There are many reasons to practice adventure sports (you can see some in this link) but what motivated Sergio to ride was that football, despite being a team sport, seemed too competitive to him. One thing led to another and BMX came into his life. He's travelled halfway around the world and rubbed shoulders with elite athletes, but he remains the same down-to-earth guy he's always been.
Yumping.- Sergio, we can see you're a true BMX champion. Tell us, how did you get started in this sport?
Sergio Layos.- Truth is, my beginnings in this sport weren't with aspirations of turning professional, but rather something my brother and friends started doing, and once I got into the scene I couldn't leave it.
Y.- You started when you were just 11 years old. It's curious because at that age most kids play football. What did your friends say?
S.L.- Well before starting with bikes I also played a few football matches but I was hugely disappointed by the aggressiveness and lack of camaraderie from other players and parents attending the matches. I ended up finding it a bit of a depressing sport.
Outside school hours I didn't usually have much contact due to distance with school friends, and my other friends also rode bikes, skated or rollerbladed, so in this situation the most normal thing for us was to practice a sport like this.
Y.- By 13 you were already competing in World Championships. Were the beginnings tough?
S.L.- I don't remember it being tough at all, as back then everyone signed up for all championships just wanting to have fun. If you went to a championship you had to compete even if you'd only been riding for a month.
Y.- You'd have to balance your passion with studies... Did you have support at home?
S.L.- At home I had the best support I could have, my mum, who always supported me and gave me the best advice she could. But unfortunately education in this country didn't tend to support athletes who, due to travelling and such, couldn't attend regular classes like other students.
Y.- As BMX wasn't very established in Spain back then, you had to pack your bags and move to Texas, USA. How do you remember that time?
S.L.- It was very positive, as breaking free from all the limitations and lack of facilities to practice this sport at this level was quite frustrating. It was a very good decision and did me a world of good.
Y.- Since 1999 you've been competing internationally. What was it like stepping onto the podium for the first time?
S.L.- I don't have a clear memory of my first podium, for me championships are about enjoying yourself, and of course finishing on the podium is very rewarding, but I suppose that first time I'd have been more focused on seeing when the ramps would be free to ride again.
Y.- Is it hard to make friends in the competitive world?
S.L.- Not at all, this is quite an atypical sport in every way, as my best friends are many of the people who end up in finals of any championship and we often end up lending each other our own bikes or fixing the bike of the person you're competing against. Everything's usually done for fun rather than to win.
Y.- Is there any rider you admire and would like to emulate?
S.L.- From the beginning I've always been a fan of Rubén Alcántara's style and way of riding, to me he has an unparalleled way of riding. But I also really like how Chase Hawk or Mike Aitken ride.
Y.- Do you practice other adventure sports in your free time?
S.L.- I try to practice MTB, motocross or surfing whenever travel and training allow.
Y.- What's been the toughest challenge you've faced?
S.L.- I think the toughest challenge was overcoming the process of getting back to the same level after breaking my tibia and fibula, as psychologically it was quite hard.
Y.- Throughout your career, have you ever considered throwing in the towel?
S.L.- There are always ups and downs in a sports career when many things go through your head, but throwing in the towel has never been on my mind. I just hope my body lets me continue for many more years.
Y.- Always travelling from place to place means little time at home. What do you miss most?
S.L.- I often end up missing routine, eating and sleeping in the same place for a few days, but above all I miss my family and my dog Nota.
Y.- We know you opened a restaurant with your mum and brother in your hometown, which you visit when you're home. Do you still keep in touch with childhood friends?
S.L.- I'm still very close with some childhood friends and especially many from my last years studying. They're people who get me out of the bike routine and show me another side of the world that's hard to remember when travelling, which is always great.
Y.- Where's the one place in the world you'd return to whenever possible?
S.L.- Japan, without doubt. I just got back a few weeks ago and would go again tomorrow, it's a wonderful country.
Y.- Where have you found the best competitions?
S.L.- For me the best events are usually here as all us friends get together and there's an unbeatable atmosphere. In other world championships where we all know each other but everyone comes from different parts of the world... that spark we have here is missing.
Y.- What's the moment you remember experiencing the most adrenaline?
S.L.- I think it might be recently at Red Bull Quarter Master where we rode down a slope reaching speeds of up to 63 km/h to perform an aerial on one of the biggest Quarters ever built in the world.
Y.- If you were born again, would you choose professional BMX again?
S.L.- If I could, I wouldn't hesitate! I think I'd change very few things about my life if I could choose.
Y.- What's your next challenge?
S.L.- Right now we've just started a project to make another Etnies DVD, which we'll be filming for over a year for each part of the video.
Y.- And your biggest dream?
S.L.- To reach 50 still enjoying biking as I have until now!
*Photographs courtesy of Red Bull
