Nickname: "No Way Rey"
DOB: 04.06.1966
Hometown: Laguna Beach, CA, USA
Zodiac sign: Gemini

Hans Rey is considered the world's leader in extreme mountain biking. The multiple trials national and world champion is one of the pioneers of trials and extreme mountain biking. Through his spectacular mountain bike trials shows and adventures, Hans has made himself a name far beyond the mountain bike scene. His skills and image are constantly opening the doors to media coverage all over the world; "No Way" Rey has been demonstrating his talents in over 70 countries. All the while, capturing the cultural, scenic, and spiritual aspects of these exotic locations; and always in search of something mystical or historical. They call him the Franz Beckenbauer or Wayne Gretzky of mountain biking.

Hans earned recognition with his jump over a car on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles, with his volcano dance in Hawaii, his under water bungee jump, or his Machu Picchu Adventure. Besides his own successful video series he was also chosen as stunt coordinator and stuntman in Willy Bogners motion pictures "Fire, Ice, and Dynamite" and "White Magic"; as well as in the TV Show "Pacific Blue", where he occasionally has a guest appearance as himself. He's also been featured and hosted numerous TV shows and programs. At the 1996 Olympic Games Hans was part of an Extreme Sports Act and performed in front of 3.5 billion viewers in the Olympic Closing Ceremonies.

www.hansrey.com

Hans, how did you initially get into mountain biking and MTB trials?

I've been riding Trials since I was 12years old, back in Germany where I grew up. I got introduced to the Mountain Biking scene in 1987, when I came to America right before the mountain bike boom hit the world. Trials was a big part of the early mountain bike competitions and Laguna Rads bike club made me live, breath and understand the true spirit of mountain biking.

How old were you then?

I was 12 years old when I started riding trials and I was 20 years old when I became a pro rider and started mountain biking.

What’s so special about this sport?

Everybody can practice the sports as it suits their interests and their definition of what it should be.

What do you need to become a good trials rider – obviously a lot of patience and endurance, but what else?

Endurance is actually not one of the things a good trials rider need, of course you have to be strong and athletic, but its more bike and body control, concentration, balance and explosive power combined with strong nerves.

When did you start participating in competitions?

My first trials competition was in 1979 in Emmendingen, Germany

What were your greatest achievements as a trials rider? What are you most proud of?

I was a top ranked trials rider throughout the 80ties and mid 90ties. Winning the World Championships or a Silver Medal at the first X Games was great, but more impact had my early trials riding videos, shows and photoshoots.

What was your best trial competition ever?

The German World Championship Round in 1987 was my biggest win ever.

How did you get your nickname “No Way” Rey?

When I first came to the USA, nobody had seen a rider of my skill level before, they constantly gave me new challenges to ride my bike on or over. They would always say "no way, that's impossible....." it kind of stuck to this day.

What were the media highlights of your career?

There has been lots of coverage over the years - I think its the accumulative of everything that stands out. I believe I must have had over 300 magazine covers over the years. In 1987, only a few weeks before I went to Amerika, I had a live appearance on the German TV Game Show "Wetten dass ....?", this show had over 40million viewers live, that's a number that's hard to match nowadays, even for the biggest sports events in the world.

When and why did you create the Hans Rey Adventure team?

It was a natural transition at the end of my competitive career, plus I always had a fascination about all these mysterious and historical places. I thought the mountain bike could replace the horse of the early explorers and help adventure into remote areas and trace historic routes. I always wanted to take my trials skills onto the trails in real situations, like riding the old Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or riding in the footsteps of Moses down Mt. Sinai, etc...

With all these incredible stunts you do, have you ever experienced a dangerous situation or scary moment on your bike?

There have been plenty to scary situations, although I generally try to avoid them. Sometimes they come with the nature of the terrain I'm riding and other times they can situations caused by Mother Nature, wild animals or criminals. I prefer the dangerous situations where I have control, like riding on a edge of a clif, etc....

You’ve had most your sponsors for over a decade or nearly two decades? What do you think is the secret of your long-term success?

I'm not sure, I guess I stay relevant to the sport and evolve with it. Past success is past success but the sport constantly evolves, their are new trends and new movements - I like to stay in touch with them and see them on a global level. I think key is to get involved in projects that not only further my own career and needs but to find ways the sponsors as well as the sport in general can benefit. Creating a 'win - win' situation is always successful and keeps everybody happy. Next year will be my 25th season with GT Bicycles, this could be one of the longest sponsor/ athlete relationship in the entire actions sports and outdoor industry.

