Underrated
It’s a word that gets thrown around too much. That so and so is underrated when in reality there is probably about a few hundred other guys around the world who are at their level. Doing the same tricks in the same clothes but for whatever reasons they’re not a professional. Maybe they live in Lithuania or Kansas, or listens to ICP. It could be anything really, such is the fickle nature of the being a BMX industry it seems like. I don’t think anyone can be underrated and be easily replaced at the same time. It just doesn’t make sense. Underrated should be a rider with real credentials. Someone’s whose riding stands alone but for whatever reasons isn’t given that same pedestal other legends in the same boat. Underrated is not some kook who had a few good tricks at Vans skatepark in California. I believe in the power of language and to for underrated to relegated to something like that. Eh. There is a rider who I think is truly underrated. Obviously you already know cause his section is posted above but yea. BK is mad underrated.
He’s like modern day Jim Cielencki, a true one of a kind street rider but just not given that ‘cool pass’ that edgy teenager that consist of the BMX demographics give. Which doesn’t really make sense cause his riding is like a modern day Dave Young, a legend that people still make t-shirts using his name value alone. BK is too normal for his own good in BMX. A hobby that often likes to parallel sponsorship to inner city gang struggles, BK is not that. Just a regular honest hardworking individual who truly worked himself to get where he is. No gimmicks at all. His riding speaks tremendously alone. It makes him all that much more interesting and respectable in my opinion but that differs with common attitudes who’d rather see what Backwood their favorite pro is smoking.
Modern riding styles also conflict with BK’s own personal style. It’s megaramp in the streets. It’s absolute aggro in even the most go big go home style riders. Those riders are a dime a dozen and what BK does on the handrails is not relatable at all. In his generation that type of riding was definitely more popular and respected but today’s riding focuses more on technical riding on small ledges not the attitude of conquering the biggest rail. The fact that he hasn’t really conformed to any trends makes his riding that much more memorable cause who really rides rails like that anymore? Maybe Sean Burns and a few Bone Deth guys but that’s I don’t think anyone on the level of Brian. It’s a riding that is universal cause it’s fear inducing. One day all this smith nose bars, it’s just gonna be another trick that people did at the time. BK’s riding is timeless cause at the very root of BMX street, he’s still progressing upon that. Not some fad or momentary thing. Like the handrail is never gonna go away. The standard to be a good street rider is just that. When Mat Hoffman did the first rail. That still resonates. When Dave Young did Nowhere Fast, that clearly still resonates too. Brian is just an extension of all that. Van Homan, Josh Heino, Sean Burns all these riders who are still timeless have been able to tap into that fear induced riding that is universal to everyone, even non riders. An everyday person is not gonna care if someone does a oppo smith nose switch bar but if they saw Brian on one his rails they automatically get it. It’s a real show to everyone.
Brian Kachinsky
Hold On by Windor For Derby / Facing Up To The Facts by Beehatch / Dizzy Street by Silje Nes / Full On by Samien
Props - Issue 70
Edited by Chris Rye
