For those who do not know, or are new to Yeti, its worth noting that without John Parkers vision, eye for talent, and a desire to make Yeti famous for its bikes and racers, The company would not be where it is today, although its changed hands a few times, and the bikes are mostly made overseas now(outside USA), its the Old Skool images of Missy Giove or Tomac (etc)  that people still think of when you tell them you ride a YETI. The Turquoise and Yellow paint job is iconic, we owe it all to one man............May I introduce- John Parker.

1) So, we know your name, Please tell us what makes John Parker get up in the morning?

I was raised in Southern California. As a small child growing up in the 50's and 60's, I grew up in a world of cool cars, motorcycles and surfing. The music, the beaches, car and motorcycle racing, artists, machinists, welders; people that made things with their own hands had a great impact on me. I still love So-Cal. It's a lot more crowded and polluted and crimes a drag but where else can you go surfing everyday and ride your motorcycle? I still greet everyday with a love for this life I live. I look forward to learning something mechanical, technical or spiritual everyday and try to do something nice for other people when I can.

2) One of the last times we spoke, you were enjoying your Motor Cycles, and organising some Hot Rod shows, how's all that going?

Now that I have retired from Local 44, my union that I worked for in Special Effects in Hollywood I was a member for 27 years, I have a good amount of time on my hands. My wife Jenny and I travel to lots of Hot Rod shows and Antique motorcycle rally's. In 2003, Jenny and I started promoting Hot Rod, Kustoms and motorcycle shows. We do two shows a year. The first show, called "Back to the Beach" is a surfing themed car show with Woody cars, tiki carvers and live surf bands playing. The second show is called the "West Coast Primer Nationals", it got its name from the primer paint you use while your car is under construction. Some Hot Rod shows won't let your car in unless it's painted and the interior is finished. Our show is to reward people who work on their own cars or have cars still under construction. Jenny and I have had our chopped 1951 Ford business coupe since 1999. It's been in primer and under construction since we bought it! The Primer Nat's is a hard core Hot Rod show with great live Rockabilly-Blues and surf bands, 150 artists and kustom culture vendors as well as 800-1,000 cars and motorcycles along with an attendance of 10,000 people for two days. It all takes place at the Ventura Fairgrounds right on the ocean. Check out www.Backtothebeachventura.com or www.primernationals.com

 3) On to Yeti, you are well known for having an eye for Talent, you helped make big names of Missy Giove, Myles Rockwell, John Tomac & Juli Furtado to name but a few, how was it working with these people?

4) I'd imagine you have some fond memories, and great stories of your time running the Yeti team & Factory, can you share any with us?

 Andrew, #3 and 4 are good questions. It deserves a little background as it leads itself to what Yeti's heart and soul was all about. In 1970, Mert Lawwill wore the AMA's #1 plate as the 1969 Grand National Champion. Bruce Brown was making his movie "On Any Sunday" at Ascot Park Raceway in Gardena California. I was eighteen, had just been released from a boy's home over in Hawaii. I took out an A.M.A novice license to race flat track in District 37 at Ascot. As luck would have it Kenny Robert's, who would go on to be the three time World 500cc Grand Prix Motorcycle Champion, had to start his career somewhere and that somewhere was in 1970 at Ascot. Our careers went in two different directions. Kenny won the 1970 Ascot novice title on his Suzuki. I got hurt and didn't finish the season. In 1971 Kenny was the National Junior Champion, now racing for the Yamaha Factory. Roberts Factory Bikes were prepared perfectly. Kenny's incredible talent and fierce fire inside him drove him to many wins, titles and championships. I was in aw of his factory race bikes, Kenny didn't always win. There was Mert and the Harley wrecking crew, however once in awhile what we would call a privateer, someone with no factory support would win! I also would see some of the most incredible craftsmanship and innovativeness on the privateer's bikes. With their limited budgets they overcame the factories with innovation and burning the midnight oil. I was always a privateer, long after Mert and I stopped racing. I was still very influenced by Mert as an owner-tuner, and as his revolving door of great riders on his race bikes were beating the factory's with 1/10^th the budgets of the factory salaried racers. In our hearts the Yeti team was a factory team but lack of sponsorship dollars said otherwise. What we really were… were the kings of the privateers that gave the other factory teams a fit for awhile

