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Catching Up With Mark Monea

Written by Goba Friday, 11 March 2011 10:54

A Lot Of Carry On! ... An Interview With Mark Monea

by gobadirt.com

Just when people started talking about the sport of freestyle's trick evolution slowing down an unknown rider comes out of the woodwork and throws down what looks like one of the most exciting tricks to manifest for a long time, being the 'Carry On' by Victorian rider Mark "Monz" Monea. Monz is no stranger to those in the know though as he has wrenched for Cam Sinclair and was by his side when he had that near fatal accident in Madrid, Spain, 2009, and he is a part of the Southside crew, which includes another Aussie FMX legend Blake "Bilko" Williams. With those two on his side doors are already swinging wide open with Monz heading to Newcastle to throw his trick down on the Nitro Circus Live tour when we interviewed him.

Read what he had to say as he heads to what will be no doubt one of the hugest nights of his about-to-begin freestyle career.

So they've snapped you up for Nitro Circus already Monz, what's the deal: Yeah I'll be doing the trick at Newcastle show this Saturday night. Nothing confirmed beyond that though. It's good as I threw my job concreting in a couple of months ago because I was over it, and I've got to make some money somehow!

Monz practicing the 'Carry On' into Cam Sinclair's foam pit. Photo shot by Adam Kamanek/FMXAustralia, courtesy of Monz

You're a bike mechanic too right: Yeah I am a qualified bike mechanic but just got over riding bikes and working on them 24/7. I had to give away being a bike mechanic so I could start having fun on them again.  

Had you ridden much freestyle before you started learning the "Carry On": Not really. I'd jumped ramps with Cam Sinclair a few times, but I was more of a racer, now I'm converted.

Have you got many other tricks in your bag: Mainly just the basic Seat Grab tricks, but every time I ride I try and learn a new trick and plan to Backlflip soon.

So you're keen to go the freestyle route: Yeah I am, so I'll have to see how this first Nitro show pans out.

Monz's background is motocross, which explains his good bike skills! Photo courtesy of Monz

So why the Front Flip, how'd that come about: Well I used to do Front Flips on my BMX for the Crusty Demon show. I also worked on Front Flips on the bigger bike before anyone else had a while back, but it just never really happened for me. Then recently I was playing around in the foam pit with Cam and I did one on the minibike and he said, "You've got to try one on a bigger bike", and it worked out from there.

The trick that you're doing, 'The Carry On', how'd that come about, is it like a Front Flip 360: I don't think it does a 360. I think it's more like a full flat Front Flip. It's weird because when I do it I feel like I'm doing a normal Front Flip on a BMX, but obviously it looks a whole lot different.

Photo right: Monz trying Front Flips. Photo shot by Adam Kamanek/FMXAustralia, courtesy of Monz

Did you do it by mistake: No, I was working on the Front Flip, dead straight ones like Jacko Strongs, but I couldn't quite get it all the way round. I remember how Charles Pages did his in Spain the night before Cam had his crash, and I noticed he lent a bit to the side on take off, so its worked out that way for me but I've got that whole twist deal going on.

It's amazing the bike actually comes back around straight: Yeah for sure, like I didn't think it would come around but it's amazing how it all just pans out in the end.

Do you think its easier than the straight Front Flip: I don't know really. To me its easier, but still very hard at the same time. I can't Backflip at the moment so it's easier than that, but I plan on doing them over 75-feet soon. I'm just lucky to have really good coaches in Cam and Bilko who both live only 15-miuntes away.

How many times have you done it to dirt now: Only the once to get it out of the system, and I'm pretty confident with it so I look forward to throwing it on the Nitro tour tomorrow night, and then take it from there.

Monz, top centre, with pals from the Southside crew. Photo courtesy of Monz

We noticed on the video you took a hand off during rotation, do you have any combos planned: Yeah that was just playing around, but I have a plan for another combo trick if all goes to plan.

Are you up for taking the trick to X-Games this year if you're invited: If I'm invited I'll take it for sure, although I'm not really worried about that for now, I'm just taking it week by week. It would be great if I did go and Cam Bilko and myself went 1,2,3 on the podium for the Southside crew! (Laughs)

Thanks for your time Monz, wishing you the best of luck to pull the trick at Nitro tomorrow night: Yeah thanks, I've been putting some late practice before leaving so feeling pretty good about it.

Watch a video of Monz executing 'The Carry On' here