Event: James Jones

James Jones - BMX rider

James Jones is a 24 year old professional BMX rider from Swansea, Wales. James is also one of six world class athletes who make up the Freestyle BMX Team GB for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. #RoadToTokyo2020

James Jones on working with CANNA:

“I am really excited to be working with CANNA for 2018! An epic brand with epic people! I cannot thank the CANNA team enough for letting me be a part of such a big brand.”

James Jones - BMX rider

CANNA on working with James Jones:

We are both honoured and excited to have James Jones on board this year. Having seen the passion that James rides with and shares with the BMX community, we knew that from his love for the sport, his perseverance in his BMX career and his freestyle freedom attitude that he would be a great fit for CANNA.

The CANNA team will continue to support James on his journey in training, competition and as he works towards the 2020 Olympics. We cannot wait to see how James grows this year and hope to see a number of CANNA fans supporting James at events such as Boardmasters.

Welcome on board James!

Questions:

• What or who made you want to ride?

I used to play football at a high level and opposite my training pitch was a skate park. After training I would always have a roll around. Eventually the roll around got longer, to the point that my football training got shorter so I could ride everyday

• What and/or who inspires you?

I get inspired by the unknown. And what I mean by that is, the people who inspire me are the people that have the most horrific BMX crashes and the doctor tells them that they will never ride again. I have met many inspiring riders who have had the same talk, but they still power on and have so much faith in themselves that they do get back out on there on the bike.

James Jones - BMX rider

• Tell us your most memorable moment in your riding career.

The most memorable time in my BMX career was when I recently broke my back. Breaking 2 vertebrae’s and a hairline fracture in my neck. I went to my first contest back in Germany 3 months after this accident and cleaned up with 2 wins in pro park and dirt.

• Freedom - what does it mean to you?

Freedom? WE ARE ALL FREE!

• What advice would you give to anyone who wanted to ride?

The best advice I could give to someone wanting to start riding BMX? The more you enjoy it, the more you will learn. People get into it for the sponsors and money and as soon as that takes over, you start to go down hill. Most of all you won't enjoy what you started!

• Why should people come join you & CANNA at Boardmasters this year?

I think everyone should come join CANNA at Boardmasters 2018! I've always been double booked doing shows or conests that time of year. In 2017 I took the weekend off to ride the CANNA ramp contest (and party) and now it's one of the best contests the UK has to offer in my books! For the public there is so much to do, we might even see a BMX giveaway. Come and join the fun.

James Jones - BMX rider