Greg Illingworth
FAST FACTS
Name: Greg Illingworth
Age: 22
Home: Johannesburg, South Africa
Single/In a relationship/Married: Relationship
Rider Schedule| How did you find BMX? |
| How old were you? I had bikes from the time I could walk, and the natural progression of the kids in my neighborhood seemed to be racing them or jumping them… whenever the chance was there. My brother (Brad) and I would build jumps in the open field across from our house and just jump with our friends all day. Then my brother discovered racing and soon after he started I joined him. At about age 13 I quit soccer and BMX racing and focused on riding trails, street and parks. |
| What do you love most about BMX? |
| Definitely the lifestyle and the travelling. I’ve met so many amazing people and seen so many amazing places just through riding my bike. |
| I What do you like least about BMX? |
| Injuries for sure. |
| Best place BMX has taken you? |
| Germany, I love that country so much. |
| Worst place BMX has taken you? |
| Any Hospital that I’ve been to. |
| What do you miss most when you are traveling? |
| My brother, my girlfriend, South African food |
| If you could only ride at one place forever, where would it be? |
| Any set of amazing trails. I love street and park but if I had to choose one place it would definitely be a good set of trails. |
| What riders have influenced you the most? |
| Mike Aitken, Ruben Alcantara, Joe Rich, my brother |
| What are your interests outside of riding? |
| Filming, editing, poker, blackjack, VW cars, and collecting my favorite DVD’s |
| Who were your heroes as a kid? |
| Brian Yeagle, Chris Doyle, Todd Walkowiak, pretty much the rest of the riders from the video ‘Who brought the Dicks’. And Van Homan. |
| Who are your heroes now? |
| Mike Aitken, Ruben Alcantara, Joe Rich |
| If you could ride with anyone who would it be? |
| Francois April and Nigel Morta, from Cape Town |
| If you were stuck on a desert island what three things would you bring with you?? |
| My Bike, a shovel and a huge box of matches. |
| If you weren’t a BMX pro, what other profession would you be involved in? |
| Probably playing soccer professionally or I’d work full time as a videographer |
| What is your favorite music/band/artist? |
| I love Rock ‘n Roll, Led Zeppelin is up there. |
| What is your favorite color? |
| Red |
| What is your favorite food? |
| Mom’s cooking |
| What is the last thing you spend more than $100 on? |
| A haircut |
| When was the last time you were seriously scared? |
| Yesterday, riding the big line at Jon Robinson’s trails in Epsom, England |
| What was your first bike set up and how has it changed? |
| My first proper BMX was a GT Dyno VFR… my bike now is different in everyway. |
| Describe your perfect day. |
| Wake up around 10am, spend some QT with my lady making a good breakfast. Then go ride with some friends, after that its back to my place for a BBQ with friends music and beer. |
| What are you most looking forward to in 2009? |
| I’m planning to head over to Australia in January and February… that should be amazing. |
| What is one thing that people might not know about you? |
| When I was 3 years old I fell in a pool while riding a plastic motorbike. I had no pulse when I was fished out by a builder… my oldest brother (Ryan) gave me CPR while my cousin called for help. I coughed up water and spent the next 2 days in a coma. |
| What was your most embarrassing moment? |
| Pissing my pants in 2nd grade in front of my whole class… the teacher wouldn’t let me go to the bathroom and I had a weak bladder back then. |
| If you won $500 million dollars today – what would you do with it? |
| By a farm, build a huge house for all my friends to come live with me and build the best trails and skatepark around. |
| One place you have to see before you die. |
| Brazil |
| Best advice you’ve ever been given. |
| I told Mike Aitken once that it was my dream to ride full time and travel around the world with my bike and he simply replied “Make it happen”. |
| What’s one thing you could change about your life if you could? |
| I love my life, anything that I want to change is more than likely in transformation as we speak. |
| If you could back into time and do one thing over – what would it be? |
| I would’ve ran out of that 2nd grade class and gone to the bathroom with no permission, ha ha. I don’t really like to regret and I think your experiences mould you so I’m content with my past. |
| If you could spend an afternoon with anyone – past, present or future – who would it be? |
| My Dad |
| Peanut or Regular M&M’s? |
| Regular |
| Favorite Movie? |
| Pulp Fiction |
| What’s one thing you always take with you when you travel? |
| My bike, my iPod |
| Any advice for the young ‘uns coming into BMX? |
| Forget about trying to be pro or get sponsored, just have fun riding your bike… it’s the greatest thing in the world to just have a good session with your friends. That’s what counts in BMX, not who you ride for or what trick you can do. |
| What was the worst car you ever owned? |
| Ford Escort, I loved that car so much though… good times |
| If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be and why? |
| Kate Hudson, she’s gorgeous and looks like a lot of fun. |
