Shoa Matsumoto is one of Japan’s top groms coming up in the BMX world.

At DD our goal is to grow action sports by helping the next generation of athletes and that is why our first rider to Team DD is this young shredder. At only 12 years old Shoa Matsumoto is doing tricks that the top BMX athletes are doing and without a doubt has a very bright future ahead of him. Check out the interview we did with him as well as this skatepark session of him riding his new local skatepark!

INTERVIEW WITH SHOA MATSUMOTO

DD: How old are you and at what age did you start riding BMX?

SHOA: I'm 12 years old now! I started BMX at the age of seven.

DD: How did you get into BMX riding?

SHOA: Watching the Kaden "Dubby" Stone video on YouTube made me want to try it too.

DD: Who are your top 3 influences in the action sports?

SHOA: 1st: Rim Nakamura🇯🇵 2nd: Mizogaki Joji🇯🇵 3rd: Kevin Peraza🇲🇽

DD: The first ever BMX Olympics were in Japan this year, how does this make you feel? Do you have future goals of going to represent your country when you get older?

SHOA: The Olympics looked great to me, but it's a passing point. Now I will do my best toward that passing point.

DD: What is your favorite thing about riding BMX?

SHOA: It's when new tricks work, but at the same time it's nice to make friends all over the world.

DD: How do you overcome the fear of learning new tricks?

SHOA: It's about believing in yourself. After that, if there is a DDAIRBAGS at the landing point, you do not have to be afraid of anything.

DD: What are your future goals in BMX?

SHOA: I want to make many friends all over the world. All you need to do is stay on BMX as you grow older.

DD: Do you have any future plans on heading to the USA and if so what are they? What are some of the thing you want to do and ride when you make the trip?

SHOA: I always want to go to America. Of course I want to go to Australia and England. The purpose is to ride with different people and ride in different parks.

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Follow Shoa on Instagram @SHOA_BMX

Japanese Translation (via Google Translate)

DDでの私たちの目標は、次世代のアスリートを支援することでアクションスポーツを成長させることです。そのため、チームDDの最初のライダーはこの若いシュレッダーです。わずか12歳の松本翔亜は、BMXのトップアスリートがやっているトリックをやっていて、間違いなく彼の前に非常に明るい未来があります。私たちが彼と行ったインタビューと、彼が新しい地元のスケートパークに乗っているこのスケートパークセッションをチェックしてください！

