Matt Markese Interview

How do I sum up Matt Markese in a quick intro? The first time I met him, I was sleeping on Micah Kranz’s couch when he came blasting in screaming about a missing beer, then later in the night I witnessed the craziest dancing / dance off with some random dude. Did I mention he’s a wild cat? Well, that’s one way to sum him up. He’s also a real talented rider, along with a pretty good dude under all that wild, caged up energy. We have been working on this interview for a while now while waiting for his BSD “Welcome to the Team” edit to drop, and today is that day. Check out what Matt has to say… at least try to understand him.. some photos, and some recent edits. Then leave some love in the comments!

Name: Matthew Lee Markese

Location: All over, Illy

Sponsors: BSD, 2 Seasons Cycle & Ski

Years riding: Maybe 7-9, All my life I guess

What was it that first got you into BMX? Any early memories come to mind?
I definitely remember how sick I thought all the Dynos were at my home shop, Two Seasons. Gahhdamn were they legit. All the chrome one could shake a stick at, rad decals, all that. Then in JR. high when Mike Dinello showed me the way. Nothin’ but good times since.

So the big news is that you are on BSD now. How did that come about? What’s it like having Malouf as your boss man?
Obviously T and I being good homies had a lot to do with it. Grant Smith, the guy who runs beej, digs railrides or somethin I don’t know. As for T bein my boss, it’s gonna be sick. If you know any of the Malouf’s, you know they’re all Don’s by blood. Louches itinerary consists of some gulltra trips with the rest of the BSD U.S squad and gettin booshy, dig?!

What’s up with The Gully Factory these days? Have you guys been working on anything other than the endless web videos that have been dropping?
I’d say weve really streamlined operations over at the G.Fact. We have managed to really maximize our consumption of all things gwop to a pinnacle of efficiency, basically resulting in true shabberdom and low-eyes. As far as moves are concerned, gettin’ blunted and crankin out one-off Gully t’s and weekly Clouse Celler episodes is what’s up. I’ve heard things of a new web layout and some rad features so stay up with it.

Speaking of The Gully Factory, that crew is pretty wild. Do you feel like you are motivated to go a little bigger with guys like Tony and Josh Eilken around to push you a bit?
The ‘Gully Crew’ has been ridin’, vibin’ and burinin’ well before the Gully was pushed out of the collective creative vagina (conceived). As with any session seeing a homie go big is inspiring, but what really helps motivate is the constant clownin’ and goonin’ that goes on. Keeps everybody postive and havin fun, no matter what. Bash ya face? Rolled the ank? No worries, before you know it songs are being harmonized, whatever phrase or gibberish that is prevelant at the time is in the air, and a blunt is most likely half way rolled, which is about 5.5 seconds away from bein splarched. Nothin’ but good times.

You live pretty close to Chicago, so I know you have an endless amount of spots and solid places to ride. Where can you guys be found the most these days? Any new hot spots?
Fuck me, I dont know but 30% of the fire and belee and still know a shit ton. Nobody has it all figured out. One of the most sprawling and developed cities in the U.S. There’s dozens upon dozens of suburbs clammerin’ around the city, schools churches allahdat, hidden in between the breasts of these small towns jonesin to be tittie fucked. It gives me fuckin goosebumps for fucks sake. Anytime I pick up a new job in a town im not too familiar with I’m stoked, because the sense of adventure and not knowin the gahdamn warlock of a spot that awaits you is exliherating.

You have this new BSD edit that’s dropping with this interview. How long have you been working on it? Was it something you set out to take care of or was it just clips you have been sitting on?
Ehhh just the same old riding thats been goin down. If the homies think something is ‘beejable’ it gets tossed in the marBSD folder, if it’s ‘girl gimme dat puuh..ssy.. aka Lil’ Webbie’ then it’s on the web. Got a gang of things in mind always, just depends if it’s fire or not. I don’t care, I do what I do and let the smart folk do the figuring.

Have you been filming for any video parts? Isn’t that 12:35 video coming along soon?
We all got a thing or two for 12:35 laced up, but when the trips start troppin shitll be stackin like quad burgers or something.

You have been doing a bit of traveling lately. Do you have any trips for the winter planned at all? Where are some places you would like to get to?
Shit, the talk has been floating around about going to Cali this winter or maybe getting a junt in Milly, when Grant gives the ok I know T’s gona get shit snappin right quick so I’m just layin’ in the cut. I’m definitely tryin to get to New York to see all the spots I’ve seen in Animal sections. Utah, fuckin’ Vancouver all that. I want it. Maybe Scotland sometime or anywhere in the U.K. I’m steadily tryin to get to nirvana via enlightenmant/ epiphany so I’ll be set when that happens.

