CREW SPOTLIGHT #3
June 15th, 2019
NOTE: All crews have been asked the same set of questions:
- Where is your crew based out of and can you name the people involved?
- What are the reasons you started a crew? Have they changed?
- What do you do as a crew? (make stuff, travel, film, have events, etc.)
- Should other people start crews? Why?
- Anything to add?
Ride
|
|
1. We are based out of South Florida, Miami and West Palm, with one brother in Central Florida. Tall Paul and Johnny are outta Miami, Big Slim and Justen are outta West Palm and our boy Zach is up in Central Florida.
2. We were always riding together and filming, so we decided to start Ride High as a way to share our adventures as a group. It has changed in a very positive way as we are more of a brotherhood that goes well outside of BMX.
3. As a Crew, we take road trips to film, we are currently doing a "bike check" video project for all the riders. We come up with logo ideas, print stickers and t-shirts. We go to all the local jams and help with set up and ramp building. We also help each other out when needed like helping fix each others’ cars, so we can keep the dream going.
4. People should start crews. Anything that gets you out there and motivated, but most of all to have fun. Rolling with a crew of like-minded dudes is the best. Always good knowing someone’s got your back also.
5. Being in a crew can give you a big feeling of belonging and always having something to look forward to. It can also give you people you can count on in thick and thin. Find some dudes you click with and add something positive to the community. We love knowing that when we show up somewhere everyone knows it's about to be a good time. We love that feeling and it just comes natural to us.
Youtube
Members: @tallpaul_bmx, @johnnyd0nt, @slimslife89, @nietsloh_netsuj, @zachrussell479
2. We were always riding together and filming, so we decided to start Ride High as a way to share our adventures as a group. It has changed in a very positive way as we are more of a brotherhood that goes well outside of BMX.
3. As a Crew, we take road trips to film, we are currently doing a "bike check" video project for all the riders. We come up with logo ideas, print stickers and t-shirts. We go to all the local jams and help with set up and ramp building. We also help each other out when needed like helping fix each others’ cars, so we can keep the dream going.
4. People should start crews. Anything that gets you out there and motivated, but most of all to have fun. Rolling with a crew of like-minded dudes is the best. Always good knowing someone’s got your back also.
5. Being in a crew can give you a big feeling of belonging and always having something to look forward to. It can also give you people you can count on in thick and thin. Find some dudes you click with and add something positive to the community. We love knowing that when we show up somewhere everyone knows it's about to be a good time. We love that feeling and it just comes natural to us.
Youtube
Members: @tallpaul_bmx, @johnnyd0nt, @slimslife89, @nietsloh_netsuj, @zachrussell479
|
|
Cabbage
|
|
1. Cabbage crew is based out of Austin, Texas. The squad is pretty wide and there are tons of homies that rep the crew, but we consider the core group: Mike Elias, Keaton Smith, Tyler Owen, Shelton Dorrheim, Michael Woodby, Daniil Demidov, Zeke Rosales, Blake Wright, Chris Smith, and myself, Shim Medrano.
2. We started a crew so that we had a reason to travel, explore, and make videos while having as much fun as possible. We still do all that, but I also love the creative side of making content and using it to highlight the dope riding of my friends.
3. In addition to the stuff above, every year we print up shirts for the Corpus Christi Thanksgiving Jam that is organized by Mike Elias in his home city. It’s always a blast and is a great way to bring riders together of all skill levels.
4. Defintely start a crew. Nothing beats traveling and hanging out with a bunch of great friends who share your passion.
5. Shout out to Empire BMX, Gnarnia, and them Delic boys for the love and support
Youtube
2. We started a crew so that we had a reason to travel, explore, and make videos while having as much fun as possible. We still do all that, but I also love the creative side of making content and using it to highlight the dope riding of my friends.
3. In addition to the stuff above, every year we print up shirts for the Corpus Christi Thanksgiving Jam that is organized by Mike Elias in his home city. It’s always a blast and is a great way to bring riders together of all skill levels.
4. Defintely start a crew. Nothing beats traveling and hanging out with a bunch of great friends who share your passion.
5. Shout out to Empire BMX, Gnarnia, and them Delic boys for the love and support
Youtube
|
|
Skewed
|
|
1. Our crew is based in a small town named Niles in the southwest corner of Michigan. The day one core crew consists of Ty Greulich (@cantridebikes), Dave Jenkins (@jankinz420), Hank Kujawa (@hankolank), Ian Borden (@yoitsianb), Jordan Oliver (@jordanoliverbmx) and myself, Joe Hogue (@skewed_view_crew). And countless others who have come to our events, helped us out, and stood by us through thick and thin. I would like to thank them all.
