We’re honoured that Bas Keep holds the record for most RideUKBMX Mag covers. This is some feat, it really is, each photograph being jaw dropping. Bas hit us up with an insight to each cover, along with some randoms about shooting these things.

Feb/Mar 2003, issue 65.

Freezing cold day, Lard and I had scraped the ice off the ramp to get it rideable, you can see some still on the deck. I was off to Australia for the first time in the morning so I was all stoked.

February 2004, issue 74.

My second cover was shot at Ape Skatepark on the best 8 foot tall midi ramp. I had a rad session with Adam Baker, James Brooks and Jon. Lard had been snapping away and a month later whilst in Estonia he hinted I had made the cover I was stoked!!

November 2009, issue 133.

I was well happy with the reservoir cover. We’d had such a sick few days up there riding that spot, and the response after on the cover was over whelming. Ben Hennons Dad was not happy with me though, Ben hadn’t had a cover yet and papa Hennon got mad with me for getting another cover on Bens interview issue haha

March 2012, issue 161.

T1 cover was shot when I lived in America.. Living in Austin for 2 years was sick and having T1 as my local was unreal..

November 2013, issue 181.

The dirt quarter cover was an experience… Going speeds I’d never been on my bike and shooting with such an amazing crew. We all had a blast that week, I don’t think any of us will ever forget those few days.

Which cover means the most to you?

I think my first cover meant the most. It came after a crazy year in my life with big highs and bigger lows, I was 19 years old and I’d got dream results at contests with top 3 in all of the new etnies backyard jams, with a win in Hastings, also a 3rd in Barclelona Xgames, and wins at Urban Games. Amongst all this we lost our close friend Boyley. I’d negotiated with sponsors and left etnies to ride for Vans who flew me out to Cali to ride in an American pro contest and I qualified 1st.. Once the dust had settled on the year Lard asked me to shoot an interview which was a dream come true, shooting it went well and we had such a rad memorable few days. I was leaving my full time job that winter to ride full time and the day after my cover photo was shot I flew to Australia. So all in all lots of memories from that time in my life.

What was your favourite bike setup from the covers, and why?

I loved my bike in my first cover. It was a Hoffman D130 and it had 4 pegs. I really enjoyed my 4 pegs phase!

When shooting photographs, do you know you’re shooting for a cover? or does it just happen naturally?

All my covers were shot without knowing they were going to be cover apart from the 270 at T1… I crashed the shot after the cover shot to try and better it, and woke up in hospital with 20 staples in my head. I felt bad for Walter Pieringer, he was the only dude there and he had to deal with me snoring on the flat bottom in a pool of blood.

he had to deal with me snoring on the flat bottom in a pool of blood.

What does your family think of you being a cover boy? do they do anything special with photos?

My Mum likes it, but has been telling me to stop riding since I was 11 years old. She doesn’t like it because she thinks its more dangerous than it is. Redbull sent me a framed copy of the reservoir cover and I gave that to Mum. Hoffman Bikes sent me a cool framed 1st cover too. I still haven’t got round to framing any of the other covers.

Which has been your favourite Ride UK cover to date?

Gerry galley’s invert from Urban Games was amazing, also Nicki Crofts Brighton no hander was rad… But this is a tough one there has been so many rad shots!

7. Which cover was the most difficult to shoot, and why?

They were all pretty chill and were just the right moments caught naturally other than the T1 shot. So I’d say that one was difficult. I shoot much better if I don’t think about what the photo has to be before its shot.