Gabe Brooks Edit / Q&A
When Darryl approached me with idea of hosting a Gabe Brooks Kink edit on here, I said hell yeah! Not only am I aware of Gabe’s abilities, but I know that Darryl wouldn’t put out trash. So here we are.
Speaking of Gabe, one of the lasting impressions of him that will always stick with me, was from the Texas Toast jam. Not only was Gabe taking in all the riding he could, but he also stuck around and helped us break down when most people were gone. I saw him putting tents away, moving stuff and just straight helping anyway he could. Shit like that goes a long way, and didn’t go unnoticed. Even though the Q&A below is pretty gnarly, the dude couldn’t give off a more positive/friendly/appreciative vibe.
Below is a quick Q&A with Gabe that Jay Roe put together.
Name/Age/Hometown:
Gabe Brooks, 24, South Central California.
So you kind of popped back into the scene recently, seemingly out of nowhere. Where were you at and why?
I was incarcerated for murder : )
What type of lifestyle/upbringing and circle of people brought you to the above circumstances?
They Were Gangstas, Dope Dealers and Hustlers!!!
Where did you grow up and what kind of people were you looking up to outside of riding, that kind of lead you down that path?
I grew up smack in the middle of south central Los Angeles and I use to look up to gangstas, pimps and macks!! They were the ones that taught me how to survive. Physically and financially rather.. S/O to sweet tooth.
What brought you back into riding when you got out? Was it something you thought about and missed while away?
The last joe I did, I realized that I couldn’t keep livin the way I did or otherwise, I’ll be in someones cemetery, or locked up for life trying to defend myself and friends.
You seem so focused on riding now, what is it like balancing BMX with the lifestyle you lived outside of it?
It’s weird… Going from trying to take territory, to learning a trick on a bike and channeling my anger on something positive than negative giving me a higher energy. It feels good but odd. I’ve lived 19 years of my life doing stupid shit and I got stupid outcomes.. But that was my life I had to adapt or be weeded out.
One of the first times we hung out, you called someone that answered a cell phone from inside their jail cell. Do you currently have friends and family that are locked up? What’s that like for you and how do you deal with it?
Yeah, I just lost a child hood buddy to the system two moths ago. He has life now for murder. S/O to baby 007. I also have uncles with life and a brother that’s ready to come home after 8 yrs. Life’s been rough and somewhere down the food chain links need to be broken! IT FUCKIN START WITH ME!
I personally feel like you bring a totally fresh and different personality to the Kink family, how is it hanging and riding with the rest of the guys on a daily basis?
They’re just not guys, they’re family. Inspirational riders of people throughout the world, positive individuals, motivators.. I love all of them. They’re my bro’s. And I’ll give anything to ride with them everyday!
