Dave Reuss Site

Ryan doesn't live Here

All Articles Nov 23, 2009 | posted by dave

About eight years ago there was a place in Oroville, CA called NorCal Ramps, shortly after it opened they held a contest there. This is where I met a 15 year old kid doing fastplants out of a five foot quarter about eight feet out, no kidding. It might have had something to do with the fact that Ryan was about 6'3" at that time, and was already aping it, hard. A little while later I moved from that area, and was looking for a place to live in the Santa Cruz area, and remembered he had said he lived in Santa Cruz, but like the person I am, never got his number, and wound up at some Dirt Jumps for an evening session in De La Veaga, and sure enough this tall lanky kid rolls up, and it was Ryan. We rode, and I got his number, and he then took me on the Ryan Fowler Experience for the next few weeks. From the pavement up, it was apparent he had no idea where he was at regarding street names, except for he knew every street by the feel under his tires. Ryan truly took me under his wing, took me to a concert where I found a flyer for a place to live, that would later be my first place to live in Santa Cruz, and showed me almost every weird transition in Santa Cruz, a true friend from the first moment.

In the few short years Ryan turned from a young prodigy BMXer into a super low-key underground shredder, and constatnly made people's jaws drop wherever he went. The journey was always his own, his exploration into all things creative, riding, art, photography, down for a good road trip and would wander around the landscape, looking, eyes wide open, always ready.

One thing Ryan knew well was that the road constantly changes, and left his legacy of kindness, true frienship, and dedication to shredding at the forefront of our memory of this master. Thanks for being rad Ryan.

Ryan
Butternut Squash - Santa Cruz, 2007

Fast Plant
Downside Fastplant - Felton, CA 2004

Flattie - Santa Cruz Cliff Jumps, 2004

Ice Pick Stall - Vans Skatepark, San Jose, 2004

Roll Up Fufanu - Ramp Rats, 2004
(ed Note - Ryan told me he wanted to Fuf the roll up and I should shoot it, so I agreed, and started setting up the shot, and like any BMX Contest I had had a few cold ones, so he comes over and says, "no Dave", and point to the giant roll up, and says "that one man." Oh.)