Name: Monika Hinz
Location: Stuttgart/Germany

When did you start riding? Why do you ride flatland above other forms of BMX?
I was riding the first time from 1989 until about 1994. This era was unbelievably great, life was only about riding BMX: riding on shows every week, travelling to contests and ride every day the whole day. Then I moved from Hungary to Germany where I had no other flatland riders to ride with. I was not able to ride alone, so I stopped it at the time. In 2006 in Hungary I started again, and since then I ride (mostly alone). I was also riding ramps, but was thinking too much, so it became dangerous.  Anyway, I had most fun with flatland.

How often do you ride?
In winter I don´t ride much, it can be once in 2 weeks or sometimes twice a week. In the summertime I ride almost daily.

Do you ride contests?  If yes, what has been your biggest success? If no, why not?
I don´t like comparing, but a contest is kind of the only possibility to meet so many riders and have fun with them. If I go to a contest I enter because it feels boring only watching it, the adrenaline kick comes only if I take part. I won the Worlds 2 times… in 1991 in Denmark with the guys in age class and in 2009 in girl’s class.

Where do you ride?
Since a few years ago, I rode in Stuttgart, at the house of history spot (HDG spot). When I´m in Hungary I ride at my old schoolyard. 

What is the riding scene in your town like?  Are there any other flatlanders?
In Stuttgart, there are the most flatlanders in Germany, but the active riders are only a handful. On a nice sunny day maybe 15 flatlanders are there. In my hometown Gyöngyös are 4 flatlanders. They all ride separately on different spots. When I´m there we used to ride all together, when they can leave the busy life for a little while. 

If you could take a flatland world tour, which 5 places would you like to visit for riding and why?
I’d make a real circle around the world in a westerly direction. Starting with USA to make a use of the invitation to the York Jam; then to Japan to a contest and ride with my friends; fly to India to meet my “neglected” crew; after that Hungary, where I´m home and learn the most flatland tricks; go up to Finland to check how is riding in the Finnish summertime; and go back home to Germany. 

Is there a goal you would like to reach concerning your riding?
Yeah, to learn lot of tricks, to link them in combos, become more stable so I can enjoy it even more. Also to make it to the biggest girl’s flatland contest in Japan, which is an idea we had with Miyuki Dezaki a while back. We’ll get all the girls together and to ride with them.

Which trick/combo are you working on at the moment? 
It´s always been a long list. I try many basics and practice them for a while. So many that I used to forget them. As riding is different every day, I just do those tricks which feel good on that day. I´m working on old tricks the same as on new ones as both are not stable. But first I´m on getting back my condition after a lazy winter. I work on many small links. I like to use both sides of my body to get more symmetry, so I try to do moves switch footed and opposite too. This way I learn really slow, but it is more interesting and in balance than to work on one thing and get it 120%.

What kind of music do you like? What are your 3 favourite songs?
I broke my habit to ride with music as I can concentrate better. I only ride with it if I need motivation for riding but mostly I don´t need more then my bike and silence. I listen to many kinds of music which depends on my mood.

Tell us 3 things you like and 3 things you don’t like...
I like to eat, the sun, the peace around me. I don´t like stress, misunderstanding, and malignancy.

Do you work or study? Some of us know that you can be quite handy with cameras… Would you like to explain how you got into photography, and what it means to you?
I work as a Hungarian German translator when I get an order. I´m also learning Japanese. And yes my focus goes to photography. I´ve been interested in photography since my childhood but I didn´t have a chance to learn it. It fascinated me to freeze one moment forever and how nice the light can look. I wanted to learn how to use my camera and went to different photo courses, then I wanted to learn it deeper and I went to work in a photo-studio. 

Later I worked alone, so studio life is not my way. I like to involve the natural environment and light. It is so interesting to find abnormal situations and light it up. I get lot of support from my photographer friends; they teach me a lot to make better pics.

Do you have any photography and video projects coming up?  What would be your dream assignment as a photographer?
Sure I have :) I frequently update my photo-blog to show my work: himopic.blogspot.com It shows what is going on around me, events, nature, people and lots of BMX. For the summer I will have a flatland video-project in Hungary with David Nagy for sure, as we always make one. And we are also planning to make one of me. 

I would love to make a video of my husband Gido, he races BMX and is damn fast, and now with his #1 plate he looks so mad.

My dream is to make this around the world tour and take photos of it and the best would be to get paid for it :)

What is it about BMX that makes you creative? Lots of other riders are photographers, filmers, artists, musicians, etc… 
Yeah I´m a photographer and I know the tricks, how it feels and how I can get the best moments. I only need to search for the best light and perspectives. To get all these together makes me creative. To show a moment in a wonderful light :) and also to get more people know about BMX.

Do you have any hobbies besides flatland and do they influence your way of riding? (For example music you listen to, another sport, whatever)
I do yoga. This keeps my body in good condition and repairs what I spoil while riding or sitting in front of the computer. It teaches me better focus on one thing, feel the body and take care of it, keep it flexible. I can ride so much easier after doing yoga.

Bikecheck:
Frame: Ares Garuda 17.7″ TT
Fork: KGB Space II
Stem: Flatware
Bars: Flatware Chase Gouin No B.S. 
Crank: Profile Race 145mm
Sprocket: Profile 22T
Seat: home cooked
Tires: Odyssey Frequency G tires
Rims: Alex mus 16 
Front hub: Odyssey 
Pegs: Magic Fruits
Freecoaster: Geisha street 48s

Have your say: This is the place for shoutouts, wise words or whatever you would like to tell the world!
For some reason people stop riding. I went through this, so I can understand why really well, and wish they find their way. It will never mean to leave the sport, as I know if you are a BMXer one time you will be it for ever. So I hope you all will find the way back as it is a main part of our life! Welcome to those who already found the way back :) Take care and ride with passion!  Many thanks for the freedom I get from my family that I can take all time I want for riding!