Catching Up with Kelly McGarry
After a very successful 2013 season, which included a second place at Red Bull Rampage, Kelly McGarry is ready to take on 2014 with his contagious optimistic attitude. We caught up with McGazza recently to see what his life has been like in the off-season and what his plans for 2014 are. Here's what he had to say:
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How did you first get into mountain biking? Who introduced you to the sport? I used to ride BMX only growing up. I worked in a bike shop after school and a bunch of the guys in there talked me into coming out for a MTB shred. I loved it and ended up buying myself a hack of a DH bike and started racing DH and hucking off stuff!
When did you realize that mountain biking could be a career for you, and not just a hobby? I guess I found out I could make a living from riding bikes when I first started traveling with my bike. At the time (2006) there wasn't much going on Comp wise in NZ and when I went to Canada I rode in Crankworx, it was so rad. I had a great time and just wanted to ride more comps. So I worked hard, saved cash and jetted to as many comps as I could. I saw a few of the other dudes out there making a living from riding and I wanted to get to that stage. So I stuck at it -Riding -traveling - filming and shootin' pics and now that's all I do! Braaaarp!
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What would you be doing if you weren't a professional mountain biker? Before I rode bikes for a living I used to build houses. I am a ticketed carpenter, so I guess if I wasn't huckin off cliffs on my bike I would be swinging a hammer .
What does a regular week for McGazza look like at this time of year? A regular McGazzaweek in Queenstown consists of (obviously) plenty of riding bikes! There is so much cool stuff to ride here so at any given time you can find me shreddin dirt jumps at G road, on my big bike up the bike park or Winyard jump park or out for a rip on the AM bike on the trails behind my house. Apart from the bike riding part I like to fire the barbie with the mates, cook up some meat and crack a few beers. I throw a couple gym sessions in where I can, hang out with the missus of course! And when the waves are comin' in we go for a mission down to the south coast to camp out and get some surf.
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What did you focus on to help you get comfortable on big mountain terrain and what are you doing to continue to progress? I just spend alot of time on my big bike, just riding DH with the boys and getting comfy riding at speed on loose terrain and hangin'er out a little bit. We are lucky enough to have some pretty decent sized big bike jumps here in QT so I always try to session them pretty hard and just be stoked on flying my big bike. In saying that, I think its really good to ride different styles of bikes as they compliment each other overall. For example, I feel like being able to ride dirt jump rhythm sections smoothly on my hard tail comes in handy doubling up roots or ridge line humps and bumps on my big bike.
What are your thoughts after this year's Rampage? You went pretty huge, how much bigger do you think competitors can go? Rampage is a "huge" comp in general. It's a pretty gnarly way to spend your weekend for sure but it's so rad to be a part of, I can't wait for next year. It's just cool to be in that part of the world with your bike. The landscape is a one of a kind scenario... perfect for the Rampage style format. I think people are going to go bigger in the future for sure, riders are getting faster and bringing bigger tricks to bigger drops and jumps, every year the event is gettin bigger and crazier and... according to my calculations its only going to get wilder!
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Looks like you do some coaching of some local Groms. What advice do you have for the youngsters out there that hope to follow in your footsteps?Yeah I like to help out the grommies where I can. There are so many kids interested in riding bikes these days, it stokes me up! There wasn't many local guys to look up to when I was growing up so I am happy to go for a shred with up and coming rippers and if I can help them out in any way that's cool. As far as following in my footsteps goes... I probably wouldn't advise that! Ha ha ha... But I guess just staying stoked on riding bikes is pretty key. Keep a smile on the dial and get out and travel with your bike and see how ya go!
You seem to have had a great season last year with a ton of great experiences, what was your best experience of 2013 and why? Every season involves so much travel, we are lucky enough to get to go to some pretty awesome spots around the world and in turn get to have some pretty cool experiences on the bike and off it. I think my favorite part of 2013 was heading to Peru for the Inca Avalanche, the country is pretty wild mountain wise, huuuge alps sticking up out of the earth as far as the eye can see. Our race started at 14.500 ft! Not much air up there when you are pedaling your balls off! But it was cool to check out how they do things down there, experience the culture and hang out with good mates. Visiting the Machu Picchu was a highlight, its a pretty insane structure and it was cool to walk around and see with my own eyes.
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Do you have any pre-contest rituals to help calm the nerves or get you focused to shred? One of my pre-contest rituals is just mind riding the course while I sit in the start gate. It makes sure I know exactly what I want to do where and remember any little things like keep left on a jump or slow down for that drop. Its just visualizing what you want to do... then go do it!
Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world to ride?I would love to check out Africa, it's such a huge continent there has to be some epic stuff to ride out there if you went looking... as long as you don't get eaten by a lion or an angry hippo.
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What are your plans for the 2014 season? 2014 is looking like a banger, loads of travel as usual! I will be heading to the northern hemisphere in May for the season. I will be hittin' some FMB stops and going on trips all over the show. I normally chill in Whistler for a couple of months too. So I'm looking forward to that!
Any sponsors you'd like to thank? Yeah I would like to thank all my sponsors for helping me do what I do, I wouldn't be able to get out the front door with out the help of all these epic company's, Cheers !
Diamondback
Marzocchi
Gravity components
Slytech Protection
Shred Eyewear
Unit clothing
Atomlab
Kenda
Gopro
Shimano
Hope
Wide Open Distributors
Giro Helmets
Camelbak
Yakima Racks
ODI grips
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dv65 0.042631
edit: not Steve Peats Syndicate...
Official site still works.
www.unit.com/australia/shop
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BT2xGVj8hI
We are changing ownership, so this has had a temporary effect on sponsorship etc, but all should be back to normal soon…hopefully
So,its not a fatal crash for company! Its good news.