FMX Insider No.34: Erick Ruiz Interview

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

It’s been over five years now since I first saw the young Mexican FMX rider, Erick Ruiz, pop up on social media. At only 14 years old he was throwing down big tricks such as Dead Body Varials, Scorpion Double Grabs and huge Christ Airs on board his YZ125. He had his own fresh, flowing style, riding in tight black jeans and twisting his body in such unique positions. Erick, now 19, has evolved into a well-established freestyle motocross athlete, competing on the world’s biggest FMX platform; the Red Bull X-Fighters. He now rides a KTM 250SX and performs tricks such as Backflips, Tsunamis and is one of the very few riders to pull off the The Volt (Body Varial). I recently caught up with ‘the new kid on the block’ to chat about the first round of the 2015 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour…

Ben: Erick, how did the opportunity arise for you to contest the Red Bull X-Fighters in Mexico City?

Erick: I heard X-Fighters was coming back to my city and I always dreamed of this for years. So Red Bull was my sponsor at that moment and they invited me.

How many years have you been competing in the event?

Three years now with this last one.

Has this been something you have always wanted to do as a young FMX rider?

Yes, it was one of my life goals. X-fighters came for the first time to Mexico in 2005. Even before I started riding FMX I went to the event for three years like a normal guy and then in 2008 I started jumping my first ramps. Then after eight years of dreaming and five of working hard, I was on the arena living my dream and not anymore on the seats.

I see you rode in a warm up demonstration for the X-fighters opening, which would have been a fun way to kick off the event!

Of course! It’s always cool to do a warm up event to show to the city and the media what we can do and what this event is about. Also for my local sponsors! We used my Fresh&Flow FMX setup and the location was so sick! In the middle of the City Forest on Sunday. It was epic!

Your body varials are sick! How long have you been doing them and were they a hard trick to learn?

Thanks man. In the beginning of 2013 I decided to give my first tries to The Volt and then two months after I did it at X-Fighters in 2014, Mexico. Yes, they’re hard. I have a lot of respect for these kinds of tricks. Too much hard hits on the foam pit learning them and some crazy histories. It’s difficult to say. The Volt took me four days to land it perfect on the pit and the Cali Roll on the first day after just three tries. But then it’s different to do it and master it, so you need to work hard in the pit everyday for some months to do it like a normal trick. I mean, to master body varials it’s all about talent and hard work. Then also it’s very different doing them at a show than a competition because doing them against the clock, TV and judges is a mission.

How was the experience riding on the night? Did the nerves kick in? Talk us through your run.

It was as cool and unique as every year! For me, the nerves are the days before the event. But the night of the event is the more easy. The feeling to go on the top of the landing and be watched by 45,000 spectators cheering you and chanting your name; puts down all the nerves and you feel confident and something special. It is a lifetime experience!

You had a pretty nasty fall, so what happened?

My goal this year was give my all on the Qualifier, so I can place on the top eight and go to the event more relaxed and with a better result. So my plan was to put two body varials on my run and four normal tricks. The Volt to clicker on the super kicker and the Cali Roll on the long distance! Unfortunately, I crashed on The Volt and hit my body pretty hard. I stood up and felt something wrong with my coccyx. Later we find out I was just super sore but okay to ride the next day. So the next day I stood up and felt the consequences. But didn’t throw the towel. I went that morning to the arena and tried to ride and it was possible. I was very happy! So after all this, my head was not okay anymore to go big on the event and throw my best tricks. I played safe this time.

How was the competition? Was it hard riding against so many other world class riders?

It was an amazing experience! For sure, it’s difficult! I was riding with some of the best riders on this planet. In my opinion it’s the Formula 1 of our sport. I started hitting ramps when some of these guys were doing Double Backflips and body varials. So it will always will be hard to give competition to these guys; but not impossible.

Were there any stand-out moments for you? What was your favourite part about the Red Bull X-Fighters?

Yes a few! When you go out and see all these people screaming and cheering you and when I decided to go big on the qualifications. Also meeting Charles Pages and receiving good feedback from him about my decisions and riding. Oh, and the afterparty!

Are you planning on riding any more of the rounds this year?

I’m not invited, but I would love it! Now I’m focusing a lot of my time selling shows with my brand Fresh&Flow and give more and more FMX to my country!