Jim Cielencki has been in town for the last couple of days taking care of various things.
I gave him a few questions to answer on his down time. Click below for that.
JIM, HOW ARE YOU?
Doing really good as of late. Everything’s going good except for this
nasty London Fog tea drink addiction I have. Probably have two to three a day, there great, but I should definitely cut back.
WHAT BRINGS YOU OUT TO CALI?
Just doing a bunch of work for Sunday and escaping some of the chill back home in Buffalo. Apparently, some snow fell on Buffalo today, but it should be gone by tomorrow when I get home.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE IN CALIFORNIA VERSUS BUFFALO?
Home is home, so you can’t beat that. I do like coming out here now, I use to hate it because I always feel trapped here. Well, to make it simple, if I don’t have a car I hate it. I need to feel like I can go do something because you can’t do anything out here without a car.
WHAT TRAVEL GOODIES HAVE YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU?
Just your usual iPod and computer, nothing too spectacular. I did bring an issue of Dwell, a book on the history of Buffalo and the history of the English language. Both books I’ve had for a bit, but never got them started. The English book is really cool because it shows you where the English language evolved from. I’m a history geek, after I went to Berlin I read this book about the rise of the Nazis before WWII.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO COPE WITH THE EAST COAST WINTER WHEN YOU GET BACK? YOU GUYS HAVE THAT WAREHOUSE RIGHT?
I’m coping really well so far. We have our Sunday warehouse, where we can ride til whenever we want. The skatepark by me gets really crowded and closes by 9pm, so it really isn’t much fun to go fight with the crowds to ride. At the warehouse, we play our own music, ride the ramps we want and there isn’t this overwhelming hurrying feeling. The only issue is heat, once January sets in, it will get cold in there. Besides that I’m doing a bunch of warm weather trips to get me through, so this winter shouldn’t be bad.
WHO DO YOU RIDE WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS?
Lately I’ve been riding with Lil Anthony from the shop, he just started riding and has gotten so good. We usually go to the warehouse and meet up with the rest of the Sunday shop team. Those guys are the best, no vibe just lots of joking around, but the still push each other.
YOU’VE GOTTEN TO CHECK OUT A ROUGH CUT OF YOUR ELECTRONICAL PART, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT SO FAR?
It’s really weird to say, but I think Chad really captured the way I ride as of late. Usually I don’t have much time to ride, so I make the most of it. Don’t really want to get hung up on any one trick and I really just like to keep it moving. Racing traffic is one of my favorite things to do and if you can do tricks while doing that, than even better. Don’t really like to session spots, just hit it once and move on to the next. Eventually I get back to that spot to try again. Plus I try to have a laugh when I’m riding and I think my part captures that too.
ARE YOU PISSED THERE WERE NO EXLPLODING PROPS LIKE IN THE NEW LAKAI VIDEO?
Yeah, the exploding hubba that Cairo Foster almost dies on is the best. That intro is so good maybe I can do an exploding loop or an exploding 900 or something funny like that for the Sunday video.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE FILMING TRIP FOR THE VIDEO?
Easily it was Berlin, the history, the experience, the city and basically just seeing some new place is always the best. The crew was fun… Aaron Ross, Dakota Roche, Nathan Williams, Will Stroud, Ricky Adam and Corey Martinez all made it really fun. Our tour guide Brian was really helpful, knowledgeable and willing to answer all my dumb German history questions.
ANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS WHILE OUT WITH THE CREW?
Easily when we got busted for doing wall rides and had to pay 60 euros each. Some of us didn’t have the money on us and we got driven to the ATM in a police van. They even allowed us to skip everyone in line for the ATM.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR SIGNATURE SHOE WITH BELOE?
It is going to be awesome, I’m so happy with the way it turned out. Brian Osborne and Russ Pope nailed my shoe exactly the way I wanted it. I really wanted a shoe that was really simple looking because I feel like most BMX shoes are really overbuilt. I like my shoes to be flexible and thin, but not too thin where you can feel the peg on your foot when you are doing a hang 5. The colors are really dialed too, nothing wacky, just good colorways. But just wait til the slip-on Mid comes, it isn’t happening yet, but hopefully next year.
WHEN MIGHT IT BE OUT?
It should be out by June or July, ready for back to school.
ANY UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF THE SUNDAY VIDEO?
Yeah. We are doing a bunch of trips coming up and re-starting filming again. I’m really feeling good about Chad Shack using HD, he knows exactly whats going on and he is so knowledgeable about technique, style and the technical side. Plus I’m getting the Sunday shop filmer extraordinaire, Bill Bottriell on the job. Chad said he was really excited to work with Bill. If you haven’t seen Bill’s work, check out some of the film bits on the Sunday shop site, www.sundaybuffalo.com. Bill’s a unique filmer and I’m excited to get him involved.
WHEN MIGHT THAT BE OUT?
Spring or Summer, I can’t really say.
SWEET. ASK YOURSELF A QUESTION AND ANSWER IT.
Will the Sabres win tomorrow night against the Capitals?
Yes, but only if Ovechkin doesn’t score!
OK, SOME QUICK ONES:
5 FAVORITE NEW SCHOOL RIDERS
Jake Seeley
JJ Palmiere
Dakota Roche
Aaron Ross
Actually this list can go on and on, there are so many good riders these days.
5 FAVORITE ALL TIME RIDERS
Kevin Jones
Craig Campbell
Van Homan
Jay Miron
Mat Hoffman
5 FAVORITE BANDS
No favorites for me, but I do like the
Clash
Public Enemy
Oasis
Alice Cooper
Eiffel 65
5 FAVORITE PLACES TO VISIT
Berlin
Barcelona
Boston
London
Lyon
Moscow
5 FAVORITE LIMITED EDITION JC PEDALS
Tie Dyed
Burnt Camo
Denim
Carbon Fiber
Purple Blood Splatter
Basically ones that never came out
