Picture yourself 40 feet above terra firma, your breath muffled by your helmet, your heart pounding out of your chest. Below you, a man-made arc begging your return. All around you, the muted applause of a waiting, captivated crowd. Sounds terrifying, but this nightmarish scenario is exactly where BMX rider Steve McCann does some of his best work. At the moment he takes flight from the ramp — like something out of
The Matrix — he is seemingly able to suspend time at will, coercing a bike to do unspeakable, gravity-defying stunts before returning to earth. It is, without question, a thing of beauty in an athletic genre that embraces havoc and mayhem.
But this vert pro is far from a one-trick pony. As it turns out, the affable Aussie is also a top-flight rider on dirt and in park events, earning him the nickname “Triple Threat.” Given his skill in each discipline, it makes you wonder if the 27-year-old ever used training wheels, but much more curious about what he is positioned to do in the future. Steve will tell you that his aptitude on two wheels is just his form of self-expression — an outward display of the reckless madman within. But his growing résumé indicates that he is morphing into the seasoned professional and performer that paying crowds already perceive him as.
This summer, as he readies himself for the Dew Tour and X Games, he is working toward more than the adoration of the gathered masses — Steve wants to win. To this end, he is working to preempt excuses by riding hard, keeping fit, and putting the right fuel in the tank.
True, he is fully at home in the quiet heights above the ramp, but don’t be surprised to see Steve making himself just as cozy atop the winners’ podiums at this year’s biggest events.
Steve McCann
Nickname: Triple Threat
Birthdate: February 3, 1983
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Current residence: Woodward, Pennsylvania
Height: 5'9”
Weight: 165 lbs
Q: Steve, what attracts you to BMX?
Steve: For me, BMX has always been the best way to express myself. Every rider has their own style, which shows in their riding. That's the biggest attraction to me.
Q: Were you ever interested in any other sports?
Steve: Yeah, football, surfing, supercross, car racing.
Q: Most people see guys on the vert and wonder how they ever learned they could do those things. When did you first start trying tricks on the bike? What was that like?
Steve: I first started trying tricks when I was a little guy, trying to do cross-ups off gutters and just getting air wherever I could. Trying tricks and getting air never gets old. That feeling will always be amazing!
Q: Was there anyone in particular who was a heavy influence on you as a rider?
Steve: I had so many guys I used to look up to. Not big-name pros, but people who just gave me advice and kept me in line and offered a helping hand when needed.
Q: Which accomplishments are you proudest of so far as a pro?
Steve: Making a name in all three events — dirt, then park, and now vert — has been a truly amazing experience. That, to me, is my biggest accomplishment.
Q: What is your ultimate goal in BMX? Is it a competitive one, like winning the Dew Tour? Or is it more artistic, like doing stuff no one has ever done on a bike before?
Steve: It's a bit of both. I'd love to win a title in vert. But I'd also like to do things that will be remembered forever.
Q: Who do you consider to be the best pure rider out there today? Why?
Steve: There are so many amazing riders these days. But I’ve always been a fan of Jamie Bestwick. He puts everything he has into BMX, and it’s pretty cool to watch, learn, and be a part of. Thanks, Jamie.
Q: What's the worst injury you've ever suffered in BMX?
Steve: I've suffered a few, but the worst was my wrist. It just took forever to heal, and three months is a long time for such a little bone.
Q: What's more fun — dirt or vert? Why?
Steve: They are both just as fun as the other. It really just depends on what you want to ride that day.
Q: How physically challenging is it competing in BMX at this level?
Steve: It's physically challenging at this level for many different reasons. The biggest is trying to keep your cool while your heart is racing. So for that reason, most guys have to do stuff off the bike to be at the top. And most of the time you’re dealing with some sort of injury, but you just have to work through it to get through the season.
Q: What do you do off the bike to keep yourself in top shape?
Steve: I ride a road bike most days as well as riding my BMX bike. I use the gym every other day to stay in shape.
Q: How much actual time do you spend training each day?
Steve: It's hard to say, but it’s probably about 4–5 hours a day.
Q: How important is proper nutrition for your sport? Have you learned more about how to eat as you've gained experience?
Steve: There are so many people riding out there who don't understand how to get the most from their bodies through the foods they eat. I'm still learning myself, and I don't think I’ll ever know enough. But I do know you have to do what works for you, because everyone is different and what works for me might not work for someone else.
Q: What do you like to eat before and after a hard ride?
Steve: I'll usually have something light and long lasting.
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Q: What's one cool thing about you that your fans don't already know?
Steve: I always wanted to race moto. But I'm just not good enough.
(laughs)
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