Article

Michael Chacon
Lives: Culver City, CA
Fixed Gear Freestyler
Sport: Fixed Gear

Photography by: Ja Tecson

How does LA nurture your passion?
The fixed gear scene in LA is blowing up. More and more people are starting to notice the trick scene and recognize my commitment to the sport, which helps me to stay motivated.

What are some of your childhood influences?
Hanging out with my dad and uncles at lowrider car shows, playing sports, always being active.

How does sport influence your sense of culture?
I’m proud to be one of the few Mexican-Americans to be sponsored in my sport.

What does your local community mean to you?
It means a lot to me. There’s a lot of family history here. Both of my parents grew up in the area, as well as my grandparents. My family is well known in the area and in LA as a whole for their lowrider cars. A lot of people know about my biking through my family and stop me on the street and tell me they’re happy that I’m doing something positive with my life.

How do you best represent LA?
I come from a family that goes back generations in LA. One of my great grandfathers came from Mexico to LA to work on the railroads in Culver City in the 1920’s. My great, great grandfather worked in the movie industry at MGM in Culver City in the 1930’s and 1940’s. My great uncle was a Zoot Suiter in LA in the 1940’s. My mother has worked in the entertainment industry for 25 years, so I spent time with her at tapings of TV shows as a child. I’ve also worked as a production assistant on TV shows as an adult. Because LA is in my blood, I use a lot of LA landmarks in my videos, such as Venice Beach, UCLA, Santa Monica Beach, downtown Culver City, downtown LA bridges, etc. I also use songs that reference LA in my videos.

What was your dream career? Are you living it now?
I always wanted to be a pro baseball player, but stopped playing baseball and started riding bikes. I realize this is one of my passions that I love.