FMX INSIDER No.42: WITH TRUMAN CARROLL

Transmoto’s weekly web-exclusive column, the FMX Insider, penned by Ben Heidrich. 

Aussie Metal Mulisha rider, Truman Carroll, is known for his aggressive upright trick style, and I reckon he takes the cake for the largest Rock Solid on the planet! Hailing from Wagga Wagga, NSW, Truman spends most afternoons riding at his compound under a beautiful God’s Country sun. I caught up with the bad dude to talk about riding and time in the foam pit.

BH: How did you get into Freestyle MX?
TC: Just from watching the Crusty movies in the early days. Their rebellious nature, extreme antics, insane jumps and the huge parties drew me in like a moth to a flame. I was a late starter and went out and bought an old CR250 when I was 19 and decided to give it a go.

Who did you grow up riding with? And who do you ride with these days?
I grew up playing Aussie Rules and didn’t start riding till I was 19. Back then, I started riding with Jacko Strong, who lives a stone’s throw away from our farm. Looking back now, it was a great way to learn FMX from a guy who’s won two X Games gold medals. We were just up to give anything a go and never to back out. These days, the Wagga scene is big with riders moving here from out of state or dropping in for a week or two to gain some more skills. Jacko Strong, Rob Adelberg, Tom Rob, Ben Heidrich, Jake Holloway are just a few of the Wagga locals that I ride with.

You’ve been landing consistent Flairs off the quarter-pipe, so what was your learning process?
I started off learning them on a pushbike to understand the rotation deal, then took it to a big bike into the foam pit. And from there, it was just a matter of the right throttle control and technique off the lip to keep them consistent. I’ve now done over 50 to dirt and just believe that practice makes perfect.

You ride with and mentor a couple of young up and coming FMX riders, so tell us about the Richards boys.
When I first met them, Tom and Ben Richards were a couple of young ankle biters from across the road who had an old KX65 and jumped off planks of wood jacked up on a bricks. Fast-forward to now and they’re both on 85cc. Tom is 12 and Ben 14, and when you see the tricks these boys are doing, they are on their way to being world champions. Tom is doing tricks that some full-time riders double his age can’t do. He is the youngest in the world to do a Rock Solid. Ben stomped a Backflip to dirt on his 85 not to long ago and already has flip levers bolted to his bike. Not only do these guys love the sport, they are always trying to improve with tricks and skills. They are also great kids and I cannot speak highly enough of them. Make sure you check their unbelievable talent on Instagram: @benrichards265 and @tomrichards696

What is your favourite FMX trick and why?
That’s a hard one. Upright, I love most grab tricks but the Rock Solid is near the top. I’ve been loving doing Flairs lately, too. With all the spinning and the technical side of it, it definitely feels cool to do. But I think everyone will agree that when you pull of a big old-school Whip; that has to be up there as the best feeling on the bike.

Who is the most influential rider in your eyes?
Travis Pastrana definitely shaped the sport into what it is by always pushing the limit. Bilko was a badass back in the day with the biggest tricks at the time, and now I feel Pages has moulded the new era of FMX with the quarter-pipes and Body Varial.

What do you believe is the most crucial area of being a good rider?
Just to enjoy it. We all ride to have fun and usually when you’re relaxed and feeling good, you ride well.

You have been riding competitions for a while now, so tell me what has been your favourite major competition?
X-Fighters was a great experience, because it’s the pinnacle of our sport. I loved every minute of it.

Have you had any gnarly crashes over the years?
Touch wood, nothing too bad. I seem to bounce.

What is the highlight of your career so far? And your favourite riding memory?
Definitely Mexico City X-Fighters – 42,000 fans and probably 30,000 chainsaws all crammed into a bullfighting arena! It was an unbelievable experience and an electric atmosphere. The Freestyle des Nations in Germany was great last year, and the Nitro Circus tour is always fun to get weird on.

What would you like to see more of in the Australian FMX scene?
It would be great to see the AUFMX back up and running again. It provided a stepping-stone to up-and-comers and great exposure. We have some of the best compounds and courses here in Australia, so to see at least one Pro event of a technical course would be awesome.

What riding plans have you got for the rest of the year?
I’ll be riding the Tri Nations in September, which I’m looking forward to, and just learning more big tricks.