Profile’s Team Legacy — Craig Stevens
To kick off Profile’s 55th anniversary (1968 – 2023), we wanted to begin the celebration by highlighting those riders who’ve been with our brand for over 15 years.
Over the course of January, we’ll feature each of those 11 riders in a comprehensive retrospective – looking back, ruminating on today, and looking forward.
This is our family.
Thanks to each of these riders for years of support.
Fourth up — Craig Stevens.
Craig Stevens — New Zealand Days.
Matt Coplon: What year did you start riding for Profile?
Craig Stevens: 2002
This may have been Craig’s first advert in Ride UK, care of Profile Europe. With two, Iconic Profile components from the early 00’s.
M: And that connection came through Profile Europe, or Torsten at Country Bikes (Profile’s German Distro)?
C: Yea man, bit of a buzzy story how we met, The first comp I ever got flown to was in Cologne Germany, I was 17 at the time, I went to a club on the first night there and hooked up with a very lovely German Girl, I ended up going back to her place and she kept telling to keep the noise down because her friend was staying on her couch ( it was a bed-set so everything was in one room). I got chatting to the couch dude in the morning and he asked why I was in Cologne, said I was there for a BMX comp and he said so was he, It was Torsten. That then turned into a life long friendship. The Man I am now is a lot to do with Torsten. I also missed the whole comp that weekend due to said lovely German Girl. Sponsors at the time were not stoked. Ha!
UK Days.
M: And then, soon after, you came to the states for the first time and spent a good while in Tampa? What were some of your fondest memories while here?
C: We used to stay at Forrests House in Tampa, It was a super wild scene at the time. I used to wake up in the middle of the night with a bunch of Girls sat on my make shift bed giggling. When clubs would close it used to be the go to destination. I have very fond memories of Tampa from the people to the riding and everything in between. Even the Bristol Brawler night still makes me laugh, don’t know how we got out of there alive! Shout out to Forrest!
A short lived advert campaign; a short lived color.
M: Over the years, what’s been your favorite Profile Component?
C: Elite Hubs.
Fairly recent boost in the NZ.
M: Why the Elites?
C: Elites are just a Triumph of engineering, sleek elegant design, work amazing and sound aggressive!
NZ ditch days.
M: And the single Profile component that you’ve ridden the longest?
C: My race cranks, 7 years on the bike now.
One of our most favorite print adverts via Profile Europe.
M: On the travelling side of things, what’s been you Favorite Profile related Roadtrip?
C: All of the Country bikes/ Profile trips in Germany were off the hook!
Kiwi roast.
M: I remember seeing the footage on Props. The Mangler was on that trip, filming with you all, right?
You’ve got to give us the most memorable part of that trip…
C: Too many good times to pick one and the memory’s that I find amusing are too incriminating to print. As far as the riding went, The Gap that Marlborough Pete did in Birmingham was off the Hook. We also had Metallica’s old Tour Bus which made for great shenanigans outside of bars and clubs!
The Country Bikes Days…
M: Fair enough! Ha!
Lastly, you’ve been in NZ for some time now. What brought you there, and what have you been up to while living down under?
C: Still riding all the time, BMX and MTB. Lucky to live out at the beach so surfing heaps and kept busy by my 2 sons and beautiful wife. If you want a more in-depth look at my life here, check out my film – Compass. Shoutout to Ryan Sherman!
Semi-recents from the NZ.
M: Thanks for years of support, Craig! We appreciate you!
C: No, Thank you guys for years of support! It has been one of my greatest achievement’s being part of the Profile family!
Cheers!
NZ gold.