KURTIS DOWNS

TLW: Having spent time with everyone from BMXers, to Nitro Circus athletes and now mountain bikers, what would you say is the biggest difference in the MTB culture? It could be anything from vocabulary, style, music or whatever first stood out to you!

KD: To me it seems like most all action sports have the same exact types of people. We are all similar groups that feed off of each other. I would say the biggest difference is that mountain bikers are willing to go through a lot more travel to find places to ride and to link up with friends and catch a session.

TLW: What has been your favorite place to ride, any type of bike?

KD: That’s a hard one! After riding Dark Fest this year in South Africa That might just be my favorite place I have ever rode with 2 wheels.

TLW: What does your dream trail consist of?

KD: My dream trail would be a huge jump line, with big hits and high speed corners. It would also have some drops and step ups. I would love it if there was a moto line right next to it, so I could do side by side runs with the moto boys.

TLW: If you could only ride one type of bike ever again, what would it be?

KD: That’s a really hard question! I would say an Enduro Bike. Something that’s capable of all types of riding.

TLW: How long after making the move to mountain bike was it before you started getting interest from brands? How did that happen and what did it look like?

KD: Moving into MTB was an interesting jump for me. I started out just for fun, and I never really had a set plan for where I wanted it to go. In 2018, I was linked up with an e-bike company to be an ambassador. They were using me to cross-promote their brand, but I quickly realized that I was hooked on mountain biking and wanted to pursue it more seriously. The following year, in 2019, I reached out to Fezzari bikes, a local company. I had a plan and goals for myself, and I presented them with my ideas. They were impressed with my passion and drive, and they agreed to sponsor me. I started competing in freeride events, and I slowly but surely started to build a reputation for myself. In 2021, SR Suntour picked me up as a sponsor. They opened my eyes to a whole new level of events and skills, and they helped me to get my name out there. Both Fezzari and SR Suntour have been instrumental in my mountain biking career, and I’m grateful for their support. This year, I’ve started to get interest from other brands. I’m still a work in progress, but I’m excited to see where my mountain biking journey takes me.

TLW: What’s it been like working with brands like SR Suntour and Fezzari who are considered by many to be underdogs but making very awesome products in the MTB space?

KD: I’ve been having an absolutely amazing time working with Fezzari and SR Suntour. They’re both underdog companies that are working hard to push the sport of mountain biking to the next level. It’s really special to be involved with a company that gives you a voice and believes in you as an individual. We have great communication and are always working together to make everything the best it can be. This experience has completely changed me as a rider.

TLW: Did it take you long to get your suspension and mountain bike setup dialed or did you just hop on the bike and acclimate yourself to it?

KD: When I first started mountain biking, I just knew that I liked my suspension to be stiff, so I would max out the PSI and ride it that way. Over the years, I’ve learned that suspension tuning has a huge impact on your riding. It’s been a fun learning experience, and I love that I’m constantly gaining more knowledge about bike setup. I’ve come a long way, but I still have much to learn.

TLW: During that setup process did you ever tap into the technically savvy folks at SR Suntour to help with dialing in your suspension, customizing the tune for your style of riding or other bits of info?

KD: I definitely had to work at getting better at being technically savvy over the years. I have learned a lot about giving feedback and coming up with something that works for my style of riding. They have always been so great to teach me about it and show me the process to dial it in. We have worked on a custom tune that works for me and it’s an awesome feeling getting to understand what goes into it and see what options are out there while coming up with a product that helps me feel comfortable when riding.

TLW: What has been the biggest shock to you about mountain bikes and mountain bike components from a performance, durability, or price perspective compared to BMX?

KD: It’s been eye opening to see how complicated mountain bikes are. Once you build up a bmx it’s solid and you usually have very little bike maintenance throughout the life of the bike. MTB does not work like that! The biggest shock to me would be all the differences in parts. You can interchange some parts but every company has one off things that work with their brand only. That’s super frustrating.  As far as the price point. It’s for sure a massive jump from bmx. There are so many moving parts on a mtb and they all have to be perfect to make the bike feel comfortable.

TLW: Do you have any big plans coming up?

KD: As the year comes to an end, I have a few more events on my schedule. I’m excited to compete in Proving Grounds soon, and then I’ll be heading out on the Nitro Circus North American tour. After that, I’ll take a short break before starting training for the upcoming year.

TLW: Will you be at any events where riders can come meet you and see you shred in person?

KD: In October, I’ll be joining back up with Nitro Circus for a month-long tour throughout North America. Dates are online and we would love to see you all out there!

TLW: If you could leave our readers with one bit of advice on life, riding or anything else fun and personal, what would it be?

KD: Always push yourself to be the best person you can be. Surround yourself with good people that help you to be a better person and that always support your dreams and life path. Never become stagnant in life. It’s too short. Don’t be afraid to scare yourself. You never know what you’re capable of unless you try. Even if you fail you always get back up and learn from your mistakes. Last but not least, be positive and always visualize where you want to be in the future. Good vibes only.

Rock on dude!