2. Initially we started the crew to do box jump shows and raise money so we could fund trips to contests, parks and nearby cities to ride street, make some soft goods, get the name out, and film and put out some edits. As time went on we shifted the focus from box shows to jams because it is much more inclusive and gets people on their bikes instead of on the sideline watching, but we are still dabbling in soft goods and filming. Hard goods unfortunately have been a slow and daunting process. From its start to now though, the main focus has always been to have fun with friends. That will never change.
3. On top of the above mentioned, we try and get to as many events put on by crews like ours to show our support and to network.
4. Personally, I think it’s essential for BMX to survive because that is where it started: crews spending summers digging trails in the woods, at the track, on the decks of backyard ramps, and in empty parking lots. Crews have always been a part of BMX. Hopefully they always will be.
5. Lastly. I would like to add, whether you are officially part of a local crew or not, you are part of the overall BMX crew. And as long as you are having fun and enjoying what you do, that is all that matters. So keep doing what you do and encourage others to do the same
2. Initially we started the crew to do box jump shows and raise money so we could fund trips to contests, parks and nearby cities to ride street, make some soft goods, get the name out, and film and put out some edits. As time went on we shifted the focus from box shows to jams because it is much more inclusive and gets people on their bikes instead of on the sideline watching, but we are still dabbling in soft goods and filming. Hard goods unfortunately have been a slow and daunting process. From its start to now though, the main focus has always been to have fun with friends. That will never change.
3. On top of the above mentioned, we try and get to as many events put on by crews like ours to show our support and to network.
4. Personally, I think it’s essential for BMX to survive because that is where it started: crews spending summers digging trails in the woods, at the track, on the decks of backyard ramps, and in empty parking lots. Crews have always been a part of BMX. Hopefully they always will be.
5. Lastly. I would like to add, whether you are officially part of a local crew or not, you are part of the overall BMX crew. And as long as you are having fun and enjoying what you do, that is all that matters. So keep doing what you do and encourage others to do the same
|
|
No
|
Designed by Shane Scarofile
|
1. We're based out of central New York. Primarily Ithaca and Syracuse. The main dudes have kind of always been Andrew Rozelle, Alex Capalongo, Bobby Lopez, and myself(Tom Beckman). The list of people that have been involved in big and small ways is literally never ending.
2. We started it up around 2010. We all went to east shore skatepark in Ithaca pretty much every chance we got. It was really the brain child of Roz (Andrew). We were riding a lot together and figured we'd start filming and make something cool. I guess the original reason was to film and put stuff out. It's kind of evolved into a good reason for us all to keep in touch with one another.
3. As far as what we do together, we really just ride. And whenever we get the chance. We used to try to make stuff like shirts, videos, and other things, but it really all comes down to the riding in the end.
4. I think a crew is really just a group of people having fun doing something. In that sense you don't really need to put a label on it but as time goes on people move away and grow up and stuff. If having a label on it makes you stay more connected then hell yeah, do it up.
5. In addition some of my best times have been with these dudes. I wouldn't trade any of that for the world. Good times. Bad times. I'd do all of it again. They're like family.
2. We started it up around 2010. We all went to east shore skatepark in Ithaca pretty much every chance we got. It was really the brain child of Roz (Andrew). We were riding a lot together and figured we'd start filming and make something cool. I guess the original reason was to film and put stuff out. It's kind of evolved into a good reason for us all to keep in touch with one another.
3. As far as what we do together, we really just ride. And whenever we get the chance. We used to try to make stuff like shirts, videos, and other things, but it really all comes down to the riding in the end.
4. I think a crew is really just a group of people having fun doing something. In that sense you don't really need to put a label on it but as time goes on people move away and grow up and stuff. If having a label on it makes you stay more connected then hell yeah, do it up.
5. In addition some of my best times have been with these dudes. I wouldn't trade any of that for the world. Good times. Bad times. I'd do all of it again. They're like family.
