Meet Dakoda Osusky - Built From Dirt, Driven by Passion
Photos: Lear Miller
Some riders follow a path, others have to find their way back to it. Dakoda's riding story isn't about following a straight line, it's about rediscovery; Stepping away, coming back, and realizing that what once felt natural actually meant everything.
It's about riding with people who push you, digging trails with purpose, and chasing that feeling you can't quite explain, but you know exactly when you find it.
We're beyond excited to welcome Dakoda to INTENSE!
Get to know Dakoda more by checking out his story, setup, and what keeps him searching for what's next below:
What’s your bike story?
I started BMX racing when I was 4 and stopped when I was 8. In that time frame I was riding a lot of skateparks with the BMX bike with my Pops who were riding the early gen MTB in skateparks. At the time there weren't really any mountain bikes available to kids my height, so I was riding some Jank full suspension bike that was from Walmart and I don't believe it was even a reputable brand. It wasn't until around 03’ that I was fortunate enough to start riding a Kona Stinky Jr and Stuff Jr. With the new world disorders coming out and my family being fired up on mountain bikes we eventually started traveling to contests in Canada/ North Carolina to compete while filming with Aaron Lutze's video series 'Match Videozine'.
The family eventually moved to Arizona for riding, and I was getting older and wanted to do what my friends were doing, which was Skateboarding. Bikes got parked, Parents got a divorce and 10 years later I found myself still immersed heavily in the skate scene until I broke my ankle and had several surgeries on it. Being laid up and recovering from that injury made me realize I had a special bond with my dad growing up doing something we both liked and not everyone gets to experience stuff like that. I started riding my dads bikes as rehab, pedaling trails with him and it felt like how it felt when I was younger and I cherished that. Not knowing a thing about Freeride or any new names in the scene from where I left off in 2007. I started just playing catchup on YouTube. I felt like that scene out of 50 First Dates where she's just reading newspapers and watching movies catching up on current events haha.
Fast forward a few years my dad and I along with some local homies were rebuilding and renovating an OG little jump spot in Phoenix called Papago which was a place I visited with the Family in 2002. My dad showed me the ropes on how to dig and from then on that opened up a whole new world to me on Mountain Biking for how fun it was to be able to build something with a vision and then ride it.
By 2019 I was following In The Hills Gang, DJ Brandt, Ethan Nell and some other people I looked up to in the freeride community and made my way out Virgin for the first time. That trip solidified that I knew I wanted to move to Southern Utah.
Come 2020, I DMed IN THE HILLS and told them I wanted to meet and ride with them where shortly after that we filmed 'Dirt Church'.
2021 rolled around and I moved in with DJ in Cedar City, Utah.
My dream came true and I found myself living and riding in the freeride meca alongside all the rippers.
I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for my dad’s passion for bikes and moving the family out of Wisconsin.
Where is your favorite place to ride?
Kamloops B.C.
What keeps your passion for mountain biking alive, year after year?
The search of new places to ride.
What are some of the things that excite you when it comes to joining INTENSE?
I am so stoked to join forces with an OG brand who has been there from the beginning and work together with a brand who has the same vision as I do.
What is your current INTENSE bike and your component setup?
I am currently on a Small Tracer 279, 180 Zeb, 27.5 front and rear wheels, Single speed Setup, 165mm cranks
What are some underrated pieces of gear or bike setup tips you think more riders should know about?
Run what you brung and single speed it!
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Tzatziki
Are you working on any projects?
I just recently wrapped up a campaign shoot for the new Tazer that I'm extremely excited to swing my leg over again. I had the pleasure of testing this bike before we started the shoot back in February in the bike's own backyard, Southern California. I was able to run it through its paces on trails I never even knew existed that had Squamish type slab rock terrain, jump lines and proper chunk. The bike shined in every spot we went to and wouldn't have wanted a different bike for it.
What’s next for Dakoda Osusky?
Riding in freeride events, focusing on some personal film projects, and building trails for the Trail Building company I recently started with a friend and keep playing in the dirt.
