Levi Sherwood is not your average FMX Star

Levi Sherwood FMX 2013 — Photo: Red Bull

Levi Sherwood is just as happy chilling on the farm as he is winning big FMX titles.

What’s your earliest memory of freestyle riding?

I was nine-years-old and I jumped over a ramp on the family farm, that’s how it all began. Freestyle was something new and exciting and instead of racing I preferred to stay at home practicing freestyle tricks.

Less than ten years later you won your Red Bull X-Fighters debut in Mexico City. Did the result take you by surprise?

I received the invitation and didn’t even know if I was ready for that level. I was pretty nervous but I also knew that I had a chance of a good result. I had no reason to think otherwise really because I usually did well at every comp back home.

Then things changed a lot after Mexico, almost instantly. It was strange to go to other events; everyone was looking at me, waiting to see if I could ride on courses with bigger lines. I took it to heart and began competing with the expectations people had of me. After I got hurt in Madrid in 2010 over-rotating a flip I realized that I’m the one who goes out of there and takes the risks so I should only be focused on my own expectations. Since then I go to the track and do what I think is right and not what people want or expect from me.

What was the reason behind your performance at Red Bull X-Fighters in Brazil where you refused to perform a single flip?

I’ve heard all sorts about why I didn’t flip; that I was upset with the judging or the PR stuff or something. I just had a bad week. My luggage and bike parts arrived super late, which put me on the back foot with very little training time. I won’t push it if I’m not feeling confident so I didn’t flip. The result just wasn’t as important as being safe. After qualifying I felt better and tried flipping but I felt that a fall was brewing and I had no desire to be hospital in Brazil, so I kept it safe. A lot of people over-interpreted the whole thing, I just didn’t want to go to hospital.

Are you still building jumps on the farm in New Zealand?

The most fun I have is when I build new jumps. I can easily sit for a whole week in the bulldozer sculpting new tracks and jumps. It’s just awesome to spend all day building a jump and then testing it out. I spend most of my time riding or traveling but I don’t like big cities. I love the land, my farm and living in New Zealand.