Features

Dylan Lewis: On Mutiny Pro

Interview by Scott Connor
Photos by John Young Insta: @You_John

Nah, fuck that man! Riding always comes first! – Dylan Lewis

Full Name: Dylan Williams Haronga Lewis
Age:   22
Occupation: Scaffolder/Labourer and now Pro BMX rider…

Dylan, firstly, big news! You’ve just been put onto Mutiny’s pro team. Congratulations, mate. I imagine you’re pretty stoked on life right now, how does it feel? Was it a surprise or did you know it was coming?

“Hey, thanks man! No words can describe how happy I am, stoked on life is an understatement! Never thought something like that would happen to me, I’m so grateful to ride for such a well respected and rad company like Mutiny! I had no idea they would decide to put me on the pro team!”

Let’s backtrack a little. You’re from the sunshine coast, on the east coast of Australia, right? That’s a pretty awesome place, I’ve been through there a couple of times. Tell us a little about your life there.

“Hometown is a hard one… I move around a lot, but would have to say either Brisbane, or The Sunshine Coast. I’ve been riding since I was 6 years old.

The Sunshine Coast is all about that laid back beach town life. I spend most of my time riding with my little brother or at the beach. There’s one good park there that I like riding, that’s Caloundra Skatepark. Other than that, you can catch me up at the trails or chasing bigger bowls down south. So I’m never really home too much.

Currently I’m living in Sydney. My good friend John Young is putting me up while I’m here. It’s pretty funny because I’m actually staying in Nathan Beddows’ old room, the O.G. Ride UK photographer.”

It’s safe to say your style has caught the BMX world’s attention. Fast and fucking high, simple yet it’s got plenty of style. Has that always been your way? Have you been riding trails from day one, how’d you get started riding?

“Nah, I just started out like your average grom. My brother and I would be making jumps in the lanes and driveways from car tyres and pieces of wood. Eventually we made our way down to the local skatepark, and never really left. I went threw a little phase of learning and doing a bunch of tricks, but I always dug going high and just simply jumping stuff. I was 15/16, maybe a bit older when I first rode trails (apart from the sketchy dirt jumps we’d built over the years, haha). Snakewoods had a jam on and I went up with some of the Brisbane crew and had my first taste of riding proper jumps, fast forward a few years and I was spending most of my time there. The local guys there, Dale, Jocko, Falk and Jacko have put in years of hard work, they are all legends and I thank them for putting up with all my riff raff.”

Most kids these days think that once you’ve got a couple of sponsors that you’re set for life, living like Tony Hawk, or Mirra in their heyday. Now that you’re pro for Mutiny, will you be focusing more on riding and less on working regular jobs? Or do you like to keep a steady cash flow from regular work too?

“Hah, kids ay! Nah, fuck that man! Riding always comes first! A steady cash flow is good but I usually find work wherever I choose to live, or save up a bit of money then ride and hang out til I’m broke, then do it all over again haha! You can’t put a price on riding and that’s why I’d sooner be broke then be a slave to the 9 to 5 grind!”

Music! What has been rotating on your iPod lately? A mix of classic stuff or are you always on the lookout for new and local bands? Can you name a few of your favourite bands/records right now?

“I’ve got a bit of a collection of music between my iPod and phone. I have a good mix of older and classic stuff with a load Australian bands in the mix too.

Here’s just some of the stuff I’ve been listening to lately – Minor Threat, Lars Fredrickson and the Bastards, Shipwreck A.D, Pro Team, NOFX, Terror, Turnstiles and bit of god ol’ Bob Dylan.”

From what I’ve gathered from your videos and photos, you seem to embrace the punk lifestyle. An aesthetic that means a lot to me too. Do you see yourself a a bit of a BMX vagabond, always happy to travel from city to city in search of good riding and good times?

“Oh man, I love cruising around and road tripping as much as I can! Nothing beats a car full of ya mates and some heavy tunes! I definitely try and travel as much as I can. Forever happy to chase new riding spots and good times! I’ve got a little list with a few cities to hit next and I can’t fuckin’ wait!”