Bike and board shop owner motivates people to move

Matt Hopkins, owner of Motiv-8 likes to move and wants others to find the same enjoyment.

The Battle Creek native and Harper Creek High School graduate opened his local store about four years ago after two decades in the
business in Florida. He recently talked with the Battle Creek Enquirer about the focus of the skateboarder, whether the pictures on the boards matter, and the challenges of selling bikes and boards in a Michigan winter.

Expert:

“When I got out of high school and moved down to Florida, I really got into off-road riding and it really just progressed. I got into BMX riding in the late ’80s. Not racing or anything; it was the street stuff that was just coming along. This was before the X-Games in the mid ’90s.

“The store that I had down there was based on that, and it was pretty much the only store based on that. It wasn’t all smarts, it was just being in the right place at the right time. The sports just kind of grew, and the store grew with that.

“I did street riding and BMX until I was in my mid 30s and then the accidents were starting to hurt. That’s when I said I got to calm down a little bit.

“It’s what I’ve done for many, many years. I like the sports. I like what they bring, you know, the kids’  confidence and stuff like that. It gets them out. I think there’s more to these sports than what parents give them credit for.”

To find out what Hopkins offers in his shop, read the rest of the story.

Source: Battle Creek Enquirer