Justin Mize
has become one of the top riders in the sport of Freestyle Motocross, landing some of the biggest tricks in FMX, including the famous double back flip. By 17, he was performing shows professionally, traveling both nationally and internationally, and signed to the National AMA Arenacross team, “Team Faith,” reaching athletes in X Games, NBC’s Dew Tour and National Arenacross circuits. Throughout his career, he trained alongside other professional riders including: “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram and Derek Cook, eventually becoming one of the top riders in the world. Now he continues innovating the sport of FMX, while serving others to better the motocross community..
20 minutes after this pic was taken, my bike decided I needed a near life experience and bogged on the face of the ramp - breaking my femur in 4 places, couple ribs, sternum, bruised and then eventually collapsed my lung, concussion, and proud to say, black instead of blue 🔵🔵.
Not sure if I passed out or was knocked out, but so far I've been in the hospital for 24 days, and still have a crew troubleshooting what is wrong with my 2009 YZ 250 with 530+ hours on it, haha.
In attempt to be productive and not lose my mind, I continued knocking out my book list, while resistance training with my upper body. Since this was all I could do, I managed to get tendonitis from overuse and eventually was forced to be a vegetable for a few weeks until I could stationary bike or begin rehab in either the injured upper body or broken lower body…
(9 Month Intermission)
Still unable to walk, run or ride, and my doctor diagnosed the bone “non-union”, and I went back into a third surgery in Dallas. The expected time to heal will be another 3-4 months……
“bummer” – Nate Adams (after hearing he needed another femur surgery)
Beforehand, I was able to land a few shows and learn a few more tricks. WTFMX also was able to move our compound to a more secure location (after dozens of hours tossing thousands of foam blocks individually, and hauling shipping containers full of foam). K’lob-E also started building a Next Gen ramp in hopes of a brighter 2023.
Much respect and gratefulness to the legends who have been here and have overcome, with little motivation with money or fame, but simply because they love the fight or flight sport.
This is real as it gets. If more real, you may not be here to experience it.
Stay Strong,
-Justin
P.S. If you have some downtime or want to learn more about the sport, check out my book “The FMX Bible” available now on Amazon
The FMX Bible
By Justin Mize
December 2021
Surprise Surprise
After 6 years of working on a trick and 16 years since my first attempt in the foam pit on the 125, my team and I finally landed the double backflip. Since it took such a long time, I learned finding the resources of foam and an airbag and logistics of getting people together seems to be half the trick. Once everything was in place, my team executed what was left and landed the trick to dirt.
Riding on the momentum we headed to do a few shows across the country until Covid took its toll, and we were forced to take a short off-season for about 6 weeks, easing back in with cardio and resistance training until feeling fresh enough to moto and eventually jam the ramp. I hired a personal training in Austin, TX to help cover my bases nutritionally and physically while continued reading more about peak performance and sports psychology, while wrapping up my own book, “The FMX Bible”, which discusses my story, tips and tricks on what helped get me where I am today, as well as nutrition, bike set up and engineering, training, ramp plans, sports psychology, history of the sport, and pretty much anything that I thought helpful to fans and athletes alike.
The FMX Bible
The FMX Bible is now available for sale, and I’d be stoked if you’d check it out.
Kenny “The Cowboy” Bartram was kind enough to do a foreword for the book as he’s been a part of my journey since almost the beginning. It’s cliché to say, but true, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without Kenny’s guidance, friendship, and resources he has let me use from time to time.
Besides learning the double, I managed to learn double seat grab flips, kiss of death flips, and a right-side-up trick, the “Christ Air” thanks to my teammate, “K’lob-E”, as he prepares to better his FMX this next year as well with a backflip and several other tricks.
I am really excited about the future for both my team and myself, as well as our sponsorships with Fly Racing especially as they continue pushing efficiency and safety with style. We’ve looked into moving, training together, whatever it takes for us to reach our full potential of our riding abilities. As of this past month, we have also joined with Davi J at a private state of the art training facility in West Texas with all the resources we need to better ourselves as well as the upcoming generation of FMX riders.
Hope ya’ll are doing great and look forward to riding with you soon!
-Justin and WTFMX
@justinmize
#flipflip
March 2021
Hello Hello
It’s been a wild one. Currently I’ve been able to slowly progress while recovering from a broken clavicle, ribs, bruised liver and concussion. I pulled a smart stunt and forgot to turn my gas back on while riding the motocross track. Cool I know.
Speaking of concussion, I visited the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and worked with Dr. Michael Collins who specializes in head trauma and recovery. He has been a huge help and gave me tools to fully recover from recent and past concussion symptoms so I can be 100% on the bike again.
