Lean & Mean from etnies on Vimeo.
A few weeks ago on NPR, sports writer Frank Deford commented on the celebrity status of many professional basketball players. Included in his commentary was a satirical look into just how "weird" San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan is. Duncan, Deford argued, was really weird. He doesn't talk about himself in the third person, he is happy in San Antonio, Texas, and he actually likes playing for his coach. Of course, while this may be out of the ordinary, it's admirable.
I see DK and etnies pro Brian Kachinsky as a Tim Duncan of sorts. He's happy living in Chicago, Ill. He has loyally ridden for DK Bicycles for eight years, and has been killing it his professional career. Kachinsky just graduated from physical therapy after an ACL injury and is currently at X Games Los Angeles as an alternate for BMX Street. Recently, we caught up with him to discuss his new edit, graduating from knee surgery, and his favorite ice cream.
ESPN.com: I saw on Twitter that you graduated from physical therapy, can you explain what that means?
Kachinsky: Basically it just means I've progressed with my physical therapy and can officially go out on my own and do my thing. It's kind of like moving away from home when you're 18. It doesn't mean you stop exercising your knee, you just no longer need someone looking over your shoulder when you do it. I've been riding for a couple months now and feel great and will continue to improve. Stoked.
Awesome, congrats. Your recent edit, "Lean & Mean" from etnies was awesome. Was that mostly new or older footage? Or both?
It was a bit of both. Some before surgery and some post-surgery. I never release all of the footage I have at the moment. I always hang onto some for whatever comes up next. This was a product of that method and I now have some stuff saved up for the next one.
Since there has been some rearranging of invites due to injuries, you've been asked to attend X Games 2012 as an alternate. How are you preparing for that and can you explain to the readers what exactly an alternate means?
Alternate just basically means I've been chosen to ride in the event if someone who was invited cannot ride. I hope no one gets hurt and am just glad to be going to LA once again and hanging and riding with all my friends. The cool part about this is that I'll get to session the course with everyone which is always fun and motivating.
The Bakery is going great and the last contest seemed awesome. Are you planning on more events to take place in the space?
The Vitamin Water/CKI event was amazing. It was also a lot of work but 100% worth it. I'd like to do another event there and perhaps make a couple other ideas happen relating to The Bakery. That place is so fun and I hope we can do more so that more people can enjoy it. Time will tell.
Cookies and cream still stands as the best ice cream flavor on the planet. Just wanted to make sure that was clear and there were no misconceptions out there.
--Brian Kachinsky
As of recent, who has you gotten you psyched on riding lately?
Corey [Martinez] and Nathan [Williams] always get me psyched to watch. In addition to them, Garrett Reynolds gets me stoked as well. Everyone knows he's the best and it's easy to overlook but I never forget and always anticipate what he'll dream up next.
Is there anything I am forgetting?
Yes, this is unrelated but still 100% newsworthy: Cookies and cream still stands as the best ice cream flavor on the planet. Just wanted to make sure that was clear and there were no misconceptions out there.
