BMX legend, Simon Taboron is known for 6-foot flares in the vert ramp, which he commonly incorporates in his competition runs at X games and the Dew Tour, less known is his abilities on the six-string. However, Simon had a chance to demo this unconventional skill at a recent gallery event held at Spit, the home of action sports photog extraordinaire Bo Bridges.

Attended by a number of athletes, friends and colleagues, and supported by Red Bull, the gallery highlighted Bridges work across multiple action sport and lifestyle platforms. In addition to Taboron notables included skater Neal Hendrix, Bmx rider Francisco "Coco" Zurita, AVP pro Angie Akers and NFL husband Jeremy Akers as well as USC head football coach Pete Carroll and a performance by DJ Sleeper.

BMX legend, Simon Taboron - multi-talented.

Bo with USC head football coach, Pete CarrolL

Many photographers in action sports tend to stick within their preferred sport or discipline with a relative few successfully bridging the gap across multiple sport platforms. Bridges spans that divide sturdily, no pun intended. Known for stunning imagery that balances editorial integrity with crystalline commercial appeal, Bridges success stems from an uncommon ability to capture images the athletes want and his clients need.

Whether shooting a macking Teahupoo, a Chugach heli drop, a wake-inspired whirlybird or a summer of Dew Tour action, Bridges has won the approval of photo editors both core and mainstream. His work has appeared in the pages of Surfer, Surfing, Transworld Powder, Outside, Sports Illustrated, Maxim, Inked and ESPN the Magazine among others.


Tahiti's Teahupoo


Having begun his career in a photojournalism degree at Miami University, Bridges naturally combined his love of surfing and skateboarding with his passion for taking pictures. "I grew up around action sports. My dad let me build a mini halfpipe on the side of the yard and everyone used to come over and skate. We lived in the country on a lake and I started wakeboarding back when it was only known as the "Skurfer." I raced BMX back in the day and eventually we moved to Switzerland where I got to experience big mountains and lots of Powder. This was back in 1998. I was drawn to the individual sports. There was so much you could do and you could do it whenever you wanted to. I gravitated towards the action and my camera followed."

While Bo maintained his authenticity through his passion for the endemic culture, his savvy business acumen and magnetic personality also attracted the attention of A-list non-endemic clients including Pepsi Co., Coors Brewing Co., Remy Martin, T-Mobile, Hard Rock Hotel and Campbell s Soup to name a few.


Dew Tour ad


Hard Rock's Rehab


VonZipper Ad



Brain Deegan & Nikki Hilton are just some of many famed celebs Bo has had the pleasure of working with.


Many of these clients were attracted to the vast array of images Bo has captured, due mainly to his broad contact list developed through years of face time, "There are a lot of good photographers out there. A lot. The hardest part about being good is letting others know you are good. Clients are also looking for a reliable and easy going person that they can not only work with but create an ongoing relationship. A huge part of my business is socializing. I love to go out and meet new people.

Like his clients, athletes also look for personality. "Bo has to be the easiest person to work with," says pro wakeboarder Tara Hamilton Wynne. "He listens to what the athlete wants and then puts his own amazing twist to it and the photos come out great. You can see his smile threw the lens of the camera and it makes you smile and makes the whole photo shoot go by so easy."

Bo's new Spit Studio

Managing so many relationships with all the travel, parties and photo shoots can often throw a person out of sync. But despite all the personal and commercial success, Bo has kept things grounded. He donates a portion of all his online sales to the Surfrider Foundation and spends essential every spare moment with his wife, Susan, and their two young sons, "Kai and Tosh who are now 2 & 4 and love to reenact the top athletes on the podium. Where this will lead is now the scariest part of my business. Hopefully they will wind up behind the lens with their dad. A second best would be a 2024 pipe master."


For more info on Bo Bridges photography and his Spit Studio, visit www.BoBridges.com or Spitstudio.com


All images by Bo Bridges