"TWO GENERATIONS, ONE PASSION".

Senad Grosić (42) and Marin Ranteš (25) are professional BMX riders. Although there is an age difference between them, the two experienced many memorable moments that this extreme sport has to offer.

Considering his age, Senad hardly remembers his early childhood, but the beginning of his BMX career is hard for him to forget:" I was always a fan of all sports, but eventually stumbled upon the world of extreme sports. After I came to Austria, I bought a BMX bike from a friend. Although the sport was not very well known at the time, I decided to try it anyway. I was 12 years old and wanted to be like the actors in the movie 'BMX Bandits', but since the technology wasn't there yet, I couldn't just look for videos of professional riders on the internet and 'copy' their moves."

"I played football in middle and high school, but soon realised that I had no future in that sport. My friends persuaded me to join them on the ramp and after two weeks I finally gave in. It was love at first sight and on the way home I told my mother I wanted a BMX bike," said Marin, to which Senad jokingly replied that Marin's idea to buy a BMX bike was his best yet."

My first contact with sponsors was at the Extreme Games in Europe and this was a defining moment in my career. At that time I was working in a specialist shop for cycling equipment, but because I had a contract I had to invest more time in training. As a result, the shop owner gave me five weeks' holiday, which was to be the longest I ever had, because I never came back to work," joked Senad.

The shop owner then gave me five weeks' leave, which was to be the longest I ever had, because I never came back to work," Senad joked.

Marin says the best part of this story is the fact that a "kid's bike" can be the key that opens all doors for you: to competitions all over the world and to make many friends. Meanwhile, Senad mentioned an event in Saudi Arabia:" People from this part of the world are not really familiar with extreme sports yet and when I did a backflip at an event, there was such an enthusiastic father who sent his child to touch me. I guess he thought I was a deity or something like that."

"Being 42 years old has an impact on different parts of my career because I need more training hours and time to regenerate," Senad said.

Marin and Senad often train together: "Together we can achieve anything. We all face obstacles in everyday life, which is why it is important to have someone to help us overcome that obstacle and move forward.

Friendship is a celebration," he said, ending our conversation with advice for young people: "We'd like to say that no matter how hard it seems at times, you must always get up and keep going."