Behind the Loops Part II

Brad Stuart is a gnarly dude. I first met him back in 2006 and I knew right away that he was a wild-man. He talked faster than I could process and his speech consisted mostly of words like, ‘sick,’ ‘gnarly’ and ‘rad’. While he spoke in rapid fire words his eyes rocked from side to side and his arms shot in every direction. All of this taken in at once gave me the strongest first impression I have ever received, one that I could only describe as hungry for danger.

  Brad is an artist, how do you like his work?

My first impression of Brad was accurate. He is still loud and crazy, and seeing how large the jumps in his yard have grown to be I would say he is still hungry for danger. Over the years Brad seems to have harnessed all of his crazy energy and learned how to focus it into organizing and constructing amazing places to ride mountain bikes. He has sculpted massive hits featured in multiple films and has always been one of the driving forces behind the progressive riding Kamloops has become famous for. With all that hard work and such a respected reputation, Brad has found a new job with the Kamloops Bike Ranch and I couldn’t be more stoked for him to take over the building and maintenance at the bike park!

  Local rockstar Graham Agassiz trains at Brad’s house before contests. It shows!

Who are you and where do you come from?

Brad: My name is Brad. I was born in Edmonton, raised in Kamloops.

When did you first get into riding? Do you remember who got you started?

Brad: 1998, it was Tyler Degesio.

  Geoff Gulevich riding Brad’s jumps for Anthill’s Follow Me.

When did you first start building your own stunts and trails?

Brad: In 1994 when I was out snowboarding, then about six months after I started riding a bike.

How did you end up getting involved with building for movies like NWD and more recently with the Anthill crew?

Brad: I always built it just to ride it. Then I met Matt Brooks and Jared Gatzka who liked riding everything I built. They asked if they could film any of it for their video parts. Of course I said yes and then they introduced me to Alex Fostvedt (film maker), Paul Bass, Geoff Gulevich and Kurt Voreis. Later on that year I met my good buddy, Kurt Sorge. Years later Kurt told me my yard needed to be filmed and introduced me to Darcy and Jonathan of Anthill. I want to have an invitational in my yard this year!

  The unparalleled craftsmanship of Brad Stuart

A lot of the stuff you build is massive. Do you ever find it hard to gauge dimensions or has it been a slow progression over time?

Brad: Coming from snowboarding I actually thought everything was small in comparison. Kamloops terrain is so perfect with long steep transitions everywhere. I couldn’t resist building huge stuff when I first noticed that. I could picture everything the second I saw it.

  Gully and Sorge shredding Brad’s yard in Follow Me.

What’s your favorite place to ride? If you could travel and ride one place that you have never been, where would you go and who would you bring?

Brad: Anywhere that has good flow, I’m not that fussy but I love the Kamloops area, Sun Peaks, and Dirt Merchant to A-line. As long as the boys are there shredding its all good and I’m where I want to be.

  People are surprised to discover Brad rides everything he builds.

Do you ever find it challenging splitting up your time between riding and building?

Brad: Not really. If there is nobody to ride with that day I will build (too many projects to finish). I have had a lot of free time.

If you could build the course of your dreams, what would it look like?

Brad: I don’t really know cuz I build to the flow of the place I’m at. It would be big, not long, but big. When I say big I don’t mean far, 40ft is fun but tall 12-20 foot take offs.

What keeps you motivated to put so much work into building stunts and trails?

Brad: It needs to be done!

  Nobody else puts Brad’s attention to detail into jumps.

Do you have any big plans for new projects, lines or trails in 2011?

Brad: I just plan to keep plugging away on the projects I’ve got going. Now with the bike park job I’ve started looking at couple of new ones in there.

If you could be any Rock star living or dead who would it be and why?

Brad: None, I’m a hermit. Let’s just ride bikes.

  Brad expresses his style in both his building and riding.

I heard that one of the lines behind your house is called “The Slayer Line.” But it got built bigger and gnarlier. Is there a gnarlier band you are going to change the line’s name to now?

Brad: No it used to be “The Slayer Line,” now it’s just got “The Slayer Jump” in it. When you see it, you won’t need to ask which jump it is.

What is your shot to kill ratio with your gun?

Brad: 50ft or less with buckshot, you’re dead. Rapid fire with slugs I get about 3 1/2 out of 5 but when I do connect, you’re really dead.

  Brad demonstrating how to ride his jumps.

If someone were to call you a redneck, would that offend you?

Brad: No, but I know some real rednecks. I definitely have some in my blood.

  Darren McCullough, Jonathan Schramm and Brad having a meeting at the Anthill Office water cooler.

What’s your favourite flavor of ice cream?

Brad: Lately I have been on a banana milkshake kick.

Thanks Brad! Anything else you want to add?

Brad: This year is going to be a good year of riding. Everyone must shred! Even Shredhard.

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Who is Shredhard? How does Brad find time to manicure his jumps? Where does he find the cajones to build such big moves? Tell it here…