Hey Alec, how’s 2018 rounding up for you?
Well, 2018 has been unreal! To kick things off at the beginning of the year I was given an awesome opportunity to become part of the Monster Army family along with a few of my Australian homies. This along with for the first time ever being able to make it out to every one of the FISE World Series stops has not only made it the best year of my life but has helped me push myself and want to work so much harder. This year I have been more motivated than ever and have been putting in more work than I ever have before and this is only the beginning. I’ve made so many good memories, met some amazing people and learned so much on and off my bike, all things that will stay with me for a long time and that I won’t forget!
Towards the end of the year I was feeling really good on my bike leading into the last stop of World Series and was really excited to ride the contest, however I had a crash 2 days before we flew out to chengdu leaving me unable to ride the contest at all. I went to China hoping that my thumb would heal up quickly and I would be able to ride but I just simply couldn’t hold onto my bars so I called the shot. It was really disappointing and I was so gutted that I couldn’t ride because I was feeling so good on my bike and had been working really hard in the lead up to the contest but I still had an awesome 2 weeks off work hanging out with all my friends in China. Now knowing that my thumb is actually broken, I am also unable to ride the UCI points event and the Australian National Championships being held in my home town in Melbourne at Rampfest this weekend.
The year didn’t exactly finish up how I had planned but everything else this year has been amazing and I will only be out for about a month, so I will be back soon stronger and more motivated than ever!
I can’t wait!
You just had surgery, right? What happened?
Yes, I did have to get surgery on my thumb! I’m currently laying in bed trying to stop constantly dropping my phone as I’m typing one handed, haha!
While the other Australian Monster Army boys were down in Melbourne before we headed out to China, the four of us were filming for a web video. We were all super stoked on how it was going, until 2 days before we flew out unfortunately I had to stop filming due to a crash. We were trying to film a backflip 360 train over the box at Rampfest, a trick I have done plenty of times comfortably. However, this time I pulled wrong off the lip and came in to land off axis, more like a weird corked 720. I landed sideways and somehow on my thumb. I’m not exactly sure how my thumb hit the ground. However, I managed to completely snap the bone that leads from my hand to the first knuckle on my thumb in half. It wasn’t until after I got back from China 3 weeks later that I got an X-Ray and found out it was “very” broken and that I needed to get surgery. I got a decent sized permanent plate with a few screws to hold it altogether and a nice scar to go along with it.
What do you think of the Aussie Army edit, excited for it to drop?
Even though I hurt myself filming for this video I am so pumped with how it came out! Big shoutout to my boys Sam Gibson, Jakeb Dugdell and Jack Borthwick for throwing down for this video and of course Tyler Rizzi for his wizardry behind the camera! I know all the boys are psyched with the result, especially since it was all filmed in barely 3 days! I’m so excited for this video to drop and can’t wait to show everyone what we were working on!
What contests are you looking forward to riding next year?
Coming into 2019 I have I think my biggest year lined up! I am aiming to make it out to hopefully all of the FISE World Series stops again but also to South Africa for Ultimate-X/Night Harvest and the UK for NASS! I am really excited to ride all of these contests next year but especially pumped for Ultimate-X/Night Harvest and NASS as I have never been to either of the locations nor competed in these contests, especially the dirt category! It will be awesome to be able to ride a park contest and be able to get a taste of some dirt contests at the same time!
Any other big travel plans?
Nothing really apart from these contests! For the other parts of the year I will be working as hard as I can trying to save enough money to get out to as many of these contests as I can along with training and riding!
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not riding?
I have a crazily busy lifestyle, so when I’m not riding I am either at work (as I work full time as an apprentice electrician), at the gym, sleeping or spending time with my girlfriend, friends or family. My favourite would definitely be spending time with my mates and my girlfriend, although eating is right up there next to them, haha!
Who are your favorite people to ride with?
I have lots of people who I love to ride with who are some of my best mates. In particular I love riding with my 3 Aussie Army dudes Jakeb, Sam and Jack as we are all similar ages and we all push each other in separate ways, but especially my boys from Melbourne, Jake Wallwork and Liam Quinlivan who I ride with 3-4 times a week, who are always helping push me and each other whilst always having nothing but good times!
What can we expect from you in the future?
You can definitely expect to see a lot more of me in the next couple of years as I have big plans and dreams that I am going to continue to work as hard as I can for! To be honest, i’m just super stoked on BMX and am not going anywhere anytime soon I can assure you that!
Any last thank you's or shout outs?
Definitely!
Thank you so much to everyone at Monster Army for not only letting me share with everyone a little bit about myself but for always helping me out and leading me to be the best I can be, giving me an opportunity to aim towards my dreams!
I would also like say say Thank you to all of my friends and family, especially my parents, but also my other sponsors Unit Clothing, Rampfest Indoor Skatepark and Gain Protection. Without all these people it wouldn’t be possible!
