A while ago, I was shooting a photo with someone. They called the trick out, but were having second thoughts and were on the verge of backing out. Then Sam Lowe stepped in and told the guy that everyone knew he was scared. Now I’m paraphrasing, but Sam said that being scared, and saying “fuck it” was pretty much what BMX was about. The technical side of riding BMX is easy, finding something that scares the shit out you and conquering fear, is basically why we’re on these bikes. Now, I wouldn’t hold Sam to it, maybe he was just fucking with the guy’s head to make him step up. Either way, sincere or not, what Sam said stuck with me because I think it’s at least partially true of Sam’s riding. The technical aspects of bike riding do come easily to him, and he steps up his riding to the point that it scares the shit out of the people around him. As much as I assume it scares him, it’s a grave day indeed when he backs down from something he called out. –David Hawthorne
I know Sam’s got a map of spots all over Vancouver like this one. Hop over the ledge, to wall, clearing the bushes and the ledge down below. The taxi driver sitting there was so psyched I thought his head was going to explode.
What do you miss most about Nova Scotia?
Definitely family. Family and friends. I get really bummed when I think about what I’m missing at home so I try not to think about it too much. But at the same time, Vancouver rules and I love it here. I need to start going home more often.
How’s filming going for the upcoming Primo vid, ‘nice try’?
It’s going good. It’s hard sometimes dealing with the constant rain in Vancouver, but in between that it’s been good. We just finished up the last filming trip to Arizona for the vid and it was awesome. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s section. Gonna be sick.
What’s one of the dumbest questions someone has asked you since you’ve been working at 3ride?
I could honestly write a book with all the retarded things I get asked from day to day. Don’t even get me started. Think before you speak kids.
One of the craziest things you’ve seen?
Not sure if it’s the craziest, but… Me and a friend were inside a super, super shady apartment building downtown, looking for a stolen bike. This place was about as ghetto as it gets. We had to sign a waiver to go inside. We were upstairs talking to these gnarly meth-heads about the stolen bike, seeing if they had it or had seen it. As we’re standing there talking, there’s all kinds of ruckus going on all over the place. Crack-heads everywhere, fights, bottles breaking etc. I’m standing with my back against a door and I can hear people inside one of the rooms fighting. Next thing I know, a fucking axe head comes through the door and sticks directly next to my head. Needless to say, we left.
What’s one thing about you the average BMXer doesn’t know?
I don’t think too many people know much about me. I like to keep it that way, I think. People tend to think that I hate everyone, which is untrue.
What you can’t really see in this photo is the horrible placement of a 90 degree turn followed by a short runway. No matter, Sam takes it to the second stage.
I’ve known Sam Lowe for about three years now, and in that time, I’ve been privileged enough to get to ride bikes, drink beers, ‘work’, and have some awesome laughs with him at the same time. On top of being the funniest person that I’ve ever met, Sam’s a super solid dude, and it shows in his riding. By no means is Sam afraid to bomb some of the craziest rails you’ve ever seen, or do some of the gnarliest shit you’ve ever witnessed on a bike. He’s also got the unbelievable ability to make the smallest things look perfect at the same time. I’ve watched Sam fall to the bottom of sets of stairs so hard that you could feel it in the concrete, only to get right back up and get it done. This combination of being an incredible, determined rider and an even better human makes him one of the best riders around and a friend that anyone would be more than stoked to have. If you ever get a chance to ride with Sam, he may seem quiet, or to himself – that’s because he is. He may even come off like he hates everything, which is the farthest thing from the truth. The dude loves riding. So sit back and enjoy every minute of it, because it’s something you’re going to remember and tell your friends about for a long time to come. The things Sam has done on a bike will be talked about for years and the things he will do on a bike in the future are worth remembering his name and reading this interview. Big ups guy! –James Steele
