil - Planet X RAD hardtail, Marzocchi JR T, Hayes disks, chainguide,
24" rear rim, the works!
NSMB - What would you ride if somebody slid you some cash?
Neil - I would get custom bikes made just for me. One for DH, one for
DS, and one for freeride NSMB - Do you have any aspirations as a rider? To go
pro in DH racing when I'm older
NSMB - Do you get any bro deals?
Neil - Any tips for the rest of us? Nothing has really come along yet
hopefully soon.
NSMB - What is the best move you've managed to pull?
Neil - Suicide no handers.
NSMB - Tell us about one of your teachers. (anything interesting)
Neil - I'm a bad storyteller
NSMB - Are your folks supportive of your riding?
Neil - Very. They bring me to races and pay a lot of my bike bills. I
wouldn't be a rider and racer if it wasn't for them.
NSMB - Who are your riding bros?
Neil - My main riding bro is Drew Gorgichuck
NSMB - How much of your own bike work do you do?
Neil - Not near enough.
Photographer = Drew Gorgichuk
NSMB - Who's your favourite rider? (and why)
Neil - Dave Watson, he has such a good style of riding, just watch his
section in Ride to the Hills.
NSMB - What is your favourite video? (and why)
Neil - Best of Pam Anderson….oooh bike video you mean, Ride to the Hills
is amazing, I was never bored once throughout the whole movie
NSMB - Why do you think the bike industry doesn't shell out more money
to sponsor riders like BMX skateboarding and snowboarding?
Neil - Because people are paying to advertise products by wearing companies
jerseys, putting stickers on bikes etc. e.g: Fox clothing, they don't even need
a team, people are paying $3 just for a tiny sticker from them
NSMB - Did you know that I am after you next race?
Neil - You are mine buddy. My crystal ball tells me I'm going to whoop
your ass!
NSMB - What is the worst element of your riding? Best?
Neil - Worst: I'm not the greatest trials rider, but I've been practicing
it lately and I'm getting better and better so watch out Ryan Leech!
Best: Tough one
NSMB - Worst injury?
Neil - Broke my wrist BMX racing last summer. I had to have a cast on
for 4 weeks
NSMB - Any last words?
Neil - Freeriding is not a crime
|
