A Brief History of How I Met Jack Coyne
In November of 2012, I had the pleasure of going to shoot at the local skatepark in Painesville, Ohio, with the task of shooting BMX. I knew that in order to get some breath taking shots, I needed to find a rider that was capable of mind-boggling things. A rider that could not only stand out from the rest, but do things that others could not. To my pleasant surprise, I was introduced to a young man by the name of Jack Coyne, about 10 minutes after I arrived on location.
Jack being his not so normal self.
No more than 5 seconds after meeting Jack, I decided that he was the ticket to learning how to properly photograph BMX. After I introduced myself and told Jack my intent, he told me to make myself at home, and shoot from wherever I'd like. Eager to get to work, I told him I surely would.
Jack doing a solid tire grab on Rec. Park's 6' Quarter Pipe.
Above is a picture I shot of Jack the first day I met him. I went home that day pretty happy with some of the shots I got. I like to think of myself of a perfectionist, so when I got home, I researched BMX photography for about a week. After reading up, and stumbling across the work of a man named Fat Tony, I decided I wasn't even relatively happy with my shots from that day. There was a lot of techniques I wanted to try out, as well as a lot of different shots I wanted to get. Just a week later, I was invited to come shoot with Jack, and good friend Dominic Belfi. I wasn't able to meet up with them until later in the evening, so I had to create my own light. Luckily I had some previous experience with lighting, so I figured I'd be alright.
Here is my favorite image from that evening of shooting.
I didn't feel as if my images were quite up to par with what Jack could do, but he told me to keep on trucking, and I would get it. I listened to Jack, and I have to say, I think I've got the touch for BMX now. After hanging around with Jack, as well as some other local riders for a few months, I've been a lot of places and shot a lot of new things. I am proud to call Jack my friend, and happy to say I got his attention long enough for an interview. So here it is, the story of Jack Coyne.
Below is Jack and a group of riders in the scenic Painesville City square.
-Jack Coyne, a Star in The Making-
Here is our interview with up and coming BMX star, Jack Coyne. Enjoy!
Jack Coyne; Hater of school lover of all things BMX, is a native of glorious Painesville, Ohio. Jack is a student of Harvey High school, and has been riding BMX for right around two and a half years. At the age of only 15 years old, Mr. Coyne has the trick bag of a seasoned professional. Some of Jack's favorite tricks are the Tuck No-Hander, the Barspin, and the Icepick Grind.
Jack doing an ever so precise Barspin 180
When asked who his favorite Pro Rider is, Jack's answer was instant. "I'd have to say my favorite rider is Nathan Williams. I like him because I feel like our styles of riding are similar. He throws Barspins and Tuck No-Handers all the time, as do I. Plus his Hang 5's are wicked. He's just sick," said Coyne.
Jack's Tuck No-Hander.
Without thinking about what I was saying, I asked Jack if he was working on any new tricks. "Well I'm always trying new things, and working on perfecting the things that I already do, but as for new tricks, the biggest thing right now is trying to get Tailwhips," said Jack. I also think that we will see Truck Drivers, Flat 360's, as well as Suicides from Jack in the near future.
Jack working on a Tailwhip in a late evening session at Rec. Park.
Are you wondering what kind of rider Jack defines himself as? Because we sure were! "Well I like to ride street, but there isn't many good spots around Painesville, so I ride a lot of park. Painesville's Recreation Skatepark is pretty nice, but it gets kind of boring after a while. I really like Ray's MTB Park in Cleveland, Oh, but I would have to say that Chenga is probably my favorite place to ride. I guess you could say that i'm a mixed rider," answered Jack.
Since Jack's Fast Plant is the biggest around, we call it the "Jack Plant'
Mr. Coyne is currently sporting a 2010 We The People - Crisis frame, equipped with Animal forks, Premium Whiskey bars, Primo mix hubs, and Odyssey Hazzard Lite rims. Jack will also be rocking some fresh gear soon, courtesy of his new sponsor, KCR Apparel. Jack said, "I have a really good feeling about this whole sponsor thing. It's a new company, they're local, and they signed 3 of my close friends. Dom, Dakota, Ryan, and I all ride well together, and encourage each other to do bigger better things. Not only that, but we all get along really well."
Team KCR pictured from left to right; Jack Coyne, Ryan Pillar, Dakota Reed, Dominic Belfi.
Jack made it a must that we mention him finishing 2nd in the 2012 P-Games; held at Rec. Park in Painesville, Ohio. The P-Games were the first competition that Jack rode in. Also, Jack would like to say thanks to Jason Spivak. "Without Jason, I would have never picked up a bike, and I know I definitely wouldn't be riding right now," said Coyne. "But most of all, I would like to thank my parents. Not only for pushing me to keep going, and to do better, but for helping me buy parts when I break stuff, and for driving me around to parks or bringing me home when i'm too injured to get there myself," stated Jack.
"Sometimes you just have to bring street to you." Jack Coyne
With all of these things accomplished, and with the ambition, and drive to succeed that Jack possesses at only the age of fifteen, I think it is safe to say that we will see him go far with BMX.
For anyone interested, here is an album of some of Jack's best moments! Give it a look! Just click the "Jack Coyne Album" text below.
Above is Team KCR's exclusive Jack Coyne wallpaper.
It is free, and available for your download.
For Widescreen Monitors
Thanks for Reading!
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