Yeti never had the budget to compete at the level we did, like I said, I was very influenced by Mert. Our bikes were cutting edge racers. Great Yeti geometry, awesome welds, turquoise paint and in need of some talented racers. When we were lucky enough to race with Juli, Johnny, Missy G., Miles and Jimmy Deaton it was a given fact that all these great racers were great human beings that were all on their way to the top with their various World Championships. For the short time each of them raced at Yeti, we would travel together, room together, and race together. By the time Gravey came on board we were a tribe of great racers that punched other racers tickets at will!

5) I know you went to the Sea Otter Classic last year, did you enjoy it? and has MTBing progressed in the way you expected too?

 The Sea Otter was ok, my golf game in Monterey got rained out on Sunday, oh well! It was great to see a lot of old friends, racers and ex-Yeti clan from my time. To the second part of your question, no MTB has not progressed in the way I had expected. Overall there is not a lot of new innovativeness rather just refinement of stuff we were doing years ago. I was saddened by war stories of independent bicycle dealers being slaughtered by big box retail stores selling imported MTB's made by companies that exploit their workers in some foreign country, I will say that they are nice bikes at very affordable prices but that doesn't pass the smell test with me. The reason I went there was to hang-out with the Millyards, Stephen and his dad Allan over from England with their traveling mate's Ollie and his dad.

6) Tell me about your latest find, Stephen Millyard, I know he races DH in the UK, and scored 6th out of 160 at DH in his Class at sea Otter?

You might say my latest find found me! In the years since I departed from Yeti, I have flown rather low under the radar. I have stayed friends with Zap and Jimmy Mac, Troy Lee, Gravey, Jeff Holt, Chuck Teixeira, Monkee, Kirk Vories, Mike Redding and my old partner Chris Hearting from 3D Racing. I have been an outsider looking in, but I have waited until now to see something totally original with out of the box imagination, engineering and workmanship akin to a formula one car team! Strong words, I know but let me tell you, Allan Millyard and his son Stephen are the real deal. Time will tell how Stephen does as a racer. He's young, hungry and devoted, whether a fire burns in him like a young Kenny Roberts only time will tell… I hope so.

I became aware of his father, Allan through his friendship with a friend of mind, Daniel Schoenwald. Daniel is a great guy that Owns lots of nice motorcycles including one of Steve McQueens Indians and several other Indians, so we ride together quite often. One bike in Daniel's collection of over 60 motorcycles really struck me hard. It was a Kawasaki H-1 two stroke 4cly 1000cc. I had never seen a H-1 1000cc. I thought the 750cc triple cyl was the biggest H-1 Kawasaki made. To help me with my confusion, Daniel told me about meeting Allan at the Isle of Man TT Motorcycle Races over in the UK. Apparently Allan has a habit of cutting up three cyl motors and joining a donor motor together extending the crankshaft, welding the cases together with all work appearing to have been done at the factory! In 2006 I met Stephen and Allan at Daniel's for Christmas dinner. I was impressed with what a nice, cool kid Stephen was and how well connected him, his brother and father were. I liked what I saw. Stephen's brother is into moto-cross, Allan and Stephen are into downhill MTB. Daniel had told them who I was and Allan told me he was going to build his son a MTB downhill racer. I told him I couldn't wait to see what he would make. To be honest I totally underestimated the genius I was dealing with. I had no idea what a creative mind and skilled machinist/designer/fabricator /welder he is!

His bike is the bike I have been waiting for the last 10+ years to finally come along. Internal gear box, enclosed chain, things Mert and I only dreamed about! The front half looked like a Nascar roll cage but the rear half was so exotic with this being the first bike he ever made. I love it! Now I hear he has started on bike #2 and I can't wait to see what this brilliant master craftsman comes up with.