GrindWorks
|
|
1. Our crew originated in Vestal, NY – a suburb of Binghamton. It started with Cameron Turan, Sam Schrage, and myself (Andrew Vargason). About a year after formalizing the crew, I moved to Monroeville, PA - a suburb of Pittsburgh. Since its inception, the three aforementioned have remained the staples of the crew, but it has grown to be a constantly evolving list including many of the people we consistently ride and film with, and a few extended family we consider to be a part of the crew, as well. This list is somewhat loose, and is in no way all-encompassing:
-- Andrew Vargason – Pittsburgh, PA -- Cameron Turan – Binghamton, NY -- Sam Schrage – Elmira, NY -- Kyle Dolan – Syracuse, NY -- Andy Rozelle – Syracuse, NY -- Logan Fanning – Binghamton, NY -- Davonte Thompson – Binghamton, NY -- Ben Galacci – Monroeton, PA -- Jon Kautz – Monroeton, PA -- Tyler Cramer – Pittsburgh, PA -- Brad Gibbs – Pittsburgh, PA -- Chase Bucci – Pittsburgh, PA -- Max Myslewski – Greensburg, PA -- Zach Bearley – Pittsburgh, PA -- Jash Geyer – Butler, PA (see also, Keystoned Brand/BMX) -- Derek Nelson – Binghamton, NY -- Brad Barker – Seattle, WA -- Matt Perkins – Orlanda, FL -- James Yusczyk – Pittsburgh, PA -- Brant Moore – Wooster, OH -- Joe Banks – Cleveland, OH -- And the list goes on…
2. and 3. We are associated with a couple other crews, and there is an overlap, or grey area, as to where one crew begins and another ends; but there’s no competition between the crews or anything. Some of it is regional whereas others are specific to a core group of friends. (see also – No Worries Crew, or NWC; MaybeLaterCrew; It’s Fine Crew; Keystoned BMX; BMXASFXCK; and LipLords)
Anyway, GrindWorks BMX was born out of a broken ankle/leg that I sustained on September 29, 2013 while out of town on a short day trip. We basically started talking about “doing something” immediately just to pass the time and met up as soon as I was back home (side note: I had surgery and was hospitalized out of town). Our original vision was to be a company. We started out making pegs, shirts, hats, wax, stickers, etc. We have since continued doing so and even have multiple peg offerings. This brings up a good question that has been an existential crisis for GrindWorks BMX for some time now: Are we a crew that makes and sells product occasionally, or are we a company/brand with a crew instead of a “team”? I often go back and forth and debate this with myself and with my guests on our GrindWorks podcast, but I still don’t feel like there is a definitive answer, and I’m starting to be okay with that.
As time has progressed, we have put a lot of our focus into highlighting riders that are interested in engaging with GrindWorks, either as a “brand” or as any of the people associated. We post other people’s clips and photos on our Instagram (@grindworks_bmx) in the efforts to do both: share something unique or cool that they have done that may otherwise go unnoticed, and also to work with people to develop the understanding that brand loyalty and engagement can be mutually beneficial in getting coverage, hype, and maybe eventually sponsorships in a way that following a page and immediately DMing for a sponsorship can never do.
We host a pair of sister-jams every summer: one is a Street Jam in Pittsburgh and the other is held at HCS Skatepark outside of Binghamton. This year’s events will be the 4th year we’ve hosted these. We also host some sort of Fall event, typically around Halloween; It’s just a session without prizes or giveaways, but it’s a reason to get together and ride! We also try to throw product to other crews, putting on jams, such as the Streetlando jams, NoWear’s CornHuckIt Jam, and the Capital Lou Jam to name a few.
Tyler Cramer and I leased a small warehouse space that we filled with an indoor DIY spot outside of Pittsburgh from Fall 2016 to Spring 2018 dubbed the GrindWorks Icehouse. The Icehouse was donation-based and we held a few lock-ins, sessions, and a show in the space prior to parting ways with it.
With all that said, I feel like the answer is definitely yes, things have changed. When the project originated, it was definitely intended to be a company with a product focus. As I see it now, we are more scene-focused and want to keep people stoked on BMX that are already involved in the scene and also inspire the next generation of riders to be active within the scene and show them how to have a good time! Lastly, we are currently working on a video project that will be a part of the Capital Crew DVD contest next year.
4. If you’ve got a group of dudes in a group chat on your phone that you hit up regularly to go ride, you’ve already got a crew! Whether you want to formalize something with a name is up to you. But crews are what keep the scene alive; they’re the group that you know is going to be out riding when you don’t want to cruise alone. They organize and host events. They create videos and other types of content that you may get to be a part of. My only advice with your crew is to try to be inclusive and understanding of the scene around you; it’s difficult to get behind a crew that is all about themselves and some sort of crusade in which the crew is letting others know, either directly or indirectly, that their BMX is better than your BMX.
Additionally, if your friends have somewhat eclectic tastes and you have a mixture of people riding skateboards, scooters, inline skates, or something else, that’s okay! After all, it’s your crew! The important thing will be that you are doing something positive for your scene, and in the meantime will be gaining valuable experiences from traveling and working together.
