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BMX Strong Interview Jeff Ssengoba

By admin | July 16, 2008

I got a Chance the other day to sit down and chat with long time BMXer and coach Jeff Ssengoba. For those who may not know Jeff, he has been around the sport of BMX longer than most you all have been alive. Jeff Is a long time friend of mine as well as mentor, and it was an honor to be able to pick his brain for a few minutes about training for BMX racing. Sit back and rtelax and listen to one of BMX’s greats.

How long have you been riding? I would say around 20 or more years

How old are you? old enough to know better

When did you decide to turn pro and why?
I turned about 12 or more years ago. I set a goal for an end of the year title in Michigan and was leading my first moto slipped a pedal got 6th and even winning all of the rest of the motos and mains ended up #2. I said right there I would never race again for anything but for self or instant gratification

When did you start structuring your training for racing? I always have to a degree I was never very natural bike rider so I had to figure out what made your faster or better then the next person. Plus I like to know why things work and with training you can see very quick

What do you think are the best exercises for bmxers?
It would depend on the rider age and there ability. There is no one simple fix for the multitude of different riders. That’s why it’s good to get a coach or someone to watch you and see what your tendencies are to help build them or to fix your weakness.

What is the best training advice you can give a young up and comer in this sport?
Be patient and have fun, but also set realistic goals both short and long term. Not just I want to be # 1

What do you feel helped you ride competitively for so long? I liked to ride and I had some great people around me at times that helped pluse I early on saw a way to make it a job as oposed to having to win money. So I started a company TFS ( 24 seven concepts) . This alowed me to do clinics all over the world. People dont know but I think We were the only team ever sponsored by the NBL to do clinincs.

Were do you think the olympics will take the sport of BMX? Unless the sanctions change something quick I think is just going to make it so there is a spike of new riders nad make a couple of people rich but still not build up the local scene.

A lot of people are going to see it but we have to get those people out to there local tracks which means we have to let people know there out there.

How did you get so good at dancing and do feel there is a crossover to your performance on a bike? Ha ha thats funny who says I can even dance? Well if I could dance I would say if helps because of the nature that you are doing plyometric exercises for quite a long time as well as working on your abs and Balance. On a side note some fast guy name Alex Vergara who rode for GT when they were known as the true firm could really go.

Thanks for the interview Ryan I want to thank Staats bikes, Fly Racing and J& R bicycles with out them my racing life would be a lot harder. I would also like to thank everyone that has ever helped me in any way. There are so many I could not possibly name them all but I do appreciate every last person that has ever helped me. Keep your eyes peeled for the new 24sevenbmx.com web sight and some exciting things we have coming up in the next couple of months Need to get a hold of me drop me an e-mail at a247bmx@hotmail.com now go ride!

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