https://www.gtbicycles.com/usa_en/goods-gear/bike-parts-components

Rob Harris - Youth of Today Interview

"No idea how I didn’t get mugged, a 15 year old dragging around a broken bike is probably an easy target."

17 Nov 2015

Rob-Harris-Smith-Hard-360-DIG-BMX-NW

Rob keeping it 100 with the smith hard 360.

Photos by Nick Wotton Intro and Interview by Devin Feil

Rob Harris is a quick study, picking up BMX at an incredibly fast rate, all the while fueling his progression with meals at the world's largest fast food chain. Rob's developed a level of bike control that will leave many of his older peers jealous, already produced a full length video with his friends, travelled to Spain to ride, and he's got a couple of teenage years left to go. In conjunction with the release of a DIG exclusive video we decided to properly introduce this motivated young man...

Name, age, location?

Rob Harris, 17, from Chepstow in Wales

How long have you been riding BMX?

I’ve been riding BMX for just about 2 years now.

I was told you rode trials prior, do you think that's helped with your riding now? And in what ways?

Yeah, I rode for a company called inspired before I got a BMX aha. It definitely helped though, I always took influence from BMX so when I actually got on one everything became so much easier.

Cam Wheeler manning the VX at Park Grove.

Success on both sides of the lens.

Rob-Harris-Hard-180-Barspin-DIG-BMX-NW

Rail to hard 180 barspin on a gem of a spot.

How'd you come up with the name DSOTG, Dark Side Of The Goon?

Well, I have always been really into Pink Floyd, and I guess because of that I just came up with Dark Side Of The Goon. We all started writing dsotg everywhere and it just stuck.

So what is this I heard about you getting lost in Barcelona?

It was the last day of the trip and pretty late, like 2am. I’d got a puncture and a snapped chain, so I decided to walk back to the apartment, but didn’t think that it was at least an hour away and I have no sense of direction. I ended up wandering around till 6am, with no phone or money. No idea how I didn’t get mugged, a 15 year old dragging around a broken bike is probably an easy target. On the plus side I now know every homeless guy in the city haha.

Who'd you travel there with? Did Spain live up to the hype?

There were about 9 of us, me and Jordan both wanted to film for the dsotg video at the time and pretty much everyone ended up getting clips which was sick. That was pretty much all the local scene consisted of at the time, minus a few. Spain definitely did live up to the hype! I wish I could afford to go back right now, you can’t go anywhere without finding something to ride.

Tell us about your eating habits, is it true you are a big fan of McDonald’s?

Oh dear haha, you could say so. I’ll blame it entirely on Jordan Godwin and his awful diet though, definitely a bad influence. I’m pretty much addicted to any greasy food from that place now.

Quick crook under some gray skies.

Smile Rob, the drive-thru is probably still open.

Related Video

Rob Harris - DIG 'Youth Of Today' Video

17 years old and not scared! - More Info

Is your Youth Of Today video the longest you've spent on a video part of yourself?

Yeah it definitely is, there was never really a rush to finish but me and Cam have been working away slowly for a while now. The only real project I’ve worked on before was the dsotg video, I think I was way more hyped putting everyone else’s clips together and as a result didn’t end up putting much effort into my part. I definitely push my riding way more now.

What will you be working on next? Any new DSOTG projects?

I want to get another full length video out at some point, I’m going to work on that for as long as possible and hopefully make it something that everyone involved is happy with. That should be a 20-30 minute video with sections from all my friends. I have soooo many ideas for it already so I guess we’ll start stacking asap, it’s hard in the winter since the days are short and the weather sucks. Hopefully we can get a trip sorted to kick things off with that video soon though.

Thanks or shout outs?

I wanna say thanks to Cam Wheeler for smashing it behind the VX, and also to Nick Wotton for shooting the photo’s for this interview. All my friends and everyone I ride with. My parents for giving me lifts everywhere and my girlfriend for putting up with me constantly ditching her for a kids bike. Also big thanks to Devin and DIG for running this interview.

Rob-Harris-McDonalds-DIG-BMX-NW

Mickey D's induced food coma.

"I’ll blame it entirely on Jordan Godwin and his awful diet though, definitely a bad influence. I’m pretty much addicted to any greasy food from that place now."

Previous

Brad Simms: Have Bike - Will Travel

"How I wanna act… why don’t you tell me how you wanna act?"

Next

HARO FREESTYLER AUCTION

Your chance to own a piece of history and support and good cause..

Related Content

Rob harris BMX toothy hang DS
Play Button

Rob Harris - DIG 'Youth Of Today' Video

17 years old and not scared!

17 Nov 2015
YALETAPE-V1-uk-street-bmx-jordan-godwin
Play Button

YATETAPE V1 - UK Street

Dont ask questions, just watch

30 Sep 2015
FELIX PRANGENBERG SCREEN
Play Button

Felix Prangenberg - DIG 'Youth Of Today' Video

Proving that age really is just a number...

