The Rad Dad
Dan Gurman, 18 years old, Hamilton, Ontario
How long have you been riding?
Like 5 years, 4 years flatland, and 1 year shit kid (laughter)
On average, How much time do you ride a day?
Depending on the weather, at least 6-12 hours no problem.
Do have job, a source of income at the moment?
No way!!! I couldn't afford it, I would rather be poor and ride all the time, then be rich and be off my bike. It's just the way I am, not everybody thinks that way but i'm glad I do.
Who are some of your favourite people to ride with?
Well back in the day, I would've said everyone, but there's not too many flatlanders around now days due to jobs, school, girlfriends, you know responsibility, something I know nothing about (laughter). I don't know, Beefy, Curtis, Nick, Aaron when he comes out, Andrew Zenkner, Goolie, Mike Tatti, T.J, Gobbo, Ippy, Once in a while the Pergentiles, I don't know most of the time I ride by myself, but I know a good time is sure to go down riding with these guys.
How did you get started in riding?and, who were some of your first influences?
When I first started The likes of Dave Mirra, Miron, Hoffman. I didn't really know too much about flat, I knew about Trevor Meyer he used to be one of my favourites along with Day Smith, and Sean Peters. It wasn't untill Elsinore 98' in Toronto that I became as they call it "obsessed," with flatland.
What's the riding scene like in Hamilton, Ontario?
Pretty good I'd say. Like 2 years ago there was like 15-20 decent flatlanders out at the lot everyday riding. Now it's more of an individual thing. We all ride mostly by ourselves, those of us which still ride there's maybe like 6-7 flatlanders that still ride and a whole load of street riders. The thing is, we're way more hardcore this year than the following few years that we were riding. I think it's cause we're getting older and realizing we won't be able to ride forever (although we wish we could) we wan't to use all the time we have to ride, unlike before we were on our bikes like 14 hours a day sometimes more, but only rode like a 1\3 of the time, the rest of the time we just caused shit, raided drop boxes, cruised around, had fun, and got chased by people. Ahhh... the good times.
If you could describe you style briefly to us what would you say?
About a couple months ago I would say Baco 6 style, a lot of scuffing while flippin the bars type stuff with the occasional rolling trick thrown in for style. Now I liked dropped all that stuff and I'm working on an all rolling style with a lot of pressure flip pivots type deal, it's hard to explain, just a lot of around the world, and hitchiker stuff that's all.
I know you guys from Hamilton are pretty rowdy, what's an average night of fun like in Hamilton?
It's pretty boring here, we usaully end up riding more. The occasional time we'll go to a movie, or go driving around throwing eggs at people. That's always fun. The other guys are older so they go to strip clubs and bars, and I get left at home watching Everybody Loves Raymond (laughter).
I hear the winter's pretty harsh down there, so how do you make it through the Winter?
I hate the winter, unfortunately I'm too poor to leave Hamilton for the winter and somewhere warmer. We have 3 underground parking lots. Two downtown and the other at the hospital on the mountain. The ones downtown are like a half an hour ride for me to get to, and it is very rare that you get to stay over half an hour before the security comes and kicks you out. But it's worth it to ride right. And the one at the hospital is always full with cars during the day, but at night and the weekend it's usaully pretty decent, and you have a good chance of not getting caught and kicked out. I can also ride down my basement which is cool, but at the sametime sucks cause my new style I need a lot of space for, but I'm glad I have because I've learned so much down there, and it gets me through the snowy days.
Who are some of you favourite riders and why?
Andrew Faris-He makes riding look fun, he's always smiling when he's riding. He's got a badass style and always does crazy stuff that I've never seen before. There's a few others that I like but I'd thought I'd just throw my favourite at you.
You must go through tires and shoes fairly quickly, and I know you aren't sponsored, so who pays for the essentials?
My parents thankfully, without them feeling sorry for me when I can't ride and need a new part, I would've probaly killed myself a long time ago
It's getting kind of long, so any last words or thanks?
I'd like thank everyone that rides in Hamilton and the surrounding area, anyone that has given me primo bearings for my hub, Al box for good times and inspiration, Abe for being so fuckin' amazing on his bike, luck for helping me out of conflicts with fat lazy people, my parents for providing me with the riding essentials, My brother for being a stud, Matt and Aaron Wright for inspiring me and helping me progress, Steve Curtis for being my companion for those long hardcore riding sessions down the basement, Andrew Faris for motivating me and helping me discover what flatland is all about, Aaron Reid for getting me into riding and out of fruitbooting, Goolie for supplying me with an endless number of sissy girl quotes, and last but not least Nev for banning me off the Backlash forum and destroying and shattering my addiction forever, Thanks. Anyone I forgot sorry.
Interview done on Feb 18/2002.