“I finally had time to re-upload the Bazsi Ivanfi interview (originally from 2009.08.05), after the server crashed… Classic interview… So for anyone who missed it the first time… Mr Ivanfi” – VS
“When I first meet Bazsi he was not able to jump up two stairs – But he was riding everyday and got better and better…and now he is going really high and clean and pushing the limits with many sick tricks that was never done in Europe. He is a nice guy and a really good rider…. just don’t give him too much alcohol 🙂 ha-ha… Bazsi works a little bit different than the other riders, when we see a crazy ass new trick on the net or in a video normal people say: Wow… impossible!!! Bazsi says: Wow… I have to do it too 🙂 He’s not a contest rider but he can win if he wants to…He got real much kinds of combos what I didn’t see from no one alse. He is always working on a new trick…and its always done maybe its one year but he gets it. – Daniel Csepku
VS: Okay; Name, age, location? Bazsi: Alright; I’m Balazs Ivanfi – My friends call me Bazsi. I grew up in the capital of a small country called Budapest (Hungary). It’s the middle of Europe…
VS: How would you describe Budapest? Bazsi: Budapest is a great place… There are two different parts of Budapest, one is Buda and the other is Pest and it’s separated by the Danube. Sometimes I spend hours watching the river, at night it’s so beautiful. Buda is more green, pest is bit more industrial. Although we don’t have lot of parks the scene is still really good.
VS: I just checked your Cross-foot flair at the Worlds – What is the craziest cross foot trick you have done? Bazsi: 180 flip over a spine… I took the chain off.
VS: WTF!? Bazsi: You want to see the vid? (Click here) I was so happy oh my god…
VS: Would you say this is a trick you have invented? Bazsi: Nobody else did it before, so yeah!
VS: Is the 180-flip on spines yours too? Bazsi: I heard John Parker tried it but never pulled, but 2 years ago Scotty Hamlin pulled it… He is such a nice guy… But the x-footed version is mine.
VS: What sort of tricks or variations are you into? Bazsi: I pulled a lot of x-footed variations… Like backflip and whip combos… I like x-footed backflip fakies.
VS: Your flair-whip just dropped on the Worlds/freecaster vid… How do you go about learning moves like that? Do you ever rely on foam? Bazsi: We had that park, that indoor one what you saw at my vid. They closed it down because of a lack of money but we needed approximately 5000 pounds sponsorship… Unfortunately as a result of the depression, smaller countries became poorer and at this time nobody wants to invest money in it L. So that park was great… The foam bit was really sketchy, but they were really enthusiastic so we didn’t give a shit about it… It was a great place to ride during the winter… It was a great place to progress!
VS: How long have you actually been involved-in/riding BMX? Bazsi: Since that time we don’t really have good parks to ride in the capital… Just at the countryside… I started riding when I was 15… Earlier I used to fence for 5 years and my mate just invited me to ride downhill; it was at that point everything started out. After a year I went to a contest and I fall in love with BMX
VS: What did you ride back then? & How does it compare to your current set-up? Bazsi: It’s strange but since day one I ride a We The People frame. The first one was a clear lacquer Thrillseeker; believe me it was a massive one, haha. Now my bikes lighter – I ride a WTP sleepless. I usually ride with pegs and a gyro… Again everything’s got lighter.
VS: Are you riding for WTP? Bazsi: I’m on the flow team… I’m also sponsored by their Hungarian distributor, Og Bike Co – So I get Éclat parts from them too.
VS: Cool – I just seen your 180-X-foot-flip on the spine at the GPS Jam. GPS are one of your sponsors… What are they about? Bazsi: It’s run by my friend Dani Csepku. He started printing T-shirts back in the days. Each T-shirt is uniquely made by hand. It became a really cool brand and it’s really rider orientated. By the way; We going to do a huge trip at the end of this month over Hungary.
VS: …Back in the day what Hungarian riders did you look up too? Bazsi: Believe it or not in 1992 the worlds were held at ‘Csillebérc’, Budapest. Mat Hoffman was here too J. So back then we had great riders. Many of them stopped riding… but Riders like Ben Shenker are still riding. We also have really good riders like Bobo ujvari and Dani Josa.
VS: How would you describe the BMX industry over in Hungary? (Bike companies/media/etc) Bazsi: There are two BMX shop in the capital. The market is quite small, but they try to put money into the sport, which is great. At the countryside are more skateparks – The park at Nyíregyháza is amazing.
VS: Going back to the “GPS” deal – I just checked the edit on your Myspace page; how long did it take to make? (&) Are the spots mainly shot in Hungary?
Bazsi: They were filmed at Budapest… It took approximately a week. Did you like it? Haha
VS: What has been your best contest result as of yet? & How did you feel upon achieving it? Bazsi: I don’t really like contests; I prefer having good times 🙂 … The best contest that I ever rode was the Highway to hill last year at the mellow park… I came 4th in Pro Park – I love the Braun mini ramp, ha ha.
VS: What is the one thing you are most hyped on in BMX right now? Bazsi: I try to ride as much as i can. I’m going to do a road trip to the states at the end of summer – I can’t wait.
VS: Where else have you travelled – Tell us about your time in the UK? Bazsi says: I was living in Richmond, London for 1.5 years. I rode a lot at the Playstation park. That place rocks and the locals are really cool. We made loads of trips and had the best time ever. Earlier I traveled a lot around; Europe, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.
VS: London’s where you messed up your knee – What happened? And is it the worst injury you have had? Bazsi: I feel lucky because I think that was the most serious one ever. I opened my knee but fortunately I didn’t break my kneecap. I had 14 stitches in my knee…Once I broke my foot that was painful too.
VS: … Let’s hear a few of your favorites!: Fav film? Fav music? Fav comedian? Fav person? Fav beverage? Bazsi: …Ok; 1.Greenmile 2. I love White Stripes 3. Jim Carry 4. My Dad 5.Whiskey coke
VS: Okay – What will Bazsi be doing in 10 years time? Bazsi: I’ll try to finish my studies and ride as much as I can. Who knows what comes next?
VS: Okay: Anything else you want to talk about? Last words, shout-outs? Bazsi: Peace out man, thanks for the Og bike shop, Etnies and Gps for supporting me and for you for this
Cheers! – Chris@VS
Nb. New vids, not featured in the original interview:
wethepeople videorama 2010 – Balazs Ivanfi (HU) from wethepeoplebikeco on Vimeo.