The Legacy of Rad: A Q&A with BMX Pioneer Eddie Fiola

The first time many of us saw Rad in 1986, it felt less like watching a movie and more like being handed a permission slip to ride harder, jump higher, and believe that a kid on a BMX bike could be the hero of the story. For a certain generation, the film was not just entertainment. It was a spark. Kids left the theatre scanning their neighborhoods for curbs, dirt piles, and empty lots that could become the next big jump.

Looking back now, what makes the film so memorable is not just its underdog story or its neon soaked 80s charm, but its stunts. The movie captured BMX riding at a moment when the sport was exploding across America. Instead of relying on camera tricks or unrealistic effects, the filmmakers leaned heavily on real riders performing real tricks. The result was a film that felt authentic in a way that still resonates with BMX fans decades later.

Eddie Fiola "King of Skateparks" in Effortless which is the added value for the Rad 40th anniversary.

With the 40^th anniversary of Rad taking over theatres nationwide March 22 & 24, we sat down with the legendary stuntman and BMX rider, Eddie Fiola “King of the Skateparks”, to talk about the film.

Q&A with BMX Pioneer Eddie Fiola

How did you first get involved with Rad, and what was the audition or selection process like for the stunt riders? At this time in BMX, I was on top, so I did not have to audition. They wanted the best in BMX at that moment, and they got it.

What did the BMX scene feel like in the early to mid 1980s when Rad was filmed? Around the time they were getting ready to shoot Rad, BMX was getting pretty big. Everyone wanted some kind of BMX in their advertising. You would see BMX show up in TV shows, and especially TV commercials for brands like Mountain Dew, Footlocker, Levi’s, among others. It was an exciting moment because BMX seemed to be crossing over into other mediums, but there wasn’t a feature film that I recall that focused exclusively on BMX until Rad.

You doubled for Cru Jones in many scenes. How challenging was it to match your riding style to the character played by Bill Allen? Now I am not trying to sound fatheaded, but the Rad film team wanted me and my style of riding for their movie, so it wasn’t much of a challenge. It was my riding style that they wanted, so I did what I was doing at the time, and they captured it on film. The hard part was getting Bill Allen to ride like me!

What stunt or trick in the film was the most difficult to pull off during filming? I think the tricks in the lumber yard were the most difficult for me, but that was, in part, because the direction was to make them look harder than they actually were.

Was there a trick or scene you attempted that never made it into the final cut? Yes. In the lumber yard, there was a set of stairs that I had to ride down, turn, then ride down more stairs. I couldn’t turn fast enough to make the corner, went Over The Bars (OTB), and fell down the stairs. Metal Stars at that!!

Did Jose Yanez’ backflip give you pause at any point? Absolutely! You always take a pause when you see someone do something that, at the time, was seemingly impossible.

The Helltrack race scenes look chaotic and intense. How controlled were those races behind the scenes?

“I would say that 98% of the time, it was very controlled. We all had jobs to do – to hit a specific mark at a specific time. But that doesn’t always happen, and so 2% of the time on the Helltrack, it was as chaotic and intense as what you see on screen. ”

The dance scene with Cru and Christian is one of the most iconic moments in the movie. What was it like filming that sequence? Hahaha! Now THAT is a good question! As most movies are not shot in sequence, the dance scene was the last BMX sequence shot. At that time, my world tour for my sponsor, GT Bikes, had just started, so I wasn’t actually on set when they shot the dance scene. I was there for rehearsal and practice, but had to leave before the day of filming.

Were there any crashes during filming that really scared the crew or riders? Yes! All of them except for Hollywood’s dramatic exit.

What is a behind-the-scenes story from filming that most fans have never heard? Ha! “One time in band camp…” lol. I’m kidding. But seriously, it’s been 40 years since Rad was first released – I think everyone has heard everything that’s ever happened in the movie. Hahaha!

40 Years of Rad

Four decades later, Rad still holds a special place in BMX culture. Part of that comes from the story, part from the soundtrack, and a lot from the fearless riding that riders like Eddie Fiola brought to the screen. At a time when BMX was still carving out its identity, the film captured the spirit of the sport in its purest form. It showed what could happen when creativity, competition, and a little bit of rebellion met on two wheels.