Interview
Nathan Parker
DOB - 02/15/83
What do you think of the Tree Team?
The Tree team is just an eclectic group of down to earth people. Everyone's different, and everyone gets along and has a good time on and off the bike.Our team is composed of guys who ride but also work and go to school full time, what do you think about that?
I think this is part of what keeps everyone on the team grounded. There is no Rock star mentality with the guys on the team, everyone on the team loves to ride, but we all have other ideas and interests, life is bigger than BMX and when you broaden your horizons a bit all these different elements seem to work together in a way that enriches riding, or whatever else it is you do. It's a constant source of motivation; helps keep burnout at bay, and leads to a fulfilling life.What do you think you have learned from growing up where you did?
Eben and I grew up in Quincy Illinois, and it's not bad for riding, but it's no big city, and the culture here isn't really open to things like bike riding at all. We learned how to make due with what we had, but we also learned how to create what we need. This is just the right size town to where everyone thinks they know everyone else's business, that opens doors for rumors etc. So I feel like I learned pretty early on by watching the people around me try to destroy each others character out of some bizarre boredom, that that is no way to live life or treat people. The close minded tendencies of this place gave birth to (hopefully) an open and fair mind in myself.Pick one: Immortality, Invisibility, Invincibility, or the ability to fly. Why that one?
Immortality to see how this story plays out in the final hour, but I think one good lifetime will be satisfying for me. Not too keen on invisibility, but you could get really close to dangerous animals if you were quiet enough. Invincibility I usually lean towards because its so utilitarian, I mean you could be helpful in about any situation, end any conflict simply by unrivaled perseverance, and it would be a good time to jump off high things etc. but the rush would fade and then what's the point. Flying for purely hedonistic reasons, just imagine being up there pushing faster and faster flying through mountains and valleys, and cityscapes...Maybe my friend Lee Todorovich has the greatest super power idea, to have everything you eat no matter what it is, to be the greatest thing you have ever eaten.What do you do?
I go to school full time, I have one more semester and then I'm done. Its not about a degree for me, but more something I just wanted to accomplish after years of rejecting the institution I finally felt like I had seen enough of life first hand to go through a higher education system and get real value out of the experience, and weed out the BS. I also work for Tree as the TM and jack of all trades, and ride of course, and take photos, create different forms of art, read, hang out with the friends...What do you think about bike riding today?
Bike riding today is like everything else, constantly reaching new ground that people didn't see coming. Time just demonstrates that life is just transcendental that way. Sometimes I'm concerned there may not be as much soul in it as there use to be, or maybe it's diluted a bit. I hope I'm wrong and it's just a skewed perception, I think I can see a return to that soul though anyway... In short I love riding my bike, drawing inspiration from anything and everything to keep progressing for myself, and I like watching it happen with others around me as well. We are all in this together, and bike riding is what we make it.What's something, anything that you would like to achieve or experience in your life at least once?
I just want to follow my inspiration, and my passions, and keep learning and growing because if that stops it's not far from simply being dead. I'd like to have a decent video part with all my friends, and as I said just follow my inspiration.What influences you the most in your life? In riding?
What influences me most in life and riding are one and the same. My friends, and genuine experiences, but also anything in life I can be motivated or inspired by just feeling a breeze on my face, hearing a good song, or seeing somebody do something amazing and do so with passion, whether its dancing, gymnastics, play music or some other form of art, anything to me its all the same voice.What's an Ideal good day for you?
An ideal day for me would just be able to feel relaxed but progressive with whatever it is I'm doing, and just hopefully have some kind of positive influence on the world around me through the day. Since we are talking about the ideal plane here, Id like to be somewhere beautiful while I do this, with the best of nature and urban life blended together.