Pat OConnor Interview

By: John Barnes

John:  so pat what kinda riding do u mostly like to do?

Pat: lately street, I guess thats because its mainly the only thing to ride, so my mind forces me to wanna ride that. Maybe that or also I look at skatepark riding as almost fake, you know? Its manufactured for us, but its fun, so its cool

Pat: and trails rock, but its January

John: how many years have u been riding now?

Pat: I dont know quite how to answer that cus me and sam were riding around my yard like six years ago, pretending we rode for Gt. and such. About a year later I started racing, then built a ramp with my dad in July of 98

John: out of all the years youve been riding which one did u feel the most improvement or more pressure to just go off?

Pat: what do you mean

John: was there any one year where u just wanted to learn more stuff or push yourself even further?

Pat: o, no I dont think so, I go through spurts where I really wanna do a lot of new stuff. Those are times when other parts of life are sucking so my favorite part needs to get better. It would be tough to say one year, theyve all been awesome

John: who or what most inspired u to start riding?

Pat: o I think a lot about this, so many things. My neighbor pat Barnes (my other neighbor, no relation to this radical interviewer), he rode and made fun of me for having a crappy bike. A lot of kids in 6th grade had like the Gt. catalog and bmx plus mags, I wanted to be cool so I started. Those kids all smoke weed and drink now, I guess I got lucky. And Sam too, I had a bike and he said to me, dammit man, you have this awesome bike and dont ride it. That was a good thing for him to say

Pat: and the x games

John: rad stuff

Pat: yep

John: last question

Pat: the whole cool thing never worked by the way

Pat: big failure

John: haha

John: what keeps u moving in bmx or what makes u not give it up even when your bike is in the worst condition and u feel so frustrated and angered? (Like a couple winters ago w/ your wheels and everything else when I was scared to ride w/ u)

Pat: ooh thats a good question, I have no idea...its just the bike is there to turn to. Even when I was psychotic and out to kill everyone a few years back I was still psyched to ride. Sometimes I try to make myself quit, so that I wont have to deal with it anymore, and can live a nice warm life with a bunch of girls and the mall. Then after like 18 minutes I get bored and watch a video and I go riding. The bikes get fixed, your body heals, and you just ride. I think all bike riders were born to do this, or else we wouldnt keep coming back for more

Pat: haha bmx kicks ass

John: well some good answers pat, any last words

Pat: I guess, yea a lot! Jesus died for everyone, whether you believe in his miracles or not, love him! My parents rock for letting me build the ramps, and my mom for helping with 21. All the dudes that ride here in town rock, thanks especially to jj(you) and Matt for riding in the days when nobody else did....thanks to all the friends...listen to shadows fall....new dark tranquility CD is fuckin sick...thanks Lars and jj you guys are so cute (editors note by lars: hahaha)