🛠️ Dennis McCoy: The Real McCoy of BMX Freestyle

If you’ve ever dipped your toes into the world of BMX freestyle, chances are you’ve heard the name Dennis McCoy—or DMC, as he's famously known. With a career spanning over four decades, McCoy isn’t just a rider; he’s a living legend who helped shape the sport into what it is today.

🎂 Early Life & Origins

Dennis McCoy was born on December 29, 1966, in Kansas City, Missouri. Growing up in the Midwest, he was drawn to BMX during its early boom in the 1980s. His passion and raw talent caught the attention of Bob Haro, the founder of Haro Bikes, who offered McCoy his first sponsorship in 1984—making him the first non-Californian rider on the Haro team. By 1986, McCoy had turned professional, and the rest is BMX history.

🚴 Rise to Fame & Signature Style

McCoy quickly became known for his versatility across BMX disciplines—flatland, vert, and street. He was one of the first riders to:

• Link fast-spinning flatland tricks into long, fluid combinations

• Push lip trick combos with barspins and tailwhips on vert ramps

• Land a 900 on vert—becoming the oldest rider ever to do so

His style was smooth, technical, and always evolving. Whether it was a flawless flatland run in the 1987 Socko BMX Freestyle Champs or a bronze medal-winning vert performance at the 2014 X Games, McCoy consistently delivered.

🏆 Career Highlights

• Competed in every X Games from 1995 to 2018

• Winner of multiple medals, including gold in BMX Vert Doubles (1998)

• Featured in iconic BMX video games like Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX and Gravity Games Bike

• Inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame

• Starred in legendary video sections like Chasing The View Off The Cliff (1994)

👕 Sponsors & Collaborations

Dennis McCoy has been backed by some of the biggest names in BMX:

• Haro Bikes – His first and current sponsor

• Vans – Supporting him since 2001

• Mongoose – A past sponsor during his early pro years

He’s also appeared in numerous Road Fools episodes and toured with Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huckjam, showcasing BMX to massive audiences.

🎥 Must-Watch Video Sections

Here are a few standout performances that capture McCoy’s brilliance:

• Flatland Run – Socko BMX Freestyle Champs (1987): A masterclass in balance and flow

• Pro AFA Masters California (1988): Classic flatland finesse

• Chasing The View Off The Cliff (1994): Ramp, box jumps, and flatland all rolled into one epic section

🧠 Beyond the Bike

McCoy isn’t just a rider—he’s also a producer and event manager, having run bike events for the Gravity Games, Vans Triple Crown Series, and NBC’s Action Sports Tour. He’s served as a commentator for mountain bike slopestyle events and continues to promote BMX culture globally.

📍 What’s He Up To Now?

Even in his late 50s, Dennis McCoy is still riding, still progressing, and still inspiring. He hasn’t officially retired and remains active in demos, competitions, and BMX advocacy. Whether he's riding vert ramps or mentoring the next generation, DMC proves that passion and dedication never age.

Dennis McCoy, Holeshot Old School 80s BMX Freestyle Competition, Michael Sobell Centre, London, 1986

Dennis McCoy with his legendary flatland runs at the 1986 Holeshot BMX Freestyle event in London.

Dennis McCoy, Carlo Griggs, Ian Morris, Tim 'Fuzzy' Hall and more, Southsea Skatepark BMX, 1992