Who are some of the pros you have looked up to growing up? Who are some of the biggest motivators for you these days?
I was heavily influenced by Kaching, KP and Edwin growing up. One moment that shapes me to this day, is the time I met Shawn Arata. I didn’t know much about him, but I blew up my back wheel, he replaced like 7 spokes, trued it, n explained the process really well to me. I dug the fuck out of that and try to be as cool to youngins as possible and help them as much as I can. Some good, honest, not-salty lads around here. We all love BMX around here and I hope with the right direction, theyll take care of her.

If you played Josh in a game of bike, would you just do every trick forward so he couldn’t win?
If Bino got a cassette and some pegs, he’d shake the game even more than he did with goin backwards a few years ago.

What do you think you would be into if you didn’t get into BMX?
Haha drugs and cars probably.

What are you usually up to when you aren’t riding?
Shyte, chillin with a young lady or just some local chaps doin whatever. I’ve been playin ice hockey n racing at the Action Clay track yeeehaw

You work at a bike shop, right? How long have you been working there? How do you like it?
Village Cycle Sport is the fuckin business. Antique bike shows, badass staff, blunts on the regs. Legitimate management. I couldn’t ask for a better job. I wake up every morning stoked to go to work.

I know you’re a pretty wild dude that knows how to get down. Approximately how much practice does it take to party at your level?
Shit, I’ve been pretty gnar buck my whole life man. Things got pretty intense when alcohol reared its ugly face in my mid teens. Just did some acid 2 days ago, which usually calms me down for a few weeks.

Actually, what makes for a good night out for you? I’ve been lucky enough to witness your insane dance moves. Where do you find the energy to go on 30 minute dance offs with randoms at the bar?
I just fuckin’ love to dance mahn, not that fake grindin bull. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll rub my dick on any girl, but I need to activate some serious rug cutting o.e.m. moves to go home stoked.

Something about you sucks girls in like a magnet. Care to give us a story about one of the freakiest girls you have been with? How about the no-lube slam you shared at Micah’s.
Shyte, I remember this one dame who was legitly pissed off when fuckin, it was her thing or somethin’ I don’t know. Not like sexy pissed, but just fuckin livid so I’d slam her trap till she went to sleep or face fuck her if she got too lippy. I aint playin. As for no lube penatration, it was an ex gf I was bummin on, we had some rebound and I thought “FUCK THIS BREEZE, I’m gonna slam it in her ass without sayin nothing.” She cried and I didnt apologize. We haven’t talked since haha.

I’m sure you have found yourself wrangling with the cops before. Do you have any stories about sketchy situations that you got into?
Shit gets wild in Hanover Park, man. Lemme tell ya. Murders everyweek, wild mexican youth population, gahdamn juggalos. The cops are fuckin’ pissed and take it out on people sometimes. I’ve been beat once or twice, coked out dego cops are scary shit man…

What’s the last song you heard, movie you watched, and website you visited?
The Grassroots “Live for Today”, a few mintues of Natural Born Killers, I was on acid tho so I couldn’t pay much attention and ended up going for a pedal. I’m currently facebook chattin while doing this so I guess The Book.

Do you think you will ever settle down or are you just getting started?
I’m just gettin started, guy. I’ve got this groovy lady whose helpin me figure out how to be positive and youthful inside as much as possible.

What’s something about yourself not too many people know?
I tend to read a lot I suppose.

Where do you see yourself in a few years?
Hopefully workin for VCS on a salary position, riding, hopefully a shoe sponsor and a solid domecile.

Do you have any shout outs or thanks?
I’d first like to thank my mama, she’s the best and steps up to the plate for me when I need it most, keeps me out of jail and all the that. Love ya mama. My brother Nick, my pops and my late grammy. Kelsey and the Rasmussan’s for feeding me fish and other good food and just accepting me in general. Josh Eilken for really getting me into BMX and being a standup dude always, get better guy!! Louche for hookin it up with BSD and lettin me crash at the crib instead of my car. All the Malouf’s for bein real caring folk. Wescott and the the rest of the G Fact for good times. Jakey G for snappin and bein a G. The homies in Cincy, Columbus and David Grant for holdin’ us up on the road. All the shredders around here who care about these bikes in this area. All my burn buddies in sch n hp. Rich and everyone at 2 Seasons for keepin me pedaling. Joe, Patrick and everyone at vcs for makin my life awesome. You Kurt, for doing this and just bein sick as fuck when I met you. Of course all the random BMX inter-haters who know nothin about me or even the real world for that matter. GRREASE!!

Anything else you want to say?
STRONG PACK ALL OVA ME!!

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