ZEBRA PANTS
I remember being really young watching the X-Games – I always liked the crazy-looking guys. I was a big fan of Kyle Loza in FMX. I think I'm just the type of person who goes for what they want without caring too much about what people say, so sometimes that ends up with me in zebra pants and stuff (haha). My uncle, who rides jet skis, used to wear wild pants too, and I was a big fan of his style – so maybe that’s where the influence started when I was young!
FIRST CRAZY THING
My dad made me some custom bikes and clothing when I was racing BMX, and I loved it every time. I'm pretty sure that’s what got me into custom and different-looking stuff. It just felt cool to have unique gear!
HYPE FOR EVERYONE
Tommy G isn’t the most social guy I know, but our friendship is strong because we both love biking so much we’d even share a sesh on a DH bike in a parking lot. (Haha.) We might both be a bit crazy, so we get along well. He’s a huge inspiration to me on the bike, and we love riding together and giving each other advice. I just wish he’d like to party a bit more (haha).
The craziest moment for me was my first Red Bull Joyride – it felt like a dream I could hardly believe! The wildest thing I’ve seen was Nicholi’s Joyride run in 2019. He took first after his first run, then Brett went first with an insane run, and Nicholi just kept adding more until he clinched the win. Insane vibe!
INSPIRATION & LIFESTYLE
The things around us inspire us and shape our lifestyle... What things do you think affect you the most? There’s huge hype around fashion, like streetwear meets high fashion, and in music, rap is massive these days. Are there any trends that are super popular but not really your thing?
STRATOS WORLDWIDE
Can you introduce Stratos Worldwide to us? Is it just another crazy project of yours?
Of course, I’ve been influenced by the rap world – I always need music, whether I’m riding or just going about my day. Silence isn’t really my thing (haha). I got into it because I liked seeing people with their own unique style and approach to life, not caring what others think. As a fan of aliens and having my own clothing style, I wanted to create something I could proudly wear, with aliens on it. Now, I see Stratos more like a gang, and I’m stoked when I see someone vibing with the Stratos style!
LIL MOINE
So, here we are – who is Lil Moine? Tell us more about him! For those who aren’t into rap, how would you describe your style and lyrics? And what are your plans for Lil Moine?
As a huge fan of rap music and someone who’s always on the move, I started listening to beats without lyrics and doing freestyle on my own. Eventually, I thought I should actually write a song, so I went to the studio and discovered a whole new world. It felt amazing to be a beginner again, with so much to learn. Rap fits perfectly with the times I’m not riding, like when I’m tired, it’s raining, or I’m injured! I just want to keep getting better, and my songs are mostly about my life and my friends (haha).
RIDING
What’s next for Tomas Lemoine in riding? At Crankworx, you chase slopestyle but also crush it in pump track and speed and style – you’ve got solid results and the ambition to be the Crankworx king! You even showed your skills at a BMX contest. Can you tell us more about that? What about some freeride/DH events? Any plans beyond slopestyle?
I just love to ride any kind of bike. I’m curious, so I’m always open to new adventures, contests, smaller or bigger bikes. This year, I’ve been riding a big bike a lot more, and I’m starting to love it and feel comfortable on it. My dream goal is to make it to Rampage!
MTB – OLD SCHOOL VS. NEW FEATURES
Huge jumps, drops, and tricks – obviously, you like crazy stuff. The progress in riding these past years has been insane. We’re seeing massive tricks and creative moves with things like the freecoaster. We’ve also seen loops and open loops in some events, but riders seem to have issues clearing them. If you could customize a slopestyle event, what features would you add?
I’d love some new features, and to bring back some old-school slopestyle courses but with the experience and tech that builders have now. It’d be awesome to mix in some skatepark-style features into slopestyle courses so we’d have more opportunities to get creative and really show our style instead of just going for the biggest tricks. That’s just my opinion (haha).
HAVE FUN
In life, you have to stay true to yourself! Have fun and enjoy it… Is there anything you want to say to fans, readers, or anyone out there who might need a little push to go after what they want?
To all the kids out there – there are no excuses! If you want something, make it happen and work hard for it. Nothing comes easy, but motivation will help you achieve it!
Peace!
Cheers,
Tomas