Interview: This is a great interview that Jon Faure did with 42 year old shredder Gary Forsyth from Glasgow, Scotland. Gary has been riding since 1983 which definitely makes him old school. But he is still throwing down. Check out some pics and all of Gary's words by clicking below...

Gary Forsyth – 42 y/o – Glasgow Scotland

Gary at the Nike Tunnel. I'm so jealous!OGWR: How may years have you been riding?

Gary: I've ridden every year since 1983 (even if only for a few weeks some years… lol!).

OGWR: Give us your history in the sport of BMX?

Gary: Started in '83 after finding a copy of BMX Action (May '83) on a desk at school. I had never seen BMX before and it was quite an intro! Started hanging out with some local kids havin' a go on their bikes 'til I got my own and never looked back. Within 2 years I'd entered my first freestyle competition. I got third place out of 70 riders, so I knew this was for me! I rode everything - flat, quarters, trick ramps, dirt jumps, but I reckon airs were my favorite thing. Toured the UK competitions in '86 as a Masterclass rider (semi pro) with sponsorship from Dale’s Cycles – Glasgow’s biggest bike store. Turned Pro late '86, then won Pro Flatland at the '87 Tizer World Championships. Won a lot of Pro comps in '87 & '88 then headed to California late that year. Hung out at Ron’s ramp in Leucadia for two months with Lee Reynolds, Kevin Martin, Rocky Hammacher, Dennis Langlais, Jason Hassell and a bunch of UK riders that came over (as well as loads of visiting US pros like Joe Johnson, Dave Voelker, Chris Potts and of course, Ron. - Before and after his crash). (OGWR: Ha! Funny, I grew up in Leucadia and had no idea this was going down! I was surfing at the time.) There was an infamous trip to Tijuana at this time and we all went down. I got quite merry and had to bribe a Mexican cop to escape a trip downtown! Hehe! For a more in depth description of this trip - ask Lee! We had an apartment not far from the coast that was christened “The British Embassy” which became The Embassy for the time we were there. At one point we had a Scotsman (me), two Englishmen (Andy Brown, Mike Canning or Jason Hassell at different times) and a Welshman (Karl Denton)! Blew my ACL on that trip and only got it properly fixed in 2007 so my riding took a hit over the years but I came back in the early '90's. Again riding a bit of everything and doing a spot of BMX film making (2 video releases). Nearly won the King of Concrete at Southsea in '94 - just missed out on the top spot but who remembers the guy that comes in second?! Since then I just rode by myself at Kelvingrove, my local skatepark, in the summer and did a lot of snowboarding in wintertime, which was a godsend. (Qualified as an Instructor!). In the last few years I've been involved in 'Old Fools' which is an old schooler’s road trip around various parts of southern UK twice a year - gets pretty rowdy - more drinkin' than ridin'! (But still hits a lot of great spots!). Next one is in a couple of months around Leeds.

OGWR: Who are your sponsors or favorite companies?

Gary: No current sponsors. (hint hint!). (OGWR: I think sponsoring old guys is a smart thing for companies to do. We are much better promoters than the young guys that ride so much better than us!) Past sponosors -  '86-'87 Dales Cycles, Glasgow, '88 Gotcha.

OGWR: What do you ride? – Give us a basic bike check.

Gary: I ride a UK Unknown Revolution - probably the only one left as they built them too light! Colony MVP forks (AD mounts), MacNeil cranks and hubs, Primo Aneyerlator stem, Sputnik 4-pce bars, 2 brakes, 4 pegs....same as always...and a seatpost!

OGWR: What type of riding do you enjoy most?

Gary: Fun flatland - I tend to like a lot of backward rolling tricks (front wheel or back wheel), big one foot g-turns, funky boomerangs and footplants, straight or backside, and general skatepark riding. No street or dirt these days.

OGWR: Favorite places to ride?

Gary: My local park, Kelvingrove. I guess by now, everyone knows me there and it's where I feel most comfortable. I prefer to ride outdoors in the sun, in an unregulated environment. What's hilarious about Kelvingrove is the fact I've been riding there longer than some of the new kids have been alive!  Nike Tunnel last year was fun. The new indoor park near me - East Kilbride (EKPark) has a lot of potential and a really good feeling about it. Would love to have my own ramp set up like I used to as I find it difficult to progress in public!

"Back in the Day" - Glasgow Evening Times 1999OGWR: How do you stay motivated and keep riding at your age?

Gary: Same as always - the feeling of pulling a trick clean. Can't beat it.

OGWR: How do you deal with the fear of getting hurt?

Gary: My body has learned to crash well over the past 27 years. I'm cautious these days. I've broken three scaphoids, one radius head and wrecked my right ACL, so I guess I'm used to it.

OGWR: What do you do to keep yourself progressing in your bike skills?

Gary: I'm not riding enough these days to really progress - each year I'm just trying to get all my usual tricks back! What I find I've done over the years is refine the stuff I've got rather than learn new moves.

OGWR: What do you do that’s positive for the sport of BMX?

Gary: If someone organizes an event – I show up! It's as simple as that. Supporting an event is the best and easiest way of putting something back. I guess I've always promoted the sport over the years and encouraged younger riders. These days, turning up at a park and pullin' off moves that the kids have never seen seems to excite them as well. So, I reckon the Old School guys have got something to contribute in many ways. You're never too old to ride, never too young to learn. (And vice versa!)

"Back in the Day" - Holeshot 1986OGWR: Anything else you would like to tell us?

Gary: Fashions come and go, but style will always be king. Still want to learn to flip. It's gotta happen one day! I've only waited 20 years..... Stay tuned!

Thanks Gary for your time! – Jon Faure