Name: Michael Cleveland

D.O.B. : 9-28-84

Hometown: Temecula, CA

Riding since: 1998

Riding disciplines: Skateparks and Trails

What got you into riding in the first place?
Michael: I’m not going to lie, I used to rollerblade all the way through middle school. Then all my friends started riding at the end of 8th grade. I got tired of rollerblading by myself so I started riding with them.

Did you have enough spots to ride when you first started out?
Michael: When I started riding with my friends all we would ride is little flat ledges and really small jumps. There are a few spots in Temecula to ride but to go to a skatepark to ride where you’re not going to get hassled to ride is like 30 minutes away. The first time I ever went to a skatepark I was 16 and I had no idea what I was doing.

What made you stick to BMX and progress so quickly?
Michael: I just stuck with riding just because I had so much fun doing it. A lot of my friends stopped riding when we got out of high school but I just kept riding because it’s fun. After high school I got a job at Point-X camp and that’s where I met a lot of cool people and started to ride a lot harder.

Did living in So Cal help with this?
Michael: Living in So Cal is good. The weather is always nice and you can pretty much ride all year long.

How often do you watch a BMX DVD?
Michael: I don’t really watch a lot of movies so I would say one every 2 weeks.

Are you a remote control maniac?
Michael: The only thing I own with a remote is a TV, so I would say no

Are you rather doing things outside than doing things inside the house?
Michael: I would rather do things outside than inside just because the weather is so nice

Who have influenced your riding so far?
Michael: when I first started riding at the skatepark I was really influenced by Whitesnake. He would be at the skatepark just flowing around and killing it. The more I started riding and going to other skateparks I got to see other people ride like Gary Young and Mike Parenti who can just do everything. A guy named Steve Woodward who lives in San Diego might be my favorite person to watch ride and just ride with because he makes everything he does look like he’s not even trying. There is a million people who have influenced my riding over time, but those were the first to come to mind.

Are your new team mates of any influence to you?
Michael: I would have to say yes to that on and off of riding bikes. Dave Mirra and Ryan Guettler are not only amazing bike riders, but they are just awesome to be around and hang out with. When I got the chance to go ride and just hang out with the two of them I had an amazing time, and they both push me to do different things that I normally don’t do when I rode.

How does it feel to be on Mirraco?
Michael: It is an honor to be on a team like Mirraco. I feel very privileged to be a part of Mirraco and am really looking forward to the next few years.

Is it a hustle for you to both work and ride?
Michael: Kind of, but not really. When I didn’t work I don’t think I rode as much as when I do work. When I spend all day at work all I want to do is go ride after work. When I didn’t work I would wake up at like noon waste the whole day then go ride at night. I appreciate the free time that I have so I like to go ride when I can.
You make long days then?
Michael: Ya. I get up around 7:30am go to work till 5pm, go home, eat some dinner, then go to the park around 7pm. I usually get home around 11:30pm then finally get to bed around 1am.

How many weekends out of the year are spent BMX related?
Michael: It just depends what time of the year it is. I would say half of the weekends are bmx related

Are you looking forward to the contests?
Michael: Very much so. Last year I had a rough start to the year. I broke my hand and had to have surgery a week before the first Dew Tour. I got my pin out a few days before the second one, then knocked my teeth out for the second time during dirt practice for the second Dew Tour. I just hope that I can stay healthy and have a good year.

Last words: I would like say thanks to everyone at Mirraco for making this possible. Also the person that has always supported my riding through time and all the injuries, my mom, I can never thank enough. To all the guys at home that I ride with Spencer, Eric H., Shawn Lee, Berto, Eddie, Dennis, Jeff Emory, Josh (even though you just go and hang out) and anyone that rides at Realride, thanks for always making it fun. And to the rest of my friends and family thanks for all the support.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 20th, 2006 at 10:31 pm and is filed under Interviews, Rider News. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.