Just before the Red Bull Dreamline BMX contest being held this weekend at the Oskar Blues REEB Ranch near Asheville, North Carolina, we spent a few minutes with BMX legend and contest founder Antony Napolitan about his role in the event, the course and its huge jumps, drinking Red Bull with and without vodka, and BMX riders’ luck with the ladies.
You were instrumental in starting the Red Bull Dreamline contest. Tell us about it.
Back when we started the Red Bull Dreamline event there weren’t many dirt contests that really showed how BMX dirt should be showcased. So I wanted to show how BMX dirt could really be done and I know that when the riders show up, they’re going to love it. Also, having an event like the Red Bull Dreamline is a good way for outsiders who don’t follow BMX to really see what BMX is all about.
The next Red Bull Dreamline event is in the mountains of North Carolina. Tell us about the course and the ride.
The course is big. Every year it’s big. But the course flows really well, so I know the riders are going to be super psyched when they show up. But I can’t give out too many details about it because it’s going to be a big surprise for the riders.
What’s it like riding in an event you helped create?
I didn’t ride in the first two events, and I was injured and recovering last year and so couldn’t compete. So I’m really excited to ride this year because it’ll be the first time I get to ride with these guys in the Red Bull Dreamline and compete with them on their level. And I love riding big jumps and that’s the way this course is built. So when it comes down to it I will be riding and I just have to accept that fact and hope everyone’s okay with it.
Which riders do you see as favorites to win it?
Our range of riders at Red Bull Dreamline is pretty diverse. We have legends that have been riding for 20+ years and we have new school riders like Pat Casey who won last year. He has an amazing style and an ensemble of hard-to-do tricks. And you know, there’s going to be a lot of fan favorites, guys like Chris Doyle who was born and raised in North Carolina. So, it’s hard to say.
What do you say to people who don’t follow the sport to get them interested?
Well, if they want to watch something exciting, Red Bull Dreamline is like no other. The jumps are massive and the things that people are doing on BMX these days are out of control. I see things every day that rattle my brain, you know, like how is that person doing that trick?
How would you characterize the state of the sport now versus what it was like when you first started?
The sport is progressing, as far as tricks go, and these days more and more kids are riding bikes. BMX has grown tremendously over the past 10 years. It’s really phenomenal to see. And a lot of new riders have really big followings like 50k-100k followers on social media. So that’s exciting.
How has being a pro affected your love of riding? Is it more of a job now, or is it still pretty much a dream situation of all fun and no work?
As long as I’m on my bike, I’m having fun. You just have to learn to love and enjoy every moment that it brings you because you never know where BMX is going to take you. I’ve been to places like China, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East. So if you can learn to go along for the ride and have fun then things will look up for you.
Pro athletes in sports like football, basketball, and baseball famously have good luck with the ladies. How about BMX riders? Do you guys have good luck with the ladies, too?
Haha. Yes. Most definitely. Our sport is definitely doing a pretty good job on the lady side of things.
Is Red Bull and vodka the drink of choice among BMX riders?
Of course! Red Bull anything. You know, if I’m at an event and I’m not feeling it, I just drink one of those bad boys down and that gets me excited!
BC Interview: BMX Legend Anthony Napolitan Talks Red Bull Dreamline & Riders' Luck with Ladies
