Who's the greatest ever Freestyle Rider?

[factory pilot]

Chatting to Tony Lee the other night we both decided that arguably the greatest rider ever was Mat Hoffman ?
We looked at longievity and taking it to the next level and Matt was undoubtedly the man for us ...
So much so that we feel much more fuss should be made about him than actually takes place.
When they look back at BMX in 20 years who do think should and will be the most revered and remembered?

[hotdog]

Couldn't agree more. I've had this conversation numerous times and he is 'hands-down' the best ever. He re-invented the sport.... the tricks,the equipment,the ramps and the industry at a time when bmx was on its arse. He is a true legend. I honestly don't think anyone will have the same impact that he has had on the sport in the years to come. He is PRO!  And then some.

[deeman]

I think 'ol DMC deserves a mention, especially when longevity is concerned!

[Retrodan72]

Anyone that could do a stand up wheelie for 100 yards is a worthy contender.

[griff]

I'd vote for Mat too, he single-handedly changed the sport
As a mark of respect I've now given him his own entry in the RAD sweary filter, so every time someone types Mat Hoffman it corrects it to Mat Hoffman 

[Picklez]

Agree with everyone else, I was just in awe seeing him on the stage this summer.

Though I do also have a soft spot in a similar way for Mirra, Bestwick, and DMC....

[In2bmx]

1: Mat Hoffman
2: Eddie Fiola
3: Bob Haro

[Andyboy77]

Mat Hoffman and DMC as well as Jay Mirron and Dave Mirra had the biggest impact on me. Later in time I discovered how amazing the 80's riders were/are ...Eddie Fiola, Brian Blyther, Martin Aparijo, Ron Wilkerson, and some british riders who were crazy good. I mean everyone who remebers his first endo-attempt, may remeber how that felt back then. Just saying because that feeling gave me a perfect idea of how f...ing great those lads were bitd. ..or even the skill level of our radsters and friends.

[McQUEEN]

Each to their own, but I think its too big a topic to have just a single rider....although MH should defo be up there just for shear guts let alone big airs....but this benchmark of 'taking it to the next level' is to hard to define. What was the next level, at what stage in Freestyle's evolution - I mean a one handed kickturn after a kickturn, or a big air after a 3ft aerial, or 720 over a 360???

I've commented on other forums that R L Osbourn has it for me - he pushed most of the initial boundaries and really pushed the start of Freestyling, along with Bob Haro, Fiola, Wilkerson etc. He was getting it in the American mags and across America with his trick team. Its what we were all copying in the UK.

[griff]

What was the next level

See below

[MartyC]

US has to be Mat Hoffman, UK I would say Neil Ruffell was up there as a contender.

[Retrodan72]

The U.K. has probably spawned so many great riders, but the era that I remember the most was the mid 80's (BMX Beat/Kellogg's exposure), so from memory and YouTube, I'll go for Neil Ruffell, Craig Campbell and Pepi.