India? That seems like an
obscure place to ride your bike.
Yeah it was a hell of a culture
shock. We flew over there for
a two-week Mercedes-Benz
shoot for their social media
channels. We drove to the top of
the highest drivable pass in the
world at 18,500 feet and made a
film racing the Mercedes down
the mountain. It’s pretty much
the highest shuttle run you can
possibly do anywhere in the
world! We took shortcuts and
raced the car down the road and
ended up skidding across the
finish line in town.
“ I’ve lived
through 16
consecutive
summers ”
So who won: you or the Merc?
It was a draw!
Of course it was. Did you get
Delhi Belly while you were
there?
Being cramped on planes and
always living out of a suitcase.
You have to ask so many favours
of people when you’re away and
without a big network of friends
it wouldn’t be possible. It’s also
really tough being away from
home and my girl for half a year
at a time. Some of the riders
complain about being away for
three weeks, but they’ve got it
easy in comparison.
And there’s no place like home,
right?
Without a doubt. I went riding at
Dreamline tonight and I thought
‘this is the best place to ride
anywhere in the world’. Obviously
I’m biased, but riding-wise,
Queenstown is amazing with
everything on your doorstep,
and it’s all world-class stuff. Like
having the Gorge Road jumps just
down the road? Hoooollyyy – not
many people in the world have
access to a public park like that.
Non-riding, it’s amazing too. You
can drive to the coast in a van,
go camping, have a surf, light a
fire on the beach and no-one is
breathing down your neck about
it.
bit to do with the promotion of it,
as well as competing. It’s choice
that all my mates around the
world can come and check out
where I live and our riding scene.
I’ve been wording the boys up
to come and check out what we
have to ride in Queenstown. No
doubt I’ll have 100 dudes trying
to stay on my couch, but that’s
standard issue.
Hah, that’s all part of living
the dream! Well thanks heaps
for the chat, McGazza. It was
awesome to catch up.
Yeah bro, any time. Oh, I’d also
like to thank all my friends, family
and my girl for their support over
the years and for putting up with
the crap, getting me around and
helping me do what I do. And big
props to all of my sponsors too –
you rock! T
/kellymcgarrymtb
@kellymcgazza
@kellymcgazza
In 2015 Rotorua will be hosting
a Crankworx festival. Have you
got much to do with that?
Yeah Crankworx is going to be
awesome. I’m going to design
and build the course and have a
p. Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
Nah I went super prepared with
diarrhea pills, hand sanitiser and
that kinda thing and I didn’t get
sick. I avoided the meat though:
I saw a couple of butchers and it
looked feral with not a fridge to
be seen. I thought ‘mate, I’ll give
the steaks a miss for a couple of
weeks and stick to me veggies’.
Travelling is a big part of your
life at the moment. What’s the
worst thing about it?
98 | FreestyleXtreme.com