Jimmy LeVan film — ‘Go Fast Pull Up’: Weekend Watch
‘Go Fast Pull Up’ is the Jimmy LeVan film about the legendary BMX rider’s life (and near death) in the sport by Chris Rye in association with DIG and Props.
The Jimmy LeVan film is a film by Chris Rye, DIG and Props (if you follow DIG you’ll remember the box set when the film premiered — it came with an amazing-looking book we should really have bought, damn) and it tells the epic story of LeVan’s life and influence on the sport. Red Bull is now showing the film on their player so we’re embedding it above, but ya know we love DIG and what they stand for and do for the sport of BMX, so go give them some love. In particular, you should read this behind the scenes story about the film.
From DIG:
‘As BMX evolved from the 1980’s into the 1990’s, a whole new generation of companies and riders rose to the forefront of the industry, forever changing its future.
Caught up in the fold was a young BMX racer from Louisville, Kentucky named James Menard LeVan. Along with his sister Susie, the pair traversed the ranks of the Midwest US racing scene, supported [by] their Mom’s ragtag track-side business.
After getting bored with pedaling fast around a track, Jimmy transitioned into dirt jumping and street riding, and soon found himself caught up in the mix as outside corporate companies entered BMX in the mid-90’s.
Using skills learned from years on the racetrack, Jimmy soon found himself at the helm of his own brand of street riding – jumping large gaps – which would ultimately elevate him to legend status within the expanding BMX scene, via Props Video Magazine and the pages of DIG BMX Magazine. ’Levangelism’ was born
With the “Midschool” era in full effect at the turn of the century, the BMX world was soon transformed as new rider-owned companies emerged, including Jimmy’s own brand Metal Bikes.
As the years went on, a string of bad injuries would plague Jimmy as his riding career began to slow down, until a fateful skateboard accident would forever change his world.
“Go Fast Pull Up” takes a look at Jimmy’s amazing story while stepping through important moments in BMX’s colorful history along the way.’
If you’re going to spend some time in front of a screen this weekend, make sure it is watching Go Fast Pull Up and learn about being BMX culture. People don’t get much more real than this. Truly inspirational and a story very well told — big congratulations to DIG and Props for their work.
