Getting to Know Reece Wallace

REECE WALLACE

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When you grow up in the prairies of Alberta and can see the mountains in the distance, a yearning begins. Reece is not the first to flee his hometown province for promises of a longer riding season, but he's holding true to his focus. Riding bikes, any kind and all year helped to draw Reece to BC west coast and it keeps him firmly planted here. With a constant drive to better himself, both on two wheels and his education, Reece now finds himself able to pursue a riding career full-time. Here's a look at what drives him and what his plans are in the coming years.



Who is Reece Wallace?

I am Reece Wallace.


Where are you from and where do you live?

I grew up in Calgary, Alberta. A town full of great people, but there isn’t much in terms of riding going on there. After high school, all I wanted to do was ride my bike, but in a place where it didn’t snow half the year. I worked the following winter, saved up, and moved to Whistler in the spring. It was a big change being able to ride the best trails in the world year round. After the first few weeks, I was hooked. Since then, I’ve lived in Langley, Victoria, Whistler, but now call North Vancouver home.





Who do you ride for?

Giant Bicycles, Shred Optics, Chromag, Kenda Tires, Slytech Protection, Industry Nine, and Dissent Labs.


Where are you happiest?

My happy place...just pictured Happy Gilmore, haha. I'm happiest when I'm with a group of friends and we're on our bikes. Not much has changed since I was a little kid, takes about the same criteria to make me happy.


What’s been your favourite race/contest venue?

Rampage is my favorite event. 2015 was my rookie year and it was a good way for me to test the waters. Getting into the event was a big challenge I had to overcome…Filming videos in Utah, riding down there, sending it throughout the year to kind of ‘prove’ myself…it all adds up.

When the initial invites went out, I didn’t receive one. I was pretty choked. However, I was given the first alternate position. With that, I headed to the desert, built my line, and had the mindset I was going to compete. Two days before qualifiers I got the green light.

As a first year there wasn’t much real estate left which posed another problem - so my crew and I built an entirely fresh line top to bottom with all of my own hits. It wasn’t as exactly as I would have hoped for, but I made the best with what I had. Rampage is different than most events, but that’s why I like it. Creative, iconic, and pure gnar. Making it to the bottom was one of the best moments of my life. When I stomped the three-drop…man, I was up!




Where are your favourite trails?

Squamish and Whistler.



What are your strengths?

I guess being able to ride and trick all of my bikes? I love riding a little bit of everything – each bike and style possesses something the other does not.


What are your weaknesses?

Over thinking and comparing myself to other riders. If I focus on personal goals and myself, I ride the best and have the most fun.


What’s been your worst crash over the years?

In 2013, I crashed on a boner log and blew out my knee. Peace out to my ACL, MCL, LCL, meniscus, and even did a few cracks on my femur and tibia. I had reconstructive surgery, and five months later I was back on my bike. Strong like an Ox now.


What’s been your luckiest escape?

Jump Ship 2012, I had just bought a dialed burrito…So stoked on it, Carne Asada, the works. Anyways, I walked onto the course and was so focused on this thing looking down at how tasty it was going to be when I heard, “WATCH OUT!” - Jamie Goldman was mid-air on the step-down, and I instantly realized where I was standing – the landing. Jamie landed and missed me by a hair, I felt his arm just graze me. I dropped my burrito and was in shock I was almost leveled by one of my favorite riders. Total grom move on my part but Jamie was cool about the whole thing. I would have been a corpse if he hit me, that dude is a tank. Long story short, don’t get distracted by burritos on slopestyle courses.



Which bike from over the years, conjures up the best memories?

My 2015 Glory. First time Rampage bike and I still haven’t washed the red dirt off of it.



What bikes are you riding right now?

Giant Glory Advanced, Giant Reign Advanced 0, and Giant STP.




Who’s your favourite rider?

Brandon Semenuk, Dennis Enarson, and Mike Aitken.




Who or what inspires you?

BMX videos inspire me. Truthfully, I don’t watch a lot of mountain bike videos unless it’s a good homie or some raw DH shredding or WC race. BMX is creative, most tricks and styles usually happen on the little bikes before transitioning into mtb.





What do you enjoy doing away from bikes?

Most of my life revolves around biking, so not a ton of time for other activities. But I love being with my girlfriend, chilling with homies, and digging in my yard. Also, I like to dabble with my guitar.


What are you listening to right now?

Stephen Stills - Treetop Flyer



What’s your favourite movie/ TV show?

TV Show – Seinfeld
Movie – Top Gun



What’s your favourite non-bike website?

I feel like this question is entrapment or every rider is lying, so let's say Facebook.



What’s your favourite motto or saying?




What grinds your gears?

Feebles on my downhill bike.



What makes you happy?

Riding bikes off big jumps.



If you weren’t a pro mountain biker, what would you be doing?

My dad has always told me to find a job where you would want to do it even if you didn’t get paid. So it’s just a bonus I am able to do it for a living. Pretty lucky. It is, however, on my bucket list to get my pilot's license at some point in my life.



If you were in charge of the sport, what changes would you make?

I’d love to see more events and places to ride for up-and-coming riders. Where I grew up, there was very little to ride and I remember frothing over BC’s parks. Always been a goal of mine to help facilitate this encouragement of riding spots with municipalities in the future.



When you hang up your riding shoes, how do you want to be remembered?

I’ll ride till I die! Not too worried about how I’ll be remembered. Also, I don’t have riding shoes, I ride in my day to day Nikes bruh.


What does the future hold for Reece Wallace?

Without giving too much away, I'll be filming for several projects this year as well as attending some contests. Lately, I'm more focused on filming than competing solely because I'd rather get gnarly on my own terms and build features/courses I want to ride. Chasing points on the world tour is cool and all, but some of the courses aren't that fun and can be frustrating if they've taken the slope out of slopestyle. Still, I love competing, but I'm becoming more selective with the events I attend and trying to focus on the big things for me like Rampage and shooting. Filming is hype because it offers me a more tangible and lasting feel, and I get to work towards exactly what I want to do.

RIP Kelly.

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MENTIONS: @reecewallace / @giantbicycles / @dissentlabs / @Chromagbikes / @kendatire / @IndustryNineOfficial

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