 | Click here to see all of the photos from the Vital BMX Brian Foster Interview. |
Brian Foster is on of the most versatile riders to ever touch a BMX bike. No matter what the terrain, the Blue Falcon is always on point, and he usually has a smile on his face at the same time. While I was at the Little Devil bowl shooting Van Homan’s Press List interview, Brian showed up long enough to get some cool photos to put together this Vital BMX Interview. Click the image above to check out all of the photos.—Losey
Full name: Brian Keith Foster
Age/birthday: 6/29/72 35
Current hometown: South Plainfield, NJ
Sponsors: Fit, Fox, Primo
Very few riders have had as long of a career in BMX as you. When did BMX start paying the bills for you, and how did that happen?
When I turned pro racing, I would make anywhere from $40 bucks to a couple hundred at every race. There was a race every couple weeks. I was 20 and didn’t really have any bills so it was easy to live.
When you started getting paid to ride a bike, did it change BMX for you at all?
It was pretty much the same. I would get to fly places a lot more. Before I was making any money I would drive everywhere.
When you look back over all the years you've been riding, is there one period that stands out as the best? Or is it now?
I’m having a pretty good time right now. There is no pressure to win races or place well in contests. I’m just riding the things that I enjoy riding and trying to spread the good word about the people that support me.
Same question, but the worst/least fun time?
There were a couple years when I was getting hurt a lot and not riding very good because of it (late nineties). This was the least fun I ever had riding and ironically, that was when I was making the most money I ever had—or ever will.
You've never been easily categorized as one type of rider. What are you most into riding these days and why?
Trails is my number one. I love concrete and all things tranny. No matter what I’m riding, I’m trying to make it feel like trails. A good cement bowl is a close number two.
Half the country is covered with snow right now. What are your techniques for staying sane through the winter months?
It’s February and twice this week it got nice enough to ride outside. If it’s nice out, I try to ride as much as I can. Otherwise, hit the indoor circuit and try to avoid the really crowded sessions. Getting out of town for a few days, either south or west, to soak up some sun helps in getting through the winter.
You used to live in the endless summer of Huntington Beach, CA. Why did you move? Do you miss SoCal? Do you think you will ever move back?
My wife wanted to go to school back east and I was ready for a change. I miss the weather in California and the food. We will probably move back in three or four years.
Half the life of a pro BMXer is about travel. Do you still enjoy that part of BMX?
There are times when all I want to do is ride my local spots. There are also times that I am so sick of the local spots, all I want to do is go on a trip. A balance between the two is the key. Right now, I want to get the hell out of here and ride some new stuff.
How would you describe the differences between East Coast and West Coast BMX?
I can’t even keep North Jersey and South Jersey straight, much less the whole country.
Who are your typical riding partners now? How about spots?
I kind of run the solo program. Wherever I go, I ride with the locals. My current list of favorite spots locally are Sayreville, Maple Shade, Little Devil, FDR, and Haven skatepark. When the trails are running, this list takes a backseat to the PA woods.
So many kids want to know how to get sponsored or how to get paid to ride a BMX bike. What would your response be to them?
Well, the BMX pie is pretty small and everyone wants a slice. Problem is, there’s a limited amount of pie to go around. My advice is to ride bikes because it’s fun. The rest will just happen. If you really want to make money from BMX, go to school for ten years and be an Orthopedic surgeon. With all the hucking going on you could make it big putting the pros back together.
What's your take on BMX contests in 2008?
Seems pretty circus-driven as far as stunts go. There are some fun contests (Elevation, Empire of Dirt, Brawlin’ at the Belmar). Those other contests are so packed with trickery that it turns into a lot of huck-and-hope. When there is a lot of money up for grabs, it gets real serious and competitive.
If you could go back in time and do one thing differently in your BMX career, what would it be?
When I blew out my knee, I should have gotten it fixed right away. Instead I rode with a jacked knee for three years, which popped out every time I would put my foot out. Those years I rode really timid in fear of my knee popping out. Not fun. Moral of the story: if something is jacked, fix it, get better, start riding again.
If you could go back in time and do one thing again because it was so much fun, what would that be?
I would go ride all of the spots that have been destroyed. Edgewood bowl in MD, Vans black bowl, Minersville, Reading skatepark, Pipeline, and many others.
What are you doing these days when you are not riding your bike?
Hang out with Jen and the dogs, work on the house, cook, answer questions for BMX websites, try to figure out where to ride today because its 20-degrees out.
Working on anything new?
Trying to film for full length Primo video and a Web video for Fox.
Thanks?
Big Bob at Fit and Robbie at Fox for always looking out. Nate at Primo. Wally Holiday, everyone that digs, anyone who has ever filmed a clip or shot a photo for me.
Click here to get the video rolling. 
Click the pictures below to watch the 2 Vital BMX H-Town Throwdown videos.