Most of the last several months I’ve been working on seat grab flip variations, while spending some time in the foam pit learning double flips. And then fighting the usual progress and regress and learning and relearning technique and tricks over and over. The double flips are finally coming around after mate Levi Sherwood and Josh Sheehan gave a few pointers on how to get the bike to spin most optimally both tricks with the bike, as well as body positioning. It doesn’t feel like I imagined, but really excited to finally pull it off (November 2005 was my first attempt on my 125, so 15 years in the making).
During quarantine, I was stuck off the bike as most were, so I tried to make the most of it and scribbled a book regarding everything FMX, from tricks, training, diet, moto vans, bike set up, sports psychology, getting started, gaining support, getting shows….. it goes on and on. I really want it to be useful for the FMX community both fan and rider alike, and hopefully help the sport get a bit more exposure and credibility in the sports world. The book is set to release Summer 2021!!
Levi Sherwood has also been a HUGE help with bike set up and geometry, and was generous enough to offer his advice and some FMX parts for my Yamaha. After I cut about 18 lbs. on my bike, Levi showed me that the weight of the bike is important, only in relation to the geometry and balance of the bike (more of this and how to in my book). The swingarm and triple clamp he designed both reduce weight, but mainly reduce the wheel base, allowing the bike’s geometry to respond better on flips and spins. It is definitely a step into the future of FMX, and totally worth looking into.
Hope ya’ll are doing great and look forward to riding with you soon!
-Justin, Dec 2020
Continued Progress…
So far, 2018 has been the best year on the motorcycle. So good in fact, topping it may be difficult…..
January – mini flip attempt (ha!)
February – 75’ flip on 450, first landed flip since 2015
March – double flip in pit
April – 50’ flips on the 250
May – 75’ flips and most tricks back
June – Super Flips and Nac Nac Flips, hired sports psychologist and PT Dr. Braun
July – 1,000+ flips and double flip on 250 in the pit
August – Front Flip ramp purchase, relearned Double Grabs/Holy Grabs
September – Show in Paris and Kicker sponsorship
October – Off Season and Rehab, Sheeny text*, befriended X Games/NWG athlete Davi J
November – crashed 75’ flip but am ok miraculously, purchased AirBag for X Games and Nitro World Games Training
December – .....
The past year will be a tough act to follow, but more than anything grateful I was healthy for the most part, and hospitalizations were minor.
This year I’m working towards an invitation to X Games, and if I’m going to be there, I mize well go for gold. I have a handful of tricks that should get an invite, as well as another teammate that has something UNBELIEVABLE he has almost dialed in the foam pit (prepare to have your minds blown).
My team WTFMX (West Texas Freestyle Motocross) has made crazy progress as well, with big Mike “Braaabst” weighing 260lbs jumping 75’, and Kalobe (pronounced K’lob-E) flipping consistently at 50’ and tricking at 65’ no problem. The near future I believe we will be flipping (both forward and backwards) and getting more traction for shows and competitions as we continue developing our abilities on and off the bike.
Really excited about the future for both my team and myself, as well as our sponsors. We’ve looked into moving, training together, whatever it takes for us to reach our full potential of our riding abilities. As of this past month, we have joined with Davi J and a private state of the art training facility in West Texas. Nothing is holding us back now.
Contact us if interested in shows, training inquiries, or any feedback whatsoever! Thank you so much for your support and all the best during 2019!
Stay Strong,
Justin and WTFMX
*Also, I check out the books and films section of this page. I doubt you regret it ;)
2018 Momentum…
After spending almost a year and a half off the bike due to hospitalizations and injuries, I’ve finally progressed to my own expectations for myself (which happens very rarely haha).
January provided a Freestyle Competition that I went for a “mini flip” which I under rotated slightly, but was still awarded 2nd place for my efforts (yeah, weird right?).
Then in February, at the local track in Midland, TX, I flipped 75’ to dirt on the new 450, which was the first time to land a flip since 2015.
This past March a small FMX team, “2 Bros FMX”, and amateur FMX rider, Kalobe Norsworthy, and I all traveled up to Kenny Bartram’s training facility in Stillwater, OK. Most everyone was able to get the flip around in the foam pit, and after two years of rehab and training on and off the bike, I managed to figure out the technique and correct distance and angle for the double flip.
After over two dozen attempts, I was able to get the bike pretty much all the way around AND LAND IN THE FOAM PIT THIS TIME!J If you watch closely, you may be able to tell a slight difference from two years ago (ha!)
