Nina Buitrago
Nina Buitrago
Interviewed by: Laura Lynn Murphey
Full name: Nina Buitrago
Nickname: Nina B!
Birthday w/ year: June 14, 1981
Hometown: port washington, ny
Current residence: cleveland, ohio
Parents names: irving and libby
Siblings: tamilyn rose
High school: schreiber highschool, port washington, ny
College: manhattanville college, purchase, ny Degree: bachelor of arts in music & management
Sponsors: etnies, dk bicycles, boost mobile, bern helmets, rise above bmx shop
Years riding BMX: seven or eight
Other action sports that you participate in: some snowboarding, a little skateboarding and would love to go surfing again
How did you start riding BMX? i had a photo project due and so i took some pictures of some friends riding trails in the woods it looked so much fun! so a few weeks later when my car died, i saw a window of opportunity to make it happen and so i saved up and got a bike and have been hooked ever since.
What is your proudest moment in BMX? it was probably at Jamie Bestwick’s “Goodtimes Contest” in 2003 one of the first ever all girl classes. after a few years of competing with the guys and a couple of road trips here or there with a few girls, there i was finally, along with about a record breaking twenty others (girls) who came out from all over the country to ride, it was at that moment sitting there on the deck before my run that i realized from this point on, we are going to be making history and will continue to keep doing stuff no one (myself included) ever thought they would see girls do on a bike..
Who do you look up to? Inspiration? I’ve always looked up to the greats such as Mat Hoffman, DMC, Mirra, Bestwick, Nyquist..but I seem to find inspiration everywhere all around me, other girls getting out there and doing something anything besides just sitting there, seeing people do something i never thought of at a spot i’ve ridden a million times, or even watching a kid drop-in for the first time, knowing we all started at the same point, and the potential we have is when i’m most inspired.
Worst injury: brake lever in the thigh
Close call: almost another brake lever in the thigh
Favorite spot to ride: chenga 1 (r.i.p.one of the best skateparks ever)
Dream trip: around the world with 5 of my friends & bikes.
What would you tell girls who are curious about riding BMX? borrow a bike if you have to, but it is the most fun i’ve ever had. for some inspiration to see other girls goin for it, go to “women of freestyle” wofbmx.com, i saw a picture of cory coffey on there doing some tricks and i was blown away. if you want a helping hand getting started, check out an etnies “girls get on board” clinic : ) get some friends together and request one at a ramp park near you!
etnies Shoe (riding): easy-e
etnies Shoe(s) (chillin’): slinkie
Other etnies riders you keep in touch with: sarah whitmore and i are planning a trip away from midwest winter to visit mary osborne and get our surf on!
What other etnies rider who does not ride pro for BMX would do best at trying BMX?well, marie france is good at almost anything she does, well really she’s just crazy enough to do it, so i would nominate her or either tarrah or sarah (moto-x shredders)
What other etnies rider would be the worst at trying BMX? sarah claimed she is the worst.
FAVORITES
Color: purple
Food: eggplant
Smell: pizza
Place: beach
Animal: catdog
Love: tim burton films
Hate: flat tires
Need: the schwartz!
Want: nintendo wii!
Top 5 favorite bands:
- iron maiden
- motley crue
- rolling stones
- nofx
- social distortion
Currently listening to:
- little richard “lucille”
- the coasters “tequila”
- the cramps “new kind of kick”
The most recent band you saw live: the destructors!
If you could have any song for a video part, what would it be? a metal version of the guess who’s “american woman” or i think it’s already been used but “crazy on you” by heart is pretty badass
What band would you most want to see with front seats and backstage passes? iron maiden the original lineup.
Biggest fear: no more ice cream!?
Happiest moment: will be when my mom gets to see me ride
5 Things you want to do before death:
- travel to every continent
- be fluent in spanish or another language
- go back to school
- own a house with ramps in the yard
- the family thing
If you could only have one wish come true tomorrow what would it be? Wishing for more wishes doesn’t count. ....if i tell you then it won’t ever come true!
Have you ever volunteered for or supported a charity or a noble cause? yes...done a lot of walks, rides for a.i.d.s., breast cancer, lung cancer, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis..hope to do more!
If you could dedicate your entire life to supporting a charitable cause, what would it be? that is a tough one....i’m not sure yet but it would be one most likely to help troubled and/or disabled kids.
Do you do anything in your daily life that is considered GREEN? recycle and bicycle
QUESTION FROM LAURA #1 – What would you do with your life if you suddenly became paralyzed from the waist down? try to keep on rollin!
QUESTION FROM LAURA #2 – What color would your pro bike be if you had one?either blue with white components or eggplant purple with green components ; ) as bright as possible
QUESTION FROM LAURA #3 – Do you have any advice to people traveling to Paris, France? watch your stuff! and do stay away from tall buildings with fun tranny’s to ride..you never know where trouble may be lurking, pretty much stay away from la defense (suburb of paris) altogether!
