Meet Dakota Bratt | BMX Rider

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dakota Bratt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dakota, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
When I think about risk, I look at it from all angles. Not everyone is comfortable with doing something that can cause injury, loss, or the unknowing, but with me, I see it as an opportunity. If I don’t try, how will I ever know if I was capable of making something happen. What if that relationship turns out to be one of my favorites, or moving to a new city shows me new opportunities I never imagined? What if wanting to further my education sparks a new passion in my life? I remind myself that something bad can happen when taking a risk, but there is the same amount of chance that it will all work out, so I might as well give it my best shot and see what happens. In my personal life, I like to see risk as “no risk, no story” because those many risks I have taken over the years formed amazing and rough chapters throughout my life. It is all a learning curve for me and that is what life is about, learning from our experiences. When it comes to BMX, you have to take a risk to progress and it is up to each person on how far they would like to push that. The higher the level, the higher the risk, the higher the risk, the higher the reward.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
BMX is the passion and I have dedicated a lot of my life to it. It started off as a hobby, progressed into a sport and then turned into a lifestyle. Younger me never would have known how important a little bike would become for me throughout my life. I was a very shy and quiet kid and BMX helped with that tremendously. I did not have a lot of confidence within myself, and when I got introduced to BMX, I started doing things that scared me and gave me that confidence to take more risks. I grew up doing team sports and I was always really good at them, but it just did not speak volumes to me. I would listen to a coach, trust my team mates, and follow guidelines. This team effort was a big foundation for success, but with BMX, I was the coach to my own success. I became obsessed with riding my bike like any athlete with a drive and all I wanted to do was learn. I spent countless hours everyday practicing, falling, and learning my own technique until it all made sense. Riding was the most fun thing thing ever to me and the more fun I had, the more the opportunities became available. Opportunities like bike sponsors, collaborating with artists, doing shows at schools, and having companies help with travel budgets so I could ride my bike in cool places. Having all of this just really made me want to ride my bike as much as possible, ride cool contests, film videos with my friends and see how far I could actually take this bike riding. I am proud of myself for everything I have accomplished and for truly believing I can do whatever I put my mind to. My pathway is probably just as difficult as others because with BMX, if you really want to progress with it, you have to make sacrifices and overcome challenges. Many of us in BMX have had some pretty serious injuries, including myself and I had to learn how to bounce back every time. You have to be mentally strong to get back to a level where you can seriously get hurt. There is a question and it is “when do you know it is time to give up or keep going?” It is something I have asked myself throughout my life because we all have experiences where we question how much further can we go or how much more can we take. Whether it is knowing when to end a relationship, a job, a bad habit, or something you are very passionate about like a sport. No matter the injuries, setbacks, and concerns, I know my BMX journey is still thriving. I have so much more to show myself and good times to have. I am furthering my education to get a career where I can help athletes like myself, changing my lifestyle habits and doing what is necessary for me to continue doing the things I love. Our passions are what we make it and I hope others can resonate with how I feel.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had one of my good friends visit Colorado, I would have a hard time thinking about what to do because there is so much. It also depends on what season we are in and what my friend is interested in. Colorado is not only rich with scenery, but with experience. Lets say one of my BMX friends came, we are obviously going to ride the best skateparks and spots that are within in the area. The BMX scene is great here and it would be a blast to ride all the best spots and film cool stuff. Going into the Rockies would be a no brainer because of how incredible it is. I would ask my friend what they were most interested in seeing and then move on from there. I have a feeling it would be lakes, scenic views, mom and pop shops and underrated diners. Outside of biking, it would be fun to check out Pikes peak, Painted Mines, the Royal Gorge, and maybe even the Dunes if we made it that far. It really just depends on the weather and what we are feeling that day. Some of my favorite local places to eat that I would like to show my friend would be Leon Gessi’s, Mother Muffs, and a few other well known spots. I guess I need to get friends out here and see what happens haha.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Anyone who has supported me in my life, passions, and lessons.

Thank you to my friends, family and sponsors

Instagram: @dakbratt

Facebook: @dakotabratt

Youtube: @dakotabratt

Image Credits
Adam Legal
Ryan Cason
Luis Tarin