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CASSON DOWNING: From Furlough to Protec

Brighton style hound Casson Downing has had a weird year – like everyone – but he’s ending on a high with a new hookup from Protec! Our man Martin Grainger has been shooting photos with Casson for a while, so here are some recent skatepark hits and an interview with the man about his 2020.

Photos by Martin Grainger

Q&A with Casson Downing

– Congrats on the Protec hookup! How does it feel to pick up a new sponsor?

Cheers man! Couldn’t be more stoked on this one! I’ve been running a Protec lid pretty much since I started riding bmx, so when Ian asked if I wanted to ride for them it was a no brainer!

– In one word, describe your 2020.

You only want one word for 2020? Haha, It would probably have to be… Hectic!

– What actually happened earlier this year with traveling and furlough etc?

2020 started off pretty sweet if I’m honest! Me and my girlfriend had handed in our notice on our flat and were meant to go travelling for 4/5 months. We managed 2 months in Sri Lanka and Bali until COVID got involved. After a nightmare getting back to the UK and then being put straight on furlough, we moved into my parents place whilst we renovated a flat.

“I still managed those sneaky 6am rides with the ‘furlough gang’ in the local park before getting kicked out by the police at 9am pretty much every morning”

Lockdown was serious but I still managed those sneaky 6am rides with the ‘furlough gang’ in the local park before getting kicked out by the police at 9am pretty much every morning. Once it all eased off it was pretty much riding bikes and surfing everyday, BBQs and all the good stuff! So I was pretty much getting paid to ride, until the end of August when reality and work hit hard! Haha.

– The Protec UK squad is shaping up nicely eh? You’re in decent company there. Thoughts on the crew?

The team is so sick, everyone kills it! I’ve been riding with most of the boys for a while and everyone shreds! I’m hoping the pandemic chills out for next summer so we can get a trip going!

“I’m hoping the pandemic chills out for next summer so we can get a trip going!”

– Which Protec gear are you running?

At the moment I’m running the full cut Matt black helmet, thing feels so good on!

– Where you been riding recently? Where you trying to go next?

As of recent it’s been wherever’s dry! Early morning squeegees and puddle dodging, mainly at the level or a few evenings up at Crawley. The rest of this year looks pretty chill TBH, get a few indoor rides in as long as everything opens up… Save the good stuff for next year!

– What are your hopes for 2021?

Ride bikes, drink Kronenbourg and just have a good time! We’ve got a Spanish trip in the works already with a few of the boys, which should be rad if all goes well. Hoping that the Vans Pro Cup goes ahead next year as well, its such a rad event to get involved in!