[February 1999]

<!-- Reading this interview with Marcel reminds me of when I was fifteen: spending every spare minute on my bike, totally loving it, and not caring about anything but riding. He's a damn good rider from CT — far too good considering how long (short, actually) he's been riding. Marcel impressed me and the other elderly riders at the Impact contests with his riding skills...and then proceeded to beat us all. This kid is definitely going to be one of the top flatlanders in New England in a real short time, mark my words. -->

Age:

15

Do you consider Keith McElhinney a father (or even grandfather) figure?

Oh, is that guy still alive? (just kidding) Keith McElhinney is a man with the hyper, wacky soul of a 12 year old school boy at recess.

Years riding:

About 2 1/2 years.

Do you know who Kevin Jones is?

Oh of course, Kevin Jones is the king, just like the song in Hypnosis says.

How about Ceppie Maes?

Who?

How did you get into riding?

Well, as I was growing up from the time I was about two up till the time I was about five or six I used to watch my brother Brian ride flatland outside all day. I was just amazed. I don't think that I can explain the way that it made me feel, but I thought that it was the best thing in life, to be able to express your own creativity with your own free-style. It was something that I always knew that I was going to do when I grew up.
      After that I thought that flatland bike riding had ended. When I turned about 13 some of my friends and I started riding and learning some old flatland tricks. We thought that those were the only tricks there were until I saw some kind of "Destination Extreme" or something like that on ESPN. They showed Chad DeGroot ride and I flipped out. He started just flowing with originality, doing all of those scuffing and rolling tricks that seemed impossible before I even knew what scuffing or rolling tricks were. That really inspired me to progress. That was one of the happiest days of my life.

Home:

New London, Connecticut.

Is it true that there are only three flatlanders — you, Mark Florek and Andrew Parrish — in all of Connecticut?

There are a few other riders just getting into it that can do a few things. My friend that I ride with most of the time, Eric Rivera, is progressing really fast and is getting really good.

School/work:

New London High School, and I work for my father once in a while for rides up to New Britain, Connecticut to ride with Mark Florek.

First trick you ever learned:

My first real trick was a funky chicken.

Favorite trick(s) to do:

I try not to stay on one thing too long, but lately I'm trying to do a lot of rolling and switching.

How'd you get so good?

Good?

How often do you ride?

I try to ride about seven or eight hours a day.

People you ride with:

I used to ride by myself most of the time, but now I ride with my friend Eric a lot.

Is it hard getting around to riding spots & contests without a driver's licence? What's your preferred mode of transportation?

I try to get around as much as possible. It would be much easier if I had my license, but I'll usually save up my lunch money for two or three weeks, then when the weekend comes around I'll take a train to ride with some other riders.

Do you plan to quit riding when you get your license and/or go to college?

No way, never. When I get my license I'm going to be travelling every day to go ride. The only way I'll stop riding is if I'm disabled in some way.

What's it like riding in competitions with — and beating — the old-time riders you first saw on the Wire videos?

I don't know. I guess when I think about it, it's kind of weird. I don't really like the idea of competing really. I just like going and having fun riding with everyone, not against anyone. I guess it's all about fun anyway, though.

Do you have any goals to get sponsored, go to major contests, or try to make a living by riding? Or is it purely for fun & chicks?