Name & Nickname: Johnny Smoke
What you do for MTBco: El Presidente (Club President)
Disciplines ridden: All of them
Bike(s) you ride and why: Knolly Delerium T and Chromag Gypsy. I’m a firm supporter of local industry, and when those companies just happen to produce the best bikes in the world its and easy choice. The Knolly is my big squish rig (even though it’s only a 6″ bike it does anything). The Chromag is my XC bike, but it’s got the sick angles to handle any situation. It’s nice to be able to throw down the aggressive style after grinding to the top, and both bikes are fully capable up and down. I’ve also got a one of a kind Kona cruiser and a vintage lo-rider.
Favourite trail(s) and why: BC
Best MTB experience: Riding trails since 1981 is a good place to start.
Favourite hobby/sport/interest after MTB: Backcountry skiing
Favourite food: Sushi and beer
Name & Nickname: Nathan “Nato” KemilaWhat you do for MTBco: Postil Co-Executive, I am a member of the MTBco exec Postil area, and I run Sign Design in Kelowna. I have donated a bunch of decals and signage to the club and regularly maintain the Addiction trail at Postil.
Disciplines ridden: I have been mountain biking for about 20 years and competed in every discipline.
Bike(s) you ride and why: I ride a Banshee Wildcard which lets me hit all the big lines yet is way more fun on most of the trails out there than a full on DH sled. Thanks to Greg at Straitline Components, Jay at Banshee Bikes, Brad at Spectrum Techwear, Glen & Dave at Outbound Cycle, Sign Design, and all the shuttle drivers out there.
Favourite trail(s) and why: My favorite trail would be anything fast and flowy with lots of jumps and stunts, Addiction comes to mind.
Best MTB experience: My most memorable experience would be linking up the Gillard gaps. Yes, there were actually two! Followed closely by my Airprentice comps. I have been in Rise, Torque4, Drop In season 2+3, In Session, NSX9, Ride Guide, Decline Mag, and shot helmet cam for Roam.
Favourite hobby/sport/interest after MTB: Off bike I like to snow board when conditions are prime, I am a member of the Silver Star bike patrol, and a new DAD!
Favourite food: Ice cold brews after a ride
Name & Nickname: Ryan McKenna
What you do for MTBco: Gillard Director – overseer, builder, complaint taker
Disciplines ridden: DH Freeride
Bike(s) you ride and why: Specialized Demo7 – 888, Roco Air, DeeMax, Codes…. because it’s fast light and bombproof
Favourite trail(s) and why: Lick-Her-Sore because that’s where it all started for me. I can never get tired of it… it scares the crap out of me every time I ride it
Best MTB experience: In 2004 Freeride Entertainment contacted me looking for a trail to film for their next edition of New World Disorder. So I showed them around Gillard. The following year they contracted me to build some stunts exclusive to them. That made for a interesting season of trail building and gave me an opportunity to meet and ride with some legends of mountain biking
Favourite hobby/sport/interest after MTB: Custom Streetfighters (motorcycles), hockey
Name & Nickname: Stu “Hammer” Evans – Brett Tippie gave me the name when I hit the Rose Hill (Kamloops) drop on my XC Y-bike back in the day – that was a big bike back then!
What you do for MTBco: Large Director (Director at Large) Mainly help out as needed. Helped organise and promote the movie premieres.
Disciplines ridden: All Mountain / XC
Bike(s) you ride and why: Santa Cruz Nomad and a Giant XTC hard tail. My Nomad is my do anything bike, Fox 36, full Race Face & XT with Crossmax XL’s. Six & six is almost perfect for anything you can throw at it and it climbs well too. My XTC is really my commuter/winter trainer but it can be fun to go for a 5 hour hammer fest on. I also have a Zero Nine factory pilot BMX (very rare and very old school)
Favourite trail(s) and why: Vapour, Seven Summits (Rossland), Jake the Snake (Vancouver Island) I like super long epic rides so BC in general
Best MTB experience: All of them as long as the rubber side was down…..riding bikes !!
Favourite hobby/sport/interest after MTB: Cat boarding and boarding on good snow days and yes golf…..
Favourite food: Steak, French fries & beer
Name & Nickname: Brant LyonWhat you do for MTBco: Treasurer – I take care of the books
Disciplines ridden: You name it, I’ve done it! Everything from XC racing to hitting up the skatepark on my bmx. I raced DH for countless years from regional to international.
Bike(s) you ride and why: Commencal Superme DH, BMX & a Cruiser. I ride a Commencal Supreme DH because of its low center of gravity and the adjustable head angle and wheelbase. The bike corners like it’s on rails and can be tuned for any track with a couple tools.
Disciplines ridden: You name it, I’ve done it! Everything from XC racing to hitting up the skatepark on my bmx. I raced DH for countless years from regional to international.
Bike(s) you ride and why: Commencal Superme DH, BMX & a Cruiser. I ride a Commencal Supreme DH because of its low center of gravity and the adjustable head angle and wheelbase. The bike corners like it’s on rails and can be tuned for any track with a couple tools.
Favourite trail(s) and why: Builders Only – love the mix of natural and stunts. Kerplop/Rubberdown/Dirty Sanchez- Big lines up top, jumpy and fast down below.
Best MTB experience: Anytime I ride a flowy trail feel at one with my bike. All the worries in the world disappear for that moment.
Favourite hobby/sport/interest after MTB: Snowboarding, surfing & dirt biking
Favourite food: Sushi with Mexican being a close second
Best MTB experience: Anytime I ride a flowy trail feel at one with my bike. All the worries in the world disappear for that moment.
Favourite hobby/sport/interest after MTB: Snowboarding, surfing & dirt biking
Favourite food: Sushi with Mexican being a close second
More profiles to follow!!!
