By KEVIN TAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my
PEOPLE call him “Botak Kuantan”, because, well, he’s bald (at least he used to be) and he comes from Kuantan. But Taslim Raziff, 23, is known by his peers for more than that – he’s one of the best BMX riders in the country.
Taslim has been into extreme sports since he was 14, and BMX (short for “bicycle motorcross”) has been his game of choice.
He specialises in the flatland category, a freestyle BMX discipline performed on flat surfaces, instead of the usual ramps, jumps, and grindrails.
Flatland is seen by many as one of the most difficult categories, and not just within BMX, but among all extreme sports.
Taslim is not just any other BMX rider on the streets. He has represented Malaysia at regional competitions in Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, and Indonesia, and won many awards including the Malaysian Flatland Award 2010, 41st BMX Flatland World Championship 2011, and Special Youth Hope category at the Pahang State Level Youth Awards 2012.
Taslim was also the very first Malaysian flatland BMX rider to compete in Japan at the King Of Ground 2012 competition, at which he placed 23rd among riders from all over the world.
“To be able to go to Japan and compete is already a huge achievement. It was a world competition, so all the top riders were there,” he said.
“The competition happened during fasting month, so it was really a challenge for me, but I managed to pull through.”
His interest in flatland BMX began when he started watching the X Games, an annual extreme sports event, on TV.
“During my primary and secondary school days, I would cycle to school everyday. So the bicycle is something I was very familiar with.
“My friends and I, who were interested in BMX, would modify our bikes and we would compete against each other,” he said.
Taslim remembers travelling on his own all the way from Kuantan to Kedah to join his very first competition. Even at the age of 16, he was joining the “senior” professional categories at competitions, and he was winning many of them too.
“I have always wanted to become a professional rider, and I really love this sport. I love the challenges it brings, and the lesson of patience it teaches,” he said.
Also a freelance videographer and a co-founder of Flat Spin BMX, a BMX event management company, Taslim trains about two to three hours a day after work, and trains even harder when there is a competition.
Apart from his achievements, Taslim is also endorsed by BMX company Jungle Rider (founded by legendary rider Martti Kuoppa from Finland), streetwear brands Stussy Kuala Lumpur and Hundred%, and Nike Skateboarding.
He said that the sport has been growing, with more people now turning up for the events and competitions.
“I hope to see BMX get more exposure, and for more people to be interested in it. It’s more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle.”
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