Interview With BMX Stylist Mike Ardelean
March 23rd, 2008 Posted in InterviewsMidwest native Mike Ardelean is a longtime BMX pro and personality. He now lives in Los Angeles is one of the creative forces behind upstart brand Lavar and co-conspirator on the Defgrip blog.
RF: Where did you grow up?
Mike: Westland, Michigan. Detroit area ‘burb. I’m there right now, catching up with the family!
RF: When did you start riding BMX?
Mike: 1989 I think.
RF: What was your first set-up?
Mike: A 1987 Ross Piranha. Chrome with red anodized everything. $140 from Wild Bill’s Bike Shop.
RF: What was the BMX scene like back then?
Mike: It was dead. It died like in ‘86. There were a few older stoners in my neighborhood that rode, but I think they thought it was still ‘86. I idolized them until I met 3 other dudes that rode: Little Matt, Big Matt, and Suchan. We rode 6 hours a day every day until I turned 20 and boned out to Cali.
RF: What was the first video you were ever in?
Mike: I was in a few random Props videos, but my first real video part was for my first real sponsor’s video, DK Damn Kids.
RF: Which sponsors have you had throughout your career?
Mike: DK, Huffy, Mosh, Volume, United, and Giant. I had some parts and shoes and clothing sponsors in there too but I just listed the bike ones.
RF: When did you start working in the bike business?
Mike: About 2.5 years ago I raised my hand and volunteered to do some things that needed to get done at MOSH. I did that for a while until it became a full time job.
RF: What exactly did you do for Mosh?
Mike: I was brand manager for anything BMX-related that came out of Giant. So basically I developed the hard goods, soft goods, marketing, and team for Giant BMX as well as MOSH.
RF: Which sponsors have you had throughout your career?
Mike: DK, Huffy, Mosh, Volume, United, and Verde. I had some parts and shoes and clothing sponsors in there too but I just listed the bike ones.
RF: What’s happening with Lavar?
Mike: It’s coming along. I’m learning how to keep up with it. We’re dropping new stuff in about a week.
RF: Where in the world has BMX taken you?
Mike: France, Germany, England, Australia, China, Korea, Taiwan, and the 48 states.
RF: Most memorable BMX memories?
Mike: Freezing road trips in shady vehicles, meeting Steve Buddendeck, meeting Dave Freimuth, getting on DK, backyard ramps in Michigan, meeting all the guys on my bedroom walls and becoming great friends with some of them, moving to California, living with Rooftop, being in Nowhere Fast, 5 times at the X Games.
RF: What else do you do for fun outside of BMX?
Mike: I work on www.defgrip.net, catch up with friends, ride my bike around Venice, hike in the mountains, dial in my new place, learn as much as I can about apparel, and try to learn about food and wine. I aspire to read more, cook more and learn a language but I’ve been bad at that so far.
RF: Describe a typical Mike Ardelean day:
Mike: Get up early, do some Lavar stuff, make a smoothie and hit the road. Carpool to the office, hammer it out, leave at 6pm, go ride the skatepark or the Venice ramp… depending on whether Eddie Cleveland is in town or what Jim Bauer is doing. If it’s summer I swim in the ocean. Then ideally I catch up on emails and do some more Lavar work. If I have a minute, I’ll meet some people at Other Room, or my favorite spot, Avalon Hotel for a martini and say what’s up.
RF: What is next for 2008?
Mike: Just riding for Verde, doing what I can for them. I just want to step it up. Get better at fitting more things in the day and improving. Step up Lavar. I get psyched on my friend Erik from Quiksilver; he’s one of the most productive and successful people I know but not at the expense of what’s important. He looks out for people, is responsible with his actions, and gets it done in style. And he’s always having fun and learning. I’m working on that.
RF: Shout outs?
Mike: Buddendeck, Cory and Barrett at Verde, Harrison and the Defgrip crew, Ricky Feather, Ian Morris and the 4Down UK crew, Erik, Brittany, Rob, Rich Hirsch and Lotek, Juse, and Tim Swart!
