Eddie Fiola

{{Short description|American professional freestyle BMX rider and film stuntman}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox cyclist | name = Eddie Fiola | image = Eddiefiolafalkirk.jpg | caption = Fiola at Coasters Arena, 1985 | fullname = Edward Lynn Fiola | nickname = The Flying Banana<br>The King of the Skateparks | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|09|28}} | birth_place = Bellflower, California, U.S. | height = {{convert|5|ft|4|in|abbr=on}} | weight = | discipline = BMX freestyle | role = Professional BMX rider | ridertype = Skatepark, Flatland, Vert, Ramp | proyears1 = - | proteam1 = Premier Helmets | proyears2 = - | proteam2 = Bottema forks | proyears3 = - | proteam3 = Torker | proyears4 = - | proteam4 = SE Racing | proyears5 = - | proteam5 = Haro Bikes | proyears6 = - | proteam6 = Kuwahara (bicycle company) | proyears7 = - | proteam7 = GT Bicycles | proyears8 = - | proteam8 = Citicat | proyears9 = - | proteam9 = Faction Bike Co | majorwins = | updated = }}

'''Edward Lynn''' "'''Eddie'''" '''Fiola'''<ref>[http://www.23mag.com/gens/fiola.htm Fiola @ 23MAG BMX]</ref> (born Sep 28, 1964) is an American former professional freestyle BMX rider, and a film stuntman.

In 1982 Bob Morales started up the ASPA (Amateur Skatepark Association which would later become the AFA or American Freestyle Association) and began the king of the skateparks competitions in the USA.<ref>[http://www.23mag.com/events/kos/kos.htm KOS @ 23MAG BMX]</ref> Eddie Fiola would go on to win it a total of 5 times along with 4 freestyle Nora (Number One Rider Award) cups including the first one ever to be awarded in 1985 and with having the idea for the potts modification or hollow stem bolt.<ref>[http://www.lifelounge.com/Eddie-Fiola-Interview.aspx Fiola @ Life lounge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924032352/http://www.lifelounge.com/eddie-fiola-interview.aspx |date=September 24, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/industry-news/2009/09/22/jeremy-mcgrath-joins-bmx-hall-of-fame |title=Fiola @ Cycle News |access-date=November 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003001043/http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/industry-news/2009/09/22/jeremy-mcgrath-joins-bmx-hall-of-fame |archive-date=October 3, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This led to him becoming one of the most famous and highly paid freestyle BMX riders of his time reputedly earning around $100,000 in a year and appearing on the cover of countless magazines.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120724155357/http://www.domainnamesanity.com/webumake/wwwsites/www.theminiworks.org/oddsandends/Fiola_EveningNews1984.jpg Evening News Article 1984]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.23mag.com/gens/fiola.htm|title = * Eddie Fiola @ 23Mag BMX}}</ref> Later he became a stuntman in films such as ''The Dukes of Hazzard'', ''The Italian Job'' and ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull''.

==Career in BMX==

{{Blockquote|In the spring of 1981 I was hearing occasional rumours of a guy in Lakewood who rode skateparks and was really hot. So I tracked him down. In my opinion, in my time, NOBODY was better in skateparks than Eddie. He and I came to be good friends, NOBODY was a better guy. |Bob Osborn publisher of BMX Action magazine, vintagebmx.com, March 2005 }}

{{Blockquote|My first sponsor was Premier helmets, then Torker (they just gave us bikes) | Eddie Fiola, Transworld BMX April 2003 }}

In '''1982''' Haro Bikes rider Bob Morales helped with a deal to get Fiola on the team, however determined to go it alone, they both left Haro and signed with Kuwahara to help design and promote the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial BMX bike at the end of the year. Fiola won the first 16+ expert class in the King of the Skateparks.<ref>[http://www.23mag.com/gens/moralesb.htm Morales @ 23MAG BMX]</ref>

In '''1983''' after leaving Kuwahara (bicycle company) he signed with GT Bicycles alongside Bob Morales and then went on to co-design, with Morales, one of the most iconic BMX freestyle frames, the GT Performer.<ref>[http://www.23mag.com/com/gt/gt.htm GT Performer @ 23MAG BMX]</ref> He performed a show with Bob Morales at the Super Bowl of Motocross in the Anaheim Stadium in front of 40,000 people. He was a judge for the World Amateur Championship of BMX and won the 17+ expert class King of the Skateparks series.