7) I know you still have a Yeti road project & Crusier, but where was the last place your rode an MTB and what bike were you on?

Sorry to tell you I sold my road project to this kid that was going road racing, however he fizzled out and the bike just sits in his bedroom. What a waste. The last time I rode a MTB, I borrowed my neighbors Specialized to ride to the Liquor store for a six pack and some zig-zags.

8) Which MTBer do you admire the most?

Julie "the wild one" Furtado. Enough Said!

9) Would you like to be back making bikes again? or are you happy where you are?

Building bikes is a very honorable profession. It allowed me a good living with great friends and adventure along the way. However that was then and I live in the now and I am very happy living on the beach in Port Hueneme and riding my 1946 Chief to the Rock Store in Malibu. It's a good life.

10) Anybody you would like to thank or swear at?

Andrew most of all I would like to thank you for your friendship and your devotion to that Little Bicycle Co. from days gone by

1) - So Sam Blenkinsop, You live in New Zealand, Race Downhill and are the new signing for Yeti Cycles, Tell us a little about yourself and what makes you tick?

Laid back, easy going Kiwi that loves riding anything with two wheels, but mainly DH. Proud member of the Yeti/Fox Shox Factory Team.

2) - It must be good to be on the same team as Justin Leov, a fellow New Zealand native?

Yeah, we're good mates and I have always been impressed by what he's done on the World Cup. We hung out a bit last year on the circuit, always good to hear a familiar accent.

3)- Was choosing Yeti as your team for the next 2 years an easy one to make?

I've always imagined being part of a big team with backing from a bike company, and I've always liked the Yeti 303...so when the chance came up to ride for them, and to be with riders who I could learn from, it was a pretty easy decision to make.

4) - You rode Turner bikes last year, and got 22nd overall in the world cup, and a 9th at the senior Worlds, how do you think 07 went for you overall?

I was feeling the pressure that I wasn't a junior anymore and I had to step up a bit; I would qualify and do well in those runs, usually top ten, but then in the race I would just poop out and get 20th and stuff like that. I think I was just trying to push it too much. I did feel I had to prove myself last year, and I do think my riding is getting better, just bit by bit – trying to stay on the bike, pick better lines, and train more.

5) - Can you tell us a little bit about how you got started in Downhill racing? What was your first bike?

I started riding when I was 12 years old. All my mates were riding so I wanted to give it a go. I started to ride skate park and then dirt jumps. The following year I got a downhill bike, started racing and it's all sort of taken off from there. When I was just starting out riding I met a guy from New Plymouth, Wyn Masters, and I started riding with him and then I started jumping and going to races and stuff. He was a big influence on me, along with Glen Sisarich. The sponsorship and international racing came a couple of years later.

6) - As well as the World Cup and World Champs, what other races/series are you racing in?

I'll be racing more in the US than I ever have before. It's not fully worked out yet, but some NORBA's, Crankworx which should be sick as, and maybe some Mountain States Cup races.

7)- Where are your favorite places to ride?

Schladming is a pretty sick track, and in Rotorua I really like the national track, as well as most of the tracks down south in NZ.

8) - What interests outside of Mountain biking do you have?

Lately I've been messing around on pit bikes, and I race vintage motocross.

9) - Which other Mountain Bikers do you admire?

That other Sam....Hill. And Kiwi legend John Kirkcaldie.

10)- Any sponsors or friends you would like to mention?

Thanks to my current co-sponsors, adidas eyewear who are new with me this year, and OGK Helmets, also new for me in 08. FiveTen shoes, and IMPACT Designs. Also to the team's main sponsors like Fox Shox and Shimano, and a big thanks to Matt at Wide Open for all the help up until now, and my Mum and Dad for every thing they have done for me.