松本翔太さんへのインタビュー

DD：あなたは何歳で、何歳からBMXに乗り始めましたか？

SHOA：私は今12歳です！私は7歳でBMXを始めました。

DD：どのようにしてBMXライディングを始めましたか？

SHOA：YouTubeでKadenの「Dubby」Stoneのビデオを見て、私も試してみたいと思いました。

DD：アクションスポーツで影響を受けた上位3人は誰ですか？

SHOA：1位：中村輪夢🇯🇵2位：溝垣城司🇯🇵3位：ケビン・ペラサ🇲🇽

DD：今年初めてのBMXオリンピックが日本で開催されましたが、これはどのように感じますか？年をとったときにあなたの国を代表するという将来の目標はありますか？

SHOA：オリンピックは私には素晴らしく見えましたが、それは通過点です。今、私はその通過点に向けて最善を尽くします。

DD：BMXに乗るのが好きなことは何ですか？

SHOA：それは新しいトリックが機能するときですが、同時に世界中で友達を作るのは素晴らしいことです。

DD：新しいトリックを学ぶことへの恐れをどのように克服しますか？

SHOA：それは自分を信じることです。その後、着陸地点にDDAIRBAGSがあれば、何も恐れる必要はありません。

DD：BMXでの将来の目標は何ですか？

SHOA：世界中にたくさんの友達を作りたいです。あなたがする必要があるのはあなたが年をとるにつれてBMXにとどまるだけです。

DD：アメリカに行く予定はありますか？もしそうなら、それは何ですか？旅行をするときにやりたいことや乗りたいことは何ですか？

SHOA：私はいつもアメリカに行きたいです。もちろんオーストラリアとイギリスに行きたいです。目的は、さまざまな人と一緒に乗り、さまざまな公園に乗ることです。

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Brandon Loupos is one of the top Freestyle BMX riders coming out of Australia and is usually 1 of 3 standing on the podium at any given contest. Unfortunately during the UCI BMX world championships this year in France he tore his ACL which put him out for the BMX event in the Tokyo Olympics. Brandon is one of the most talented and without a doubt, one the hardest working athletes in the field so we wanted to ask him a few questions to help give the next generation some insight on what it takes to become one of the best! -DD

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DD: What is your usual day-to-day routine with BMX and Fitness? 

Brandon: Pretty full on - mainly a gym session and riding session everyday for 4 - 5 days a week. Sometimes the gym sessions would be after riding but mostly they were before! Gym sessions would be an hour or two then riding would be around 2- 4 hours so some days are exhausting but I love it.

DD: How many hours a day do you ride and do you have a set routine?

Brandon: When we rode the hotbox it would be 2 hours a day on average. Some days were longer depending on how I felt.

DD: Mentally, how do you overcome your fear to do tricks that scare you? Are there any tricks that you have dialed-in but still get you nervous every time you drop in? 

Brandon: It’s easier said than done that’s for sure — it’s mainly belief and trusting yourself that you know exactly what you’re doing. As long as you believe you can do it -  that’s the big thing. 

DD: Injuries are unfortunately a part of the sport, and you just recently tore your ACL during the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers. You’ve always been a positive person, how are you dealing with this setback and what would your advice be to others dealing with injuries at crucial times? 

Brandon: I have good days and bad days. Some days I’m motivated and aim towards my comeback, and other days I want to quit and give up. But what I’ve learned is that feelings, thoughts and emotions are temporary and will pass... regardless if they’re good or bad ones. So I’m just trying to live life and find myself outside of BMX. I put my everything into going to the Olympics, and when it didn’t happen — being absolutely crushed and devastated is an understatement. So I’m just chilling now and enjoying my life with what I have... rather than look at what I don’t have or guessing “what if?”

DD: We could only imagine you are doing everything you can right now to get back on the bike, how are you attacking this?

Brandon: Yes, just mainly letting my ACL heal is a big one. It hurts some days more than others so I’m just trying not to push it and keep it moving with light walks and physio stuff. I’ll move onto more heavy impact stuff when I’m cleared to go ahead. 

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A post shared by L O U P Y 🇦🇺🦘 (@brandonlouposyo)

DD: When you get back on the bike, what are your plans? Olympics 2024? 

Brandon: No plans or anything when I come back. I’ll just start riding, find my feet, feel good again then aim at whatever I want to do. If I want to do the Olympics in Paris I’ll try again... but we will see. 

DD: What is something that you now know that you wish you understood back at the start of your riding career?

Brandon: That life isn’t all about BMX or the Olympics or winning, it’s always good to feel accomplished and happy about accomplishing a goal but when your identity is based all around that, it’s only going to get you hurt. Family, friends and unconditional love/support is more important than anything. 

DD: Who is your biggest influence and why?

Brandon: Myself in 4 years. Because he will look back and be proud of where he came from.

DD: What were some of the things you did as an amateur that you think help pushed you over the edge to become a professional athlete and what is your advice for any young rider that wants to be a professional athlete? 

Brandon: It was mainly pure grit, determination and passion for the love of my sport. I always wanted to be a pro BMX rider just like Dave Mirra, Jamie Bestwick, Ryan Nyquist, Daniel Dhers, Etc. So to be one of them was something I’ve wanted for longer than what I can remember. Glad to have made it this far. 

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Brandon Loupos DD Athlete Page
Brandon Loupos Instagram