Featured Athlete: Lea Dobrowski
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Featured Athlete: Lea Dobrowski

Posted by on May 1, 2012 in Athlete | 0 comments

IA: What does it mean to be a Flatland rider?

LD: To me it means dedication, motivation, balance, and a fulfilling way to express yourself.


IA: What made you interested in riding?

LD: I went to a contest in 2009, JoMo Pro, and was getting a little bored watching the park contest. I wondered around and then saw the flatland contest. I sat there and watched for a couple hours and was mesmerized. I had to learn after that. I asked the guy I was seeing at the time and one of our friends to help me build a flat bike and it took off from there.

IA: How many years now have you been riding? What age did you start?
LD: I started riding in 2009 when I was 23 years old!
IA: Any competitions/titles you’d like to talk about?
LD: I was recently at JoMo, which was a great time. I got to see all my riding friends and ride right next to the pro’s. Which is intimidating and exciting all at once. I love contests, not because I want to compete or win anything but just because it is a fun experience to get to ride with all levels of riders and to support flatland! I would recommend for anyone to just go to the contests or jams, even spectators because it is just awesome to watch so many riders come together like that. At this contest I placed 5th. I wanted to do top 3 but I can’t complain. My shoulder gave out on me during my second run, but it doesn’t matter, what matters is that I had a blast!
IA: What has it been like for you to be a girl rider? Did people initially question whether or not you could do well at it?

LD: When you are a girl in a male dominated sport you seem to get a lot more attention. Sometimes it is because people are just plain psyched to see a woman out there with all the guys, and obviously sometimes it is simply just because you are the only girl or one girl out of three somewhere. There are people that question you when you are a girl. They may not think you are in it for the right reasons, like you just want attention or a boyfriend. That is when it becomes annoying.  I know that being a girl in a male dominated sport get’s me more attention, and I am definitely going to take advantage of that when it would be advantageous to do so, but I ride because I want to ride, because I love riding, because it is a way to express myself in a different way. I have had broken toes, fingers, and tendons because of flatland, if I was in it just for attention I wouldn’t ride so hard [LOL]. And while my current boyfriend does ride BMX he rides park, so it wasn’t like I met him through flat.

IA: How many tattoos do you have? Will you tell me a little about your work?

LD: I have two sleeves, a side piece, a couple back pieces and a few on my hips. I really love tattoos and always have, so I decided to get covered in them. I always say, some people like art put on there walls I like it put on my body. I get my work done at Tattoo Faction in North Olmsted, Ohio. I started with just black and gray tattoos and eventually moved to getting more color. My left sleeve is half and half, it’s kinda like you can see were my mind changed.

IA: What is your very favorite tattoo? Is there a story behind it?

LD: My favorite piece is my side piece. It has two different roses and a daisy in the middle. The roses are for each of my grandmothers that passed last year and the daisy is for my mom, whose initials are right underneath. Those women meant everything to me and still do, and my  mom is my rock. No matter what tattoo I ever get, or how rad any new tattoo is, that side piece will always be my favorite. It hurt like hell but it was well worth it!

IA: Where do you mostly get your work done? Who is your artist?

LD: I have gone to Tattoo Faction for years now, and I don’t want to go anywhere else. Those are some of the best artists and bests guys I have ever met. I utilize a few of the artists there. Mainly I go to Chuck Uhler and Rob Hamilton. Dave Wulff did my right sleeve.

IA: Future tattoo plans?
LD: At the moment I am not sure. I seem to just get an idea out of nowhere and usually just go with that when it comes. I don’t really plan my tattoos out!

IA: Any future life plans?

LD: At the moment just school. I am a philosophy and health science major concentrating in ethics so that takes up a lot of my time. Although this summer will be pretty open, so I plan on attending some flat jams and a contest. I am currently looking for employment, but it is hard with such a hectic school schedule!

 We look forward to watching Lea in upcoming competitions, rocking InkAddict tattoo inspired clothing and obviously taking home a title. Thanks Lea for being apart of the InkAddict team!