A Q&A with Greg Hill

To even begin to introduce Greg Hill to ROOST members would be like telling you what your own phone number is. Greg is by far one of the most well known and well-respected names in the history of BMX. To list his accomplishments in the sport would take more server space than we can afford. Recently, Greg was gracious enough to take some time to answer some questions for fellow ROOST members. Read on…

ROOST: Greg, how old were you when you discovered BMX and who introduced you to it?

Hill: I was 10 years old when I started racing and a buddy of mine introduced me to it.

ROOST: Did you have any heroes that you looked up to at the time to model your racing after?

Hill: David Clinton was who I looked up to. His bike, uniform and presence was ahead of his time.

ROOST: At what point did you realize you had the potential to become a great BMX racer?

Hill: When I was 13 years old I knew I wanted to make an impact on the BMX world. I wanted to be the best.

ROOST: You turned pro at age 14. Were you ever intimidated by some of the more seasoned pros? If so, whom?

Hill: When I turned 14, I won all of my 14 expert mains up until the midway point in the year. I told my dad I was bored and wanted to either quit racing and find a new sport or turn pro. He said, "Turn pro. You can turn pro with one condition." I said, "Okay, what?" He said, "Kick their butt, work hard, train and go out and prove yourself." I did not look at the guys as intimidating, but more as an opportunity to make a name for myself.

ROOST: A lot of people have different motivations for doing well in racing. At your best, what was your motivation for winning? What got Greg Hill psyched before a race?

Hill: I got psyched before a race by the thought of dominating the race. It was my goal to not just win, but to win by as much of a margin as I possibly could.

ROOST: When you were touring, did BMX racing ever feel like a job? Were you ever burned out? If so, how did you deal with it?

Hill: When you are racing pro and it is your living, it does become a job. If you understand that and not fight it, it is a fun job. I got burned out quite a few times and the best way for me to get out of that mode was to park the bike a few weeks and focus on other things. Having other interests is key. BMX is great but as with anything else, you can get burned out on it.

ROOST: What are some of the adversities you've had to overcome on your way to becoming so successful in BMX?

Hill: Adversities… When faced with adversities you have two choices…throw in the towel, or rise above and move onto the next level. I have had knee surgery, injuries, personal issues…it is not all bliss being a successful racer. I always tried to focus on the goals and what I wanted to accomplish to keep me going.

ROOST: What is your biggest, most satisfying accomplishment in BMX?

Hill: I cannot say one thing is better than another in what I have accomplished in my racing career. I think being able to have a successful career in itself is my biggest success.

ROOST: Greg, guys that are 30 something still have your posters up in their basement workshop. What does it feel like to still be one of the most respected people in the BMX industry?

Hill: I am grateful that I could make a positive impact on people. It is so cool to hear people tell me they still have posters and stuff from back in the day. It is an honor to know that!!

ROOST: BMX has been your life. Do you feel like you've missed out on anything that maybe you didn't do because of BMX? In other words…Any regrets?

Hill: No regrets here. You cannot have it all in life and to regret not being able to have something else is disrespectful towards what was given to me through hard work and sacrifice. A person who wonders what if… or, man I should have…To me it is not a happy place to be. I put forth my best effort, and in doing so I may have missed a few things along the way. But for what I got in return I would sign up for it all over again and not change one thing.

ROOST: Being in the business for as long as you have been, what have been, in your opinion, the defining moments that have made BMX what it is today?

Hill: All aspects of BMX have improved over the years…Products are better i.e. lighter and stronger. Tracks are more demanding. Riders are more in tune with fitness and diet making better riders in the process. And the TV coverage…it all plays a part in the growth of our sport. BMX has arrived.

ROOST: GHP. Can you elaborate on the differences of being on one of the major teams, as opposed to doing your own thing?

Hill: Being on GHP and racing a bike that I designed is way better than riding for a company, but not always feasible. It worked for awhile, but the company had problems and I moved onto other things.

ROOST: I'm sure you are very busy with your current efforts including Sinister Steering Systems and Greg Hill Speed Seminars. What do you do with your free time outside of BMX?

Hill: My free time is spent hangin' with my family. My idea of a good time is to go to the movies with my wife and kids, or just my kids. We spend a lot of time together. Lifting weights…riding my back yard track is fun, camping is the best thing in the world…No phones, no responsibilities, just a good time.

ROOST: Having been on a national team at such a young age must have given you a lot of responsibility with traveling, representing key manufacturers etc. Do you think that your current business success had much to do with that?

Hill: When I owned GHP, I made a lot of mistakes. I can look back at what decisions were made that led me into failing, and make sure that I don't repeat the same situation. Also, having worked for Answer and Redline I learned a lot. Now is my time to make it happen for my family and myself… i.e. Sinister Steering Systems Inc. We will not make the same mistakes as in past ventures and it will be a success! Learning to represent a company at an early age is definitely a plus. It is important to represent the products in a professional manner.

ROOST: ROOST is mainly made up of guys that were around "back in the day". A lot of the members still race or are getting back into racing after some time off. What advice would you have for the 30 something racers with a family who might not have the time to ride regularly?

Hill: I would say to anyone who is an old schooler that riding is key. BMX is not the same now as it was then. Learning new riding techniques and eating a proper diet are the most important things. Fitness is so important, it is the foundation to good health! Also, old school is cool to look back on but you need to think of now and tomorrow. Make sure your bike set up is current and not what was cool 20 years ago. Tracks are more challenging, old product will not last and the angles are kinda out dated. Just have fun and enjoy your riding as you did back in the day.

ROOST: What's cooler, Plus! or BMXA?

Hill: B M X A! Coolest mag ever!

ROOST: You are a member of ROOST. Who got you interested in it and how important is it to you that we remember the roots of BMX?

Hill: I got into ROOST via Grant Hansen. He told me to check it out and when I did, I thought, "Hey, this is very cool!" Roots are important. We have no idea where we are if we do not know where we came from. Keeping the roots of BMX alive is very good for our sport. ROOST rules for doing so!

ROOST: What does the future hold for Greg Hill, both immediate and long term?

Hill: Immediate is to make Sinister grow and become one of the best after market forks on the market, to teach my kids right from wrong, to be a good husband and friend, and to have a happy life. Long term…to make Sinister the #1 after market fork company in the BMX industry, and continue to do the same as above…Be Happy

ROOST: Greg, thanks so much for taking the time to do this, I'm sure everybody that reads this will be thrilled, and appreciative.

Hill: Thanks for making this fun. It's great to be thought of as one of BMX's important people.