Interview with the 1 and only Effraim Catlow

Whats your name?
Effraim Catlow

Tell us bit about flatmatters?
Flat matters came about at KOC one year i forget which year to be honest, flatland didnt feature much in any contests, and i felt like flatland did matter, and it does have its place in bmx (contests), so KOC collaborated with adidas to bring out a flatland matters shirt. It also has a double meaning, topics about flatland.

What first go you into flatland?
From going to the skatepark and seeing Craig Campbell and Carlo Griggs going off, seemed such a creative sport, loved it from the start. Been hooked ever since.

You used to do flat matters in ridemag? What happened there?
I guess political goings on at ride determined that flatland didn't matter, and the page got voted out, only Mark Noble voted for it, there hasnt been anything in ride worth mentioning since FM got pulled, i think its bad for flatland and bad for bmx in general that  its not covered, I always thought it was the job of the magzines to

What are your views with uk flatland scene?
Uk flat scene is small, tight knit community, with really high level, its a shame there isnt that much going on, I feel a certain degree of pressure to put something on, otherwise nothing happens, but there people making an effort, you have the TGM jams, and Griff is doing Battle in the gallery. Theres just not a lot of ways for young kids to get exposed to flatland, so you see the same people at the jams/contests, and thats a real shame.

As your manager of southsea skate park do you get much time to ride?
Im not manager of skatepark, im worker in charge, silly job title i know, but yes im lucky get time to ride, especially when weather is good.

Will we ever see a king of concreate again?
I don't think so. All good things come to end.

Who are your sponsors?
OG bike co and Profile

Back in the day you used to ride cardiff how was the scene back then in wales?
There wasnt anyone really, id go to the skatepark there and couple of guys riding ramps, Steve Green only name i remember, he told me of that spot I see your riding at in that new video with Jon Birts, great spot, but I got kicked out so many times by the security...,

Where do you ride in the winter do you have any underground car parks?
I ride mostly in the rink at the skatepark, lucky with the weather here, only miss few days here and there. And the odd day here and there I go to the lab, undercover spot I have close to my house.

What's your goals for this year?
Just to keep riding, and enjoy what im doing, come up with new tricks along the way, I never really set out to many goals.

Any plans to design your own frame or parts?
Not at this time.

Do you think flatland needs more coverage?
Of course it does. There's nothing in the magazines, so it makes it very hard to make a career out off flatland in the UK, unless you do shows, thats the only way...

Nass this year will you be raving it up or sleep like last year?
haha.. I will be at the Worlds probably. But if i did go id probably sleep in, I dont go to contests to party, thats for when your at home in my eyes, go to a contest and ride.

Is there another groundroots happening for 2009?
Its up in the air this year because Nass scheduled their comp the same date as the Worlds, I was hoping to get battle in the gallery round one, Nass round 2, and round 3 (finals at Southsea), but its sketchy right now, lets see what happens, but hopefully it will go ahead.

Any last words?
Thanks for the lil interview Matti, and see you and your lazy ass at Battle in gallery... And you become Uk champion by supporting the events Matti hahaha.