Sunday School

[Editor’s note:  in this feature, we will talk about OG riders and videos, spotlighting one specific rider or video each Sunday.  These are riders most kids today probably haven’t heard of, and we want to educate them on the roots of our sport.]

Today, when you think of BMX style, you think of riders like Stan Smirnoff, blasting stylish airs reminiscent of one Mike Aitken, or Ryan Williams, doing 360’s over spines so tweaked it makes Mark Webb jealous.  It wasn’t always like that.  One of the first riders to bring a real BMX style was Matt Andrus.   Matt, who actually did ride BMX prior to, and during his scooter riding days, had a variety of BMX-style combos, such as lip tricks, “style” tricks, and of course his progressive barspin combos. 

Coming out of Whitewater, Wisconsin, Matt was the only scooter rider in his area.  So by riding with his brother Jon, and friends who rode BMX, he naturally picked up things they were doing.  Matt happened to be a fairly talented BMX rider himself, however, riding scooters was where he really shined.  In 2003 he started dropping videos…that happened to be pretty tech, and original, for its time.  2005 was a big year for Matt.  For starters, he and Jon helped design the Whitewater Skatepark, which ended up being pretty much perfect for scooter riding.  So, with riding basically a real “scooter park”, and the indoor parks in Madison and Milwaukee, Matt kept progressing.  His riding became more tech, and creative.  Then, he dropped his famous sponsor video, which is still a classic today.  Later that year he filmed his Winter 2005 video, which happens to be one of the most epic videos I’ve ever seen.  The banger is, in my mind, one of the best tricks ever to be pulled on a kick scooter.  Matt’s originality paid off in 2006, when he became sponsored on the Micro Pro Team.  Throughout 2006 and 2007, Matt continued to be one of the most unique riders by doing insane fullwhip combos, adding whips, barspins, and even fingerwhips into them, as well as some never before seen grabs.  Unfortunately, not much of Matt has been heard of since mid-2007, until just a few days ago.  Apparently he actually got married yesterday (Saturday the 8th)!  Congrats to him.  As for whether he still gets on the scooter, I’m not sure, but I know we would all love to see that.

Some of Matt’s earliest clips, from 2003…

…And his 2005 Sponsor video.

Matt’s riding has had a huge impact on the sport.  Anarky 2, one of the best full-length videos released, featured riders influenced by Matt.  In fact, at the end of one of the rider sections in A2, Casey Murphy says to the camera “Total Matt Andrus styleee”.  This video is still loved by many today, and you can be sure that it has influenced riders everywhere throughout the years.  Although A2 was released in 2004, Matt Andrus has influenced many newer riders as well.  Daniel Warwick, one of the most tech riders of all time, arguably the best barspinner of all time, lists Matt as an influence for his barspin tricks.  Nate Grant says that “He was the dude that started me doing all the huge combos.”  He says of the sponsor video “I remember seeing that 3 bar bar over the spine, ‘well i should learn bar bar.’”  Today, Nate is not only a whip/bar combo master but also does the most random, creative tricks out there.  And I’d have to say Matt has influenced my own riding as well as tons of others out there today.

This video, released shortly after his Sponsor Video, features probably the best trick ever done over a spine.

So while BMX style in scooters has been present for a long time now, it clearly is ever changing and diverse.  Matt Andrus was one of the first riders to have a true BMX style, and did it his own way.  Matt is the kind of rider would would learn tricks because they aren't popular...and not do them when they are.  When you see riders like Stan Smirnoff, Ryan Williams, or others who make it look like they're riding a bike...think of Matt Andrus.  Because he was the one who paved the way for them, and so many more.