ESPN.com: For starters, I know you've had a rough year with injuries. Can you relate everything you and your body have been through, and where you're at on the road to recovery?
Darden: Yeah this year has not been ideal for sure. To start things off, my back went out at the beginning of the year. That was something I would never wish upon anyone. After five months of back problems, the week it finally went away, I tore my ACL and Medial Meniscus in my right leg. After a good month or so of rehabbing my knee, I started riding again and went to the Masters in Germany, where I ended up popping my shoulder on my last run in the dirt comp. So I went back to rehabbing. I got everything strong and working again for X Games. Everything was going well, but after a little slip up in practice, my knee popped out again. So I went back for more rehabbing. And that is where I am at right now. I got my knee feeling good and strong again and I am scheduled for ACL surgery on October 19. Then more rehabbing.

Courtesy of PremiumYes, Darden can hold it down on the streets as well as park and dirt.

What have you been doing in your downtime?
Between rehabbing my injuries, earlier this year my wife and I welcomed our new baby girl Lily Ann Darden into the world on January 21. So all my time has been towards her and helping my wife. I could just stare and watch her grow all day. It has been nothing but amazing to say the least.

How has life changed for you since having a child earlier this year?
To be honest, it has not changed as much as I thought it would have. I still hit the gym in the mornings and try to ride in the afternoons. The rest of the day I spend with my family. I couldn't be happier.

How do you balance family life and BMX?
Family comes first, then BMX. Happy wife, happy life!

I know you made some changes last year to your lifestyle and approach to riding. Can you explain what you changed up, and what the outcome was?
I pretty much just did a 180. I stopped drinking, cleaned up my diet and start hitting the gym. In return, I lost a bunch of weight, felt better and had more energy. All of that gave me a new outlook on life and I started having a lot more fun on my bike. I am riding my best when I am having fun.

Pete Demos/Shazamm/ESPN ImagesDarden and his now iconic one-handed tabletop.

Are you personally responsible for bringing the one-handed tabletop back in BMX?
I don't think I am responsible for bringing it back. I think I just became obsessed with the trick and anytime I was riding in a contest, I would find something that I could go as high as possible on and blast a one-handed flatty. Riders that influenced me for the one-handed tabletop are Gary Young, Corey Bohan, Jamie Bestwick and Brian Foster.

What's something most BMXers wouldn't know about you?
I went scuba diving the week I got married in Key West, Fla. and was lost at sea for a couple hours. It was a pretty scary moment in my life.

Are you in Greenville for good, or do you have any aspirations to move back to Nor Cal?
I am not in Greenville for good at all. I could see myself moving to western North Carolina into the mountains. I would also like to move to San Diego for a little bit and start surfing every morning. After my wife is done with school, we will probably change it up a bit.

What's an average day like for you, provided your knees are working and you aren't traveling?
I wake up pretty early in the morning, usually before the sun comes up. This is when I like to get in to the gym and bang it out. Then I will just chill with my family and work around the house. I will usually hear something about riding from the Harrington household later in the day. If not I'll go fishing or something, then spend the rest of day with my family.

Anything I missed that you want to touch on? Thanks?
That about sums it up. I would Like to thank my wife for always supporting my and putting up with my lifestyle. My parents for always setting me straight. I would also like to thank all of my sponsors for having my back: Premium Products, Rockstar, Osiris, Arnette, Skullcandy, Cahartt, Ogio, Rogue Fitness, CTi. Cheers!

Courtesy of PremiumDarden before knee, back and shoulder injuries sidelined him earlier this year.