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2000 Summer Gravity Games Providence, RI July 22, 2000
Interview with Freestyle Motocross athlete |
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Ronnie Faisst has been a Freestyle Motocross athlete ever since he came to California to visit some Motocross friends. Faisst saw how big the video movement had become and saw the future of Freestyle. He immediately packed his van and moved himself to California. That was about four years ago and now he has transformed himself into one of the hottest Freestyle athletes. Moving to California was the best things he's done!
| EA: | Ronnie, how do you feel about the course after that last practice?
| RF: | I think the course is sweet! They've got some pretty big jumps across the middle! I am getting a little more time in and getting more comfortable. As long as the wind keeps down, I'll be looking good!
| EA: | What about your run? How'd that go?
| RF: | Actually I pulled everything I wanted to do in the second qualifying run. I messed up over one of the jumps and couldn't get my trick off, but I got it back in before the buzzer. I got that cordova in; I wanted a no-hander-lander in the front but I came up like a foot short, so I grabbed the bars. I didn't feel like hitting the mat for nothing!
| EA: | What about the finals?
| RF: | I am going to get it down tomorrow! We've got some more practice time. Hopefully I'll be riding better tomorrow then today. But I rode a lot better than yesterday! I had a shitty practice, went down twice. I didn't get to do any of my tricks until this morning. So each day I ride better.
| EA: | Anything new for the finals?
| RF: | I've been working on double-seat-grabs. I don't have them perfect yet though. Just like how Hart warms up with them. That's how I've got them. So if I feel good tomorrow, I might chuck it! That's what Hart did last year. He didn't do'em until then. I never saw him do it until last year.
| EA: | He had to be practicing though?
| RF: | He probably was on the down low. He came out of know where though to do it. I'm definitely going to have that trick down by the X Games for sure! That's one of my goals. And maybe the seat-grab-indian-air. They took my bike a couple of weeks before here. So I was without a bike for a while and couldn't practice! So for the X Games, me and Brian are going to drive up and we got a ramp up there top practice on.
| EA: | You have some new development in your life? You moved?
| RF: | Yeah, I am staying with the Metal Militia right now. As soon as we get home were practicing more.
| EA: | What's next?
| RF: | We go to Elsinore for the Bluetorch event with the Wakeboarders and then me and Brian are going to Sturgis to do demos at the Harley run.
| EA: | Then after the X Games are you going to the Triple Crown?
| RF: | There's a Triple Crown between here. I am going to try those, but I am not doing all the IFMA events. I've been getting out with Deegan and we've been lifting weights, we've been running and training together. So I am going to work on some new tricks too. Hopefully at the X Games…well I'd like to medal there. There it's ramps and it's a whole lot easier to show up and hit those! You now exactly how to hit them, everytime.
| EA: | Do you like dirt or ramps better?
| RF: | I like both. But the ramps are more consistent. They're easier to do your tricks on.
| EA: | They never get rutted?
| RF: | Nope. But the dirt is more technical. I think because all of the dirt courses are different. The dirt is always changing, the lines, the ruts. It brings out more skills in a rider. But the ramps are sweet; I get spoiled on those.
| EA: | What's your favorite trick? What's the hardest?
| RF: | The hardest trick? I don't know. Right now it's the double-seat-grab. I don't think it's that hard. It just looks gnarly. It can't be that hard; I see a lot of guys pulling them now. It's just one of those gnarly ones. I went for the double-siren wraps out at Elsinore a couple of weeks ago and buckled. I missed my bars and crashed. I haven't tried it since! Right now bar-hops are my funnest trick. It's like your swinging.
| EA: | Do you like this place?
| RF: | Yeah I think this event is sweet! The course is gnarly and the jumps are big. They're all like 70 and the 100-footer across the middle. There's only like two small ones in the back.
| EA: | Are both the centers jumps the same?
| RF: | No! They have two different lips. The one is nice and the other lip kicks you.
| EA: | The landing is chewed to?
| RF: | Yeah, the landing is hard! But the course is sweet, the venue is sweet. We've got meals, the whole deal. There's even athletic trainers and massage therapist.
| EA: | Did you get a massage yet?
| RF: | Yep! Everything. It's sweet! Full compd!
| EA: | Do you have any family here to watch?
| RF: | Yeah. I've got pops out here from Jersey. Big McFaisst, a couple of boys from home. About six from Jersey! Then pops and my mom are coming out for the X Games.
| EA: | Thanks and good luck!
| RF: | Right on!
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