Who is Chopper Fielder?
A football/golfer from Southampton who ended up becoming obsessed with biking at the age of 14. Don’t ask me how!
What are you best known for?
I would say my dirt jumping results and being one of the very few to make it to the big stage in this sport. Known for progression and extension of my tricks.
What are you up to?
I am presenter/content creator/producer for Muc-Off. I also ride for Lapierre Bikes, MET and BlueGrass helmets, Pit Viper, Vans shoes, DMR Components and Osprey bags.
What does a typical day look like?
Wake up 6.20am every day. Go to Muc-Off to create some fun engaging content either at HQ or off site in the woods, or on a plane to Portgual like I am now. I spend a lot of time travelling to judge the FMB World Tour too. This keeps me sane.
What is your fantasy day?
All morning bike ride with my two daughters and Laura, my lady. Fat lunch with them. Game of golf with my besties, then full-on freeride expression session with the UK crew, beers with Zlatan, then night in with Laura again, hahaha!
Where do you call home?
Southampton is home. All my family are there. Lots of skate parks and the odd 15-second trail. Best part is Southampton Bike Park, a proper fun place to ride with a load of you.
First riding memory?
Riding a Zippy bike. Attaching a skateboard to it with rope, skateboard goes under a car wheel, and I pummelled my head into the ground!
First bike?
Zippy
Who were your heroes growing up?
Jamie Redknapp the football player, loved his hair! Bikers Dave Mirra and Ryan Nyquist.
What gets you excited to ride?
Friends. Nothing can beat going for a ride with friends who have the same passion.
When was the last time you were really stoked?
There’s a bike park called Big White in Canada B.C. I ride there every year with my judging friends in July/August time. From super-tech rocky lines to endless jump trails, it’s packed with riding. The crew is what makes it. The ultimate Cheshire Cat smile that!
Who are your favourite people to ride with?
Deakinator, my bro Ollie (if he ever comes out), Olly Wilkins and Josh Harvey (Muc-Off pal).
What's your current go-to bike?
My Spicy Team Ultimate, an insane bike that gets better every year.
Any unusual set-up preferences?
I have ridden stock bikes for over a decade. Just shows you don’t need to change much on these bikes nowadays. (DMR pedals are a must though!)
Favourite bike component of all time?
Very nostalgic, this one – Dave’s Chain Device. It was such an iconic component on Martyn Ashton’s and Martin Hawyes’ trials bikes, I had to have one!
Worst MTB trend of all time?
15psi cornering.
Any other hobbies?
Golf. Obsessed. I guess it’s because I love anything where nothing is ever the same. It’s forever changing. The competition, the technology, the courses, the weather, the speed… everything. I just love it.
If you could only ride one location ever again, where would that be...
Whistler.
Best trail you've ridden this year?
Big White jump line. Forgotten the name…
Worst crash you've had?
Split pancreas from over-rotating a 360. Landed on the handlebar and ended up in intensive care for eight days.
Scariest thing you've done on a bike?
Every time I dropped in during my slopestyle career, I never knew what I was gonna do! Go big or go home!
One thing no one knows about you.
I’m an open book. But I’ve always wanted to play the piano.
What simple things make you happy?
Pizza.
Biggest ride of your life?
I’ve ridden a lot of events but one that stands out has to be Whitestyle in 2007. I was the biggest snow freeride event back then and I won. My stepdad had just got diagnosed with terminal cancer and I had to win for him. Saddest yet best night ever.
Most treasured possession?
I don’t get attached to material. My family are my everything.
What music are you currently listening to?
Bon Iver, Chill House, Michael Kiwanoka. Chill vibe so far this year.
Biggest weakness?
Beer
Favourite album of all time?
Oasis- Cigarettes and Alcohol
Favourite book?
Never read one.
Favourite film?
Lone soldier
What three things would you want on a desert island?
Plane, runway and a pilot.
What advice would you give your 13-year-old self?
Don’t hang with the wrong crowd.
Who is Grant 'Chopper' Fielder?
Chopper is a slopestyle/freeride pioneer who made waves in the British dirt jump scene – becoming UK King of Dirt between 1999 and 2004 - before showing the rest of the world what he could do on two wheels. He now travels the globe as FMB World Tour’s head judge and is a social media wizard for Muc-Off.
Photo: Steve Behr
