I’ve said it before, the first quarter of the year is always exciting with team changes and new sponsors, and since the Olympics, we’re FINALLY seeing companies recognizing the value that women in BMX are bringing. I’m very excited to share this quick chat I had with Joey Cobbs, he’s the Team & Content Manager for Haro BMX and in this chat, he gives us insight on where Haro is heading.
It feels like Haro is trying to dominate by bringing on Keir Sirlin and recently Perris Benegas to the team. Could you take us into your decision in supporting not just one but two freestyle BMXers.
Well for a while now we have wanted to do more to support women’s freestyle but we wanted to be sure and do it in a way that didn’t feel forced and that made sense for both Haro and the riders. So it wasn’t so much that we were trying to “dominate” but rather we just wanted to do things the right way… haha. So after giving it some thought and speaking with a few people to gain a bit more perspective, it made the most sense to me to try and bring on a top-level pro rider along with the up and coming, next-generation rider. That of course is easier said than done, and obviously, the choice to ride for Haro is not mine to make but is for the riders to decide. And so after the Olympic year was over and the dust settled from Tokyo, we reached out to Perris to discuss our plans and see if our plans lined up with her goals as a rider. And then just by chance, we were planning a team trip to visit Nyquist out in Wilmington NC, where the team was able to really meet, ride with, and hang out with Perris and everything fit just too perfectly. After Perris was on board we spoke with Keir and her family about their plans and if they would like to be a part of what we have in the works and they were into the idea too. And so it’s all come together in the last month or two and things are already rockin!
I’m sure there are some young riders hoping to be noticed one day, as a team manager what’s your advice on getting noticed? What does Haro look for and what do Perris and Keir have that helps them stand out?
That is the million-dollar question that I wish had a simple answer that didn’t involve me rambling on for pages and pages. But basically, I always have an eye out for talented riders that are nice to other riders, fun to ride with, involved with the sport, and bring something new to the table. When you have that mix… being a good person, a talented rider, involved in your scene and you have your own riding style, then companies will want to be a part of what you’re doing. And then BOOM!! – SPONSORED – But DON’T LET THAT WORD FOOL YOU! When you’re sponsored, that is when companies EXPECT you to ride at that top-level ALL THE TIME. Getting sponsored is NOT the end game, it’s literally just the beginning for any pro rider, getting sponsored is when the work really begins, and for some riders, that’s when they realize that it’s more fun and free to ride for themselves than ride for a company, and that’s totally ok too.
I always have an eye out for talented riders that are nice to other riders, fun to ride with, involved with the sport, and bring something new to the table.
It’s important for riders to be honest with themselves about what they really want from riding and what a sponsor would do to help or hurt what they’re doing… So sponsorship is not for everyone and isn’t the end game for every rider. Enjoying BMX and having fun on bikes is always the goal. Both Perris and Keir ride for fun first, they’re both awesome people who are nice to other riders and are fun to ride with, and both of them have their own unique riding style that separates them from the rest. And so it was those traits that put both riders on our radar, and then when we spoke to them both about our future plans and what their goals are with their riding, everything lined up perfectly and just made sense. That is when we knew that Perris and Keir joining the team was the right move and we are beyond stoked that they chose to join our team! And so now we can start collaborating with them both to make awesome stuff for BMX and hopefully encourage more riders, girls and boys, to pick up a bike and try out this awesome sport called Freestyle BMX.
With Brooke Crains’s recent retirement from late last year, are there plans to refill that spot with another racer. Are you currently flowing any ladies?
Yes and Yes. Right now we have a pretty tight-knit race team with 3 women and 2 men on the roster. Brooke Craft, Maddie DeSantis, and Derin Merten all round out the female side and Anthony Bucardo and Kam Larsen on the men’s side. We are looking for another pro-level racer to fill Brooke Crain’s spot on the team but have not found the right fit at this time and so we aren’t rushing it.
“We are looking for another pro-level racer to fill Brooke Crain’s spot on the team but have not found the right fit at this time and so we aren’t rushing it.”
I don’t know if my heart can take any more surprises from Haro but is that it for 2022, is there going to be another rider announcement – male or female?
In the immediate future no. But like I mentioned in the previous question, we do want to add another pro-level female racer to our team but just haven’t found the right person yet.
What can we expect, if you’re able to hint at all, any future plans Haro may have, including product drops and especially plans with Perris & Keir.
We have already started developing products with both Perris and Keir and beyond that, we really just want to support any ideas or projects they would like to pursue as riders. In addition to that, we plan to get them in the mix on any team projects and trips that we have in the works. Perris will be joining the team on our next team trip which kicks off in a couple of days in Bogota Colombia, which should be pretty awesome so keep an eye out for the content from that trip.