1) OK, we know your Name and where you work, tell us what makes you get up in the morning? "Living the Dream", riding my bike is my favorite thing to do and is the first thing I want to do when I wake up - hit the cool morning Colorado air and ride. 2) Racing and working at Yeti must be a real sweet deal, how long have you ridden with Yeti? and how long have you worked there?  Started working at YETI in 2005, it is sweet - we all love the group rides at lunch every day. Been racing for them since 2001. I started on the RPM YETI team, it is a development program for riders to earn their way onto the factory and global teams. 3) Whats it like working at the Yeti factory? Laid back? hard work?  The factory is always busy, but everybody is dedicated and works hard. We know we can play hard too since YETI promotes the lifestyle that we all love. The bike allows you to keep fit, to have fun, and to escape...to push yourself mentally and physically and bond with those that share the passion. 4) How long have you been racing bikes? what was your first race, and on what bike?  I have been racing since 1986, I started BMX when I was 7 years old. I had a Raleigh that I got for my 6th birthday, and raced for the first time at a local track at the fairgounds. Won my first national race in my first year. Our family spent every weekend going on the racing circuit of 5 tracks and went to at least one national race every month. We spend every Thanksgiving in Oklahoma City at the Grand Nationals. Great childhood!   5) I see that this year (08) you are racing the World Cups, will it be your first full world cup season? . Yes, my first full season. I did a few World Cup races the last couple of years, went to Angle Fire, New Mexico, and Mt. St. Anne, Canada and then two years doing the World Championships. The first was in LesGets, France and last year in Fort William, Scotland. It was a rush to be selected to race and get an invitation from the US Olympic Committee to ride for the United States...but it is so incredible to do this full time now for YETI. 6) Traveling round with the team, you must have some funny/interesting stories can you share any with us? . The travel is great and pretty normal - the usual for a gruoup of guys; always have fun and laugh constantly...a few panks now and then, but of course all innocent. The bar is raised when you have serious athletes, we balance the fun, but stick to the program. The only funny story I have really wasn't funny to me at all, I can only laugh now...years later. I had a big national race in Utah and missed my plane. I knew I was dead, my imagination took over and I thought I would lose my ride and all sorts of horrible things would happen. I called my Dad, he took off work, picked me up at the airport and we drove straight through all night to Utah. We arived on time and no one ever knew I missed the plane! 7) You must have a whole pile of bikes, which ones do you always seem to end up riding ?  I have 15 bikes in my garage now - I am trying to have one of every bike YETI makes in my collection. I still have the first bike I ever owned and a Harley Davidson motorcycle for when my legs are too tired to peddle. The best thing about having so many bikes is that I can choose whatever meets the mood. At the moment, I have been riding my cross country bike the most, depending on where I am riding. I have an ASR and the 575...sweet. 8) Where was the last place you rode and when?  Today, I did a morning road ride, a 30 mile loop in the foothills in Colorado. I just got back from a 2 hour ride at the pump track. The power hour daily for me is in the evening just before dusk, during that last hour of light I ride at the BMX track. 9) Whats your favorite place to ride? . A favorite for every mood, but two main favorites, dirt jumping at Lake Arbor, in the local neighborhood. The jumps were built in the 70"s by the local kids and it gets better every year. Next is riding cross country at Apex, an area of trails in Golden, Colorado near the YETI factory. Both places are totally Colorado...scenic beyond words. 10) Have you got any MTBing hero's?  When I was starting out in BMX, I raced wiwth the Houseman brothers, got to watch Eric Carter and Brian Lopes who were legends in BMX. When I heard they all went to Mountain Bike racing, I wanted to get involved again. Now I get to race with them and want to follow in their footsteps. 11) Here's the bit where you can get your free plug!- anybody you'd like to thank? . First I want to thank you Andrew for all the support that you give to YETI through your website. Chris Conroy and Steve Hoogendoorn are the owners of YETI - they gave me this chance to do what I love and I am very dedicated to them for that and for giving me a place to work to support my racing habit. Next on the list is Keith Darner, he runs the RPM team and has aleays been behind me, as my trainer, coach, and firend. One must never forget to thank Mom and Dad - they have driven thousands of miles and spent thousands of dollars to get me ready to Dominate in '08! I have great sponsors that always help make champions [Smith Optics, Fox Racing Shocks, 66l and NEMA]. I have to end with a Thank You to all the people that come out to the races and cheer us on, it is amazing how race fans make a good race great !

