The west has a way of producing talent that is distinct, often explained through its sheer remoteness. As a result, individuals must forge their own path, do their own thing, think their own way - to a degree, in acknowledging the connectedness of the modern technologically 'advanced' world. 

In reference to the isolated nature of living in the west, Perth based psychedelic rock band Pond describe this phenomenon well in a 2017 interview with digital magazine 'The Skinny':

“It became like a little microcosm of the world. No one was really influenced by any particular kind of scene or ego that goes with different cities in different parts of the world. It’s just a beautiful, organic, lovely place with no consequences for being a bit bold or daring.”

You catch my drift?

In addition to the tendency towards idiosyncrasy, it may also be true that Perth bikers have to work harder to see the light of day that shines ever so bright on the east coast, or in my experience, will work just as hard as anyone else but care little for the limelight. 

This would present as true for Mir Ng, the main character of this project and someone who I'm super proud to have worked with in telling this story. 

Born in Subiaco (inner Perth) and residing in Parkerville in Perth's far eastern fringes, the 24 year old biker comes as a fresh name to my mind. A protege of the cities core crew and future foreman of Perth BMX culture, Mir comes highly recommended and widely lauded.

Kicking off the BMX journey at the age of 6 through the influence of an adrenaline seeking and influential uncle, Mir was drawn to all the joyous things that come with skating and biking. As many of us have experienced, despite not liking to admit, there was also a scooter phase in there (even some MTBing), until working out that BMX is the way to go. Hard to not be attracted to something that is so robust, especially when you live in the bush and you're surrounded by dirt and offered not much beyond a basic ass skatepark.

Fast forward a few more years and Mir is starting to 'get' BMX, learning to ride his bike in a way that the core riders might be familiar with. Funny to think about this moment, it's almost when you start to realise that there is a community of like-minded people out there and pros and videos and competitions and the like. It's a pretty exciting moment in my experience. 

For Mir, while he's starting to lean into freestyle biking around 2013, it wasn't until 2019 that he eventually linked into the core Perth scene and not until 2023 that it became strengthened to where it is today. Muzzled by distance and a lack of perspective, Mir is now one of the crew keeping things alive in Perth. 

As Mir illuminates:

"Riding in Perth is pretty cool, everything is far away from each other so you have to drive everywhere. The majority of us ride street plazas or schools and the crew there is fucking hilarious - everyone knows everyone.

I really enjoy riding with guys who are so much better than me, I really like to dissect their riding and learn from them - especially that Will Moore guy, he's got so much steeze in every trick he does - my biggest influence from Perth for sure" 

Most interestingly, he goes on to note how his perspective has evolved over time, largely due to travelling and riding overseas - providing the much needed appreciation for the home turf. Further, Mir also notes how this has given him a desire to give back to the Perth community.

Before we dive into the theme of travelling, it struck me as important to help the reader understand the character of Mir, something that is well admired amongst his peers, including the above-mentioned Will Moore - who describes:

I met Mir a few years ago at my then local park, Manning, in Perths southern 'burbs. He had a great attitude which took me by surprise and never looked back after that session, been rolling ever since. 

In terms of riding he’s super consistent and no fuss when it comes to trying new shit, he learns shit super quick, it’s been awesome watching him grow as a rider. He’s always looking to improve himself and pushes all us around him to improve, in a healthy manner. It’s easy to become complacent at times whether that’s just with riding or with the bigger picture that is life. Gotta appreciate these types of people, it rubs off on me and I’m sure others as well."

Will also spoke to the dudes overwhelming positivity and reliability, explaining how a breakdown after driving home from a late night session was saved via a quick call to Mir, who came through with the rescue. Consistently, he also described how his extensive travelling has contributed to him being wise beyond his years.

The sentiment of the dude being a positive, wise head is echoed by another one of Mir's homies, Eric Dc S:

"Beyond his skills on the bike, Mir’s personality is what makes him stand out. It’s clear that for him, BMX is more than just a hobby—it’s a way to connect with others, enjoy life, and push boundaries. Watching him ride is inspiring, and I feel lucky to be able to film him and just enjoy his presence!"

