Conversations with Andrew Crabtree

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Crabtree

Hi Andrew, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I fell in love with bikes at a ski resort, Smugglers’ Notch Vermont, right at the start of covid. At the time I lived in Upstate New York where I had lived for 12 years. We moved to Toledo Ohio. Having moved to flat Ohio during lockdown I though my dreams at mountain biking were over. Being the persistent kid I am, I was determined to make the best of my situation. During lockdown, one of the riders I look up to the most, Fabio Wibmer, released a video on YouTube called “Home Office”. Fabio rode around his house doing elaborate tricks and making the best of his situation. He inspired me to do the same. So, taking after him, I picked up street trials my sophomore year of high school. A small, complex and balance-oriented discipline popular in Europe. Luckly for me, the manager of the local bike shop was an ex-pro at this discipline. I got to know him very well and he taught me the basics. I truly owe my career to him. I progressed steadily through the summer into my junior year. I rode as much as I could. My senior year of high school was where everything took off for me. Early on in the fall I started a series on my Instagram, doing a foot jam tail whip (popular but complex trick) every day until Danny MacAskill, another one of my role models in trials, followed me. At the time I figured it would take a month max. I was very wrong. It took a year. In that year I got my first sponsor, OutRival Clothing NC along with other amazing opportunities such as preforming for my school, at a local festival in Toldeo, and releasing my first riding edit. I did not miss a single day of posting. On the year anniversary of my start of this challenge, I finally received the follow. I truly believe I would not be where I am today if I had not taken that risk. In the days that followed I received my other two sponsors, Spank Industires and FAAST Products. I currently am a freshman in mechanical engineering at The Ohio State University. I am working on a lot of exciting projects currently and planning even more. I am very thankful for my journey and for what the future holds.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a bumpy road. My greatest challenge has been my progression. Street trials is almost nonexistent here in the United States. Other than the help from my ex-pro friend with the basics, I have been on my own. I have learned everything by watching videos on how to do it or just attempting moves or tricks and seeing what works and what does not. I have always been one of if not the most skilled rider in my area with these skills, so I did not have anyone pushing my progression, only myself. Not having that friendly competition, I feel has made me progress slower. Another struggle that I faced for a long time was getting support from brands. Getting that first brand is always the hardest, they have to make a risk and not many want to do that especially for a random redheaded kid from Ohio. Having these challenges have certainly shaped me to be the person I am today, and I am thankful for every struggle.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
By specific discipline is street trials, the most similar well-known discipline to it would be BMX. The main component to this style of riding is hopping on the back wheel of the bike. Getting up, over, and down everyday objects with style and tricks is what street trials is all about. I am probably most well-known for my foot jam tail whips, A complex trick where the frame does a whole 360 around the front forks of the bike while you balance on the front wheel. Or quite possibly my long manuals, a wheelie without pedaling. In my community, I am well known for my riding skills and my love for the mountain bike community. I have helped build the mountain bike community in Toledo for all ages and have volunteered over 150 hours with the local non-profit, The Right Direction.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking, I feel is a pilar of my career. Always pushing to better than I was yesterday requires risks. Trying to get better and progress takes risks every day. Mentioned before, taking the risk to start the series to get Danny MacAskill to follow me definitely was a massive shot in the dark. If you are comfortable, you are not progressing. As we say in the sport, “If you’re not scared, you’re not going fast enough” and I live by it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dctreemtb/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DCtreeMTB