Nigel Sylvester is an American professional BMX athlete. He is best known for his digital and social content featuring his advanced riding skills throughout major global city streets. His most notable series is GO, which gives viewers a first hand POV of his rides featuring recognizable locations around the world and celebrity appearances. He is unlike other BMX athletes as he does not compete and built his career through social media and YouTube. In 2017, Forbes Magazine included Sylvester in the "30 Under 30” list in the sports category. In 2014, he became the first BMX athlete to be featured in the ESPNBody Issue. He was included alongside Venus Williams and Michael Phelps. As of February 2019, he has 955,000 social followers and over 70 million videos views. Sylvester is sponsored by multiple brands including Nike, Inc., Beats by Dre, Samsung, New Era Cap Company, Ethika, and Animal Bikes.
Career
Sylvester launched his lifestyle and travel video series, GO, in 2015. It has over 40 million views, as of October 2017. His videos are shot entirely from his POV with a GoPro and take fans on an immersive, first-hand view of his riding experiences. This includes BMX as well as other extreme racing: sports cars, go-karts, ATV's, jet ski’s, and planes. The first episode in the series launched in his hometown of New York City; it is followed by episodes in LA, Tokyo, and Dubai. Two more installments are set for 2018. Influential friends across music, entertainment, and sports are featured throughout the series, including Victor Cruz, ASAP Ferg, Nick Young, Jamie Chung, Rob Dyrdek, Ben Baller, and Salt Bae. The videos are co-directed by Harrison Boyce. Sylvester continues to expand GO into a lifestyle brand including live events and merchandise. In 2015, Vice released a two part episode under its Autobiographies series, featuring Sylvester and his rise to success.
Early career
When Sylvester was 17, he met his childhood idol and BMX athlete, Dave Mirra while filming “Flipside,” a BMX DVD that paired amateur riders with pros to pull off tricks. Mirra signed him to his company Mirraco, when he was 18 and became his mentor.
Brand collaborations
In September 2017, Sylvester was featured in the campaign for the Kith x Nike Air Pippen 1 collaboration. In May 2017, he released his GO branded collaboration with the New York Mets and New Era to release two 9Fifty Original Snapbacks. The Mets also invited Sylvester to throw out the first pitch at the Mets game to commemorate the partnership. Nike teamed up with Sylvester, in March 2014, to release the Nike SB x Sylvester Dunk High “S.O.M.P.” The collaboration marked the first time Nike SB teamed up with a BMX rider to redesign the iconic sneaker. In 2014, Sylvester partnered with Pharrell Williams to release a line of BMX bike’s under Brooklyn Machine Works. Together they premiered the bike’s on the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet. He has a signature bike seat called the Sylvester Seat. He also created multiple signature watches with G-Shock.
Music
referenced Sylvester in his verse on the Frank Ocean song “Biking,” released in April 2017, citing “Nigel Sylvester with these bike flips.” He is featured in multiple music videos from artists including ASAP Ferg, Mack Wilds, and Wiz Khalifa.
Art
In April 2017, Sylvester released his first artwork under his travel and lifestyle collective, GO. Working together with upholsterer and artist, Daniel McRorie of Rickard Guy, Sylvester designed a BMX bike using Louis Vuitton’s iconic monogram logo. The piece is titled “218 CAPUCINE,” a reference to both Louis Vuitton’s and Sylvester’s history. His bike was featured in the social feeds of Louis Vuitton’s Artistic Director, Kim Jones.
Personal life
Sylvester was raised in a Grenadian household in the Southside area of Jamaica, Queens. His mother, who works as a home-care nurse, and father, who is an electrician, were very strict on him and his older brother growing up.
