We think of the word community broadly, encompassing everything from the locals in Lynn who frequent our taproom and attend our events to people and organizations all over the country that we feel resonate deeply with us in a variety of ways – from causes we care about to sports and activities that we feel passionate about.
One of those sports is mountain biking, and we’ve gone all in on supporting that community in a variety of ways, including our partnership with the New England Mountain Bike Association. We’ve also invested in a relationship with professional mountain biker Nicholi Rogatkin.
We admire Nicholi for his sportsmanship, hard work ethic, and prowess on the trails. His extreme effort and resilience resonate deeply with our belief that with hard work and dedication, you can accomplish anything. We’ve served as a sponsor for Nicholi since 2021, and you’ve probably seen him in our Instagram feed from time to time – completing an amazing trick while sporting a Double Thunder Funk-branded helmet.
Recently, we sat down for a conversation with Nicholi to learn more about his background and introduction to mountain biking and take a step closer to finding out what makes such a driven athlete truly tick.
Q: How did you get your start in mountain biking and what drew you to it originally?
A: I started riding BMX at age 5 on some little dirt jumps! As my riding progressed, I was most thrilled by big air and big tricks. At a very young age, I was able to participate in some freestyle shows with a few of the top slopestyle riders at the time. I was motivated to see if I could do my BMX tricks on a mountain bike. I put in the work and started to compete in Slopestyle. This is where I have now been for the last 10 years, fighting for world titles.
Q: Looking back on your careers thus far, what are some of your proudest professional accomplishments?
A: Award-wise, my two biggest accomplishments are being a world champion and a triple crown champion, the two highest accolades in the sport! But my real biggest accomplishment is being someone who inspires the next generation of riders.
Q: What are some of the things that set you apart from your fellow riders?
A: I’ve been riding and competing in so many different scenarios since I was very young. So I feel like at this point I’m unfazed by the nerves, danger, and pressure which comes with so many riding situations. That prepares me for the gnarliest riding moments.
Q: What advice would you give an aspiring mountain biker?
A: Keep doing what you like the most. Focus on it and work at it. Progression happens fastest when you’re enjoying what you’re doing!
Q: We know you were recently injured, and hope you have a fast recovery. It’s by no means your first crash or injury, which is part of what comes with being such a high-performing athlete. What can you say about the mental/physical endurance it takes to get up and keep going after something like this?
A: The mental/physical endurance it takes is immeasurable unless you experience it yourself. All the athletes know the danger of the sport at all times. Instead of being fearful of that, we must be motivated by it, which requires crazy mental strength.
Q: Bent Water Brewing truly appreciates its relationship with you as a hard worker and competitor. What about Bent Water Brewing makes them a good fit as a partner/sponsor for you?
A: I’m so hyped to represent Bent Water! The first sponsor I’ve represented from my home state, Massachusetts! I met the owner Aaron and his son Spencer at Highland Mountain riding some laps. Over the last couple years,– I have grown closer with them, and I’ve been riding in an awesome Double Thunder Funk IPA-themed helmet. We are in the process of painting a new themed helmet as I recover from this injury. Bent Water has a huge presentce at the bike parks around New England as well, which is awesome. Hopefully, we can have everyone drinking Bent Water after their laps in the future!
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