LIVING AS A LEGEND: By Kurt Hurley
The Bridge has been running for two years now in Concrete Wave. My intent all along has been to grace these pages with legendary skaters who changed the history of skateboarding forever.
Biker Sherlock definitely fits that description. Biker’s story has been documented in this magazine before: owner of Dregs Skateboards and leader of Team Dregs; world champion and multiple X Games and Gravity Games champion in both downhill and street luge; entrepreneur and race promoter; and much more. Biker wanted downhill skateboarding to be recognized for just how exciting and radical it was, and is. He single handedly talked NBC into creating the Gravity Games – and however controversial the path he created was, it certainly laid the groundwork for the future of downhill skateboarding.
Biker lived it every day, too, and not just on a skateboard. He was an incredible big-wave surfer who was recognized enough to be asked to drive Jet Ski support at big-wave events. He was so good at racing trucks that legendary truck racers said he should drop everything and focus on doing that instead. Biker was gifted. He was a legend. He had vision.
Biker had it all: a beautiful wife and kids, friends who loved him, and a legacy of being one of the greatest downhillers of all time. I was fortunate to travel the world with Biker and Amy while I was racing with him as part of Team Dregs. He was a rock
star. I looked up to him, as did many others who knew what he stood for.
Biker’s life and career were connected with those of well-known industry insiders like Steve Lake from Sector 9, Michael Bream from Gravity Skateboards and many others. Brad Strandlund, a great longboarder from the ’70s, is also a key figure in the Biker (and Dregs) story. Brad certainly nudged Biker in the direction of downhill skating and should be duly noted as a friend and business partner. Some of you may also know that I was vice president of Dregs for a while and initiated the marketing campaign to show the younger generation just how meaningful Biker was to the proliferation of downhill skateboarding.
Still, living as a famous athlete can be hard, both mentally and physically, and even legends take a beating. Nearly every day we hear about the damage that pro football players, boxers and other athletes sustain from the constant pounding of their chosen sports. The risks for downhill skateboarders are no less severe, and Biker certainly suffered his share of wipeouts, crashes and injuries. Did the effects of concussions and other head trauma play a part in his death? It seems now that this is the most likely scenario.
Besides my own grief, I am also devastated by the loss for Biker’s family.
When you have children, everything changes. You find out what true love really is. It is the greatest gift of all to be blessed with beautiful young lives. Nothing can ever change the love you have for your children, and no father loved his children more than Biker. He was an incredible dad who spent a large amount of time with his two boys. They worshipped the ground that he walked on, and for good reason.
We will never forget you, Biker. Thank you for all you have done for all of us in the skateboarding world. We miss you.
A PIONEERING SPIRIT: By Michael Brooke
I was in New Jersey when I heard the news that Michael “Biker” Sherlock had passed away.
I met Biker over 15 years ago. He was one of the first people to advertise in International Longboarder Magazine when it came out in August 1999. I’m glad Biker saw something in that publication. I was grateful for his support.
Biker was truly a pioneer. He pushed things forward in so many different ways. His legacy in the downhill community will never be forgotten.
When Biker advertised Dregs in Concrete Wave, his tag line was “all the elements.” Biker truly pioneered this idea. He understood the concept of riding everything and giving everything when you ride.
Truth be told, there were a number of times Biker and I didn’t see eye to eye. Dregs will go down as the only advertiser in Concrete Wave who had two separate ads banned – one for including the F word the other equating fellow competitors to dog poop. To be fair, however, Biker’s creative use of the print medium made for some pretty amazing ads. We’ve reproduced a few of them here, knowing they will bring a smile to your face.
Over the years I pretty much got used to Biker’s somewhat brash personality. But things started to change in 2013. In the summer of that year, we met up in Carlsbad. The first thing I noticed is that he had cut his hair. He also spoke differently to me. I could tell the days of us not being on the same wavelength had passed. Circumstances change, and as a result they change people as well.
We visited with his new distributor and had a Japanese lunch together. I spent the better part of three hours getting to see a different side of Biker. This side was not brash. It had passion and pure heart. I am pleased to say that we parted that day as business associates and friends. That day was the last time I saw Biker. It is the memory I have of Biker now. For this I am truly thankful.
Story Thanks to Michael Brooke and Concrete Wave Magazine.