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[ :: but bmx since '85 ]
INTERVIEWS

Subject : Dino Jeffers
Interview and Questions : Rob Harrison
Photography : None as yet [coming]
Additional comments [ ] : N/a

Location : Bangor, N.Ireland
Date : 20/02/2003

This was something i had wanted to do for a very long time. Dino is a man of many talents, well known by face and a regular within the flatland scene for longer than most care to remember. For all his contest sightings he remains an underground figure and very much underated except by those who ride alongside him. I had hoped to do the interview at the next event but the way things worked out with timing and financial 'things' it meant that we had to do it via the mail. Not such a bad thing but it can be a pain the ass typing your answers to questions so some of them are cut slightly shorter than might be the norm' from a dictated session. This was Dinos first ever interview.

Here comes Dino....

1) It would be good if we could avoid the usual what's your name who are you type of questions but we can't............. so do it?
Dino R. Jeffers

2) What does the 'R' stand for in your name?
R = Rory - the Warrior King! - that's me!!

3) You have been around such a long time now, how long have you been riding?
Since Adam was a boy! I remember getting my first Raleigh Burner when I was about 12 year ago, I look it to bed with me. I'm mad! In those days I hero worshipped guys like Eddie Fiola and Bob Haro, Mike Dominguez.

4) How long have been into the competition scene?
When I met Roy Wakefield in England at the UKBFA. That was in 1991 He introduced to everyone. I was fuck crap in my first time Flatland & Street comp because I was so nervous and in a different country.

5) How would you describe you life?
Bmx is my life but I also love other sports like Race/Rally car, Motor X and go karting but they're too expensive. I'm also into partying and clubbing and lot of Beer's etc... My work as a Graphic Designer, So busy busy busy - that's me.

6) When you think of Ireland, your home country, what do you think of?
Ireland's OK my home town is small and people respect riders. Belfast's different people don't give us much space. What I'd really like is to return to South Africa one day as that's where I grew up. I really miss the sun.

7) When you think of Ireland what do you think they think of?
Some people respect and support me here but Bmx is not a big sport in Ireland and it's tough for us to get recognition.

8) Do you know what star sign you are?
Capricorn

9) Do you ever read your horoscope?
No - it's fuck crap.

10) Does it ever mean anything to you?
See above.

11) Do you normally ride alone?
Oh yeah yes of course.

12) I've seen and met a few of the rides from Ireland, mainly flatlanders .. tell us some of names of the other Irish riders you know?
Other ther good Irish Flatland Riders are: Paul Hallahan from Dublin, Alan Reynolds, Peter Hollinger, Johnny Gordon and his mates from Ballymena. Noel Keating - two Brother's from Donegal.

13) How does the scene in N. Ireland compare in your eyes to other? Are you able to make a comparison about another scene?
Well in Bangor it's OK but I'm not keen on going into Belfast. The Dublin and Ballymena scenes are good now - they're really improved recentey and it's really growing in the Donegal area too, but it's still not as good as in England or in other European countries. The sport has little respect and not enough local sponsorship.

14) When people first meet you, what do you think they think of you?
Some people are a bit nervous about my deafness but they don't realise that I'm usually nervous too. I think it's a pity those people don't try harder to communicate with me But I have many friends and these are the prople who make the effort toget to know me and with there friends we usually communicate well. This makes me feel valued and respected. After all we're all just people - deaf or hearing, we all want the same thing from life.

15) How would you like them to perceive you?
I want people to treat me as an equal and not use the term deaf and dumb. It's very offensive because dumb means fuck stupid and I'm defmately not stupid. I don't speak like a hearing person because I can't hear sounds to imitate - that's now people learn to speak. Also I need people to speak clearly, not have beards or moustaches & not cover their mouths when they speak.

16) Are you sponsored now?
Yes Circus Bikes gave me a only T-shirt's but I need funds for New Bike, travelling and Clothing etc....

17)Have you ever been sponsored?
Yes - Odyessy for 1 year.

18) Tell us about your interests out side of riding?
Lancia Delta HF Turbo, 200BHP "Race Car" - I have a left hand drive. I'm boy racing so mad! all this fastest car speed! Other I like partying, Ski, swimming, Gym with my mates.

19) Do you consider yourself religious?
NO!

20) If the option was yours, would you sell your soul?
No- mebbe - not sure depends on how much I was offered!!!!

21)Does your bike set up say anything about who are or is it only the tool. or are you the tool ;)
My bike says I'm positive confident and sure of what I'm doing - I'm in control - others can piss off!!!

