Lance McDermott

Birthday: 21st January 1986

Residence: Manchester (England)

 

As a young lad I used to play ice hockey for England. Then when I was nearly 16, a friend asked me if I want to go to the skatepark with him on skates. When I got there I saw BMX’s doing flips and whips which amazed me. From that day I pestered my Dad for a BMX bike until I got one! After that I started going to the skate park once or twice a week to learn more and more. Eventually I gave up ice hockey to concentrate on riding instead. On BMX I started progressing a lot, I was learning really quick, getting all the tricks and then one day my friend asked me if I want to do a BMX contest, it was a pro contest, so I went along. I didn’t think I was ready for it, but he said I should do it, even though I was nervous I decided I had nothing to lose. I did the contest and won it! From that I started getting little sponsorship deals. It inspired me to do better and to do more contests. Next I started getting into the magazines, progressed more and more and finished most contests in the top five.

 

I carried on riding BMX until I was 19. At the time I was working in a bike shop and saw a flyer for a mountain bike contest called Filthy48. That was my very first MTB contest. I decided to buy a bike two days before the contest, I had never rode a mountain bike until that day!! I performed my usual tricks, getting used to the bike. Then I decided to try a flip whip and ended up breaking my leg.

 

Then I got the invite for the adidas Slopestyle. I had to lie to get into this contest! I said that I’d rode Slopestyle before and that I had about a year of experience which I didn’t. So I went to the event not knowing what to expect and actually did really well. I came in fourth in my first Slopestyle contest and that was the beginning of my mountain bike career. Afterwards I got offered contracts from companies and have worked my ass off to become what I am today with a group of amazing sponsors.

 

Above all, I really have to thank my parents. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be riding now. It was my Dad that pushed me and told me that I should do BMX and Mountain bike and that I’d do well in it as he thought that I’m a natural on my bike. My Mum and Dad helped me to get to events when I didn’t have the sponsorships in the beginning. My Dad also rides with me now and keeps me motivated. He rides a mountain bike and we go to skate parks together every week.

 

Strengths: Tricks – I practice my tricks so much that they look easy and I can do them pretty much on anything.

Weaknesses: Northshore – I hate that skinny balancing stuff. 

Nissan Qashqai Series Winner 2008: Lance McDermott - winner at the FISE Event 2009 in Montpellier/France!! Watch out the video "WHY WEARING A FULLFACE HELMET"