John "Dizz" Hicks

Filed under Hall Of Fame on February 25, 2020 | Comment(s)

John Hicks was taught at an early age to go fast ...and to always go balls out. By his early teens, he’d already excelled in racing both motocross and BMX; alongside his older brother Bob. So when the fresh moves of freestyle first appeared in the magazines, that was when John really found his groove. One day, after practicing spinning tricks continuously, until he got dizzy  - his riding buddies gave him a lasting nickname ... “Dizz” was born.

Getting his start as the star rider of the gOrk Trick Team in 1983, Dizz first made his mark by winning the Amateur category at the first-ever AFA World Championships in Burbank, California. Following a feature article in the fourth-ever issue of FREESTYLIN’ magazine, he would land a spot on Factory CW’s freestyle squad, ripping it up alongside Mike Buff and Ceppie Maes  … all the while, creating havoc for team managers Mike Miranda and McGoo.

With his Dee Snider-like blonde hair and full-on rocker-attitude, Dizz rode at shows and competitions to the latest speed metal, and quickly built a reputation in the freestyle World - blasting big airs to Motley Crue, ripping up the wedge ramp to Twisted Sister and shredding some flatland to Anthrax.
Just like Metallica, he was riding the lightning! 

Best known as a mini-ramp specialist, The Master of Dizz-aster set the benchmark on kick turn tricks, but he was also highly innovative on the flatland scene. Dizz is credited for inventing the “Mega Trick” - flipping your bike upside-down for a fast and furious, flowing string of maneuvers that are still used today in modern flatland riding. 

To this day, Dizz is considered one of the greatest showmen of the early freestyle era - and amazingly, 
CW is still a part of his daily life ... as the owner of Sacramento Custom Wood flooring.