5. If you are traveling through the Pittsburgh area or throughout a good portion of Upstate NY, hit us up on Instagram. There’s a strong chance we’ll link up, film some clips, have some laughs, and probably hook you up with a floor (or better) to sleep on.
http://www.grindworksbmx.com/
-- Andrew Vargason – Pittsburgh, PA -- Cameron Turan – Binghamton, NY -- Sam Schrage – Elmira, NY -- Kyle Dolan – Syracuse, NY -- Andy Rozelle – Syracuse, NY -- Logan Fanning – Binghamton, NY -- Davonte Thompson – Binghamton, NY -- Ben Galacci – Monroeton, PA -- Jon Kautz – Monroeton, PA -- Tyler Cramer – Pittsburgh, PA -- Brad Gibbs – Pittsburgh, PA -- Chase Bucci – Pittsburgh, PA -- Max Myslewski – Greensburg, PA -- Zach Bearley – Pittsburgh, PA -- Jash Geyer – Butler, PA (see also, Keystoned Brand/BMX) -- Derek Nelson – Binghamton, NY -- Brad Barker – Seattle, WA -- Matt Perkins – Orlanda, FL -- James Yusczyk – Pittsburgh, PA -- Brant Moore – Wooster, OH -- Joe Banks – Cleveland, OH -- And the list goes on…
2. and 3. We are associated with a couple other crews, and there is an overlap, or grey area, as to where one crew begins and another ends; but there’s no competition between the crews or anything. Some of it is regional whereas others are specific to a core group of friends. (see also – No Worries Crew, or NWC; MaybeLaterCrew; It’s Fine Crew; Keystoned BMX; BMXASFXCK; and LipLords)
Anyway, GrindWorks BMX was born out of a broken ankle/leg that I sustained on September 29, 2013 while out of town on a short day trip. We basically started talking about “doing something” immediately just to pass the time and met up as soon as I was back home (side note: I had surgery and was hospitalized out of town). Our original vision was to be a company. We started out making pegs, shirts, hats, wax, stickers, etc. We have since continued doing so and even have multiple peg offerings. This brings up a good question that has been an existential crisis for GrindWorks BMX for some time now: Are we a crew that makes and sells product occasionally, or are we a company/brand with a crew instead of a “team”? I often go back and forth and debate this with myself and with my guests on our GrindWorks podcast, but I still don’t feel like there is a definitive answer, and I’m starting to be okay with that.
As time has progressed, we have put a lot of our focus into highlighting riders that are interested in engaging with GrindWorks, either as a “brand” or as any of the people associated. We post other people’s clips and photos on our Instagram (@grindworks_bmx) in the efforts to do both: share something unique or cool that they have done that may otherwise go unnoticed, and also to work with people to develop the understanding that brand loyalty and engagement can be mutually beneficial in getting coverage, hype, and maybe eventually sponsorships in a way that following a page and immediately DMing for a sponsorship can never do.
We host a pair of sister-jams every summer: one is a Street Jam in Pittsburgh and the other is held at HCS Skatepark outside of Binghamton. This year’s events will be the 4th year we’ve hosted these. We also host some sort of Fall event, typically around Halloween; It’s just a session without prizes or giveaways, but it’s a reason to get together and ride! We also try to throw product to other crews, putting on jams, such as the Streetlando jams, NoWear’s CornHuckIt Jam, and the Capital Lou Jam to name a few.
Tyler Cramer and I leased a small warehouse space that we filled with an indoor DIY spot outside of Pittsburgh from Fall 2016 to Spring 2018 dubbed the GrindWorks Icehouse. The Icehouse was donation-based and we held a few lock-ins, sessions, and a show in the space prior to parting ways with it.
With all that said, I feel like the answer is definitely yes, things have changed. When the project originated, it was definitely intended to be a company with a product focus. As I see it now, we are more scene-focused and want to keep people stoked on BMX that are already involved in the scene and also inspire the next generation of riders to be active within the scene and show them how to have a good time! Lastly, we are currently working on a video project that will be a part of the Capital Crew DVD contest next year.
4. If you’ve got a group of dudes in a group chat on your phone that you hit up regularly to go ride, you’ve already got a crew! Whether you want to formalize something with a name is up to you. But crews are what keep the scene alive; they’re the group that you know is going to be out riding when you don’t want to cruise alone. They organize and host events. They create videos and other types of content that you may get to be a part of. My only advice with your crew is to try to be inclusive and understanding of the scene around you; it’s difficult to get behind a crew that is all about themselves and some sort of crusade in which the crew is letting others know, either directly or indirectly, that their BMX is better than your BMX.
Additionally, if your friends have somewhat eclectic tastes and you have a mixture of people riding skateboards, scooters, inline skates, or something else, that’s okay! After all, it’s your crew! The important thing will be that you are doing something positive for your scene, and in the meantime will be gaining valuable experiences from traveling and working together.
5. If you are traveling through the Pittsburgh area or throughout a good portion of Upstate NY, hit us up on Instagram. There’s a strong chance we’ll link up, film some clips, have some laughs, and probably hook you up with a floor (or better) to sleep on.
http://www.grindworksbmx.com/
|
|
Responses
Do you have something to add? A crew we should contact/feature?
Click the button above and get involved in the conversation.
Click the button above and get involved in the conversation.