In '''1984''' he became the first member of the renamed ASPA which is now known as the AFA. He won the GT-BMX summer freestyle championship in Venice beach California and visited the UK to take part in the televised Kellogg’s freestyle BMX competition alongside fellow country man and main competitor in the King of the Skateparks series, Mike Dominguez. He won the series with the commentator naming him “the flying banana” due to his all yellow bike and apparel with “TRIX R 4 KIDZ” printed on the backside of his pants. Just after he visited Livingston skatepark with Dominguez for an article in BMX Action bike magazine and was interviewed for the Edinburgh Evening News. Later he visited Paris for a demonstration with fellow American freestyler R. L. Osborn at the 1st Bicross International in the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy arena. He won the first pro class at King of the Skateparks series, and also won the BMX ''Plus!'' and BMX Action bike magazine freestyler of the year.

In '''1985''' he embarked on the GT freestyle world tour alongside fellow GT rider Dave Breed visiting 15 countries (Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, West Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the United States, including Hawaii) over a 3-month period from May through July performing shows and making television appearances. While on tour, he entered the second UK Kellogg’s Frosties televised competition finishing 4th overall. He appeared in the Freestyles Raddest Tricks video and won the Freesytlin’ magazines NORA cup and the BMX ''Plus!'' freestyler of the year. He finished 2nd in the King of the Skatepark series to his great rival Mike Dominguez.

In '''1986''' he was hired as a technical advisor and stunt rider on the Hal Needham film Rad with actor Bill Allen, who had to dye his hair to match Fiolas. It is said that the film is loosely based around Fiola's life.<ref>[http://www.fast-rewind.com/making_rad.htm RAD @ Fast rewind]</ref> He starred in the GTV video and was one of the riders in RAD TV: The Sequel video. He won a controversial IBMXF Freestyle World Championships in Vancouver and finished 2nd overall in the AFA Masters Series. He became the BMX ''Plus!'' freestyler rider of the year and won the Freestylin’ magazine NORA cup. He also won the pro class King of the Skateparks series, the last one to ever be held. {{Blockquote| In the history of freestyle competition there has probably been no call more controversial than the one made against Fiola at this contest. Even after taking away his win in pro ramps because he didn’t wear a mouthguard, the judges still had to give him the overall Pro title. |BMX ''Plus!'' magazine December 1986 }}

In '''1987''' he took part in the GT Demo tape video and then left GT and signed a deal to promote Citicat bikes which was shortened due to production problems. He took part in the 101 freestyle tricks video.

In '''1988''' he was testing bikes for BMX ''Plus!'' magazine. {{Blockquote|We don’t know how many of our readers will remember this, but back around four years ago Eddie Fiola spent a brief time as a test rider for this magazine. He only did it for a couple of months or so before GT decided to sponsor him. GT didn’t want it’s riders testing bikes for any magazines, so Eddie had to leave us. All the same, we have learned over the years we’ve known him, that Eddie is one of the most knowledgeable freestyle riders in the world. He’s incredibly bright about bikes, extremely innovative, and an extraordinary rider. We asked him a couple of months ago if he’d be interested in testing bikes for us, and he said “yes”. |BMX ''Plus!'' magazine July 1988 }} {{Blockquote|I was at the AFA finals in Kansas in late 1988. From what I know, that was Fiola's last competition after having been gone for nearly a year. I saw his flatland run and it was really cool, though he didn't do anything new (and did touch several times) - but he just did everything with a ton of style. He ended up getting 5th (which was last, a very low Pro turnout). I think the crowd booed that. | Josh Marsele, www.vintagebmx.com }}

In '''1990''' he was riding for Vans and Bully, touring with Josh White and Scotty Freeman.<ref>[http://www.23mag.com/gens/freeman.htm Freeman @ 23MAG]</ref>

In '''1992''' he was still doing shows with some support from GT and Vans.

In '''2004''' he hooked up with Redline BMX.

In '''2005''' he was interviewed in the film Joe Kid on a Stingray, the history of BMX.<ref>[http://www.joekidonastingray.com Joe Kid on a Stingray]</ref>

In '''2006''' he performed a July 4 BMX show with Todd Anderson in Orange County, California.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SRbN5_ZefY Fiola Todd Anderson video @ Youtube]</ref>

In '''2008''' he was awarded with a white GT pro Performer at the OS-BMX gathering as a tribute to his achievements.<ref>[https://www.nme.com/video/id/8AGdhnyfdLY/search/Eddie%20Fiola OS-BMX @ NME]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In '''2009''' he was inducted into the American Bicycle Association (ABA) Hall of Fame (Freestyle Pioneer)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fatbmx.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8435 |title=ABA @ FAT BMX |access-date=November 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821155205/http://www.fatbmx.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8435 |archive-date=August 21, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also takes part in the OS-BMX Old School Reunion 2009 at Peck Park California<ref>[http://thebicyclesource.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/os-bmx-old-school-reunion-2009/ OS BMX reunion 2009]</ref>

In '''2010''' he took part in the old school reunion at Woodward West camp in California.<ref>[http://bmx.transworld.net/1000099435/features/2010-old-school-bmx-reunion-vid OS meet at Woodward West 2010]</ref> He was riding Faction 22" BMX bikes and was a part of their test team.

