Keeping things right on course
T.J. Lavin
Las Vegas Magazine’s Kiko Miyasato recently visited BMX superstar and MTV host T.J. Lavin’s Vegas home, where she took a tour of his pad (his backyard has a huge BMX dirt jumping course) and sat down with him to discuss how he’s been since his near-fatal 2010 accident and what he’s been up to lately. Lavin co-hosts the Headrush/Forgiven Official After Party on Feb. 4 at RPM Nightclub at the Tropicana with guests including UFC fighters Carl Condit and Dustin Poirier.
Q: So how have you been since your accident?
A: It’s been going real good actually. I’m more physically fit now than I have ever been, but my mind still isn’t all there but I’m pretty close. But I can’t ride yet; if I could ride I would, but I can’t because it’s all mental. When I get on the bike it just doesn’t feel right yet.
Q: So you’ve just wrapped the 22nd season of MTV’s
The Challenge. What’s it been like hosting the show since its 11th season?
A: It’s the best job in the whole world; I can’t believe that I fell into that job! It’s the biggest come-up I’ve ever had in my life. I thought riding little kids bikes for a living was the best thing to ever happen to me till I wore flip-flops and board shorts to work and I was like, “Dude, this is the best thing.”
Q: Do you get involved in all the drama with the rest of the cast?
A: Nah, I’m separated from them. It’s way too much for me; I’m just a bike rider, man, I’m cool.
Q: Tell me about the film A Monster Among Men that you recently starred in?
A: My childhood friend Mike, one of my best buddies, was always going to write a movie … so I told him it’s finally time to step up to the plate and let’s do this. I have a cabin in Duck Creek (Utah) where we filmed. The film is about four friends that go camping and one of them might go a little crazy, there’s some bitter feelings there … and then people start dying. It’s like a whodunit!
Q: What do you have on tap for 2012?
A: I have like 12 jobs; everything is going great. I’m sure we’ll do another season of The Challenge this year. Forgiven is my main thing right now; it’s an alcohol metabolizer. That thing is going great. Right now we are in 20,000 stores nationwide, so we’re really excited
Q: You’re hosting at RPM Nightclub. Are you into the Vegas
club scene?
A: To be honest, I graduated from clubbing when I was 19; I’m old now. But, you know what, I enjoy a good party every now and then.
