With twenty-one X Games appearances and twelve medals, the 38-year-old Ronnie Renner doesn’t sound like he’s slowing down any time soon. A recent extension on his Fox deal helps stamp his presence in the industry for years to come. Ronnie is a free riding motocross pioneer and he’s continued to do so, just in a little colder climate with his current passion, Timbersledding. He’s become somewhat of an ambassador for this new sport and it looks like there is a lot of potential on where things are headed. A couple weeks ago we caught up with Renner at the Fox Athlete summit to see what’s new and what he had planned for 2016.
Racer X: What’s going on these days, Ronnie?
Ronnie Renner: We’re here at the 2016 Fox Athletes Summit with all walks of life from wakeboard to motocrossers, BMX’ers, mountain bikers… I’m probably leaving a few sports out, but it’s pure madness. We’ve got mini bikes in the back, In and Out over here, music going. 805 Beers. Another mad little Friday or Thursday or whatever it is. It feels like Friday.
How long have you been with Fox now?
I’ve been with Fox since 2012. Back in the day had a couple year stint in my amateur moto days. So I guess I’m going on four years. I just actually signed for three more years. I’m really psyched. I love the vibe here, love all the people, and love the roots of this company, man. It goes so far back.
What’s your favorite Fox product these days?
My favorite Fox product is the Instinct boots. They’re so comfortable. Obviously feel good when I’m doing freestyle and free riding. I can wear the things all day. I can come back, wear them to the club, dance, get some moves going.
What’s new? What have you been up to?
What’s not new, man? I’m busy. I don’t even know where to start, really. I probably should be riding my dirt bike a little more, but when I am riding it right now, it’s February, I’m riding with the snow track on there. Timbersledding it. Snow bikes is like this new revolution that’s happening, more up north than here in California. So I got to do some trips up to Idaho. Racing cars, trying to get into Rallycross. With age comes the cage, so just kind of doing that.
The snow moto, where do you usually go?
The cool thing about snow biking is I really haven’t even tapped into this Earth. Free riding I’ve been around the world. I’ve rode in Dubai, Abu Dhabi… Blown out pretty much all the southwest of America, South America—you name it, I’ve been there. Snow bikes, I’ve been to Idaho. That’s it. I rode at Big Bear one time on the slopes and now I can just take this thing anywhere around the world. Alaska, Argentina... We got a lot of big goals for the next five years to really get out there and see what this world’s made of in the snow.
Do you have any projects that you’re working on right now?
Yeah, I got a couple little top-secret things going on, but if I told you I’d have to kill you. Break the camera and stuff, and you don’t want that. They might beat me up. Besides moto I’ve got stuff with Polaris going on with Razors. That’s really kind of close to home with me with the free riding stuff and kind of my moto base. Obviously snow bikes. Even talking about doing Rallycross. A lot of money in that world though, man. Holy cow. I’m stepping into a whole new league right there.
Are you doing X Games this year?
Yeah, I’ll be at X Games hopefully the next few years. I’m not even close to throwing in the towel on that. Having fun still being like the top contender I guess. Got the last few wins. It’s hard, the competitive side of me, that really gets my blood going. So I’ll be there sending it as long as I can.
And what events are you going to go for this year?
For 2016 X Games it’s looking like Step Up obviously and then real moto. It looks like that’s coming back. I take a lot of pride with the sport with free riding. I’m so pumped that we got a platform like that to showcase free riding stuff. I’m going to have to get back to the drawing board because last year I went all in with my edit and hit some stuff that I wasn’t really comfortable with. You’re only as good as your last gig, so I got to step it up if I want to win that thing.
