Shaun Jarvis
Date of Birth - National secret
Current sponsors – Freestyle Now
Resides – Perth
Freesyle Now squad member since – 1986
Specialty – Flatland bmx, announcing duties, warped sense of humor, the main FN man
Started riding BMX - Raced bmx from 1981 to 1986 – Started freestyle bmx 1986
How did you get into riding? - My older brother and a group of guys had built a killer set of jumps (trails) in the town I lived in. He kept telling me to go down and have some fun. I really didn’t want to but when I stopped at the top of the hill one day on my way to the shop I saw heaps of kids having so much fun that a few weeks later I started to go down there and learn to jump. After a few months I started racing. As time moved on the other guys grew up and got cars or just moved away. I was the only bmxer in town. People in the town must have thought I was nuts pushing a wheel barrow down the road in the rain just to build jumps, I had to take advantage of the rain for maximum building. I got into freestyle while I was still racing and brought a frame from this guy I knew from school who was at my work. It was a Western Australian manufactured black hawk frame. Very much like an old Torker with twin top tubes. I set that up with a coaster brake and started to do kick turns on my driveway. Once I had moved from the town I lived in to the suburbs I started hanging out with the racer dudes from the track. There was this quarter pipe down in Girrawheen were we would all would hang out at. It kinda progressed from there to where I got a Redline RL20a styler freestyle bike (one of the first complete freestyle bikes to come out) and all I wanted to do was ride and do tricks.
What was your first bike? - My first bike was a gold Malvenstar dragster, 3 speed shifter and all. I ended up getting some MX bars and seat for it to make it look like a motorbike. My first real BMX was a Redline mx 2. That bike was so cool and I had all the parts on it that I wanted. Araya 7X rims with Suzie hubs, Redline stem, Uni seat, DX pedals that was a sweet ride. First freestyle bike was a redline RL20a styler with tuffs. It was so cool.
Main type of riding - Mainly flatland, like to hit up the untamed streets, some skateparks, hill bombing and general riding of my bike everywhere, no one rides anywhere anymore
Who has influenced you the most in riding? – This is a hard question to answer as I have rode with many riders and had many heroes to look up to. I would have to say that no rider has influenced my riding as I have my own way of riding. RL Osborn was my favourite rider in the late 80’s. I had a whole wall in my bedroom filled with posters of him riding. My main influence is my own drive to progress and to keep on riding for many years to come. Many riders have influenced me in a personal way and change the way I see things. Bob Haro. I meet him at the 1983 Australian BMX titles. He was and still is one of my all time favourite riders. Chase Gouin. After reading his interview in the May 1996 ride BMX mag it changed my outlook on many things. Kie Ashworth. As whenever I ride with him he seems to give me courage to push my own limits. Shane Badman. His interview in 2020 BMX mag was very inspiring. Dennis McCoy. He told me when I met him in 1996 that I can’t stop riding till he does. That guy will never stop and he is way older than I am. Ron Wilkerson’s influence has showed me that different is good.
What can you remember most about your first competition or demo? – My first demo was at the opening of Whiteman Park in late 1986 with the Redline trick team, before freestyle now started. A tram came and stopped in the middle of the demo location. We were stuck up on top of the ramp and the whole show stopped for about 10 minute. I didn’t know it at the time but there was a young 6 year old kid in the crowd at the time named Jason parker.
Five things that matter most to you in no order – Respect, bmx, family, love, inner peace
Five things that you dislike the most in no order – Disrespectful people, smoking, wasting time, seeing public money go to waste, being injured
Do you like riding in shows or competitions? – I like doing shows as you can interact with the crowed heaps more and doing shows is always fun. Competitions can be a little more stressing as it can put a bit more pressure on you, but they are both fun as you get to ride no matter what.
What do you do in your spare time? - Spare time is a rare commodity for me. I find it hard to have spare time. If I’m not working on freestyle now I’ll be out riding or being a dad. Whatever I’m doing its always constructive.
To you what is beautiful? – There are many beautiful things in this world. I tend to find beauty in the smallest things. Just looking at my bike I find the beauty from the shape it has. Seeing other people enjoying themselves is also beautiful. Riding my bike along the coast watching a magnificence sun set with the clouds alight from the sunlight with no thoughts running through my mind, now that is pure beauty.
Why do you ride? – I ride my bike because of the fun and enjoyment it brings to me. I couldn’t think what life would be like without my bike. I love the thrill of pulling off tricks. That feeling that you get is awesome. Its fun to ride to feel free on a bike, it is so great, no rules to follow. What can I say I’m an addict.
What has been your worst injury? – Tearing my PCL ligament in my Knee. That put me off my bike for about 5 months. I have also had bad tendinitis in my elbow. Very painful to a point I could not even hold my grip. I had to stop riding for 3 months to help it to heal.
Favourite riding spot – Any nice flat spot with a good vibe. Concert hall in Perth, Bondi beach and Hyde Park in Sydney, IMAX in Melbourne. As long as it’s a nice surface it’s good. Any skatepark that has good flow and lines. Really like hiting the street and looking for new stuff to ride, it’s all about the adventure. The best spot to ride is the one that is under my wheels
Favourite Music – Music plays a big part in my life. Music and emotions go together. I am an avid music collector. Techno, drum n bass, hip hop, metal, rock n roll, old 40’s and 50’s tunes. Big Audio Dynamite, The Prodigy, Public Enemy, Credence, Doris Day, Rise Against, The Band, Metallica, Ladyhawke, Block Party. Every and all music as long as I like it I will listen.
If you were given a special pencil what would you do with it? – make a special picture for the world to see.
Current bike set up
Frame – Colony – Bloody Oath 19.8TT
Fork – Odyssey 41thermal min off set
Headset – Animal
Stem – Colony TLD
Bars – Odyssey – Chase Gouin 8inch rise
Grips – Animal Edwin signature
Leavers – Odyssey M2
Cables – Odyssey
Brakes – Odyssey evolver front and back
Seat post – pivotal
Seat post clamp – integrated
Seat – Odyssey (clear plastic- always had a plastic seat)
Cranks – Profile 165mm
Pedals – Animal Steve Hamilton
Bottom bracket – mid sealed
Sprocket – Animal sprocky balboa 25t
Chain – It’s a good one
Front wheel
- rim – G sport 48 hole
- hub – Odyssey hazard 48 hole 14mm axle
- spokes – stainless radial laced
Rear wheel
- rim – Odyssey 7KA 48 hole
- hub – KHE reverse freecoaster 48 hole 14mm axle
- spokes – stainless
Pegs – Colony one ways
Tires – Odyssey Chase G
Tubes – fluoro yellow ones
Any modifications –, FBM bar ends. Elastoplasts tape on lever for better feel; bike is set up for all over riding and not just a flatland machine. I ride this bike all over the place.