23 Jun 2015
Felix-Prangenberg-Youth-of-Today-06-X

Felix Prangenberg - Youth of Today Interview

When your Dad looks out for the cops while you get a clip...

23 Jun 2015
jordan-godwin-dsotg
Play Button

DSOTG - Jordan Godwin

Man on a mission

15 Apr 2015
Stephan-August-DIG-BMX-Youth-Of-Today-180-thumbnail
Play Button

DIG Presents - Youth Of Today - Stephan August Video

Presenting one of Southern California's most promising young riders...

10 Feb 2015
Stephan-August-DIG-BMX-Youth-Of-Today-Lifestyle-1-DF

Youth Of Today - Stephan August Interview

Fuck a Super Bowl. Let's ride...

10 Feb 2015
DSOTG-Video
Play Button

DSOTG Video

Kids these days are crazy...

7 Jan 2015
http://colonybmx.com.au/products/

Latest Content

25wcj Qjx ZE8hqdefault
Play Button
Qie D Gmn Pwh Yhqdefault
Play Button

What's Happenin' at LUXBMX - Episode 3

Bike builds, Cribs update, Boyd Hilder and Josh Dove

8 Aug 2023
M Cc J0c N Va U Mhqdefault
Play Button

odyssey bmx - BROC RAIFORD - INCINERATE

part three of the Broc trilogy

7 Aug 2023
5 Gz W Fo N65 X Qhqdefault
Play Button

LATANE COGHILL | ANIMAL BIKES - 'LET EM HAVE IT'

Closing things out

7 Aug 2023
Z2tvoo4 Cco4hqdefault
Play Button
5u8 Qlcv L Us Ehqdefault
Play Button

S&M bikes - factory Friday - pond fest prep

Production & Pondfest

5 Aug 2023
7bmaqb S Cmgohqdefault
Play Button

Dennis Enarson - greatest hits 2023

Revisiting the vlog

5 Aug 2023
UC Fa Awhdohqdefault
Play Button

Subrosa - big boy - just livin’

Straight to the pedals

4 Aug 2023
Am V8ig G7 Yzkhqdefault
Play Button

Profile racing - Shane’s Day - episode 10

“We’re here, let’s rumble”

4 Aug 2023
Acz8g4 nyohqdefault
Play Button

S&M bikes - chris childs - built different

Wild in the streets

3 Aug 2023
Dan Banks USA 16 THUMB
Play Button

Dan Banks visits California - 'IN THE CUT'

A quick-fire Los Angeles exploration with Dan Banks

3 Aug 2023
IN PHOTOS: RINCON REAL BMX at XGAMES
IN PHOTOS: RINCON REAL BMX at XGAMES
IN PHOTOS: RINCON REAL BMX at XGAMES
IN PHOTOS: RINCON REAL BMX at XGAMES

IN PHOTOS: RINCON REAL BMX at XGAMES

The wildest hour of BMX ever televised?!

3 Aug 2023

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Dig book cover mock better CROP

DIG - THIS BIKE COULD BE YOUR LIFE - PRE-ORDER NOW OPEN

An all new photo book from DIG focusing on 30 years of D.I.Y. BMX culture

4 Aug 2023
Greystoke 1 stack low

GREYSTOKE BMX MAGAZINE - ISSUE 1 OUT NOW

A new magazine from DIG for BMX Lifers

29 Jul 2023
Boh bmx 2023 leader
JUGGERNAUT PEDAL 8

PRODUCTIVITY: ECLAT JUGGERNAUT PEDALS

A firm footing courtesy of Jordan Godwin and Eclat

27 Jul 2023
Bsd loading bay jam DIG SIZE

WELCOME TO GLASGOW - 30 YEARS OF DIG EXHIBITION & BSD Jam

See you at THE LOADING BAY on August 4th

8 Jul 2023
Kai 2

Yang Chun Kai Bike Check

Eclat's Taiwan Connect

4 Jul 2023
2015 FFF JEHU by sandy carson

IN MEMORY - RICK FROBERG

Paying our respects to a musician/artist who has had a huge influence on DIG

2 Jul 2023
Broc retaliate leader image

BROC RAIFORD TALKS 'RETALIATE'

"I don't know how to describe what I feel when a clip just has "it" but not all of them do."

30 Jun 2023
Dan Banks USA setups 2023 15

SETUPS - Dan Banks

Dan Banks goes stateside!

28 Jun 2023
Eclat Slash Alloy pedal group 01

PRODUCTIVITY: ECLAT SLASH ALLOY PEDAL

Save the dolphins!

22 Jun 2023
Tire fps cn6710wht

PRODUCTIVITY: CINEMA FPS TIRES

Introducing Cinema's all new FPS tire

21 Jun 2023
Cinema aspect headset grid

PRODUCTIVITY: CINEMA ASPECT HEADSET

Cinema's flat stack headset up close

21 Jun 2023