1) OK, Mike Haderer, you ride for Yeti and Fox Racing Shox, Can you tell us a bit more about yourself?

Well what do you really wanna know. Im 22. Live in northern California. been riding bikes for about 6 years now. This is my 4th season on Fox and Yeti.

2) I saw you at Fort William this year for the World Cup 4X, you looked pretty good, is this your first year of World Cups? Have you been USA race based up until now?

I Raced MSA in 2007 but it was after a pretty bad injury at the Deer Valley National. This was my first time ever racing in europe and first season trying to do most of the world cup series. In 2006, my rookie year in elite, I was 4th overall in the Norba gated racing series.

3) You ride for Yeti and Fox, is this a factory deal?

Not at all. I run most of the same parts that the factory guys ride but I completely fund all of my racing on my own.

4) I saw you and Ross were the 2 USA guys riding for Yeti at the World Champs, You got a 21st place at your first worlds, were you happy with how you raced there? Tell us a little more about how your Worlds was?

This was actually my second worlds. I raced 4x at Rotorua in 06 but was still recovering from a severe shoulder seperation.

This year I felt that after racing the first 3 world cups of the season and having consistant results even with having several mechanicals, that I was ready for a good result at worlds.

I felt good on the track and my bike was working awesome, my first round went well and in my second heat I pulled out of my pedal on the start. after that it was a tough battle and nearly made the advancement. I would have really liked a top 16 finish but at that caliber of a race you cant afford any mistakes.

5) What do you think sets Yeti apart from other brands?

The boys at yeti are soo focused on using their racers to develop the best products out there....the 4x and DJ are perfect examples. Myself and Jared were a big part of the newly designed DJ frame a few years back. The way they take advice and opinions from their riders and actually put it into their bikes.

6) How long have you been racing? Can you remember your first race, what was it and where?

I started racing in 2003. Im pretty sure my first race wasa DH Race at Northstar @ Tahoe. I wasnt sure what class to race so I raced Junior Begginer and ended up winning the class by 24 seconds and won the junior expert class by 14 seconds. After that I was hooked.

7) Travelling round the world must be pretty hard on the body and mind, but I guess there must be some really fun times on the road, any that stick in your mind?

Their are way way too many to list here. The most common usually starts with a marker and notebook while driving past a car filled with some pleasant looking ladies. The best was where we all ended up exchanging numbers, and the lovely ladies ended up driving 2 hours out of the way the next day to meet up with us.

8) What interests do you have outside of the MTB world?

I just bought a dirtbike last year for some cross training. This season I picked up a little project car to spend some time on this off season.

9) Who do you look upto in the Cycling world? any Hero's?

You cant really ignore the accomplishments of most of the guys we race against. Steve peat is amazing to be still so fast. Jared is an AMAZINGLY diverse athlete, being able to dominate both 4x and DH. Gee Atherton is another one who has soo much natural talent.

10) Anybody you would like to thank or plug?

I wouldn't be anywhere with out the help and support of Mark Fitzsimmons at Fox Racing Shox. My folks have also supported me at huge lengths for the last few seasons. There are several more that I would love to thank by name but the list would be pretty long.

1) The majority of people who read this will not know who Sam Willoughby is (they are Mountain Bikers), can you tell us a little about yourself, where you live, how old and anything else?

My name is sam willoughby i recently turned 17 years old and live in Adelaide Australia, I have been racing BMX for 11 years and currently ride for yeti and am the Junior Elite BMX World Champion. I also recently did my first MTB race at the 4x world cup in canberra where i got 2nd behind jared.

2) How long have you been BMX racing, what got you into it?

11 years i got a come and try letter in my school bulletin.

3) I saw you on TV at the BMX world cups this year, how is that going for you?

