SMASH-
What kind of music are you into right now?
TJ- Again, everything. Hiphop, especially if it’s fresh and new. My favorite guy right now is Farrell from The Neptunes.
SMASH- What’s your position on riding with headphones?
TJ- Headphones are no good. Half the fun of riding bikes with your friends is talking to them. It’s a social activity, that’s how I look at it. But, if people are just out there for themselves I think it takes away from the event of riding. Like, if somebody goes and does something fancy and they don’t here you cheering for them it’s pretty gay. Wait, don’t put gay. Actually, it sucks.
SMASH- People understand what gay means, its ok.
SMASH- People criticized your video game; they say it’s not as good as Dave Mirra’s. Do you think that’s true?
TJ- You know what, if people are out playing video games then I don’t care what they say. Video games are the worst things ever invented for kids. I think that kids need to stay away from video games anyway. Just because I came out with one doesn’t mean I play them, trust me. When I was growing up I didn’t even have a Nintendo. I played my game once and I didn’t even get past the first board. So, I agree my game sucks. But the thing is, you shouldn’t be playing it anyway. You should be out riding.
SMASH- Do you Snowboard?
TJ- No, I don’t. I used to Snowboard a little bit. But to be honest, I am not a snow guy. I like the heat and the summer; I am so not in for the snow and the cold. I used to want to snowboard all the time but I’m just not into it, it’s not that fun to me.
SMASH- In Skateboarding, when Skateboarders turn Pro, especially coming from Vegas, they move to California. Is there a similar thing in Biking?
TJ- Yeah totally. Most people do.
SMASH- Why have you stayed in Vegas?
TJ- Because I was born and raised here. I just don’t think you have to go somewhere to prove yourself. If you’re good enough you can stay wherever you live, do your thing and go prove yourself when its time. I don’t thing you have to live there like everybody else to be in the industry, or just to be cool. I have too many friends and family here. I just don’t think that it’s necessary.
SMASH- How would you describe your own facilities at your house?
TJ- My house has the best jumps in Vegas for sure. Caesar keeps it really tight, he keeps the jumps super dialed. We have a lot of fun out there, some of the best times ever. It’s definitely the best investment I’ve ever made.
SMASH- Finally, what are you excited about right now? And what are you looking forward too in the coming year?
TJ- I’m really looking forward to riding. I feel like I have a lot to prove this year. Come Feb. 20th I’m on, like, the Oscar DeLaHoya program where I just go into seclusion and really buckle down and train and do good. It takes a lot of dedication to really do well in contests and I didn’t really realize that until this year. I was always just flying by the seat of my pants and just kinda winging it. But, I haven’t won. I haven’t won the X-games for a few years now. That’s what people want me to do, and that’s what I really want to do. I think that I owe it to myself and to whoever cheers for me to give it a hundred percent, so that’s what I’m gunna do. This year I’m gunna go stay with Jamie Bestwick at Woodward East, train and buckle down and try to make it happen. That’s the main thing I’m looking forward to.
SMASH- What’s your DVD called again, and where can we get it?
TJ- It’s called A Film About TJ Lavin, and its on my website tjlavin.tv. Its alright man, you should check it out. ……………
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