Printable Biography of Brian Lopes

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Lopes started riding BMX in his childhood and turned professional at seventeen years old.

He started mountain biking in 1993 and has since won a total of 17 titles – 9 NORBA National Championships, 5 UCI World Cup wins and 3 UCI World Championship titles. Lopes has also held world records in bunny hopping, in terms of both distance and height.

Lopes is currently sponsored by GT Bicycles, Oakley, Bell, Marzocchi, Shimano, Kenda, Easton, Hayes, Sun/Ringle, Fizik, ODI, & MRP.

Brian Lopes, 35 years of age and 3X World Champion has had an unprecedented career since becoming a professional cyclist at age 17, he has been labeled by USA Today "Undisputedly the best all around world class cycling athlete". Having raced BMX for most of childhood, he learned how to ride a bike at the tender age of 4, turning Pro at the age of 17 and competing in the BMX circuit for 7 years before channeling all his efforts in 1993 to mountain biking.

He has won over 17 titles in his MTB career, 9 of those on the NORBA National circuit, 5 on the UCI World Cup & 3 prestigious World Championships. The most recent win was this past September, 2005 in Livigno, Italy. After overcoming 2 consecutive injury-prone years he came back to win his 3rd World Championship title. He has more UCI World Cup career wins than any other male mountain biker in the history of the sport.

He is one of the most recognizable faces in the sport; known for his flawless style and winning results, he is an inspiration to bikers and action sport enthusiasts around the world. He was nominated in 2001 for an ESPY "Action sport Athlete of the Year" and won two NEA (World Extreme Sports Award) for "Mountain Biker of the Year" in 2000 & 2001.

Beyond the bicycle, in 2005 Brian became a published author when he co-wrote a book with long time friend Lee McCormack titled "Mastering Mountain Biking Skills", which has been printed in 4 different languages; English, Spanish, Polish & Russian. In the off-season Lopes enjoys riding his Moto and Surfing. He also trains on his road bike, frequents the gym and gets some mileage on his road bike & anything that poses a challenge he is usually willing to try.

He is the son of Thomas Lopes, an electrician by trade, and his wife, Linda. He was nicknamed Flyin' Brian during his BMX years describing his style-of jumping over jumps that sometimes were only attempted by guys twice his age.

Born Labor Day weekend on September, 6, 1971, Lopes grew up in Mission Viejo, California. He was not in pre-school yet before he took an interest in bikes. At age 4, he rode his Schiwn Pixie with his Rams football helmet on his first track and the rest is history.