Max Gaertig needs no introduction. But if you’re not in the know, go watch his 2001 WTP video part before you start reading. Let’s do this.


Name, age and location:

Max Gaertig, 25, Bonn,Germany

Sponsors:

We The People, Animal, Skavenger, Lotek flow, support by Ezekiel/MadeIn Distro, LaFinca Distro support, Peoples Store.

What have you been up to man? Are you filming for anything coming up?

Yeah, I’m trying to film for the We The People DVD and last year I filmed a couple of clips for Animal. Right now I’m just chilling and doing stuff for the university. I couldn’t ride for months because I broke my foot in the end of 09. Now the weather is arctic and I’m starting to ride again slowly.

I heard you work in a bank right? What’s that like, does it interfere with riding or traveling much?

Actually, I quit working there last year. It was a fun job sometimes, and a good experience, the money wasn’t bad either. I had a pretty sweet contract worked out after the apprenticeship. But now I’m focusing on university and don’t have time for the bank anymore. It was kind of feeling like I rode less during the time I worked there. On the other hand I valued the time on my bike more. Traveling was actually a lot tougher and the final reason why I quit. I still know a couple of people in the bank, I guess if I need to I can always go back.

Is it true that you solely got the job at the bank to meet more girls?

Haha, I answered that already in my Dig interview. There are a lot of girls working at the bank, so it is a good place to meet girls. The statistics in Germany are like 70% women working at the bank. I think it’s even more in the insurance business. I never had a serious relationship with a bank-girl, though. To answer your question, no, the first reason was to earn money to pay the bills, but seeing pretty girls at work was a nice side-effect.

You were out in the States a bit this Summer, how are things different in Germany than in America?

Bratwurst and Beerfest, what do you expect? Ha, I like the US, good burgers, good times and nice people. I visit New York/New Jersey like every year. All the time I get to see new shit, thanks to my friends there for showing me cool spots to ride. Also, big thanks to Animal for all the good times and awesome support.

You played a huge role in progressing the tailwhip, doing it hardway out of feebles, hop opposite whips etc. Are you still whipping it up as much as you used to?

Thanks, I still like to do whips, the only regret is that I messed up my finger and now I’m not feeling the barspins anymore. I still do whips all day.

You were definitely the first one to do a lot of the tailwhip stuff that has come out over the years, what was it like doing tricks like feeble to hardway tailwhips on ledges before you had seen anyone else do those things?

I guess its just being patient and trying stuff I hadn’t seen in videos, but I don’t even know about whether I was first. I’m sure Aaron Ross must have done stuff like that at around the same time, at around that time he was already one of the best. It Seems I just do more half cab whips.

Not to downplay how crazy a lot of you riding has been over the years but you used to be a frame-whipper, was it hard to switch to doing whips to the pedals?

Haha, true. To be honest, I cant remember. It happened because a frame landing isn’t too comfortable on the bike, it wasn’t like learning a new trick or something. For a while, I did the regular whips switch-footed to make them faster, but it wasn’t even helping that much. I wouldn’t mind having them look like Danny Hickerson’s whips either.

We The People are doing a new video right? Are you going to have a full part in there?

Depends on whether my foot heals up okay or not. I have a few things that I wanted to try to go film, but it seems like not enough time till the deadline. I guess I’m not gonna be happy with my part ’cause I know I could have done more.

The one thing I can tell you for sure though is that Chet Blacksmith is probably gonna have one of the best and craziest parts ever!

A lot of people seemed upset when Tobias Wicke got let go from the WTP team, what did you think of that decision? Are you and him good friends?

Yeah, I heard a lot of people were talking drama on the net. I don’t get it, as far as I know everything was worked out okay. I talked to Tobi afterwards and it didn’t seem to be a problem. I think if We The People would’ve fucked the team-situation up, I wouldn’t be riding for them anymore. I guess there’s no easy way to part long term relationships like that anyways. Me and Tobi went on a lot of roadtrips together, I’m definitely gonna miss him.

A reader sent in this question: What do you think about Sean Burns, Colt Fake etc dropping off roofs and do you think that that’s the future of street?

Yes, I love that shit! I think it is fun to keep it simple and sometimes I like to do stuff like that myself. It get’s me stoked to watch people kill themselves on videos. I wouldn’t consider it the future of BMX, because jumping big gaps and doing dangerous grinds has been around for a long time, but it will also stay forever because it’s the best.

It’s also part of the difference between internet videos and a good DVD in my opinion. I think few people would kill themselves for a 2 minute web video. I rather buy a good DVD and watch some crazy people like for example Sean, Colt, Alex Platt, Mike Brennan, Chester Blacksmith or Tom White do crazy gaps or roof drops.

Another reader question: Have you ever done a tailwhip to rail and do you think it’s possible, or that it’ll happen soon?

It must’ve happened already, sure! Osato tried one and almost pulled it at some Metro Jam a few years back. That’s skatepark, though. If there is a good spot on street, it seems like no one has found it yet. I think whip to icepick grind is gonna happen first.

I guess that’s that, any thanks or shout outs?

Thanks to my family and my friends for being there for me, especially after my injury. Thanks to Wethepeople and Animal for being the best dudes out there. Thanks to my other sponsors mentioned above for giving me free shit and thanks to TCU for the interview. I’m forgetting way too many people to thank for good times and support, sorry ,I will see you around and buy you a drink.

Previously: The Con Mixtape| Max Gaertig Animal Ad| Max Gaertig’s “Grindhouse” Section