Catching up with defending Pro World Dirt Champion Kye Forte

Jul 07, 2009

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 3771 times

Are you stoked to have a "world championship" event back on the calendar?
Kye: It's cool that the worlds is still happening, it's been around for a long while now, would be a shame for it to disappear. I know the masters was pretty much the exact same thing, the worlds just sounds cooler I guess?

What are you expecting from the dirt set-up in Cologne?

Kye: Just to enjoy it, ride some good contest dirt jumps, which is rare? Stand in line for ever waiting to take a run. Not sure?

Have you ever really cared about being "world champion"for 4 years in a row because there were no world's in the past 4 years?
Kye: I guess it was cool, for some reason the majority of people love a tittle of any kind, kind of funny really. Sponsors defo love it, I thought the United ad was funny!

Did the title world champ help you out in any way in the last couple of years?
Kye: Not really sure? I didn't pick up any crazy sponsors or anything like that, going to the X games was cool! But really it's just another contest with a cool title at the end. Like I said , the average Joe loves a tittle?

How have dirt jumping contests changed since 2005?
Kye: I think they are still exactly the same really, apart from the odd exception,,ie... Empire, Elevation, Dirt contest format hasn't changed at all. The level of riding has raised considerably, but it's still the same old huck fest it's always been.

Some good riders have signed up for the IBMXFF world's this year, which riders do you think will make top 5?
Kye: I don't know, Bohan is obviously going to be up there, who ever has been doing good in the Dew tour probably? Perhaps a few Europeans may mix things up a bit?

Are you taking this comp any different than the other contests?
Kye: Not really, it's pretty hard to be competitive these days in dirt contests, Guys seriously train for contests only. I have been riding loads & plenty of dirt, but when you don't even ride trails for 8 months of the year in the UK, it's pretty silly to take it that seriously. As long as I ride as good as I know I can I will be happy, perhaps even surprise a few people? you never know,,,,,,ha

Are you out there to have a good time?
Kye: Yeah for sure, I find it hard to force myself to ride my best, specially in comps if I am not enjoying it. The worlds/Masters has always been fun in the past so I expect this to be the same! I mean it's not a day at the jumps, but being scared to death, doing tricks over massive jumps whilst being screamed at by hundreds of drunk Europeans is always fun right?????