Part one: Flatchat with Trinidad's Trevlon Hall

Grab a cuppa and spare half hour to read this flatchat, many of you will have heard and seen the epic riding talents of this man from Trinidad, but his work for flatland and the development of flatland in his country goes way beyond the call of duty, without further a due. My pleasure to put this online, this is the first part, we did this last week, part two coming soon.

FM
So Trevlon tell me about yourself, your background, I dont know much about you?
Trevlon
Well, I have been riding for the last 12 years in an island called Trinidad and Tobago. 7 miles off Venezuela.
FM
How did you get exposed to flat?
Trevlon
Basically, I saw the some bmx freestyle images in a magazine some 12 years ago and that triggered my passion.. it was very difficult, because I was getting into something that was totally new to our island's sporting landscape.
FM
How old are you?
Trevlon
31.I am hoping to get younger ever year, hehehe..So basically effraim, it was very difficult from the start, ridiculed..
There are a lot more riders now and our society how come to respect and accept our sport way more now.
FM
Why do you think that is?
Trevlon
Because of the commitment and things I have done over the years.
FM
How do you find riding now? Lot of back wheel stuff?
Trevlon
Yes.. I am killing the back wheel now, there is a lot to be explored on the back wheel. I think a lot of riders a killing the front wheel and I want to explore some new concepts on the back wheel.
I am doing so many things at the same time out in this island as a pioneer here I have to think smart and act smart. Recently I got my local government to donate a grounds to flatland. Will be officially opened late on this year and named after me, that will be my first signature stuff.
FM
Really? Wow how did you go about that? Are you offering coaching lessons for kids and stuff like that? Work in the community?
Trevlon
Yes...I have always been an infrastructural thinker. And I meditated ways and explored avenues to get government and corporate support after many unsuccessful tries over the years. I was able to show them that this is beyond me and can benefit the community and the nation as a whole.
FM
Really interesting Trevlon! What surface is your flatland area made of?
Trevlon
It will be made out of asphalt and totally open to the public, it's located very close to a secondary school, and is in a developing area. we have no parks out here.
FM
I can imagine that ticks a lot of boxes with the government there?
Trevlon
So it's a good start in the right direction, yes...I have transformed over the years from rider to all sort of talents just to get this going..I had to learn other things that took away from my riding time, this is one of the reasons I was away from contest, apart from my carpal tunnel syndrome.


FM
Really? Wow how did you go about that? Are you offering coaching lessons for kids and stuff like that? Work in the community?
Trevlon
Yes...I have always been an infrastructural thinker. And I meditated ways and explored avenues to get government and corporate support after many unsuccessful tries over the years. I was able to show them that this is beyond me and can benefit the community and the nation as a whole.
FM
Really interesting Trevlon! What surface is your flatland area made of?
Trevlon
It will be made out of asphalt and totally open to the public, it's located very close to a secondary school, and is in a developing area. we have no parks out here.
FM
I can imagine that ticks a lot of boxes with the government there?
Trevlon
So it's a good start in the right direction, yes...I have transformed over the years from rider to all sort of talents just to get this going..I had to learn other things that took away from my riding time, this is one of the reasons I was away from contest, apart from my carpal tunnel syndrome.
FM
How much do you ride now?
Trevlon
I used to ride 7-11 hours a day.. almost everyday.. now I do 5 days a week. at about 3-4 hours.
FM
Wow that’s a lot almost too much on daily basis. It’s important to give your body a rest, almost as important as the riding..
Trevlon
Yes.. I learnt that the hard way.
FM
Sounds painful. Jesse was just over there right?
Trevlon
Yes...it was like his 3rd time here.He loves it out here and what I am about with the sport.
FM
Is Jesse a big inspiration for you?
Trevlon
We don't have any snow to deal with.yes...jesse has been a tremendous help and inspiration to me over the years.
FM
Thats awesome, does he help you out with bikes and stuff?
Trevlon
Hiro Morisaki, York Uno and Akira Okamara, also came here in the early stages..Don't know if i spelt Akira's last name correct, but anyways.They have also contributed and inspired our local scene.
FM
How big is your scene there?
Trevlon
There are well over 20 flatlanders scattered throughout the island. And that's a lot for us considering our population is only about 1.3 million. But there is certainly a serious interest and a lot more kids are getting involved, and once this flatground is opened. I am sure it will pick up very fast from there.
FM
Yeah for sure it would multiply very fast, how easy is it to get bike stuff there? do you shops and stuff? or flatland fuel?
Trevlon
This has been a long deviant problem out here for years...but I have managed to prove to shop owner that our community continues to grow and they will be soon stocking quality parts,
But most of our stuff was skyboxed from flatlandfuel, for the most part.
FM
Yeah I wondered that.
Trevlon
When I look into the future, I see so much guys people getting involved. I had to get the local shops to play a more serious part.
FM
The internet must help a lot for inspiration.
Trevlon
Yes the internet was the boom of everything.
FM
What riders have inspired you the most recently?
Trevlon
I am mostly inspired by riders who look toward developing infrastructure for our sport...anyone who's about that is an inspiration to me, contest winner are dope too but from this side of the globe.
FM
Not that important on the bigger picture?
Trevlon
And the things I have experienced made my perspective different. Yes..not that important my thing is respect is worth more than silver and gold, and to attain that to the highest level. One must sacrifice to push our sport for the bigger and brighter structure is very important. This what I have been able to show my government, I wrote a constitution of almost 6000 words.

