The 2024 Bloom BMX Awards celebrated an incredible year for women in BMX, and one of the most thrilling moments was crowning not one but two Street Riders of the Year – an award made possible with the generous support of Vans, Kink BMX, Fit Bike Co, Odyssey BMX, and GT Bicycles.
Linda Grabner tied with Bethany Hedrick for this category, a testament to how much women’s street is rapidly growing. At just 24 years old, Linda has carved out a name for herself in the BMX world. Originally from Bad Aussee, Austria, she’s now based in Cologne. Supported by Vans, Wethepeople, Odyssey, Doomed, let’s get to know her more.
How did you get into BMX? I danced hip hop and breakdance for a while and planned to go to a workshop from a French b-boy. The workshop was pretty far away from my hometown so we stayed at the house of my friend’s boyfriend and he was a BMX rider. In the evening we went to the skatepark and I tried to ride a little bit. 2 months later I bought my own bike and was hooked. A few months later I stopped dancing because I spent all my time at the skatepark. I think I was 18 at the time.
What languages do you speak? German and English
Your top three parks?
- Allmend Skatepark – Zurich
- Salatschüssel – Cologne
- Cage – Salzburg
Top three songs on your playlist?
- Malik Song by Funkvater and OG Keemo
- Gorilla Song by Little Simz
- Mann vom Fach Song by Joshua Allery and Levin Liam
Three people who inspire you and why?
- Anahi Valentina – We always push each other. I admire the fight she has within her.
- Jordan Godwin – I am terrified of rails. The way he is so confident and calculated in riding them impresses me every time, no matter how often I see him ride or film stuff on handrails. Also just a really cool human.
- My Grandma – She is a really strong and smart woman. I think I learned a lot from her growing up.
What is a trend in BMX you want to stop seeing? Posting your hardest stuff on instagram instead of filming it for a video.
What do you do when you’re not riding? Just like being outside. I enjoy hiking and skiing. I also really like my job as a joiner and spending time in the workshop.
Favourite person to ride or train with? Anyone who is funny and enjoys riding!
Favourite shoes to ride in? Vans Half Cap or Vans Zahba Mid
Best advice given to you? Be patient with yourself – My Mom
Your biggest fear? Airing over coping haha
Your proudest accomplishment? Regaining my confidence after my crash in Lyon and not being able to ride for nearly 2 years. Being able to overcome fear is probably the best feeling ever.
Your worst habit? Listening to the same 3 songs on repeat until I obsess with the next 3.
If you could hire someone to help you in some aspect of your life, what would it be? A person who gets all the adult stuff done for me. Paperwork, insurance stuff, taxes and everything haha.
What is a memorable experience you had that couldn’t have happened without BMX? The past 6 years in total! All the people I met, every trip and all those memories. My life would be really different now if I wouldn’t have picked up a bike.
Your top three future goals you want to achieve? I don’t really know, I don’t have any specific goals. Just take it one day at a time and ride my bike as much as possible. Work more on Cliché, learn how to film and edit and hopefully be able to travel to as many events and jams this year as possible.
