Behind The Loops Part I

Kamloops needs no introduction to mountain bikers. Often claimed as the birth place of freeride mountain biking, Kamloops has always been a world famous destination for mountain bikers of all styles. Most of what you see from Kamloops consists of stunning Matt Hunter video segments, mind-blowing images of Graham Agassiz or the old school styling of Brett Tippie, Wade Simmons and Richie Schley. With almost every big name film crew and photographer sinking their teeth into the Kamloops action it appears as though there is little left untouched. Most people don’t realize that hiding below the radar of the magazine covers and the superstars there is a group of riders who often go unnoticed. A group of riders who play important roles in keeping the Kamloops scene fresh and exciting. This series of interviews will give you a quick look at each of these riders, the key roles they play and what keeps them riding in The Loops.

Ian Killick Interview
He’s tall and he’s seriously jacked. You won’t hear him say much but he has an eager look in his eye and his riding does all the talking. He jumps higher and further than most and chucks tricks like barspins and tailwhips on a 7 inch travel bike. Ian killick isn’t messing around. He is a funny guy with with some serious skill and he’s on a mission. We have watched him grow up over the years and if the progress we’ve seen so far is any indication of thing to come, we would advise you to watch out.

  Ian 3ing a massively big jump on a massively big bike. Photo ~ John Gibson

Who are you and where do you come from?

Ian Killick: I’m Ian, and I’ve lived in Kamloops my whole life.

How long have you been mountain biking for and what got you into it in the first place?

Ian: I got my first mountain bike when I was 12 or so, and I kind of just started off riding sketchy little jumps with all the kids in my neighborhood like everyone else. Then a couple years later I discovered a really fun trail near my house that I’d hike and ride pretty much every day. I guess that was the start of mountain biking for me.

What kind of goals do you have in the sport?

Ian: My main goal is to be able to ride bikes my whole life and make a career out of it.

What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment so far?

Ian: Riding just about every day and still having fun doing it… does that count?
(Ya Dude!)

Who do you look up to as a rider? Why?

Ian: Darren Berrecloth is definitely someone I’ve looked up to for a while. He always seems to ride the craziest stuff out and just looks super aggressive on a bike. The shot from Disorder 4 where he 450s a drop in Kamloops and rides it out blew my mind at the time, and is still one of my favorite shots from any bike movie.

  Good thing Ian spends so much time in the gym so crashes like this don’t phase him. Photo ~ Allan McVicar

We always see you riding on a bigger travel bike, is there any reason for that?

Ian: I just feel more comfortable on a big bike. They’re a lot more forgiving than hardtails. And if you miss the pedals or the landing on a full suspension, you probably won’t die. Also, bikes (especially Giants) are getting so light these days that you can get away with jumping a 7 inch bike.

Describe yourself in three words.

Ian: Jacked and tanned… hahaha

What do you think come to peoples minds when they hear the name Ian Killick?

Ian: Probably nothing… I don’t think anyone really knows who I am.

  Ever seen someone this dumped on a 7inch bike before? Photo ~ John Gibson

What kind of stuff do you like to do when you are not on your bike?

Ian: I like working out a lot. I do a lot of scouting for new places to dig too, and just wandering around outside.

What have you got up your sleeve for the 2011 season?

Ian: I’ll be riding in a couple competitions and representing a few new companies. Other than that, I’m just going to ride lots and see what happens!

Has anyone ever given you any wise advice that helped you out?

Ian: When I was little my dad told me to never eat anything bigger than my head. And I never have.


If you were a song, which song would you be?

Ian: I’d probably be the song “Let’s Ride” by The Game, just because of the name. And It’s an alright song too.


If you had the power to change one thing about the bike industry, what would you change and why?

Ian: If I could change one thing about the mountain bike industry, I would just get more people into downhill/freeriding. I think riding downhill bikes can be fun for anyone. You don’t have to be a crazy adrenaline junky to have fun riding trails. Plus if more people ride, there will be more legal trails and bike parks and the sport will just keep growing.

  His laces match his Tshirt, both his fashion and trickery are extremely coordinated. Photo ~ John Gibson

What is your greatest fear?

Ian: Spiders. I don’t know it is about them, they just freak me out.


When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Ian: For the longest time I wanted to be a geologist. I collected rocks and minerals and read up on them all the time. I still have like 4 shoeboxes full of them. Then when I was 13 or so, I thought it would be cool to ride mountain bikes professionally.

Thanks for the interview! Anything left you want to say?

Ian: I want to thank everyone at Bicycle Café for all the help over the years, as well as Giant, Raceface, Oakley, and Dakine for additional support.

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This is the first in a series. Keep an eye out for more and in the meantime – tell us what’s going on upstairs here…