FM
Thats great work Trevlon, that really is.Flatland going to be booming over there!!Its a great story
Trevlon
Yeah...i have been underground for a while, I was working on infrastructure and I know once the grounds was finished it, will be an inspiration to the world.
I am sick of seeing people in parking lots and hearing stories of people getting kick out of places and for the future of our sport, standard grounds is important, that how other sports got going.
FM
for sure
Trevlon
Parents don't want to send their kids out to train and here they got kick out from a spot. it not encouraging so this will be major for the world, an example from a 3rd world country, that not only hard work can make a difference but smart work and sacrifice.
FM
Yeah its big news, inspiring
Trevlon
And the thing about it effraim, on the day of the official launch, I am getting sport celebrities to come out and show their support, and talk about their biographies to inspire others. I was just on a sport symposium.
FM
Great idea, raise the profile.
Trevlon
With FIFA's vice president Jack Warner, Cricket record holder Brian Lara and many others in an effort to teach kids the importance of sport and discipline. If we were to go on Effraim we will be chatting here for months on the different things I have been doing. I hope to see other riders around the world aim for bigger things…and elevate the value of our sport, governments all over the world want to see structure.
It will be very difficult if they don't understand our sport, so we must take that special opportunity to illustrate to them, sometimes a lot of time is wasted on the forums.
FM
Of course, talk is talk…
Trevlon
When riders can reinforce definite plans to attack where it matters most. grounds are very very very very important for flat, this is how skateboarding and the like are so popular, they have spots that parents can take their kids to. Flatlanders need to do the same thing so when there is an event ...no need to rent places all the time.
FM
Thats a good point.
Trevlon
There are stupendous benefits to a ground on every video over the years, there is one thing in common…..parking lots.
Again...the future of our sport is with the kids. and parents are very particular, they want their kids to be safe and get involved in something that shows potential.
FM
Like you said discipline is important..
Trevlon
Yeah exactly so I remember the first time I went to a contest..
FM
I was teaching a kid the other day about muscle memory and doing things over and over.
Trevlon
Yes...developing the mental muscles are important, unity is power.
FM
Especially training for a contest it is. Or even just being consistent.
Trevlon
We have many things going for us in flatland, what is important now is grounds and structure, people need to lead by example. And use the media in a positive way to promote.
FM
There always has to be people inspiring others.
Trevlon
Thats how a lot of people from in the islands got involved, from seeing it on TV. for sponsors ...its about audience.
FM
The power of tv huh?
Trevlon
Yes..very important for flat to be on TV, there is a very high level of riding on the scene now, there is a very high level of riding on the scene now and riders are all over the world, what is important is for rider too propose to networks creatively, and wisely how to promote flat, these time are dollars and sense times with media officials. Hoffman I think has done it for the air be multiple talents at the same time, produce and coordinate and so on, now there are crazy events all over the globe. it is very very important for event promoter to let the media in, and will be even better. if the rider/event organiser was doing the editing. someone who knows our sport and can project it in positive way.
FM
Flat in the dew tour would be great for the sport
Trevlon
Yes...and having creative minds that can market our sport correctly will be a plus.
FM
Flat in the dew tour would be great for the sport
Trevlon
Yes...and having creative minds that can market our sport correctly will be a plus, Effraim. It's hype like the music vids
some rider complain and talk about keeping the artform real, there will be always people who think like that.
FM
Yeah thats true, you cant please everyone
Trevlon
But the future depends on our ability to expose our sport in a creative and encouraging manner and at this stage we need grounds, in my constitution i detail to government models, that they can replicate throughout the country.
FM
You could be up for Nora Cup award Trevlon.
Trevlon
And showed ways to create sporting tourism.Yes, I will be honored I am going to post the constitution online. for the community too take example from and build on like open source technology..
FM
Its a positive story, really inspiring, lets finish this part one flatchat, as we could talk for days.
Trevlon
For sure Effraim, it's a pleasure. I wanna thank you for your contribution over the years..
FM
Thanks Trevlon. We will chat soon..