Augie Simoncini - BMX Stunt Rider For Hell on Wheels

I am here at the Incline Club in Lakewood, NJ with Augie Simoncini.  Augie is a stunt rider for “Hell on Wheels Productions”.  HELL ON WHEELS PRODUCTIONS is a leading action sports entertainment company where the world’s top riders come together.  They have a new TV show coming ….. more on that later.

Augie, how did you get started?

I grew up in Staten Island, NY.  I started riding when I was 14.  Some kid built some ramps.  I went out there with my little GT that I got for Christmas and that is kind of where it all began.

So how old are you now?

I am 22.

So you started 8 years ago?

Yea, I just loved it so much.  I have been living in NJ since I was 18.  I used to come to the Incline Club when I lived in NY.  It was the only place that was a really good skate park.  It was the only one around by us, it about an hour drive from Staten Island.  .    I would hitch rides with the older kids.

What does it feel like when you are soaring in the air?

It’s pretty cool.

So you are not thinking about falling or not making your jump?

Sometimes …..  Before I start something, I think about falling.  After I fall, I’m  like ugh …. whatever.

When did you start competing?

I don’t know… I always competed when I was growing up in amateur contests.  So competing was something that I always did.  I was never into trying to win and stuff.  I did it for the good times and to hang out with a bunch of good people and to meet people from all over the place.

Did you race?

No, I never raced.  That was unheard of where I grew up.  I went straight from not being on my bike to riding ramps.

It was some contest in Mullaly Park, in the Bronx.  Mullaly was one of the first skate parks in NY.  It is still there today, out by Yankee Stadium.  I won some expert class contest there.  That was like the coolest thing that I ever did.   I was probably like 15 or 16 at that point.  I was first learning back flips and stuff.

When you were doing all of this did you parents see you?

No, my Dad was real big into sports and stuff.  He played baseball so I played baseball my whole life.  I played high school baseball and I guess when I like stopped being super dedicated to baseball he got upset with me.  But then he started coming around and it (BMX) started growing on him a little bit.  Once he saw me traveling.  He would come occasionally and watch me.  Now he is real supportive.

What did he think when he saw you flipping in the air and crashing?

I guess he thought it was pretty crazy.  Back where I came from you did the baseball thing and football….jock sports.  This was something that he never really saw before.  They did not have this when he was growing up.  He is real psyched on it now though.  He thinks it’s cool and stuff.

This is part 1 of a two part interview.  In part 2, Augie will talk about his time with the Hell on Wheels team and their up and coming TV show.