Interview with scotish warrior Dhugal Watson

 I first met Dhugal in a car park in Cardiff after a couple of street riders told me about a new flatlander living in the City. So on a random drive down to the supermarket carpark on way home after riding with Denny, I come across this guy, think hes the only guy I know who seems to get him self into so much trouble even when not expecting anything haha. Hes in his own world and has lot to offer in bmx scene.

Whats your name where you from?
Dhugal Watson and i'm from the sunny city of Aberdeen in the far North East of Scotland, currently residing in Pontypridd in South West Wales

How long you been riding?
I started riding BMX around the age of 14 but never took it very seriously, had a break for 6/7 years and got back into it around 2 and a half years ago after seeing you (Matti) at Hanger 81, and been full on ever since

What got you into flatland?
Breaking too many parts when i was younger busting my a$$ over ramps me and my brothers built. Flatland was the cheaper option

How often you ride?
If Its sunny il try to ride 2/3 hours a day, but working long days in the tattoo studio (Podges Tattoos) can be quite draining so i aim to keep weekends free and ride then as much as i can. But in the winter its a different story because there is no indoor or sheltered place to ride so i usually have to wait till its dry, which can be a week or so.

Whats your spot like?
I love it. super big, super smooth, nice scenery, squirrels, a minute from my local bike shop (Extreme Culture). Only down side is it is full of Proper Beauties.

How do you see flatland world wide?
It's crazy, not only are the tricks getting crazier, but the parts are become so light and expensive that it has come to the point of 'disposable parts' being priced at 'More for Less'.

How you rate the welsh flatland scene?
Matti Hemmings - The Welsh Flatland Cartel is what Welsh Flatland is all about. sick sick sick. We got a nice small scene here. I like it that way though as i dont ride with people all the time, usually on my own.

You write or own music do you find this hard to get time to ride?
Not really, i am too pro-active to sit indoors and write beats when the weather is good enough to ride.

Your tatoos tell us bit about them there very different from most?
I knew from quite a young age that i would end up covered in tattoos, but as i grew up i realised that i had to do something out of the ordinary. I did not want to fall into a category i.e. Mouri, Polynesian, New-School, Oriental, etc... i wanted something that could not be put into a category. So i found my artist (Podge) and told him this, he thought i was nuts and wouldn't go through with it. 2 years later i had completed both sleeves and begun my torso pieces. There is no real meaning behind them either. They're just colourful.

You ride with no brakes does this help you with your riding?
I don't know. I hated setting up brakes and adjusting them so i took them off with full intention on putting them back on. Then one day, down at the studio, Podge introduced me to his angle grinder. we became good friends and i cut sh!t into my old frame to make it lighter and got a little 'trigger happy' and cut the brake lugs off. Police sometimes ask me about it when i ride home from the whisky house at night. Its all good.

What keeps you motivated?
Good weather is a bonus for sure but even if its not so nice, just getting out doors and watching the Ponty Beauties tear themselves apart and thinking to myself "damm, at least I haven't pi$$ed myself". Riding with you (Matti) and Adhim if i get the chance is always inspiring.

Do you see flatland growing uk?
Yes i imagine it will. There is not as much coverage now with Flat-Matters being dropped from Ride UK magazine, but there is still plenty of online coverage.

Tricks your working on at the moment?
Trying not to drink too many of them power drinks in Extreme Culture and then coming down like a sack of sh!t 20 mins later.

or

Pumping my tyres up to the correct pressure without me then riding for 5 minutes and saying "dammm. these feel soft". This then results in me going back to Extreme Culture, necking more power drinks, ride for a bit more, then come down like a sack of sh!t again. All within an hour.

or

Back-Flip Bunnyhops

or

Skids

Last words?
Thanks to Matti for the interview and the motivation for riding and progressing, your a very talented rider and i hope that the world will see this and you get all the professional help and chance to showcase your skills on a world-wide level. You deserve it more than anyone else in the UK in my opinion.

Thanks to Dorian at Extreme Culture for the parts and letting me use his tools and for them power drinks and them crazy nice sport bars - Steve Green knows whats up. Thanks to Podge for the Ink and time he has given me to become part of the Fam. Thanks to the riders i've met on my travels, you know who you are. I'd like to say 'wassup' to both my brothers playing in the oil fields in the North Sea. Shout out to SWU Radio (South West Underground).

Very Big shout out to Thomas "Wrangler" Selway. Youv'e been like a brother to me over the years and i appreciate it so much. We aren't in contact with each other as much as we used to be but its all good. Without you i would be no-one. I hope Spain is ready for you - and Mo

Last and by no means least, thanks to my beautiful girlfriend Rozi for putting up with me over the years.