Dan Conway recently took a hard spill on a handrail and injured his shoulder which required surgery to repair. The end result is that Dan will be off his bike for the next couple months recovering. While Dan had some downtime before his surgery he answered some questions for us spanning an array of topics from the Nora Cup Awards to the riding scene in his own backyard. You can read the interview after the jump.
All photography courtesy of Dennis Bunn.
1) You just got back from Texas Toast and the Nora Cup awards. How was the trip?
Ah man, the trip was fun. I stayed with my brother from another mother Jarred Swafford. The dude looks out on the cook out for me all the time. I even went vegan the whole time I was out there! lol. Many thanks to him and his lady for showing me a good time!
2) “Holy Fit” was nominated for “Video Of The Year”. How did it feel to have a nomination your first year on the Pro Team?
It felt amazing to be part of a wild team that was nominated. Also, that meant we got to drink for free at the venue so that was sick in itself! Seriously, I felt honored. Knowing how much blood, sweat and stress the dudes put into their sections just made me feel proud that I ride for such a
sick brand. Also, gotta give the boss hog, Stew Johnson, credit because he hand picked every single clip in the video so you know nothing in there is half assed. Thanks Stew, Chris, and the whole team! What a wild ride!
3) Do you feel the video may have been short-changed at all since the release came so close to the Nora Cup awards?
Not really. Some people could argue that, but I feel the people that voted had the chance to see the video. Also you gotta give it up to crew videos, for a crew of friends producing the same product as a well established BMX company, that takes balls! Those Markit dudes had it and deserved it. Respect.
4) Before leaving for Texas Toast, you went down on a rail and injured your shoulder. What happened?
Yea, I went down on this switch hanger on a rail. The rail had a little gap to it and it would have been the biggest switch hanger I have ever done. I just went WAY too fast and caught the last few inches of the rail and went down with my arms straight locked holding the bars and my should dislocated.
5) How long are you expected to be off your bike for?
Not too sure yet. I’ve been going back and forth with doctors and just got an MRI done, so hopefully I’ll get a solid answer ASAP.
6) You were traveling a lot during the filming of “Holy Fit”. Do you enjoy life on the road?
Life on the road is fun. There really is nothing better than being in a new city with nothing to do but ride! It’s awesome. Yet I do like my home life as well. Quality time with the lady is always great as well. I balance both and make it work.
7) Do you have any stories or memories that stand out while you were on the road filming for the video?
Haha, I have plenty of stories… Great riding ones and funny hanging out ones. But a fun one is one time we were in Rhode Island, and we were all pretty drunk in the hotel. Me and Van started to wrestle and I ended up smashing him/his head into the hotel room wall. Stew was in the room next to us and came in and flipped shit, haha. He regulated. I know Shitty was taking a bunch of photos of it happening, It would be funny to see those.
8) You were on the FIT flow team for a number of years before making the jump earlier this year to the pro team. How did you first get hooked up with FIT?
Well, I always rode a Fit frame since they came out, and when 2×4 shop opened in NJ, it was cool for us to go and make the friendship that we have today with Van. Then we came out with the video, “You Got That”, and we set up a huge premiere in Philly. With the help of Orchid Footwear, they helped us get the spot and Animal Bikes distributed it. The video quickly blew up. At this time, the Cult and Fit split had just happened and I got a call for Cult saying they were into my section and wanted me to ride for them in a flow spot. I was stoked! But I was already kind of getting deals on Fit stuff through Van but nothing was official. So I told the guys at Cult that I had to see what’s good with Fit first because I just felt loyal to them. So I made the call to Van and told him the scoop. Then I got a call from Chris at Fit saying they want to send me on a trip and that’s when the whole being on “Flow” happened. I wouldn’t have changed a thing, everything worked out for the best and I couldn’t be happier reppin’ Fit Bike Co.!!!!
9) You were also recently the subject of a video on ESPN focusing on your transition from the FIT Flow to pro team, but there’s an entire chapter before that. How did you first become interested in riding BMX?
Riding BMX was always around when I was a kid. My Brother and his friends would have ramps set up all the time and I would just tag along. I did that with everything he did. I even fruit-booted for a while there. But then I ran into a kid who was learning how to Feeble grind and I was trying to help him out, but I was on skates. So I went home ditched the blades got my bike and started riding non-stop from there. Crazy to think I was in 7th grade when that happen and I’m still friends with that guy. And he still rides as well.
10) Do you think being from the Philadelphia area had a signifigant impact on your riding style?
Yea, definitely. Philly is a great city to ride. But there is a lot more than just the city that impacted my riding style. With videos like Criminal Mischief, Bad Timing 1 and Can I Eat, they were all videos that had spots and different riders from the same areas. We, as kids, would watch those vids and just try to copy what we saw. As we progressed, we all just fell into our own.
11) You’ve been hard at work on the next Stinkpit video. Do you have an idea when you expect to wrap up filming?