A grounded and uplifting individual, the aura of Mir is one that we'd all love to be influenced by. Another Perth brother, Nic Cringle, reflects on moving to the city and being welcomed by Mir at the local park, introducing Nic to the crew and showing him the sights and spots - leading to a genuine and ongoing friendship. 

"After that me and him were pretty inseparable for a wee while when he wasn’t travelling. Almost every day or second day he’d be calling me to go ride or do something off the bike. He’s always enjoyed travelling and being able to travel and ride his bike was a big dream of his and was pretty much all we ever talked about. Seeing him living out that dream is so sick to see!"

Travellin'! The Louise to the Thelma of BMX, a partnership so fine, so rewarding. Coincidentally, when I first made contact with Mir, he had just wrapped up a trip to Japan and wasn't slowing down, not one bit. The dude had recently felt the wonder of travelling with his bike and was hell bent on sustaining it. This theme is central to our discussion in providing insights into the DNA of Mir, as well as BMX scenes that aren't all that familiar to an Australian crew. 

Let's explore. 

Having embarked on a bikeless 6 month euro trip with an ex-partner in 2023, Mir shockingly took 3 months to realise that he'd fucked up in not taking a bike. Upon rectifying this situation, the red pill had started to take effect:

"So during that time of going crazy I knew exactly what I needed to do, so I could live to the absolute fullest. Travel with the bike, experience BMX scenes from all over the world and bring up the next generation of riders."

So cool to be able to pinpoint the exact moment of realisation. Although, it's not as easy as a thought, one must then manufacture the tools and resources to make this a reality, not easy. The most important step in this space, a drive, commitment, dedication for making it happen. Mir seems to have worked this out pretty quickly and admirably, put in the work to get the results. 

"I work my ass off at 2 jobs, side hustle with photography and videography, still live at home or in the troopy and only go out for dinner or drinks on special occasions. I just go super budget and grind when I’m in Perth. Then when trips come around I’ll be gone until I don’t know. So really it’s just 3 things. Work hard (casual contracts only so I can leave for however long), go budget and have as little tying you down to home."

I've got a soft spot for this attitude, so hearing it arise naturally throughout our discussion and it be the catalyst for Mir's travelling, brought about great respect for the dude and pulled me in further to understand his story.  

So after an online introduction, Mir and I link up as the dude is touring around Japan, spending approximately 8 days riding bikes in some of Japans largest metropolitan areas (Osaka, Kyoto). Although it's interesting to note that, based on Mir's experience, a lot of crew worked all day and were then focussed on nocturnal sessions, riding all through the night charged up on beers.

Gravitating to Japan was largely a result of the energy we see coming from the Motobunka crew, with a tonne of guys pushing the sport and making it look real nice. After connecting to Daisuke Shiraishi (spot hound, Motobunka rep.), Mir was offered the assistance of Osaka local Kazuma, to act as tour guide, pal and gateway to the broader Japanese scene. A fairly standard, yet ever-remarkable BMX phenomenon, it still brings me a smile every time I hear about a dude travelling across the world to become instant friends with the locals and then benefit from all the associated perks.

Aside from clarifying that Japanese tranny isn't on every single corner as it would appear (rather found in playgrounds and through the help of a local guide), Mir offered a number of great insights into the local scene.

"What really took me by surprise was that so many riders have their own brands with their crew. Everyone was coming up to me and handing me their DVDs, 'zines and stickers. I even got a towel! They took my heart ffs hahahaha. This kept happening throughout the trip. From what I’ve seen through my time riding BMX, the majority of riders I’ve met do it for fun which is sick and what it’s all about, but these Japan guys want to give back to the scene so much, it really sets them apart from many other scenes I’ve experienced. That’s probably one of the many reasons the whole Japan scene is coming up so hard."

Further perspective on this idea reveals that Japanese culture is underpinned by a genuine sense of national pride, with this resulting in each and every task being done with pride and finesse, including biking. 

A further insight described by Mir was the influence of early 2000s BMX aesthetics, from groms to old heads.