22) We often see questions about what's you perfect day..but what would be your idea of the worst day?
Pain.

23) Has your riding ever changed direction, more than just developed or improved?
I used to ride on the ramps but as N.Ireland has no indoor Skatepark I changed to Flatland - about 1990 - I still do mini ramp now and again sometime.

24) When you watch a rider you have respect for, what are you think about?
Well, I long admired people like Jame White and when I watch I think wow with no Brakes smooth very hard. I have huge respect too for Effraim Catlow and other many people but I d' never try to copy anyone's style but really very difficult lots of pressure to learning very long time.

25) Do you have admiration for others or is it something else you see?
Same as the last answer.

26) From my own point of view I see you as a flat rider, do you ride more than that?
You can see my answer to 23) for that!

27/28) Is flatland harder than other forms of Bmx?
Well the Ramp's and Dirty Jump, Vert, Street more dangerous but I think flatland is harder because you have to work so hard at balancing and trying to invent new trick's but pressure so good fun.

29) Can you tell us whether or your hearing impediment affects your riding?
I've always been deaf so that's all I know Also, most of my family friends and work mates are hearing so I'm used to mixing in both deaf & hearing worlds. However at competitions, I rely on people to explain things to me like who else is riding and how long I have to Ride for they also have to remember that it's no good just calling out my name but mostly prople are very supportive.

30) Have you, or when did you realize that there was an appreciation from someone else about your riding?
Well I always thought I was pretty good but that lots of others were better. But that never worried me. I just kept practing for years and then realised I could compete with the people I admired.

31) Do you have an opinion on whether riding is like another sport in terms of attitude or people? Sport is Sport - Some people are BMX fanatics others - like my Dad, are fuck Mad! Marathon runners and crazy about Rugby. Everyone to their own taste!

32/33) What is the longest period you've spent away from your bike and can you tell us why?
I'm riding 6 or 7 days a weeks for 3 hours or more. I had rest at Christmas for a week or two (I also had a bad cold) but I've Started again in January.

34) Tell us about where you live right now?
Bangor Co. Down is a sea - side holiday town about 14 miles from Belfast. I live with my parents. My sister Zoe lives in Leicester. Bangor's ok, there are a few clubs but Belfast's a better scene.

35) Is there a place you'd want to live if it had to be somewhere else?
I would really like to live in England but I'd need to get a job before I could do more. I'd also consider living in a hot European country but I can't speak any languages.

36) Talk about what Ireland has that other places might not have?
Fuck... all the time rain, I hate the weather.

37) Is there anything memorable for riding round Bangor?
Sadly, not.

38) Is there a local riding spot favourite..or do you have to go further a field?
Shopping Centre, car parks are my usual haunts, until I get moved on! round different place.

39) Do you keep any riding spots to yourself or is that not your thing?
No

40) Do you think it's a positive thing for the sport that some of the scenes keep it local?
It's good to be local but to be scenes to me they have to compete nationally.

41) What's the best offer you've had any offer anything. tell us about it?
Odyessy gave me a good sponsorship deal but that finished a couple of years ago Now I'm open to offers so If anyone's interested they know where I am!

42) Ok, now the world has been completely destroyed apart from one riding spot, you and the bike - where is the spot (bare in mind that you pushed the button)?
The best spot in the world is.......

43) Do you have an appetite for magazine and video?
Yes, the more the better - I've all the back issues of Ride, Bmx Ride, Dig Bmx Mag, Clicked Video, Cream Mag, etc... and I'm into making videos.

44) I see this as another indication that that you're not as into the whole scene thing as you are into your riding, True?
Yes & No maybe.

45) Tell me in three words what 'road-trip' means to you?
falling off my machine!

46) When you pack a bag to go somewhere, what's the first item?
My Bike.

47) Are there tricks now that you would like to be pulling...do you think in that way or do things come as they come?
No I work on new tricks all the time but very hard they're my secret.

48) Is riding really a lifestyle?
Oh yeas yes.

49) The scene is always changing but we've gone from fat, heavy tech and harsh to lightweight and flowing..do you agree with that and what's going to come next in your eye's?
Yeah! I agree but that's life - always changing. As to what's next....?

50) I guess that you're one of the most travelled UK contest riders..Can you tell us about it a little?
Yeah well having grown up in England and South Africa and then going to College in Doncaster & University in L/Derry. I've been around a bit UK all over the Ireland, Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Portugal, USA. Travelling is great for broadening the mind and making friends. Just show me a plane ticket and my bike and I'll go anywhere.

