Name: Zachary Alexander Yankush aka Grandpa aka Panther aka catfish
Birthday: 9-23-44
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
Current City: Andromeda Galaxy
Riding Stance: (Left foot/right foot) Right foot forward. Spin to left
Grind side: Right
Bicycle: DK Team Frame, DK Passport.

Why did you start riding BMX?

I wanted to get all the girls just like Cru Jones. I was drawn to BMX because there were no coaches living vicariously through me. There was no right or wrong way to do tricks on a bike. Individual progression captivated me. I loved watching hard work pay off. It was and still is the best thing ever.

What was the first trick you learned? First trick i was stoked on was frame stands. I would do those things all the way down the street. That and pogos.
 

What was the last trick you learned? I pulled my first toboggan today. So pumped.


What riders were/are influential in your life?

Growing up there were a lot. Mat hoffman and Kevin Jones were huge for me. Hoffman showed me that anything is possible on a bike and unless you take control of your culture...it will be dictated to you. Kevin reinforced what I already knew about anything being possible on a bicycle. I was also stoked on the fact that at a time when BMX was primarily focused on the West Coast. A dude from Oklahoma and a dude from Pennsylvania were leading the progression charge in BMX. Ron Wilkerson was probably the biggest influence in my life. He thought outside the box, mixed flatland and ramps, and didn't give a damn what the establishment thought. I am honored to call him a friend these days. My younger brother Adam was a huge influence too. Other influences were Chase Gouin, Chad Degroot, and Dennis Mccoy. These days..riding with anyone on the DK team pumps me. B hunt, Drew, Brett, BK, Wocko, Nina. When you ride with people of that caliber..you are bound to have a good time.

What people were/are influential in your life?

My parents are a huge influence. When I started riding in the 80s, BMX was practically unheard of. The fact that my parents were not only cool with me riding but also let me build ramps in the yard was awesome.
My mom especially as she used to drive me and my brother to contests and just sit in the car and read romance novels. Thanks mom and pops.


Favorite riding spot: Mesh Skatepark, Clairmont Skatepark, Brooklyn Banks, Duseldorf University, Barcelona spain.
Favorite contest:Any contest where there are hot girls smiling and people getting rad on bikes.

What is the wildest thing you have seen done on a bicycle? No handed cash roll. Or one time I watched a grown man take a poop while riding down the street.

What is the wildest thing you have done on a bicycle? I have done the backflip. That or a triple decades.

Favorite food: Edemame
Favorite movie: Rad
Favorite trick: Decades

What is a motto you subscribe to? If at first you don't succeed, eat your stupid lemons.

What is your favorite BMX memory? Watching Drew Bezanson win Nora Cup.

Describe the perfect day: Wake up in another country, go to the coffeeshop, get some lunch. Go ride street or flatland with good friends. Go to the beach. Get a massage. Go skydiving. Make out with a supermodel. Shoot some people with lasers. Have a freestyle rap session. Drive a european car really fast. Get some strawberry cheesecake ice cream. Listen to some Brian Hunt stories. Watch BK ride some rails. Watch Bestwick ride vert. Mexican food for dinner.  Fall asleep in the arms of my pet Panda named Gilligan.

If you could have lunch with anyone in history- who and why? Colin Winkleman. I'd smack him in the head and tell him how bad BMX misses him.

Last words of wisdom? Ride BMX because its fun. It has changed my life in so many ways. BMX has taken me all over the earth and has given me the best friends that anyone can ask for. I'm just some dork from Ohio. If I did it, and I can live this life. Anyone can. Dont let other people dictate your life. We aren't here for a long time- were here for a good time. Ridaz!