Harry Bink
You know what question’s coming
next: how do you top it next year?
(laughs) Everyone’s asking “now what?”
- and I have no idea! To set the bar
that high it’s ridiculous to think about
topping it. But as we’ve learnt from the
history of the sport: the possibilities are
endless, and I need to get home and do
my homework.
I want to build some crazy jumps like
Trav has and jump them every day,
maybe get an airbag, and really start
pushing the limits more. If you push
the limits every day it starts to become
normal and you can start throwing
some Double Backflip combinations or
whatever.
Big events like X Games and Nitro
World Games are real pressure-
cookers. I’m guessing having so
much experience riding the live
shows would help you a lot in those
situations.
Definitely. Crowds do affect your
nerves, especially for the first 100 or
so shows I did. After a while of riding
in massive baseball stadiums and
stuff though, the crowd becomes
see-through. I get in the zone, do what
I have to do, and learn to block out
everything. It might seem selfish, but if
you get overwhelmed the chances are
you’ll screw up and crash. You have to
just pretend you’re in your back yard
and going through the motions. Once
the show finishes you can take it in and
reflect on how awesome it was.
Nice one. Here’s a question for you:
why don’t we ever see you doing
varials?
That is a good question. I’m just not a
fan of them. I’ve tried them once and
I sucked at them (laughs). I guess you
could say they scare me, but I don’t
think very highly of them either, and
they don’t suit my style. They’re more
technical and I’m more of a sender
and like going big. Varials are high
maintenance as well - where you have
to practise them constantly - and I’d
rather put my energy into Double Flips
or massive flip tricks.
How many Double Flips have you
landed now?
I’ve done heaps into the airbag and
foam-pit, and more than ten to dirt. At
the 2016 tour, there was the moon-
booter Double Backflip ramp - and at
one stage I was hitting it every day,
spinning doubles and trying to learn
combos, even Double Flip Seatgrabs
and stuff. There’re a lot of things you
can do off those ramps and it’s a matter
of getting some time to discover what’s
possible with them.
Where do you see the sport heading?
More towards the Double Flip
combos?
I think Levi Sherwood proved that this
year at X Games, X-Fighters and the
World Games. His Double Flip combos
were so gnarly and to step that trick up
so much was amazing - especially off a
standard super-kicker.
As far as the moon-booter ramp goes,
that definitely opens up the possibilities
for Double Flip tricks, and Sheeny
proved that with the Superman Double
Backflip and the Double Backflip
Heelclicker.
I’d like to see that big moon-booter
brought into competitions and down-
ramps built big and steep to suit it
– that would bring the sport to a new
level.
What about yourself? You’re only 23;
what does the future hold for you?
I try not to plan my future too much.
I’ve learnt that whatever you plan
doesn’t go the way you envisioned it,
and it can let you down. I follow the
theory of doing your best, waking up
every day, working hard, playing hard,
and your future and direction will come
from that.
I’ve already gone way beyond my
dreams and goals. My dream was to
meet Travis, ride at his house one day,
and ride a Nitro Circus show. As far as
winning contests or riding at X Games, I
thought that was way out of my league
and would never happen for me.
So now I take each day as it comes and
always try to better myself. Whatever
that brings in the future, I’m ready and
excited for it.
Good stuff, thanks, man! Enjoy a
well-earned break.
Thanks mate! t
/HarryBinkFMX
@HarryBink
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