Name: Jose "decat" Yanez (website) (Facebook)
Lives: Phoenix, AZ or in Colorado
Credits: Stunt Double for Cru Jones
How did they find you for the flip?I was touring with Hutch when the owner himself, Hutch, told me that these movie people were filming a BMX movie called RAD. They had heard about my flip and wanted to use my stunt in the movie since I was the only one doing it at the time. Of course I jumped on it!
Do you remember what bike you did it on? Any special setup?I used the bikes that they had on hand cus they had to keep continuity. But, on an interesting note, I got to the point that I could grab anybike, get used to bunnyhopping on it, and I was good to go for a flip on it! In the circus I always had 2 bikes but there were times when I'd get a flat on both of them somehow before a show and I would ask Andy Barrette or Brett Marshall, who were the ramp and ground riders, for one of their bikes and bunnyhop a bit then do my act. About my act with the circus, it was about 3 1/2 minutes long but I got a workout every time! I'd open up with a quickspin that I was inspired to learn from Randy Tischmann the Magician, who whipped them faster than anyone I knew. I actually got my spins to the point that people couldn't tell who's were faster. But I say his were. He was an awesome rider!As the Ringmaster introduced me, I'd get out of my QS and go into a surfer just as he got to my name, and put up my hands in a "style". I'd do a rockwalk on the way to my setup. I'd take off to the ramp and slide to a stop to adjust the ramps on my first run to build up drama. The second run I'd do a 360, then I'd set up again and really bust the flip and "the crowd would go wild!" There was always a bit of a competion between the trapeze performers and me to see who got the biggest applause. It went both ways. I'd end my act by riding into the center ring, busting a Scura and styling.
What is your favorite part of RAD?I loved Eddie's 360 outa the pool! Inspired me to learn it!
Where you in other scenes besides the flip? Why or why not?I was the very first one to drop down the face of Hell Track. They got us all up there and i was dressed as a sponsered rider, I forget by who, and no one would go so I finally did it. I really was not a BMX rider so I didn't know what I was doing and actually endoed over the bars when I hit the bottom. It was soooo much like free falling!
Any stories you can share about life on the set or off? Life on the set was so, like a big party. There was alot of down time and we just hung out til we were needed for our parts. At the end of the day of shooting, there would be these "daily's" where what was shot that day was watched and we could have drinks and it was like a big party! I really liked the other bmx girl in real life! she was basically playing herself in the movie.
The relationship with Hal, Robert, etc.I really didn't get to know Hal or anyone really on a personal basis, but I remember that Hal was really focused and absorbed while filming. His involvement in the movie was intense…
How does it feel to be the guy that changed BMX forever?I get that alot.That I brought BMX to a new level, that I invented X treme sports. It is humbling and yet amazing that I find myself being THAT person people talk about in such a legendary fashion! I say that I just happen to be the one that God chose to be the first one. SOMEONE would have done it sooner or later! I am just blessed to have been the first. There was a time when I thought it took 5 years after I did my Catwalk (after all i AM D Cat!, I don't know who changed the name to Airwalk) before someone did the second flip, but as I found out last year at the Old School BMX Reunioun, Eddie Fiola told me that he did one 2 years after I did and has it on video but is so unimpressed with his flip that he doesn't share that. Oops, sorry Eddie. What is next for you?Whats next for me? I'd like to be the oldest person to get a paid sponsorship from someone and Guiness Book of Records is interested in putting me in the book as the oldest and first to do a flip. I'm hoping to make it to this years Old School Reunion and hope to land a front flip. Got real close last year. I am also interested in touring with someone doing my simple flip and old school tricks if anyone is interested in booking me check out my website at myradself.webs.com.
I may be 53 but I am going on 29!
This is a classic video from 1987 of Jose doing a double into water. Nice shorts.