"I felt embarrassed rocking up with plastics HAHAHAHAH. There were so many occasions I would be at a spot looking around at all the guys and their bikes thinking 'damn these are some real deal street dogs'.

I briefly spoke to Rehito (owner of Alive Industry) about it and another local shredder Ibuki in Kyoto. Ibuki said he loves the look and style of the bikes back in the 2000’s, especially the riders too. Rehito said that the design and technology that went into middle school BMX bikes were really simple, so that’s why he loves it so much."

Itching to explore more of South East Asia, Mir's journey then takes him 1000km west, over the Sea of Japan to the capital of South Korea - Seoul. Perched up in the countries largest city for an entire month, the dude had ample time to explore the place, a place he describes as being akin to a giant skatepark, the asian version of Barcelona.

Once again linked in with the locals (i.e. Serotonin Crew), it honestly sounds like a magical land where you need not 'search', you simply follow your nose and inevitably end up finding one incredible spot after the next - passing spots as you make your way to 'the' spot. An overload of public spaces, unique architecture and a law enforcement apparatus that doesn't feel the need to police biking as much as we might be used to in Australia.

It was also described to me as an amenable place, somewhere that is equally liveable, comfortable and of quality. Ya know, made easy to access with bike friendly streets, a sense of safety, awe from onlooking bystanders, a great mix of sky scrapers and metropolitan 'business' yet calmed with green spaces and waterways, offering our bikers both plenty to explore as well as places to retreat to and relax within.

Mir once again offers some local insight into the BMX scene in Seoul.

"What was also interesting about the scene there is that nearly all the riders are riding Sunday bikes. Taeho (the owner of Shredd) and Lee Cruickshank have promoted Sunday so much that nearly every rider is on a Sunday. I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this anywhere so far haha it’s seriously impressive."

Speaking of impressed, Mir's response to his time in Seoul was nothing short of that. It was pretty cool getting to share in his personal memories of this trip.

"I think the Seoul trip was the highlight of my life so far and it couldn’t of been made without the Serotonin boys! Riding crazy spots, eating amazing meals, beers and bullshit. Just about every time we would be riding to the next spot and I would have a moment to think to myself. Damn what the fuck am I doing in another country riding with amazing people doing crazy shit. Lee, Booney, Hanu, Minky, Sapo, these guys are brothers to me now. It’s truely crazy what BMX has done for me."

Throughout the South Korea adventures, and via shared links to the Serotonin Crew, a Taiwan based biker came to join for a week, a fella by the name of Robin Sloot (i.e. admin of taiwangothellaspots on instagram). With Mir and Robin 'clicking' and some gentle nudging to taste the tastes of Taiwan, a new plan was forged.

So, with a 2hr flight south over the East China Sea, Mir had nonchalantly made his way to yet another destination in south east Asia, spending a month in Taichung and Taipei.  

As I've mentioned a few times above, having been gifted with the beauty of time and curiousity (that comes with exploration), Mir is perfectly positioned to detail intimate insights into these local scenes, something which doesn't come through a screen. Travelling to new places and talking to the locals is such a simple, yet overlooked way, of expanding your perspective of the world.

For Mir, what was striking about Taiwan was the vulnerable state of the BMX scene, suffering from many challenging layers.

"Taiwan has a really interesting situation going on in the BMX scene right now, it’s kind of dying. When I was talking to Allen (owner of Stash) and Robin, we would talk for ages on multiple different occasions about how and why the scene could drop off so hard. There aren’t that many new young riders entering the sport and usually if they are, their parents see it as a points game in competitions. We all know that doesn’t last. There’s also this cultural thing where you’re meant to do everything right and you can’t be wrong, this applies to everything. So progressing in BMX is tricky because you’re just supposed to know how to do everything. Also many of the shops there aren’t rider owned, so they’re undercutting the core shop, Stash. Also, new riders entering the sport will look for the discounts, not the true essence of BMX. Then again how would they know if they were new. The list goes on and on. It’s quite sad seeing and hearing it because Taiwan has insane spot density and they’re so unique."