51) What's the furthest you've travelled in one trip?
The US and S' Africa.

52) What percentage of your money goes to pay for travelling?
Too Much!!! I'm really needing to sort some form of sponsorship out.

53) What's been the worst journey you've made?
To Holland - they had cancelled Bmx World Cup and no-one told me. Bad Karma.

54) Which event made the trip the most worthwhile?
The Derby Backyard Jam - It has great concrete but Cologne's hard to beat for gorgeous girl's and great craic.

55) Has ther been a specific moment in your life that you think changed?
Realising at University that Was at least as good as my hearing peers and at competition that I could compete with the best - both things gave me great confidence.

56) Everyone has good and bad things in their life, how do you take these.as a positive or a negative?
The glass is half full!

57) Is there something or somewhere you'd like to be remembered for if you die tomorrow?
King of Concrete - I'd like a plaque in my memory (& my ashes scattered there).

58) Have a taste in music? Don't tell me you like to be everything cause I won't buy it?
I'm deaf! but I wear both my Hearing Aid's. I like Hip Hop although, I don't buy any.

59) Imagine that you're cold, your alone and cold and the only thing you have is a tree - like a desert island.
a) Do you cut the tree down?
It's bad luck to cut down trees. We should protect them, maybe the tree would have fruit for me to eat!! I'd shelter under its branches and enjoy stuffing my face with exotic titbits.

b) On the island you see a message in a bottle floating towards you, what would you most want the message to say?
[Ed Note: I think this question got overlooked]

60) You have met a lot of good people while you have been riding and traveling, who inspired you the most? it doesn't have to be a bmx rider)
Michael Schwartz a deaf American who is a Lawyer. TV presenter and advocate and icon for deaf people all over the world. Also, Andy Ruffell was great to me! I met him at a Children in Need Radio Show. When I was quite young. However my favourite is Evel Knievel's and any Goldie Hawn look alike very sexy!

61) Most people have photographs of themselves that they really don't like, have you got one?
Last summer a photo me in Hasting with out my T-shirt was pretty grun (Bmx Ride).

What about a photograph that you do like?
I like the photo of me that appeared on the front page of the Belfast Telegraph when I was accepted at University of Ulster.(one of the first deaf students they'd had). I was pretty big photo page lots of magazine, URBAN magazine from France, RIDE, CREAM, DIG, UBERDOG and etc....

62) Tell me one UK ride, one European and one international rider that you'd give props to?
UK - Effram Catlow.
Europe - Martti Kuoppa from Finland.
International - Martti Kuoppa.

63) Have you ever considered building your own frame or parts?
Yes I really would like a shorter stem but I don't have the equipment to do it myself. My handlbar was too wide I was cut down very short now.

64)What role do you think that magazines play? Do you think that they have a role at all or perhaps we'd still be here without them?
Magazine are great - I collect them all and think the standard has improved greatly.

65) But would you consider that much of our motivation comes from questioning, and from that point of view the magazines play an unconscious role whether we like them or not?
Yes I agree.

66) Do you agree with saying if a magazine is crap, and encouraging such a view point to others? As opposed to just accepting it as a different viewpoint or perspective and talking about it?
Everyone has a right to express and form their own opinions.

67) If you had the choice of doing a 'how-to' page, what trick would you do (regardless of if you can do it or not)?
I'm riding most smooth and fast. Spinning crackpackers, double time machine step-over to no handed's spinning death truck and I have learing more new trick but I don't tell you.

68) Do you think that their remains a divide between skateboarders and bmx, not just the differences in the sports but the attitude of each and in between - like the 'them and us' attitude?
I really have no interest in whether there is or not, the people who create any such divide are those that see it.

a)From your point is bmx influenced by skating? No b) More or less than in part? No c) Do you consider it a bad thing? No d) From the media point of view? No skateboarding is for Kids e) From the image point of view? No

[Ed Note: I guess that's a 'NO' then ;) ]

69) Do you fell influenced by the euro scene? Yes a) The high standard of euro riders? Yes b) Contest scene in Europe? Yes

[Ed Note: ....and i guess that's a 'YES' ;) ]

70) Is there anything outside of riding that you're known for?
Being a pain to my local council by lobbying them to give Bmxers a better deal. I'm also known as a graphic designer and winner of a few design awards.

71) This is the part when you can say anything you like without a question reference, your thanks maybe?
Thanks to my parents, My Sister Zoe, family and many friends for all their on going support also thanks to: Chris Job, Shaun Scarfe, Rob Harrison etc...