Nik Ford filmed some of his typically mid-school and eccentric grind moves for the Amateur Street contest of E-FISE 2020. Here are some words about it!
Q&A with Nik Ford
– Tell us about filming. Where did you ride, how long did it take, who filmed it?
When coronavirus lockdown kicked in, I used my time wisely to go and mission to some spots that I know are usually a bust. I couldn’t go far, so a lot of the clips are filmed at my local industrial estate. Stoked to find some old lockers on one of my adventures. I have always liked to self-film my edits, partly inspired my Jonah Lindberg’s section from Drop the Hammer and partly by the fact that I like full artistic control. I like the long shots and using a tripod, I can use dissolve transitions to their full potential. Also, sometimes around my other commitments, I am out early or late so it’s better to go and get it done and not drag someone along to watch me try something for hours.
“I’ve always had to battle for my clips, I am more of a committed rider than a naturally talented bike rider, that’s why I love it”
– Did you have to battle for any of the clips in this one?
I’ve always had to battle for my clips, I am more of a committed rider than a naturally talented bike rider, that’s why I love it. What comes easy won’t last and what lasts won’t come easy. There is no reward without a struggle. I have achieved some results over the years that I am proud of however most of my success, if you will, has been in best trick style contests. I often have to graft for my trick so when I saw that FISE was launching an online edit contest, I knew I had to get on it.
I did spend a good hour working on the skid to handlebar grind to fastplant 180 and ended up using one of the first ones I pulled! The fakie tree ride to fakie suicide hop also took some time to get all the elements right.
– Do you have a favourite line?
The caveman drop gap from the forklift to pegs is a real highlight for me. I have thought about it loads at work and was stoked to get it done. It took a while to set up, sometimes the screw in the pedal, holding the bike up, would drop out just as I jumped and there was no bike to land on. Definitely crashed a few times for that clip! It was a real unknown the first few times I jumped off the forks to my bike.
– What was your approach for the video? Did you go all out for this one to have the best chance of qualifying, or did you hold some things back for the next round?
The approach was, find it and grind it! I used all my best clips but I enjoy the search and I like having a project, my mind is better busy. I am always thinking of what I can do and where plus I produce an edit every year to drop on the 13th January, so I have got lots of spots I can go back to and 1 up myself if I make the finals 🙂
– If you get into the final stages, what can we expect to see from you?
Original pirate material, THE hovercraft grind and lots of xup grind combos to blow your mind!
“In 2003 doctors said I would never ride again after having been in a coma and then dying for 3 and half hours, but here I am at 37 years young still kicking it!”
– You must have kept a close eye on the competition. Any of the other entries you’re stoked on?
Yeah, I have been checking out the numbers and I’m currently sitting in 5th place on the votes. It’s the top 8 that qualify for finals, the qualifying score is made up from 50% votes and 50% from the judges. It’s all pretty tight in the top 8 for a chance of qualifying so I will say they are all rad!
– Here’s the push… Why should people vote for you?
In 2003 doctors said I would never ride again after having been in a coma and then dying for 3 and half hours, but here I am at 37 years young still kicking it!
I have a wife and a rad little boy, a house and a job, yet still feel I have got a lot left in me riding wise. I’ve always been one for the underdog and every dog has his day, right?! Hopefully my entry will inspire some fellow riders who are in level 3 (over 30) to keep progressing and doing what they love. I also think my unique mid school style is not what you would expect to see at these types of events, which I think is refreshing and that plus all the above is why you gotta vote for me! Thank you – STAY RAD
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