bio

Name:Larry Alvarado

Age:26

Residence:Riverside, CA

Profession:Bike shop manager/mechanic

Years riding:9/10

What/who inspires you to ride?:Jim Nelson inspired me when I was young and my friends now!

What does a perfect day consist of?:No work, out of town and riding something I've seen in a skate video/Magazine.

interview 04.25.08

I met Larry about five years ago at the YMCA skatepark in Las Vegas. Among everyone there, he was one of few people without brakes - but rode the place like he had them. That night I witnessed my first Icepick to 270 on a sub; Larry pulled it multiple times. Stoked to have seen that pulled, I approached Larry and started a conversation.
From then on, we kept in touch.

Getting to know Larry over the years, I've come to realize that he has lived a pretty wild life. But through it all, he always remains positive and makes the best come out of the worst.

This is an email conversation we had over the past couple of weeks. Enjoy.

-Matt


1.It's the morning of February, 14th. What is motivating you right now?

What's motivating me right now is knowing that its Valentines Day. I just stayed up until 5:30am and woke up at 8:30am working on a video edit for expn. Its a hectic day already, that's what motivates me. If I have a task to do, it motivates me to try to get as much stuff done as possible. I realize the only person that can motivate me is myself.

2.As far as motivation goes, what/who motivates you these days?

The people that motivate right now are mainly the people that doubt me. Not many people around me realize that most of the stuff I do is done to help other people - and at the same time this helps myself out. If everyone helped out the ones around them, it would make all of our lives easier.

I'm tired of living a hard life; living on welfare, getting kicked out of high school, living with my family on the living room floor of our relatives house, and losing my drivers license. Everything happens for a reason. I believe I can make things a lot better by simply doing stuff that makes me happy and getting rid of the things that don't.



3.What brought you/your family to Riverside...do you consider Riverside an easy city to live in? What is/what's not easy about it?

I don't really know what brought my family to Riverside. I think Riverside is an easy city to live in because it isn't as fast paced as the big city (LA). But, I tend to travel to larger cities because I like the atmosphere a bit more. The hardest part about living here is that it's 45 minutes from anywhere that is interesting in Socal.

4.I'm sure the car situation makes things a little difficult...you pretty much have to pedal everywhere, right? But then again, you're the smart one - gas just got over $118 a barrel yesterday...Everyone will be riding bikes soon. All the dudes who scream at us from their cars will be riding their sister's beach cruisers to work soon.

That's funny because I am working the system now: I am getting a car soon and I am going to sell bikes so I can afford the high gas prices. HaHa! I usually ride my bike a couple of blocks to the bus station and take a bus to my work. It isn't that bad. It just makes me wake up earlier and I tend to be more productive through out the day. As far as traveling far, I just wait until my friends are going somewhere and I just tag along. I guess I am getting real good at hustling rides but I am going to regret it when I have a car.


5.That's what happened to me, I bummed rides for years and then once I got a car, I got a huge bike rack to accommodate everyone I owed years of rides to.

That was what I was thinking I was going to have to do. But it probably will just create more reasons to go ride something new, so I guess it just works out for the best.


6.You're doing web edits for ODI now. What is your position there?

Well, as bike riding progressed, the connection of racing to dirt jumping has disappeared (In the late 80�s and 90�s is when we flourished). It forced ODI to split up the disciplines of bmx into racing and freestyle. That�s where I got involved. I am in charge of the street/freestyle side of ODI. The jobs that I am responsible for are the image/direction of the company, team manager, product design, product promotion (sponsoring contest), Bmx distribution communication, filmer/editor. Basically, I constantly try to make all of our product and our services better in any way.




7.What is the hardest part to deal with?

Having over 10 different team rider views on one issue involving ODI. Then having to figure out what is going to be the best solution on final product. After that, having to tell the others that you didn't go with their idea.

8.We had a good conversation about team management yesterday, the pros and cons...What is most rewarding?

It's fun to be able to scout out young kids that have awesome personalities with awesome style. Through the years you see them progress and, more importantly, remain an awesome person. They become my friends; and if there is any way I can help a friend out I do. That's most rewarding.

9.What do you look for when choosing someone to hook up through ODI?

Well, the main thing is that I want them to be someone that is likable the first time you meet them. First impression is a big deal for me, and if I don't seem to like them when I first meet them, then how is someone else going to like them?
Secondly, I think the person should be fun to hang out with; have goals they are pursuing, good views on any type of issue, easy to work with, and something unique about the way they ride.




10.You don't have to name names, but has there been people in the past who have ruined that first impression? If so, have you amended it later on.....(the reason I ask is because I hold grudges)


Actually, only one. I forgive people pretty easily. When I used to build sixties trails, a pretty big pro came out and I just finished building on the jumps for 5 hours. He kept insisting on being able to ride the trails. I made the jumps with mud and it was totally not rideable. He treated me like I was a complete idiot, like I didn't know how to build trails. He showed me no respect, how could I ever show him any?


11.What were the sixties trails?

Sixties trails was where I got started riding. There was a dirt field in front of my house off the 60 Freeway. There, I started building dirt jumps and learned how to ride. Our trails got pretty popular and that is where I met most of the pro's I know today. It�s real exciting to see a bunch of pro's you never thought you would ever meet riding at your trails. There's nothing better than that being a kid!


12.How often do you dig at the new ones in Riverside?

If you ask Mike (Saavedra), not nearly enough. We live in California and we have day light savings so I don't get to go to the trails with sunlight. It is winter right now so I get off work at 6 in the afternoon. It gets dark around 6:30 so it isn't worth going out there. But the time is going to change by the time you read this so I will be out digging soon.



13.The best comes in three's...

-Best riding spots:



Pasadena Ledge spot, San Bernadino College, San G High school, Oak Park elementry, AC loading Dock, Blue Bench Trails, Sorry I can't pick just three They are
all fun in their own way!

-Riding videos:

Insight, DQYDJ, Mystery Video.

-Movies:

Pulp Fiction, Little Miss Sunshine, Half Baked.

-Restaurants:

Tina's Mexican joint, Wabi Sabi, Casa Mota.

-Food:

Oranges, Beer, Sushi.

-Songs:

I don�t have three because two months from now it will be played out.

-Bands:

CCR, Animals, Big L.

-Aesthetically appealing ladies:

My Lady, Cameron Diaz, Taylor Swift.

-Books:

Riverside bus Guide (haha!), After affects with Trish Meyers. That�s all I got. I don't read too many books. I think I have ADHD because my attention span is way to short for books. The internet made it way to easy for me to not read books.

-Places to visit....

S.F., anywhere in L.A. with Raul "Reez" Ruiz,
Montreal Canada.