Unfortunate to hear. Silver lining though, imagine being in a gigantic metropolis with a tour guide (Robin) that literally fiends searching and cataloguing spots, most of which have never been ridden. The boys didn't waste any time getting to work and work they did.

"Dude Robin fucking spoilt me with spots. We have this weird thing where each ride would get better and better. I remember one Saturday we hit heaps of spots and got heaps of clips each and got quite twisted that night. We slept in a bit on the Sunday and met up at like 12. We agreed that the Sunday was going to be chill because Saturday was so productive. Dude, the Sunday was somehow more productive haha. I’ve never worked so well with someone, we’re unstoppable riding with each other. I’m still kind of trying to find my riding style but I think Taipei brought it out of me. Fast, loose setups got me really excited, there were so many!"

FYI, Robin Slootmaker resides in Taiwan and often finds himself called to duty in assisting touring teams that make their way to Taiwan, this being a recent example. As we've touched on, Mir seemed to gel with, and respect the dude pretty quickly.

"Robin Sloot is a living legend, I have so much love for this guy and every one I’ve met who knows the dude speaks very highly of him. Robin is like the conduit for all riders that want to see Taiwan, he really goes out of his way to make sure you hit heaps of the insane spots Taiwan provides. He’s no stranger to the game, he’s the biggest BMX nerd I’ve ever met haha."

In speaking with Robin, there was a mutual respect for one another, as he goes on to explain.

"After an already productive and fun Korea trip I convinced him to come to spot heaven, Taiwan. We had arguably one of the most productive months with constant riding and filming. I think he filmed pretty much a whole video and I filmed about a half of my last video for Stash and Merritt in that time. Our motivated focus on riding syncs up well. I work full time in an office so we took as much advantage as we could while he was around. While he doesn’t have to, he treats getting clips almost clinically, dialled and focused. This clinic ain’t clean though cause he’s having the most fun while doing it. The back and forth hype is real, it’s hard to leave a spot when he’s around. His infectious upbeat attitude is super motivating to be around, not corny, he shreds, he gives a fuck about BMX, I can’t wait to see where he goes!”

While Mir's travels didn't stop here, it would seem about time to pull up stumps on this story. To give you a brief idea though, Mir went on from Taiwan to travel back to Tokyo, then to Malaysia for a couple of weeks, then to Bangkok (Thailand) for another couple of weeks and finally arriving in Perth. I literally had to record a timeline of events in preparing this article given his extensive travelling. Funnily enough, as I conclude this article, the dude had gotten itchy feet after being home for a month or so, and is now travelling across the country in his troopy. 

Certified beast.

While there are so many points to highlight with Mir's story, the one thing that really stands out to me was how well he managed to assimilate into each and every scene he visited. Having not met the dude, I'm basing my opinion off of multiple references as well as what I can gather through his words. What does one conclude? That Mir is a gentle and friendly soul with a passion for exploring that which life can offer, an inquisitive and benevolent figure who is emboldened by seeing others succeed.

Robin offers further sentiment to the personality of Mir.

"Mir is motivated, motivating, positive, hungry but not thirsty, and brings a good sense to the session. A travelin' man, he knows how gel with folks from all around. Always curious, asking tons of clued in questions, he truly internalises and analyses the information he’s given. In my experience rare for a kid his age. He’s interested in the past of BMX but also represents the future. I think he’s doing it right."

Is it then any wonder that the kid is welcomed wherever he goes? Not in my view. 

So with a body buckled from months of riding, exhaustion from travelling and the deflation from being out of routine, the mental and physical toll has caught up to Mir. With the comforting touch of home, friends and family within reach, the opportunity to reflect brings us to the conclusion of this piece. 

"I’m really happy with how this trip turned out. It’s been the wildest ride meeting amazing people, ripping on bikes, heaps of crazy video projects and opportunities. I couldn’t thank everyone I’ve met on this journey enough, for making it literally the highlight of my life so far! I’ve got so much more love for BMX after seeing and experiencing some of the Asian BMX scene."