Hannu Cools


Hannu Cools, ledge fufanu, lost in Germany. Photo: Rusty Holeswatter

1. What is your very first memory of BMX?
My dad used to own a Texaco garage when I was a little kid – 10 years. One time I saw a BMX bike in the garage and my dad said it was for someone’s birthday. I was very jealous, but stupid me didn’t realize that it was my birthday that was coming up! That was my first bike that I rode a lot in the muddy fields near my house.

2. How did you feel when you got your first bike – do you have the same feelings now when you set up a new bike?
When I got my first BMX – for freestyle use – it didn’t really matter to me what it was as long as I could ride it. Now it matters more because I know what I like and what I don’t like about my bike, so I enjoy it more now than back in the day.

3. What was your first bike like?
My first bike was a Schwinn race bike. My dad and I went to a shop and he said I had to take the race bike, because it was light! I didn’t really like it because I wanted a freestyle bike, of course! Now, five years later I ride a 21.25” kind of light bike, so my dad kind of predicted the future!

4. What is your latest bike like?
I ride a WTP Frenzy at the moment.

5. When & what was the first time you saw a rider do something amazing on a bike?
I think it was in 98. We went to Palavas (France), to see our first pro contest. It was crazy to see everybody go off! I found it really strange that the pros needed a couple of tries before pulling a trick! I was used to seeing them do everything first try in the videos, so they are not machines after all!

6. When & what was the last time you saw a rider do something amazing on a bike?
Can’t really think of anything at the moment…

7. If you hadn’t discovered BMX, what do you think you’d be doing now?
Maybe I would be riding super-motard! I love drifting with a motorbike! It’s interested me since I was 15, but I have been scared of myself having it. Now ten years later and still dreaming, I think it’s time to get one! I am searching for a good secondhand KTM. I only hope I can keep that front wheel on the tarmac once in a while.

8. When it comes to riding, do you go for style or tricks?
It’s both, I guess. On the one side I love just cruising around especially on trails I don’t need tricks to have fun! On the other hand, I can have fun with a tech session on a quarterpipe. I hate it when I feel sketchy on my bike.

9. Do you have to work on progression, or does it just come naturally to you?
I try to follow my body with this. I do the things that feel natural to me. It is probably just an excuse for not doing the things that don’t feel natural to me.

10. What state of mind enables you to progress your riding?
Feeling sketchy takes away my confidence, but feeling sketchy doesn’t seem to be connected with a state of mind, it seems just random. It’s actually more the other way around, my state of mind changes with how I feel on my bike.

11. What one rider has influenced you the most?
Everybody I ever rode with had influence, nobody in particular sticking out.

12. What goes down if you have a bad day?
The worst thing is when I have to do something boring on my job while having a bad day, then I have to much time to think and it just gets worse. On the other side hanging out with some good friends makes my day good again.

13. When was the first time you tried something big/burly/scary?
Can’t remember…

14. When was the last time you scared yourself on your bike?
When I was on an Etnies filming trip in Germany, there was this hip at a University in Hannover. On the landing bank was a stairs with handrails. I had to clear seven or eight meters, first try, to get over the rails. It scared me a lot, but I knew I would have felt really bad leaving that hip untouched!

15. What was the last bike part you bought?
Trail King pedals and a new tyre…

16. What is the greatest BMX product in the last ten years?
Strong forks. I don’t even want to imagine breaking one!

17. If you could choose two riders to go riding with daily, who would they be?
Nico Vink and my brother.

18. How would you describe your riding?
No crazy tricks. A bit different, sketchy once in a while, sometimes big, manuals and a bit tech.

19. What is your favourite type of riding?
I love street. If I find really good spots – feels nice to have a good session on something which is not built for it! And trails is just such a fun feeling, especially when it is in nature riding with good friends.

20. Describe an ideal day.
Waking up at 10am fearing a hangover but not having one! Finding the cute face of my girlfriend on my shoulder! Making love, having good breakfast at 12, some dark bread, tomatoes, cucumber lettuce and pesto njamie and a nice cup of coffee! Getting a message from Nico which says, ‘The trails are dry, and Timo, Sig, Greg and I are here. You coming?’ On the way to the trails I pick up some fresh fruits and water! We have an awesome session. In the evening we make a fire on the trails and somebody gets pizzas! Afterwards we go for a couple of beers, but end up on a good party having some more beers and some stupid dances! In the morning hours, me and my girlfriend head to my boss’s field with wigwam! Getting rid of our clothes, making a fire, cooking some potatoes and onions in the fire, making love, going to sleep and hoping of no hangover for the next day...

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