Any rider who attempts a front flip must be a little loco. It has to be one of the most hit-and-miss tricks in the business as a select few have found out. Hit you’re a legend, miss you’re one sore puppy — and as young Aussie FMX rider Jackson ‘Jacko’ Strong has found out over the past 12 months that executing a forward flip ain’t the easiest trick in the book. Strong dedicated most of his 2010 season trying to perfect the front flip, and after many scary mishaps he finally looked to have it dialed towards the end of the Australia Crusty Demons tour, where he rode away from it in Sydney for only the second time on tour.
Now we’re looking down the barrel of the 2011 season and it’s time for riders to lock in their plans for the year ahead. Will Jacko continue where he left off? Did his regular tricks suffer after putting in too much time into the front flip? What bike is he riding in 2011? Why isn’t he in America riding the Nuclear Cowboyz Tour? We pulled him aside to find out the answers to these questions and more.
Jacko, last time we spoke you were nearing the end of the 2010 Crusty tour and working hard on perfecting the front flip. Are you happy where you left off with that trick?
Strong: Yeah, but I was having trouble with the resi mats, it was really hit and miss. On one hand they’ll save you if you crash, on the other if you don’t land on them 100 per cent right they’ll cause you to crash. The other problem I was having was drifting off line taking off from the double wide ramp and landing on the thicker resi mats on the side, which pretty much brings the bike to a stop, bouncing me over the front.
Do you think you have it dialed enough to remove the resi mats?
The mats are good security with a trick like the front flip, but I feel like I’m getting to the point where I know I can rotate perfect every time, so it’s kind of like they’ve been holding me back a bit as it’s harder to ride away from the trick. I think it’s time I move forwards and remove them.
Pulling your second front flip of the tour at the last stop in Sydney was a nice way to end the year, huh?
Yeah for sure, it was a good way to tie up 2010, and now my focus is all on 2011 and a fresh start pulling off bigger and better things than I’ve ever done before.
Looking back on the 2010 season are you happy with what you achieved?
I was definitely pumped on sorting out the front flip in 2010, but crashing at X Games was a bummer, but that happens, and I look back and try to learn from it rather than get down about it. I was happy with my Red Bull X-Fighters debut in Madrid, and I’m hoping to ride more of those events in 2011. Last year, because a lot of my time was taken up learning the front flip, my regular tricks suffered and I wasn’t riding my best at events like X-Fighters. Since the Crusty tour I’ve been putting a lot more focus back into learning new tricks and perfecting my old ones so I’ll be a lot stronger when I do get a crack at the bigger comps in 2011.
Have you got any new tricks dialed?
Just a couple of flip tricks I didn’t have down before and tidying everything up. I’ve also built a bunch of dirt hits on my course in Australia so I can get a good feel for riding dirt courses.
We hear a rumor you’ll be riding Yamaha’s — what’s the deal with that?
Nothing is confirmed as of yet. I’m in negotiations with Yamaha right now to see if I can work out a deal for 2011, so stay tuned on this one.
What’s happening with America, aren’t you supposed to be on the Nuclear Cowboyz Tour right now?
I’m supposed to be on the Cowboyz tour and I was really looking forward to it, but some idiot who was processing my visa screwed it up. America is basically sick of me, I’ve over stayed my holiday visa, and my athlete visa is just about done, so once I get it all sorted I’ll be back there by mid-March if all goes to plan.
Will you stay at Brian Deegan’s house once you return?
Yeah at first, but I plan to buy my own house so I can set myself up more permanently over there. America is the place to be for FMX so my plan is to spend six months of the year there and six months back home as I really love it in Oz, plus there’s still plenty of opportunities to be had here.
So it’s head down training for now and then ramp things up when you hit the States?
Yeah, once I get back over there I’ll be training more with the Mulisha guys. I’ve got some shows lined up in Europe — they’re like the equivalent to the Crusty shows in Oz, so they’ll be fun. I feel fit and healthy and plan to kick some goals, and keep it that way during 2011 for as long as possible.
Anyone you’d like to shout out to before we rap this up?
Yeah, keep an eye out for regular updates on my site www.jackostrong.com, plus you can follow me on twitter.com/jackostrong and I’d like to thank these guys for helping me out — Metal Mulisha, MSR, Etnies, Rockstar, Pro Taper, Motul, Crusty, Cango Sheds, Wagga Motors, Holden, my family and girlfriend Amy.
