Shorty Gilyeat – Mountain Bike Freerider

Shorty Gilyeat likes to ride his bike…. a lot.  His enthusiasm shows on all levels, whether it is pushing those he is riding with to go a bit harder and a bit bigger to helping organise Australia’s upcoming freeride festival Xup. If he is not on his bike he will quite often be on the end of a shovel building up new jumps to hit.

Nationality: Australian Mate !!

Home jumps: Greenvalleys Freeride Park

Sponsors: NSbikesCo, EnemyOne, Rhythm Imports, Push Bike Factory

Favourite bike: My very first little blue 12”  BMX bike when I got when I was 3 and I owned till I was about 12 before my mum threw in the dump truck before I could fix it. My favourite bike these days though is definitely my NSbikes Majesty, set up with all NS parts its my choice of bike for sure.

Favourite spot: Greenvalleys Freeride Park because I have the freedom to do what i want there.

How did you first get involved with bikes?   My dad raced motorcycles, my older brother always rode motocross bikes and they have been my major influences in my life so riding two wheels has always been in the blood for me. After growing up racing go-karts at a high level I felt it just wasn’t enough so I ended up grabbing my old rusted up BMX bike. Luckily enough for me my good mates at that point in my life were the Scar brothers who were heavily into racing BMX so I just tagged along with them where they went. After their influence I’m pretty much at the level I’m at right now with MTB freeride, so yeah good times.

What’s your plans for the future?  My plans for the future are all bike related, I’d love to do well in the 2013 FMB tour and keep that going if its possible. At this moment I’m heavily involved with creating events here in Australia alongside a good mate of mine. Our intentions with these events are to not only progress the sport but to show off  all Aussie riders and get them international exposure. Many Aussies unfortunately can’t afford to do that for themselves, so for me my main focus now is to give any possibilities to my fellow Aussie riders the dream that I really wished I could live.

Who or what influences your riding? Ok, I have 3 people that have a major influence on me. Although we don’t see too much of him these days on a bike, my main influence will always have to be Carey Hart. For those that don’t know what Carey did, he pulled the first backflip in contest on a motocross bike. After I saw that I was convinced that the possibilities in whatever you’re into really are endless. Andreu Lacondeguy is another major influence, this guy has also shown the endless possibilities in progression by creating massive jumps in his backyard and has pulling some ridiculous stuff off on them. And last but never forgotten the late Dane Searls, Dane will always be a massive influence towards my riding, Dane was a big hitter who had a dream to just go big and then bigger and bigger again while pulling the usual insane tricks on those big jumps. I met Dane once and his personality was as awesome as his his riding, So when I grow up I want a piece of those 3 guys in my style.

Who or what motivates you to keep riding? The people around me definitely. I’m stoked because I’ve got a young up and coming rider as a good mate and who I always ride with, the crazy kid himself Jack Baker. I met this kid after he begged me to come ride his jumps because I was someone he looked up too, now every time we ride together I’m in awe and I truly do look up to him and his ability to ride a bike, so his progression is definitely my motivation.

Best Moment: My first bike related flight interstate, booking my flight at midnight knowing I had a family BBQ with my girlfriend the next day, and completely not telling her i was in a totally different state till just before my very first run at the demo I went to.

Worst Moment:  Having my foot explode out of the ankle socket and completely face the opposite way where the sole of my foot was facing my upwards  but to have no physical breaks nor ligament damage show in any x-ray or MRI scan till 5 weeks after it happened.

Tell me something quickly about Xup, Australia’s new freeride festival: Xup festival is going to be one hell of a sick time. We have created something for everyone, so even if your just turning up to watch bring your bike as there will definitely be something you can ride at our event. At the top end there’s big name riders already signed up and with our huge jumps, the level of riding will be insane……Check it out here www.xupfestival.com.au

Any last Words: Seriously, no matter what you choose to do in life, follow that dream and get it done. Life can be cruel at times but if you live it right you will be stoked on the memories that you can sit back and enjoy when your old