JULY - FEATURED PROFILE OF THE MONTH

  In what will be the first installment of a new feature for the DirtyWheel, we present to you, our featured profile of the month.  Each month we will try to highlight a Company, Rider, or Videographer/Photographer from the Industry.  If you have questions you would like answered by an industry fave or maybe you would like to be featured by the DirtyWheel, contact us HERE. Now sit back and enjoy a glimpse behind the curtain.

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The Duke of HAZARD
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER/SPONSORED RIDER  - Jerry Hazard

Getting Dirty with : JERRY HAZARD

  Jerry Hazard is your average MTB enthuisiast.  He in his 40's, rides and races, snap photographs that capture the magic essence of a moment and is sponsored by AIRBORNE BICYCLES.  Ok maybe he isn't average at all but the passion that he has and brings to Mountain Biking through riding and photography, was something we had to share with you. So join us as we throw 10 questions at the man himself.

1. What came first, J.Hazard the Rider or J.Hazard the Photog?

Technically, I have to say the Rider.  I owned a bike long before I owned a camera.

 2. How long have you been practicing these disciplines?

 I’ve been riding “aggressively” since about 84 or so.  Old schoold BMX roots.  First trick was a wheelie, followed by back wheel hops, curb endos, and cherry pickers.  I graduated to mountain bikes in about 93 or so, after working at the Grand Canyon and finding that a 20 inch wheel is not the best thing for rolling through a forest. I tried riding both 20 inch and mtb for a while, but just couldn’t deal with the change-up in geometry.  Mtb won.  I got my first real camera in 2000,after working at a Ritz Camera at a local shopping mall.  I audited an “alternative process” (which was analog – no digital) photography class at a local college, and never tookanother class.

3.  Out of your Biking exploitsand Photography accomplishments, what are the highlights of each?

Photography – shooting the cover for Dirt Rag Magazine in April 2004.  Riding…  That was sweet.  I grew up living vicariously through BMX Actionmagazine, Freestylin’, and even Bike, so being able to become a part of the stoke was a dream come true.

For biking - I have a lot, but I’ll narrow it down to a couple.  The Dirt Ragcover is one, as it was a self-portrait – busting a big flattie in the Albuquerque Foothills.  

The other that I’ll mention – is moving west from Ohio.  Having access to such world-class riding, killer high country rides and downhill trails that no video or photograph will ever capture the feeling of, trails and riding I used to dream about – I can now ride almost right out of the driveway.  Its like living in a centerfold of BikeMagazine.

4.  If you had to give a beginner advice, on where to go to learn about photography or biking, what would you recommend?

For riding – assuming its someone trying to ride downhill or freeride – I’d say ride with people that are better than you are.  Wear safety gear – it will save you, but will also give you the confidence to push yourself.  And you have to push yourself outside your comfort zone to advance.  I’m of the opinion that if you do not advance, you don’t even out at a plateau, but you actually lose skill over time.  Just my take.

Photo-wise, I’d say just learn how a camera works.  Learn how to properly expose a photo.  That is paramount.  After that, the sky’s the limit.  Composition, style, all that will come with more shooting.  Trust your vision.  Don’t try to mimic reality – but reflect the way you experience reality.  Photography is Art, and Art is subjective.  Styles…tastes… change, evolve and even repeat.

5.  What 5 websites do you visit daily?  Facebook,  Pinkbike, MTBR,  VITAL, MPORA, DPReview.com (photography)  - yeah that’s six. I know.

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6.  You were recently selected to the Airborne Flight Crew as one of their sponsored riders.  Tell us about the experience so far.

The Airborne Flight Crew experience – incredible.  Dream come true, always wanted to be sponsored, but probably never had the talent or results to do it through racing or competition. Its cool to be involved with a group of creative riders and product managers, all down to earth and very excited about their product.  Having a bike flown to you for free was pretty cool too, as well as the Sea Otter trip.  I admit, the pressure of creating content –semi regularly for me – is a bit of task, and sometimes I dread it, but I’m proud that I was chosen, and I do my best to contribute raw and honest feedback regarding the product and experiences with it. 

7.  Give us 7 words that you would use to describe yourself.
Creative
Cynical  - in a positive way!
Driven
Dedicated
Loyal
Fun
Expressive

8.  What upcoming projects are you working on that we should be aware of?

Hoping to complete a film to submit to the  Bicycle Festival next year.  I won’t divulge the  plot or anything yet, but it wilL center around riding, and mostly freeriding and DH, but will have more personal bend to it than most are used to seeing. 

9. All day XC epic in the backcountry? Or riding lifts and bombing a DH park for the day?

Have to go with the Bombing DH for the day, though not necessarily at a park. I prefer the natural feel of those locals-only super –secret squirrel trails.  Some people have an aversion to shuttles, and I can dig that, but there’s some trails I’ve ridden out “in the woods” that no bike park will ever be able to build. 


10.  Its your last meal .... what are you eating?
Hand Grenade – it’s a sushi roll thing at a fushion sushi place in Durango, East by Southwest.  I've had sushi on both coasts and many "buffets" in between, but nobody comes close to East by Southwest!

For More Information About Jerry Hazard
Please Visit:

www.jerryhazard.com
www.airbornebicycles.com