ESPN.com: What brings you to Southern Calif.?
Collier: The weather in Vancouver has been so erratic this year for some reason. It's been raining or cloudy most of the summer so far. That's even odd for Vancouver. This time my lady and I just came to get some sun, swim, ride and I was glad to be able to shoot a few photos.

Travis Collier in Venice Beach

MacNeil pro Travis Collier escapes Vancouver for a So Cal flatland session. Check the photos. Gallery

You seem to have a good way of mixing business with pleasure and always manage to get some coverage in the magazines and all that while you are down here; how do you balance the two?
It's much easier to balance things these days. I started my own art/design agency back in Vancouver. I can work on the road if I have to whether it's in the hotel room or on the phone. My job is fairly nomadic which gives me that freedom and I'm pretty much on my own work schedule. Sometimes things get busy with the business which can be demanding, but it works fine.

You are sort of a hybrid flat/street rider and I have always been curious as to how you separate them and also, what is it about flatland riding that has drawn you in over the years?
I've ridden everything since day one. So to be honest, I have very little interest in separating them. That's why I've always ridden a slightly longer more street-influenced setup. It makes it much easier for me to amalgamate all forms of riding that interest me. I guess it was just how I was raised in BMX. For me, flatland has always been a strange thing. I love the freedom of flatland because you can do it almost anywhere at anytime and it's so creative. In reality it has definitely been my main focus at times. Whenever I think or daydream about bike riding I always daydream about riding dirt, street or mini ramp. I rarely daydream about riding flat. That's probably why my flat riding has always had that influence and element attached to it.

Being from Canada, it seems like you always have a good time down in the States when you come. Ever considered making the move down South?
Yeah I've thought about it. Not sure if California is at the top of my list for places to move to though. Sometimes I think about moving to Delaware. Kidding!

Jeremy PaviaTravis always makes the most of his time down South. Launch Gallery »

What else is new in your world? I know you are a full-time designer and have a lot going on so where does riding fit in?
Like I mentioned, my friend Ryan Romero and I started our own art/design agency and it's been going very well. Both of us having experience working at larger firms, we felt the need to branch off and do our own thing. Our agency is called CLOU and you can check out our site at www.thisisclou.com -- it's a slightly unconventional approach to a design agency, which we find so exciting. We try to focus more on creative projects that have a strong artistic element to them. I guess this is only natural because our backgrounds are just as much art focused as they are design. Riding isn't affected too much. Being on your own schedule helps. I'm the boss sucka!

Riding for MacNeil and being a talented designer seem to go hand in hand. Do you have any new projects in the works with them or any of your other sponsors?
I'm pretty much always working with MacNeil on all kinds of things. I'm always open to working on art/design projects within BMX, but lately I feel like I'm being lead down some other paths within art and design. There is a lot more out there than just BMX you know. It's important to work on all kinds of different projects with different people otherwise it starts to feel very insular.

Any last words?
Yeah a huge thanks to Jeremy Pavia for shooting some photos, getting this together and putting up with my last minute photo shoots. And I'd love to connect with any designers, artists or creative people in general. In or outside of BMX. Feel free to get in touch to talk shop. Thanks.