I've known Josh for quite some time now and he's always been an asshole, he's got an attitude 69% of the time, every time and if he's around you're gonna get heckled for something you do wrong, guaranteed. With the negatives being said, lets dip into the positives of Josh Hayes... He's the best dude to have around, you can count on him, he gets everything done no matter what it may be and even though he's got that asshole attitude, he's got a big ol' heart of pure gold. Josh dabbles in a plethora of hobbies which include BMX, photography, track bikes, edging, moshing, consuming vegetarian delights and shit talking. Get to know Josh a little better in this week's Toss Up...

*Reader Disclaimer* Big ol' heart of pure gold goes for if you're his friend, otherwise your getting shit talked and or heavily hated or disliked.

Be sure to check out some of Josh's work up above in that there photo slide! Also, don't forget to check out Josh's site.


Name: Josh Hayes 


Age: 21 years of age 


Born and Raised: What is Chula Vista? Suck it Trebek.


How long have you been shredding?

I started racing on my 9th birthday, so I’ve been riding for about 11 years now and I still haven’t done a back flip. So according to all the kids at the skate park, I suck. 


How long have you been shooting photos for?

I’ve been stealing souls since I was a Freshmen in high school, which was the most retarded years of my photography carrier…. My photo teacher used to hit on all the girls and give them all A’s. He was a scumbag but let me use the darkroom whenever I wanted, so that was kinda cool.  


Favorite terrain, parks and or spots to shred?

Favorite terrain would have to be trails. Nothing beats being in the woods with a good group of friends flowing around like sugar gliders. As for spots to ride as of right now in San Diego I would have to say the North County trails that Paul and Steve are building. I went out there with Hoang and Tom and it was a raging good time  


Any particular people, places or things you prefer to shoot?

Well I just enjoy shooting people out side in the world. When shooting BMX I love shooting my friends riding street and trails because you can use the environment to make the photo interesting and unique. Also parks are really cookie cutter and every quarter or hip is the same to me, it isn’t as appealing both visually and from a riding standpoint. Shooting at skate parks is really frustrating, all the little kids shooting there boards everywhere almost taking out my flashes or hitting me in the ankles, little pricks. 


Goals for the remainder of 2009?

Goals, well I need a legit job since I just graduated college and I’m dead broke and can’t afford my Dr.Pepper addiction. I have a handful of just for fun projects for myself to complete by the end of summer and that’s about it. It’s summer time brah, I want to spend my time at the beach catching some sweet tubes and blasting all kinds of Dr.Pepper into my system. Maybe even lacing it with some skittles you never know where the party will take you . I almost forgot the current void in my life, living with my dad. I need to move out! Kids once you go to college don’t move back in with you parents it’s way to stressful and it’s like you reverted back to being in high school. Love ya pops, ahahah but sometimes I want to tell you to go eat a big bag of D. 


You mentioned something about being the media dude for the upcoming Subrosa trips, what’s the deal with that? That shit still working out?

I’ve known Ryan for a long time and I like to help out my friends, so I do what I can when I can. If I get the privilege to go on a trip, that would be awesome but I have no title with Subrosa other than a friend and supporter.  I fully back the intro of color into their scheme, so that now the photos I send them won’t be downgraded to B/W.


When are you going to be the Team Manager for Subrosa?! I myself think that Ryan should lock it up and bestow the managerial duties to you, that dude barely ever updates the site…

Ahahah, Ryan is a busy dude and you can’t really hold it against him. He’s trying to get everything together after moving across the country by himself.  Ryan is a solid dude and has taken Subrosa far and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them. If I get the opportunity to be a part of that future, I would be super stoked.  Then when I go on trips I could act like the cool fat kid who knows all the pros… Oh wait, Lobes already has that position on lock down, as well as a mean pepper grinder. 


I did a Toss Up with Greg Dickson a while back, how superior would you say you are compared to your fire crotch brotheren?

Well I would have to say that in a dick Measuring contest I got him by about 2 inches. Also, he went from legit man to hippie once he moved to Austin. He hasn’t even jumped the big section at 9th… Respect lost. Suck it Dickskin. 


How long have you been straight edge for? What’s your take on being straight edge, any reasons as to why you stay clean and sober?

I have been straight edge for about 7 years.  My reasoning’s are related to substance abuse in my family for the most part. Also, as I grew up around people who smoked weed or drank all the time, it just seemed pointless to me. Those types of activities are money pits you just keep using all your money on things I don’t believe I need to have fun. But as all my friends know I could care less what you do as long as it doesn’t effect me, I just sit back and watch the herd thin out. 


Back to bikes… What type of set up do you like to run? Light and steady or heavy and sluggish?

I like my bikes big and burly. I recently put together the custom frame FBM made for me, which is 21.4 with a 9.5 inch stand over height, 8 ¼ Odyssey lumberjacks and Odyssey 30x9 gear ratio. Big boy bikes are more fun to me and when floating through the trees, I feel more in control.  My bike is 26 pounds, I don’t know if that’s heavy and I don’t really care. I would rather get stronger than run parts I’m afraid are going to break every time I tag or land flat. I must thank Jim and every one at Odyssey for keeping the 48-hole rear wheel alive!


You’re known for your trademarked tire grabs, any other trickery we should look out for? Flips, whips, crank shooters or bar tossers?

Ahahah tire grabs… They will always haunt me, but I have to give credit to Brian Yeagle for the best ones in the Biz. I saw a picture or video of him doing one on the big set at Suffield and it blew my mind. As for me, maybe in the near future I’ll start doing some stunts. Ya know I’m gonna head to Woodward in the off-season and hit the resi-foam combo, ya know brah. I want to be ready for next seasons Dew Tour, so I can put a shotgun in my mouth and pull the trigger. Tricks aren’t important because if you can’t do a good tabes, you shouldn’t be riding a bike. Mike Spinner throw in the towel, you’re the Kenan Harkin of 2009. 


Besides shredding BMX and shooting photos, you also dabble in some fixie bike shit… How long have you been riding a fixed for? How did you get into that non-sense?

I knew you would bring that up ahah. I have been riding a track bike since I started college, so about 3 years now. The reason why I did it was because I lived in Goleta, California and driving to school in Santa Barbara sucked. I didn’t want to make the trek on a BMX, so a track bike was the closest thing to a BMX, so it just seemed right. Also, you can go really fast and if a car gets close to you, you can break their window. It’s perfect. High speeds and random acts of violence towards unknowing yuppie clowns. 


For those who don’t know, you have the banger section in the Macaframa DVD… How did you manage to land that? Are you really that good at riding those big bikes?

Well my ex-girlfriend lived in SF, so I started going up there to see her and my friend Mitchell from Santa Barbara. He grew up with Colin and Colby and one day he was like “hit em up, they will show you around the city...” I guess one thing led to another, they asked me if I wanted to film some stuff and it was fun riding around with them, so I said sure. I am just a dude who likes to ride bikes I’m nothing special… 


Can we expect another banger section from Josh Hayes in the near fixed future?

As for Macaframa 2, I just recently talked to Colby and he said they wanted to start filming and if everything works out I might have another part. I really don’t know what’s going on its one big cluster fuck. 


Do you think anyone cares about this interview?

I really don’t especially since you brought up the whole fixed gear thing. Ahahah I’m no Gary Young or Dennis Enerson, so people don’t give a shit. 


Anything else you would like to say?

Never go full retard.