You’ve done a show at the Olympic closing ceremony, met the president of the United Stages and travelled to the most incredible places around the globe, like the forgotten city of Petra in Jordan. What were the most impressive or memorable moments in your career?

I've been blessed with making my hobby to my job, traveling the world and meeting countless people with all sorts of backgrounds has enriched my live beyond measure. It is hard to pick point one single event or moment.

You are not only a brilliant athlete; you are also very good at marketing yourself. How did you become the most photographed mountain biker in the world – or at least the one with the most cover pages?

As mentioned earlier, I think it goes hand in hand with trying to stay relevant to the sport, sponsors and times - being creative and finding interesting ways not just for your own good but in everybodies interest. I've always had a interest in marketing, I learned a lot from looking at other athletes in other sports; I always tried to learn from their successes as well as their mistakes. Partly I was also forced to take things in my own hands, our sport was still young and small - there was no managers who understood the sport as well as the business - and if there were any talented managers, they would soon move on to more lucrative sports.

What’s your advise to young athletes – how can you make a living as a mountain biker?

Do what you love to do - have passion and fun - be as good as you can be. Once you arrived at that point, continue the same way, but beware of your new and secondary job - be professional and understand the reasons why you are being sponsored. Find ways to help the sponsors reach their goals or meet the expectations they have of you.

When did you start your charity “Wheels 4 Life” and what is all about?

I started Wheels 4 Life in 2005, it was a way to give something back to the world of bicycles. One my travels through 70 plus countries I have noticed many times, that the bike often has a very different meaning in the Third World than it has to us, where it usually is a sport object or toy. Wheels 4 Life gives bikes to people in need of transportation in Developing Countries. To date, 2011, we have given over 2500 bikes to people in over 20 different countries. www.wheels4life.org

Your wife is a photographer and accompanies you on many trips, is that right?

My wife is very good photographer, she comes on some of my projects, but she is really the heart and soul behind Wheels 4 Life - she runs the charities daily affairs and deals with all projects.

Do you have any hobbies to balance your busy lifestyle?

I love to relax and hang out with friends. I enjoy all forms of bicycle riding, lately I've also riding my dirt bike, California has some great spots in the Outdoors that would be very hard to explore on bicycle. I love many outdoor sports.

What are your strengths?

The grab on some of the opportunities life has given me

And your weaknesses?

All the opportunities I've missed

What are your future plans and dreams, what’s next on your agenda?

As much as mountain biking has matured in the past 30 years, I think there are still lots of changes to come, not just technically but also the way the sport is practiced and enjoyed. One of the things is the development for mountain bike specific trails, like my concept for "Flow Country Trails", which are a certain kind of flow trail that will enhance everybodies biking experience above and beyond todays standard. There still a few corners left in the world that haven't been marked by my tire tracks and I for sure want to continue my mission with Wheels 4 Life and other related advocacy issues.

Titles and recent victories:
Trials World Champion 1989 (NORBA)
2nd - Trials ESPN Extreme Games 1995
1st - Trials at the MTB World Championships in the USA, 1990 (UCI)
1st - Trials at the MTB World Championships in Canada, 1992 (UCI)
Bike Trial Vice World Champion 1992 (BIU)
1st - Trials at the Mountain Bike World Championships in France 1993 (UCI)
3rd - Slalom at the Mountain Bike World Championships in France 1993 (UCI)
US Trials Champion 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
US MTB Trials Champion 1991, 1992, 1993
German Trials Champion 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
Swiss Trials Champion 1984, 1985, 1986
1st - Australian Open Trials Championships 1992
1st - World Cup Slalom Germany 1992
3rd - Pro Downhill Eliminator Race Germany 1995
2nd - Trials at the Mountain Bike World Championships in the USA 1994 (UCI)
1st - NORBA Nationals Spokane, WA 1995 MTB Trials
1st - NORBA Natl. Mammoth Mt., CA 1996 Mod. Trials
1st - NORBA Natl. Helen, GA 1996 Mod. Trials
1st - NORBA Natl'. Big Bear, Mammoth, and Mt. Snow 1997 Mod. Trials