It’s been hard to keep up with all the new talent popping up on the gram lately, where have these ladies been! If you don’t know Amanda O’Neill, then you gotta check her out on Instagram. This budding talent started riding only just a few years ago, and she’s one to watch. Learn more about this 20-year-old rider from Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Let’s start with the basics, how did you get into riding?
Growing up I was always surrounded by bikes/dirtbikes in the neighborhood and my dad grew up riding BMX. When I was 13 years old my neighbor and I rode by a skatepark near my house. We watched some kids ride the ramps and it sparked a new interest as I had never seen anything like that before or any girls doing it. For my 14th birthday, my dad surprised me with a BMX bike so I could start going to the park. Being a girl trying to figure out how to ride with all the boys was pretty difficult. I figured they wanted nothing to do with me because I was a girl. I was completely wrong. I was scared but those boys eventually became family. I didn’t have social media or any idea of how big BMX really was I just knew all I wanted to do was ride. People didn’t really understand why I would go to the skatepark and the way I always dressed, and always being with the boys. Riding made me so happy, it was an escape from everything going on in life. High school came, I stopped riding because I cared too much about what others thought, I played sports and did things all the other girls were doing to try and fit in more. After graduating, Covid hit. I was out of work and it felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. My friend and I went to our local BMX shop with the intention of buying a few parts for an old BMX bike. I had to try and get back into it, and I ended up leaving with a brand new bike. From that day on I started going to The Edge Skatepark, an indoor park.
Photos by @cappsphoto
I started progressing a lot and I didn’t care what people thought anymore because it made me happy. As I got into the social media side of BMX more, I saw how many talented girls there were riding. I wondered what would happen if I posted a video of myself riding. I was pretty scared and lacked confidence but ended up posting my first Instagram reel, I got so much love and support. After I started progressing more and pushing myself out of my comfort zone, it gave me confidence with so many things in life. I began to talk to some amazing people through Instagram as my videos started reaching more riders. I started to ride every day and found myself learning more and more. When I was introduced to USABMX Freestyle, I had no idea what it was about then started learning more about it, but never thought I would be able to compete as I didn’t believe in myself enough. In May of 2021 I competed at one of the competitions at Woodward East, it was my first time traveling with my bike and riding in front of new people. That competition felt unreal and like a dream. It introduced me to a whole new world, and I got to meet and ride with the best in the country. After that competition, I knew that BMX was something I wanted to do and pursue more in life.
Congrats also for placing second at the 2021 USA BMX Freestyle championships, what’s the game plan for 2022?
When it comes to getting ready for competitions, I like to push myself out of my comfort zone and ride harder to prepare myself. I lacked confidence in myself in the 2021 competitions as it was a whole new world for me. This year I am ready and confident in myself to do the best run I can do. I will believe in myself more with things I struggle with when it comes to riding.
How would you describe your riding style, who are your influences?
If I could describe my riding style I’d say freestyle and flow, I love to go fast and the feeling of being in the air. Some riders that have been an influence for me, who have made me love BMX more are Chris Childs, Ryan Nyquist, Dennis Enarson, especially the girls Angie Marino, Nikita Ducarroz, and Perris Benegas
What are your top 5 songs to get you pumped?
5 go-to songs that play in my headphones to get me hyped are:
- Life Goes On by Lil Baby
- Hollywood’s Bleeding by Post-Malone
- Whatever it Takes by Imagine Dragons
- Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo
- Don’t Leave Me by Kaivon
I lurked your Insta and its clear bikes are a big part of your life, not just BMX but MTB too. Do you consider yourself primarily one or the other and where do you want to take BMX and MTB?
Riding is a huge part of my life and continues to become a bigger part as I put my focus more every day on riding. BMX is primarily what I ride but I love to ride both BMX and MTB. I just recently got into mountain biking this past year and love it already. I hope to take both as far as I can and whatever riding has in store for me!
Where would we typically find you riding?
You will find me riding my local outdoor, Foxboro Skatepark in the warmer weather or The Edge Indoor Skatepark during the winter season. My favorite park would have to be my local skatepark, Foxboro Skatepark, where it has given me my best friends, the most memorable sessions as well as pushed me to learn more as a rider.
@bmx.bubby wants to know your worst slam so far?
I’ve been very lucky when it comes to riding, one injury I have been faced with which continues to affect my riding is dislocating my shoulder while learning tailwhips. I have dislocated my shoulder a handful of times as of now, it has affected me mentally when it comes to trying new things but I have spent the time after the injury doing harder workouts that help my body be in the shape it needs to be when taking a slam, which I do pretty often but my body is more tolerable due to exercising/training and mental awareness.
@Tuckerfranciss wants to know who might be your dream company or companies you’d like to ride for someday?
A few companies I dream of riding for would definitely be Vans, Odyssey, and Profile Racing. I would be grateful to have fun and ride for any company as it has become a dream of mine.
Where do you want to take BMX, do you have any hopes and dreams to grow in it?
BMX has changed my life in such a short time and has given me opportunities to travel around the country meeting and riding with the coolest, most amazing people. I would love to continue traveling with my bike, keep progressing, and hope to get sponsored someday but most importantly have as much fun competing and riding as I can. I am going to give 100% this year to riding to become the best I can be to my ability so I can continue to make this my lifestyle as it has made my life so much better.
