Tell you what, pal…you say one more word, and I will knock your fuckin’ teeth right outta’ your skull.”
Those were the first words that I ever heard come out of Marco Costiglio’s mouth. It’s funny, too, because a New York accent really starts to thicken up when he’s about to fight. And in this particular instance, that was very soon. He was currently talking to some drunk, meat-head, who apparently didn’t think Marco had the guts to hit him. Have a good nap, buddy, and good luck getting that nose to heal straight.

After the first five minutes of talking to Marco, I felt like I had known the guy my whole life, and I am sure that all of his other buddies would tell you the same thing. Marco is the kind of guy who comes over to your house for dinner, and by the end of the night refers to your parents as “Mom and Dad.” He is the kind of friend who calls you at 3 am to tell you an idea that just popped into his head, and the crazy thing is, it’s brilliant. And he is also the kind of buddy who would drop everything in a split second so to have your back.... But you see, this is just Marco’s style; Pure vision, friendship and creativity—mixed in with a healthy dose of aggression—is exactly what makes the kid tick. So how does one get to be this way? For that, let’s back up a bit:

Born in 1977 in NYC, Marco was a spunky one right out of the box. Growing up on skateboards, punk rock and brawling, young Marco was a virtual bomb of creativity, and it didn’t take much to set him off. Drawing on everything from desks to tables to notebooks, graffiti soon became his outlet, After a few years of practice, he became a common name around the city, and even in quite a few nearby states. Aside from art, Action Sports have always been one of Marco’s passions. He is one of the only guys I know who can backflip a bicycle, and boardslide a handrail on a skateboard But where Marco really shines is on his dirt bike, I have seen more insane shit come from this kid than anywhere else. You see, Marco is a determined dude, and when he rides it really shows. Aside from solid style and commitment, Marco has the sheer tenacity to make things happen; I have seen him hit huge ramps and bail up vert cliffs with the same aggression that I have seen when he is pounding someone’s face into the concrete. I have also seen him eat shit, spit out a few pieces of teeth, and get right back up to nail whatever took him down. With a few years of hardcore riding and a New York MX championship under his belt, it’s pretty clear that Marco knows how to get it done. But even though he is the kind of dude who will break your jaw for putting him over a berm, I have also witnessed Marco stopping in the middle of a moto to pull someone’s mangled bike off of them. Kinda’ sweet, isn’t it?

Marco has an undeniable presence and attitude. He can walk into a party of pro racers, immediately know everybody in the room, and be dancing with three dude’s chicks in the first five minutes. And he usually gets away with it, too, because I have never, ever seen anybody punch someone as hard as Marco has. Hell, I watched him get in a fight at the X Games and clock a guy so hard that my head hurt!

The wild stories and anecdotes could go on for years, He has his friend’s backs to the end, he shreds on anything he tries, and he definitely isn’t scared to stand up for himself and what he wants. If Marco says he is going to hit a crazy jump, he’ll damn well do it. And if he tells you in that thick-ass accent that he is going to bust your lip, watch out. This guy has the ability to take life by the balls and throw fear right out the window.

-Words by Chris Denison, pro fmxer and racer
www.chrisdenison.co