Unless you have been living in a cave for the past few years you know the name Kyle Strait. This California based rider has been ripping up the DH racing, 4x, and Slope Style for the past few years and you know he has put fear into his competitors when he hits the start gate. Not just because he could be on the front line of a football team, but because he is one tough competitor in all the fields he competes and is capable of taking home gold.

 23 degree's Manager Martin Whiteley some how slowed down Kyle to answer a few questions for the Drop Machine Crew:

Dm: We have watched you accumulate some impressive results over the years in both racing and free ride style Competitions. You seam to have focused more on the free ride style competitions. Explain your focus on the freeride comps.

Kyle: It's not really a deliberate decision to focus on one or the other. The media do that more than me. It just turns out that way sometimes because of the schedule and I can't be in two places at once. In 2007 I was committed to the 5 Qashqai Freeride events, and they clashed with a lot of racing events that I wanted to do. That won't be the case in 2008. I don't plan on doing a full series of any one discipline, I will pick and choose events that I like the most and that fit with my schedule.

DM: We had a discussion on the Dropmachine Forums about the size and complexity of the free ride courses that are being built these days, and the amount of serious injuries that FR stars have experienced. What are your feelings on the courses being built for comps?

Kyle: Well, in Europe it's different to North America because the course builders have a different style of making the courses. So when most of the US riders go overseas they're not used to that style and sometimes go down. I think it's always better to have courses that people can do a range of tricks on than just one that pushes people to go big and crash.

DM: What kind of FR competitions do you enjoy the most...... Redbull FR style competitions or Mountain "Park" style course's ?

Kyle: Red Bull comps are my favourite because as a company they're always really inventive and come up with some crazy stuff that always works. They really listen to the riders and have a great relationship with the media. Some of my best memories have come from Red Bull events and I'm always stoked when there's one of them coming up.

DM: When your just about to drop into a run at a FR comp, what do you think about ?

Kyle: Nothing much really, just what I need to do. I've usually got that all planned out so I just run through it my head a few times and then go.

DM: Give us your feelings on your performance, and the competitions you did this 2007 ?

Kyle: Sea Otter started things off really well for me, and I'm always pumped about riding there because that's really where my career took off...so to come back and get 2nd in the Big Air comp meant a lot, also becuase it's almost like a home event, my girlfriend was there and my family. Then I did the first round of Qashai and got another podium, but soon after that, I think there was some pretty dodgy judging and not all the events were as good as the others, so I didn't get the results I feel I was capable of in a series. Had a great time at the TEVA Mountain Games in Vail, got another 2nd place there in the Freeride event. Bit of bad luck in Colorado Crankworx, but still got 6th, but watch that event, it's going to grow for sure. After a disappointing Crankworx in Whistler (I also think the crowd was a bit disappointed because the course didn't really let the riders put on the best show), I was stoked to get another podium at the Bearclaw Invitational. Without doubt, the best freeride event for 2007 in my opinion. I then went to Maribor, had a return to DH and 4X racing at World Cup level, and realised I need to get back to doing more of that.

DM: Tell us about the bikes that you have ? 

Kyle: I have about three bikes that I really ride a lot. First, my DH bike is a DEMO 8, with FOX suspension 40 up front and the DHX in the rear, SRAM drive train, FUNN bars and stem, Sun Rims, Hayes Brakes, e.thirteen chainguide, Specialized tires and SDG seat and I-Beam post.. My Slopestyle bike is the Specialized SX with all the same parts but the fork is the FOX 32 Talas. Also I run the same fork on my P3 for dirt jumping.

DM: Is there anything that you are picky about on your bikes ?

Kyle:  The only thing I am really picky about is on my DH race bike. My brakes have to be set up perfectly.

Thanks To Kyle and Martin for making this happen. And if you still have no clue who Kyle is...... then you probably still have rim brakes on your DH bike.

Expert James