No way! We made the jump from SD to HD for this one. We also got our main man, Ryan Landman, back on the scene for this one! So were are doing it right, taking our time, making sure filming is crispy and not to rush it out just to gain popularity points or gain more followers on Insatgram. Me, personally, I’m trying to top my fit section for this video. And I know the dudes are busting there ass just as hard. Also, all of our old videos try to show the riding of our area not so much as us as a “team”. So with this video, we have some new faces and want to try to get some footy of the other crews in the Philly scene. No deadline is in sight.
12) You’ve also been seen sporting some Merritt goods lately. What’s going on there?
Merritt is sick. I have known Mike Brennan for a while. He really helped out with “You Got That” back when he was at Animal. I recently rode with the team when they came through, and we all got together really well. There’s some stuff in the works as far as “team” things, but they are a new company that is doing things right. They are actually testing their product and not rushing to have product just to have product. All their parts so far are great and reliable. Merritt has nothing but good things going for them and I’m with that. More to come…
13) How does riding with the FIT crew differ from riding with the locals back home and the Stinkpit crew?
TIME! Thats the main difference. On Fit trips, some dudes like to chill until the afternoon and then get moving. The SP crew is up and out back of my house by 8am. I love it. We really try to make the most of any given day. Don’t get me wrong, I like both for their own set of reasons, but I really like to hustle and get as much done in one day as possible.
14) You’ve got a signature line of completes and parts out now. How much were you involved in the product development and testing?
100%. I had everything to do with the completes as far as picking the colors, stickers fonts and type of complete. As far as the bar and frame and grip. Same! Ben Ward helped out a lot as well. We would constantly go back and forth on ideas and sizes and I really feel we nailed it! I love the feel of my frame and bar. It’s a big boys bike! Haha. Thanks to Chris, Ben and all the guys behind the scenes over there at the building. You guys kill it!
15) There seems to be a rising crop of fresh talent in Pennsylvania. Are you excited to see the local scene growing around you?
There has always been talent in PA. But since we are on the East Coast, we get slept on! It’s always been that way. Thats why most of all the pros and companies that come from the East Coast are the most down to earth people. No Hollywood shit over here. I love seeing the scene grow. It always make for a good time when you go out for a ride because you’re bound to run into someone!
Jon Schimpf, Nick Bott, Otto Ayala, Eric Capone, Ryan Landman, Fran Meehan and Dan Conway.
16) Philadelphia has also been coming down pretty hard on the BMX and Skateboarding communities issuing the highest fines in the nation. Have any of the recent changes in laws regarding BMX and Skateboarding effected you personally?
No, not really. At the end of the day, we are damaging someone else’s property. But most of the time when we run into the cops, the first thing they say is, “How old are you?” And when you’re all in your mid-twenties and early thirties, the cops are gonna level with you. It’s not like were young punk kids causing hell. Also, when they roll up to flash stands and two guys hold pricey looking cameras, they usually know you’re legit and give you a few more go’s. It’s all in the attitude you give. It’s going to cause the reaction you get.
17) The city has also been making a lot of rennovations in popular areas known for BMX/Skateboarding including Love Park and City Hall. While at the same time, creating designated areas for these activities such as the new Franklin’s Paine Skateplaza and the Grays Ferry park. Do you see this as a good compromise?
Hell yea! I think having those plazas are sick. It’s causing riders to get more and more crazy. They’re also great spots to hang, have chill/warm up sessions and to meet people.
18) The East Coast has always been known for “Raw Street Riding”, mainly due to the winter weather taking it’s toll on the spots. Do you feel there is a difference between riding street on the West Coast as opposed to the East?
We don’t have the perfect flat ledge/rail schools that are all over the West Coast. We adapt to what we have and are forced to use our brains. That’s why street looks like street on the East Coast. And riding those schools out West looks a little like riding plaza’s. It would be nice to have some of those perfect spots, but we’ve all been doing just fine over here. As far as a difference in riding street, I don’t think there is. Street riding is what ever you make of it. Ride what you want, when you want.
19) Outside of riding BMX what occupies your time?
I have a full time job for a landscaping company. So that takes up a lot of time. I enjoy chilling with friends, drinking, having fires, going to concerts and BBQ’s. I have been with my girl, Kim, for a while, so hanging with her is always fun. I’m usually down for anything, so there’s always something going on when were not riding.
20) Is there anyone you would like to thank? Last words?
I would like to thank Chris and all the guys at Fit, Mike and Sean at Merritt, all my STINK PIT dudes, Ryan, Eric, Fran and Nick. My lovely girl Kim. Ben Ward for all the BMX help! All of my family and friends that have been there since day one. Chocolate Truck, LFS and all the other crews doing their thing. And all my new friends that I have met through riding a BMX bike. You guys are all the reason why I bust my ass as hard as I can! Thanks!