BMX was really good this year winning the junior world title, national title and world ranking along with a top 10 in Copenhagen at the world cup. I have another year in junior in 09 and would plan to make some mains in World cups and retain the junior world title. Along with some more four cross.

4) I know from reading Jared's site that you've spent some time with him, how's his experience helped you out?

Jared's been great i consider him like a second dad he is my idol, mentor and good mate> Every time we train or are at a race together he always has positive and good advise to help me out when I am having trouble with something. Who better to be mentored then, then by a professional and OLYMPIA

5) How did you get on the Yeti team?

Through Jared he seen some potential in me he tells me and we got along well and from there he has hooked it all up.

6) Whats your goals for your future in BMX ?

My main goal is to be at the 2012 Olympic and be on the podium! but I have a lot of steps and process in the next four years to achieve first in order to get to London. At the moment i want to make world cup mains and win the junior world title again.

7) Favourite BMX race of all time?

All supercrosses the atmosphere is great but I have to say nothing compares to the 4x world cup atmosphere.

8) Last place you rode?

Canberra 4x World Cup

9) for all the Non BMXers out there,Can you tell them what the sport means to you?

BMX to me is my life, love and passion I put a lot of time and effort into and get a lot of enjoyment and great experience back in return I love it!!!

10) Ok, thanks for taking the time out to answer these, anybody you'd like to thank ???

My family for there endless support, Jared Graves, Wade Bootes and then off course Yeti, Troylee Designs, Oakley, Shimano and everyone who has helped me over the years there are so many... And of course Yetifan.com for the interview...

YETI Videographer - John Reynolds.

1) - So John Reynolds, Tell us a little about yourself, age- where you live & what gets you out of bed each day?

Well I'm 25 years old and live in Denver, CO. I'm not much of a morning person so its usual tough to get out of bed but I love my job and love the traveling I get to do so lately its been easy.

2) - Your the new Yeti Videographer, please tell us more about your role and what it involves?

Basically I will be traveling with the World Cup team and creating all of the new video content for the site and then making sure that it gets out to all of the other sites so people can watch them. We also have another videographer working for us who we be traveling with the national team, his name is Kevin.

3) - What races & Series have you covered before? Mainly US races or the world cup?

Until now I have only ever covered US races like the old NORBA series and MSC races.

4) - I've recently seen your Slo Mo montage on Litter mag, have you any other stuff kicking about that I can check out, any DVDs you have worked on?

Yeah Ii have some shots in various DVD's and have put out some other web videos. As of right now there isn't anywhere that you can see them but I am thinking about working on a website.

5) - What sort of bikes do you have?

Right now all I have is a BMX bike but I'm looking forward to getting a full fleet of Yeti's when i get back in the fall.

6) - Where was the last please you rode?

Not really sure, I have been on the road for almost 2 months now but it was probably some street spots in Denver around my apartment.

7) - Covering the races must be as much fun as it is hard work, have you any wild/funny/insane stories you can tell us?

Yeah its a good time for sure, there aren't any stories that come to mind right now but ask me in a another month or two and I'm sure that i will have something good. Were about to head out on the road for the next month and I'm driving the sprinter van so it will probably get interesting.

8) - What sort of Camera do you use? What format?

Right now I'm using the Sony EX1. You can shoot in several different formats with the camera which are all HD, I've been experimenting a lot with different ones and as of right now using the 720/60p format

9) - What is the hardest part about your job?

It does get hard to be away from my girlfriend, family, friends but other then that its all good.

10) - Who is your favorite person to work with?

When it comes to filming I usually like to work with up and coming riders because they are always stoked to push back up the hill and get the shot but everyone at the factory is rad and really fun to work with on a daily bases.

11) - Anyone you'd like to thank or Plug?

I would like to thank my Parents and family for all the support over the years, my girlfriend Julianne, everyone at Yeti, all my friends back in Denver, Clay Porter, the entire Sol Vista Team, Spomer for always posting my videos on Littermag.com, and any rider who i filmed.