Mark Owen at Sidewall Distribution is one of the driving forces behind Hoffman Bikes. He's done nearly every job that could be done at HB over the years, and now he's one of the guys driving the ship. We asked him a few questions about what life is like in the BMX industry as Hoffman Bikes gets ready to release its 2009 products.

How long have you been riding and what got you into BMX in the first place?
My first encounter with BMX freestyle was when I was about 12 years old. My friend’s brother built a 6-foot tall, four-foot wide quarterpipe. I tried to ride it but never gave it much thought to make anything of it. When I was 14 years old, I met a kid in the neighborhood who raced BMX. We got together and built our first ramp and that was all it took, been riding ever since.

How did you wind up working at Hoffman Bikes and what were some of your first duties there?
When I was 17, my friend and I drove to a mall three hours away to see Mat Hoffman, Dennis McCoy, Rick Thorne, and Steve Swope do halfpipe shows. We got to meet the guys and ended up hanging out with them most of the day. Before we left Mat gave me his phone number to call him some time to head up and ride his indoor ramp.

When I finally got the chance to go to Mat’s to ride they were surprised by how good I was and they would let me hang out more and more. When I graduated from high school in ‘91 Mat had already started Hoffman Bikes. Once Mat started receiving some of the first Hoffman Bikes products I just happened to be around. So, I ended up helping with cleaning and decaling the frames, forks, and bars. I guess I did a good enough job to where they asked me to help with the BS contests (Bicycle Stunt) and I continued to help around the warehouse. In the spring of 1993 Mat asked me if I would work part time around the office while they went on the road to do Sprocket Jockey shows. When they returned back from shows later that summer Mat hired me for full time. Some of the first duties at that time were cleaning frames, forks, and bars, and decaling them. After that, I started doing everything possible: sales and shipping to pro-vert rider to product manager and so on.

How did things evolve from working at HB to running it through Sidewall?
Since 1997, I’ve been brand manager for Hoffman Bikes, taking care of everything product related. Prior to starting Sidewall Distribution, I started helping out more on the business side of things. In early 2006, Mat asked if I would be interested in running Hoffman Bikes for him. We discussed what this would involve and from there Sidewall was born. As of July 2006, Sidewall manages and distributes the Hoffman Bikes brand. Basically it’s the same crew, just working under the Sidewall name with plans to add other brands.

What are some of the best parts of your job?
Friends, travel the world, make up my own hours, doing something I love, seeing product come to life, and seeing riders get rad.



The 2009 Hoffman Bikes products are ready for their debut. Click the image to get to it.

What are some of the worst parts?
Traveling for 26 hours, finding mistakes during production, standing in the assembly plant in August (hot and humid!), sitting and waiting for production to start, missing deadlines, dropping hammers on my foot.

Are you solely responsible for choosing the HB team riders? What do you look for in riders?
No, it’s a group effort. Mat, myself, and current HB riders work together when it comes to choosing new riders for the team. We really look for someone cool with a good head on their shoulders, plus offering a new dimension to add diversity to the team.

You spend a lot of time traveling to Asia to oversee production. Why is that?
Yes, I spend a lot of time in Asia. This is where I’m currently overseeing the new ‘09 HB product. Since 1997, I’ve traveled to Taiwan at least three to four times a year. This way I can ensure Hoffman product is being produced correctly and meets the quality that we demand. Plus, build on the current relationships that we have with our factories.

Any big trends you see coming for BMX products?
Banana seats, one-inch stems, the mullet stem, and recycled cardboard bikes. Outside of those new trends you will start to see new manufacturing techniques used to make product better.

How involved is Mat in HB?
Mat is heavily involved with Hoffman Bikes, from the team to marketing to direction of Hoffman Bikes brand. Mat and I are constantly talking about ideas and direction.

With work and a family, do you find time to ride very much these days?
I wish I could say yes. However, my days of riding every day have passed. In a roundabout way I get a vicarious fulfillment through the products I design. Between Sidewall, Hoffman Bikes, and family, my time is spread pretty thin. I do not get out every day, but I still ride when I get the chance.



Traveling the world for BMX can be a blast, but it's always good to go back home and just be Dad...