In '''2011''', he appeared on the front cover of Classic BMX Magazine issue 6 with an interview inside.<ref>[http://classicbmxmag.com/ Classic BMX Magazine]</ref>

In '''2012''', he was a performer in Gale Webb Extreme Sports and Air Shows in California. He launched his own website.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eddiefiola.co/index2.php#/home/ |title=Eddie Fiola website |access-date=June 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423115636/http://eddiefiola.co/index2.php#/home/ |archive-date=April 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In '''2013''', he launcheed his own frame and handlebar combo called the EF|Proformer, limited to 250 sets.<ref>[http://bmx.transworld.net/1000168965/product/eddie-fiolas-efproformer-frameforkbars/ Fiolas new frame set on Transworld BMX]</ref>

==Personal life==

Fiola married Mindi Neill on his birthday in 1991. They have one daughter named Audrey. On December 14, 2021, Fiola announced his biography was in the works and the book was being written by lifelong fan and author Billy Henrickle. In September 2023 a documentary film on Fiola’s life went into production with filmmaker Billy Henrickle producing and directing the film.<ref>[http://www.myspace.com/edwardfiola Fiola Myspace]</ref>

==Film and television credits== '''Stunt work'''<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278397 Eddie Fiola @ imdb]</ref> {{colbegin|colwidth=25em}} * Contraband (2012 film) (2012) * Paul (film) (2011) * The Birth of Big Air (2010) * The Cape (2010) * The Hangover (2009) * Where the Wild Things Are (2009) * Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) * "Fear Factor" (2006) * The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) * Buffalo Dreams (2005) * The Cat in the Hat (2003) * The Italian Job (2003) * Biker Boyz (2003) * American Icarus (2002) * Jackass: The Movie (2002) * Redemption (2002) * The One (2001) * Max Keeble's Big Move (2001) * Crazy/Beautiful (2001) * The Base (1999) * From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999) * I Got the Hook Up (1998) * Slappy and the Stinkers (1998) * The Company Man (1998) * The Maker (1997) * Bean (1997) * The Pest (1997) * Prey of the Jaguar (1996) * The Paper Brigade (1996) * Spy Hard (1996) * The Secret Agent Club (1996) * Rage (1995) * Radioland Murders (1994) * Rad (1986) {{colend}} '''Acting''' * Walker, Texas Ranger TV episode x2 * From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999) '''Self''' * The Birth of Big Air (2010) * Joe Kid on a Stingray (2005) * Pacific Blue, television series

== References == {{reflist|35em}}

==External links== * [http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=760464428&ref=ts/ Fiola's Facebook page] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090227031922/http://bmxfreestyler.com/eddiefiola.html Interview on BMX Freestyler] * [http://www.vitalbmx.com/videos/features/ROOTS-Eddie-Fiola,7385/GlennPPMilligan,1772/ ROOTS interview on Vital BMX] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u68INKOKBM King of the Skateparks 1984] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrH1e-BQ0Y0 King of the Skateparks run 1985 pulling 540 video] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRYdkjGPiXs Fiola and RL Oborne at Bicross International video] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110622094242/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8475858065653547678#/ Video interview with OS-BMX] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JUaGVQyyBQ On British TVAM program Wacaday] * [http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/1279774/Eddie_Fiola_Credits/ List of Credits at Hollywood.com] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091101072554/http://www.grindtv.com/video/bike/eddie_fiola_1984_old_school_bmx_huntington_beach_california#29362/ Video from Huntington beach 1984 on grindtv] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110710215739/http://www.factionbikeco.com/happenings.htm Fiola rides his Zeitgeist 22" Bike] * https://web.archive.org/web/20130423115636/http://eddiefiola.co/index2.php#/home

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fiola, Eddie}} Category:1954 births Category:American male cyclists Category:American stunt performers Category:American BMX riders Category:Living people Category:20th-century American sportsmen