At the time skateboarding was outlawed in Norway (which is such a weird thing to think back on), so every 10-13 year old kid rode a BMX
Eirik Strengehagen
Age?
46
Location?
Oslo, Norway
Never stopped, New Starter or Comeback King?
Never stopped. Been at it since 1984, more or less.
Tell us about your early days in BMX, where did you ride? did you enter contests?
I started out just jumping curbs and doing rudimentary flatland. I wanted to get into racing at first, but the planned track in my neighbourhood never materialized, so me and a friend from school started freestyling instead.
There were no contests in Norway at the time, but I seem to remember we put one together in ’88 or ’90. I think there were 5 riders and no prizes, flatland only. I think I got 4th. Our first “real” contest was the Norwegian Championship in 1992. I’m guessing there were around 20 riders that time.
What was the whole Scandinavia scene like back then?
At the time skateboarding was outlawed in Norway (which is such a weird thing to think back on), so every 10-13 year old kid rode a BMX, it felt like. We could buy BMX Action Bike at the newsagent’s, so our first influences were brits like Neil Ruffel, Pepi Winder and Craig Campbell.
I remember seeing RAD in the Cinema in 1986 and literally screaming at the screen during the opening. In the beginning we had really limited access to good bikes or parts, so we had to import them from the Sates or the UK.
I remember going to the Hot Wheels shop in Bournemouth on holiday in 1986, and freaking out over being able to touch a Haro…
Most people just cruised around, but there were a couple of years around ’87 to ’88 were we had a budding scene. Mostly flatland, because there were very few ramps around. Then the ban was lifted in ’89, and skating took over. Sweden and Denmark have always had a much stronger scene than us.
It probably helped that they had skateparks and ramps, plus easier access to the continent. My first “foreign” trip with my bike was to Gothenburg in Sweden in 1990. Gary Pollack and Dave Voelker were doing shows at an expo there, and they went riding with us. I was speechless the entire time
How did you end up writing for the only Scandinavian BMX mag?
My friend Trond Husø had been doing some small photocopied ‘zines in the late eighties/early nineties, but wanted to try doing a real mag. The scene had been fairly dead for most of the 90s, but it was starting to grow again, and the first issue of Spokesmen was released in 1999.
I was on the cover. Or my butt was, anyway. Trond and I rode together for most of the “dead” years, so it was natural that I contributed to the magazine.
How did the magazine do?
It was actually free (financed through sponsors), and was distributed through newsagents and skate and bike shops in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, with around 3000 copies at the most.
How did you end up filming some of the most iconic BMX events in the 90’s?
We used to go to the Worlds during the nineties, and I was interested in filmmaking from an early age, so I always had a camera. The event we probably covered the most was the worlds in Cologne in 1996, were I basically spent the entire weekend on the miniramp deck, filming. I also got to interview Dave Mirra, which is one of those things that will stick with me forever.
Bike?
My main current bike is a BSD Freedom, with four pegs, both brakes and a freecoaster. I’ve also got a Haro DMC Master from 2016, that’s set up for old school flatland (forkstanders, kneesaver bars, the works)
Where do you ride?
In the summer I try to mix it up between the ramps and skateparks in or around Oslo. We have some really good miniramps here and there, and I’ve been riding the Jordal Skatepark in Oslo for the last ten years or so. We have a few indoor parks in the area, but I mostly stick to one in downtown Oslo that’s actually an X-Games course for skateboarding. It’s fun, especially after they built a jumpbox, which is a rarity over here.
Do you mostly Ride Solo or in a crew?
I mostly ride solo. I’m fine with it, and actually usually ride harder when I’m by myself. There are very few of my contemporaries who still ride with any regularity, but I don’t mind riding with the younger guys, really. However, the locals here focus a lot more on street riding, and I prefer parks and mini ramps. Also, I like to get up pretty early to ride, which I don’t think they do…
Is it hard to connect with other riders in Scandinavia – especially now you’re a bit older?
I do travel a little bit here in Norway, to the few contests we still have. But I haven’t ridden with my old friends from Sweden or Denmark in a long time. We stay in touch online, but I do want to go some new places again. I really want to ride my friend Andreas Lindqvist’s park in the Stockholm area
How often do you ride?
In the summer I try to ride every day when it’s not raining. In the winter, hopefully a couple of days a week, but it can be a hassle to get to the park when there’s a lot of snow.
Did you feel the whole Scandinavia scene was cut off from the world of bmx throughout the 80’s and 90’s?
