Jacob needs little introduction, but for those whose name might not be familiar, he gained online popularity at 12 for his riding skills and style and was one of the most prominent up-and-coming riders in our scene.

We first met him in Whistler, BC, in 2022, and we’ve stayed connected ever since. He was part of the Deep Summer crew last summer, and we recently spent an afternoon with him at his family’s property in Santa Cruz, California, where he showed us his backyard trails, moto skills, and chatted between runs as he got comfortable on his new bikes.

Scroll down to know more about him.

What’s your age now?

17.

How long have you been riding, and which brands support you?

Been riding for 9 years, give or take, and the brands that support me are Kona, Deity, Fasthouse, and WTB wheels.

Oh yeah, congrats on signing with Kona. How do you feel about that?

It makes me feel like I’m starting fresh. I love the brand and the people there, and I feel like I can build a deeper connection with the company and communicate with them more effectively. The bikes are awesome, and I also respect the company’s history.

Any other hobbies besides biking?

Riding dirt bikes, driving trucks, running excavators and skid steers, and building trails.

What kind of music are you into?

Rap, reggae, and country.

Do you have any favorite riders?

There are too many to choose from.

Alright, fair enough. What about video parts?

Probably “In The Know” feat. Ryan Howard.

And your favorite place to ride?

My yard or the local trails in Santa Cruz.

How did you get into riding?

I started riding dirt bikes when I was like 6, on training wheels, and have been riding dirt bikes ever since. Then I got more into riding mountain bikes when I was around 12. It’s something fun to do. You escape from the internet and the world, go outside into nature, and visit cool places.

And how do you see your riding career evolving? Where do you want to take it?

Well, I started working at my dad’s excavation and drilling company because I noticed that the more I rode every day and did nothing else, the faster I got tired of riding.

I’ve been running excavators and other machines my whole life to build bike jumps, so the work translated easily for me. It was super rewarding and felt good to do projects for people and make them stoked. I want to continue the family business because my grandpa started the company, and my dad has been running it his whole life. It would suck to end it here.

So now that I have a life besides riding, it feels like a treat to get to ride. Not having to rely on riding to make money feels better for me because I’m doing it for fun. It’s more meaningful. I also don’t want to become a full-on influencer, having to constantly make content and advertise what you do on Instagram, because I don’t like the way it portrays people; it becomes less unique and creative and feels repetitive just for views and to please sponsors.

That was a great answer. Any bike-related plans for the near future, though?

Whistler.

See you in Whistler, then.

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