My impression is that the Danes and Swedes were better at travelling and staying connected. Us Norwegians went to a few of the bigger contests on the continent, but not regularly. Also, speaking personally, I’m quite reserved and shy, so I never really talked to people that much when we did go abroad.
What were the events that brought the Scandinavian riders together?
Back in the nineties, Mikael Geske from Gothenburg hosted a contest series (“Cykeltoki”) three years running, which brought riders from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finlad and Germany.
Those were a lot of fun. We also went to the Christmas Jam events in Aalborg, Denmark quite a few times.
And there were other things, like The Hoffman Bikes team (Swope, Robinson and Thorne) doing shows here in Oslo that brought the Swedes over, stuff like that.
What part does social media play on your riding and motivation?
It plays a fairly big part these days. I really love the Ride On Facebook group. It’s so motivating both to watch other older riders still going hard, and posting my own stuff there. I’m not that big on instagram and stuff, but I follow a few riders. I have my own youtube channel, but I don’t obsess over likes and followers and all that shit. If people wanna watch, that’s cool. But it’s no big deal to me.
I do watch quite a lot, though. Both the newer stuff, but I especially like finding clips from events back in the day I had only read about before.
What do you love about modern BMX?
I try to keep up with most of it, and I like watching younger riders who don’t necessarily follow all the trends and try to be creative, like Drew Bezanson, Dennis Enarson and Boyd Hilder, among others.
I also like that the parts and bikes are soooo much better than they used to be. I don’t get the old school crowd who only ride their 80s stuff (if they ride at all). You don’t know what you’re missing, guys.
And one important thing: I fucking love that the girls are coming up so strong. I remember when Krys Dauchy was basically the only one, and I’ve been a fan of Nina Buitrago for a long time. I love seeing the progression they’re making these days
What do you dislike about modern BMX?
The lack of focus on creativity. I am impressed with the skill level of the FISE style riders (and I do watch the contests), but it all looks the same after a while. Also, not enough front brakes.
I’m also not a fan of the whole youtuber thing. I don’t need to watch another fucking second of chest mounted GoPro footage. I think there are a few who do it right, like Scotty Cranmer and his crew. I feel like what they are doing (even if it isn’t always to my taste) is really important when it comes to recruiting and focusing on positivity.
Who do you look to for influence these days?
I am a fan of tech ramp riding with some burlyness thrown in, so I love watching guys like Drew Besanzon ride. Jay Miron is my all time favorite rider, along with guys like Dave Osato and Dave Freimuth, so it’s always good to see new footage from Rob Ridge or Clint Millar. On the other hand, I can watch Chase Hawk and Corey Walsh ride all day, and wish I could do what they do.
Whats the story for you and injuries now that you’re an older dude?
I’ve had a lot of minor injuries, and some major ones. The last time I had a working ACL in my left knee was in 2002. You learn to live with it, but it can be frustrating sometimes. I’ve never been one to go super big, but it is annoying to be held back by something physical when the mental part is still there. Also, it takes so much longer to heal these days
Do you always pad up?
Always. My knees are so fucked up, I have to. I wasn’t always good with helmets, but after a couple of concussions about ten years ago, I wised up.
What about Eating and Booze? Do you try to watch these so you can keep on riding BMX?
I try to eat fairly healthy. I was a lot heavier in my mid to late 30s, and I don’t want to go back there. I still rode a lot, but my riding feels so much better now. I do like to have drink or two with my friends on the weekends, but rarely to excess.
What do you miss about the BMX scene of times gone by?
I miss the scene we had here in Oslo in the mid 2000s. We had a very good park, always someone to ride with, and good hangouts and parties on the weekend. I also miss that things were smaller and less serious. In Cologne in ’96 we stayed at a youth hostel, and in the room next us were Dave Mirra, Dennis McCoy, Taj Mihelich and Colin Winkleman bunking together. Different times.
What’s next for you?
I just want to ride for as long as I can, and hopefully keep progressing a bit along the way. I’ve never been the person to just cruise, I need to try something new on my bike every now and then. A lot of my old riding buddies have crossed over to downhill and the like, and they’re pressuring me to give it a try. So you never know, I guess. But BMX will always be my number one.
Any last words?
First of all I want to say thank you for starting up (and including me in) the Ride On group and site. It’s been an important part of my motivation the last couple of years.
I also want to shout out all the guys I started out riding with, especially Tomas Westgård, Trond Husø, Kenneth Kristiansen and Ragnar Velten. The same to the mid school guys who came after, too many to mention. You know who you are.
And last, but not least, a big thank you to Steinar Viken from BMXElement, who has always had my back and kept the Norwegian scene going by supplying us with bikes and parts and always hooking up the contests with prizes..