Mike Gray Tag

15 Jan

Posted at 11:37h in archive by

Last Saturday January 9th, the first annual Joyride 150 X Northern Embassy Canadian Street Invitational was held.

The idea was simple, invite 10 amazing Canadian pros who live in the Ontario/Quebec area and watch them destroy the street room of Joyride 150. We although thought it could be awesome to host an Expert jam before the pros where each pro team would choose one expert.

The experts killed it and two were chosen: Cole Ramseyer and Austin Karker.

Team 1:
Mike Gray
Spencer Ryan
Justin Hughes
Dean Hartley
Gabe Truax

Team 2:
Dillon Lloyd (injured)
Brandon Webster
Greg Henry
Eli Taylor
Ryan Eles
Chijioke Okafo
Austin Karker

Both teams went off but team 1 would be named the champs. The overall vibe/atmosphere of the contest (if you even want to call it that) was amazing. Non competitive, just people stoked to be riding together and chilling together, which is the best. 2017’s will be bigger and better, start planning to come out to next years!

We can’t thank Joyride 150 enough for allowing this event to happen there. If not for Joyride’s expansion and creation of the street room years ago, many Ontario riders would suffer all winter having no real indoor spot to go to. Also thanks to Joyride for whipping up a new rail for the contest. Huge thanks to MC Prashant and Paul Hoerdt, filmers Chris Cadot, Joel Fortin and Mason Gray, all the riders who came out (especially Mike Gray/ Dilllon Lloyd for delaying their trips back to Cali for this event). Last but not least, a huge thanks to all of the sponsors: Haro, WTP, Vans, Eclat, Radio, The Boiler Room, Merritt, Fiend, Federal!

See you next year!!

10 Jan

Posted at 22:42h in archive by

IMG_2706
The first NE x Joyride 150 Canadian Street Invitational is in the books and it couldn’t have been better.

The experts killed it, Zack St Clair, Matt Stiehl, Stephane Sum, Mike Depetrillo, Spencer Longo, Jason Kearnan, Lee Giroux, to name a few. Cole Ramseyer got picked by Mike Gray’s team and won a sick Haro SD frame kit, Vans shoes and more. Austin Karker also killed it and got picked by Dillon Lloyd’s team winning the WTP Patron frame kit, Vans shoes and more WTP goods. Both also got the opportunity to ride with the pro teams.

Dillon Lloyd woke up Saturday morning with an unfortunate infection in his finger Saturday which didn’t allow him to ride but Greg Henry stepped into his spot and absolutely killed it, in greasy italian tank fashion. The pros groups were ridiculous, team 1 consisted of Mike Gray, Dean Hartley, Justin Hughes, Spencer Ryan, Gabe Truax and Cole Ramseyer and team 2 consisted of Brandon Webster, Ryan Eles, Eli Taylor, Chijioke Okafo, Greg Henry and Austin Karker, with Dillon coaching. Team 1 (Mike’s team) took the win but both teams absolutely killed it. A few insane NBDs were done, crazy lines, a ton of variety, a tone of rad stuff.

A huge thanks goes out to Joyride 150 for allowing this event to happen in their amazing street room (and even for welding together a sick new rail for the event). I think we speak for alot of Ontario street riders when we say that winters would be completely brutal without Joyride 150’s awesome street room. Not to mention there’s something special about never having to worry about skateboarders or scooters in the way. Thanks for every guys!!

A huge thanks goes to the riders for making it out to this, our judges (Chris Silva, Jeff Evans and Justin Skinner), filmers Chris Cadot, Joel Fortin and Mason Gray, announcers Prashant Gopal and Paul Hoerdt for holding it down on the mics, all the experts who rode, everyone who came out to check it out and of course our sponsors who truly allowed this event to happen: WethePeople, Haro, Vans, Eclat, Radio, Merritt, Federal, Fiend  and the Boiler Room.

Check back in the coming weeks for the offical edit of the madness!

07 Jan

Posted at 12:01h in archive by

With 2015 having just ended and people reflecting on a ton of amazing edits of 2015, Mike Gray’s Demolition edit is up there with some of the best. Dropping somewhat under the radar right around NORA cup, there’s no denying Mike went in heavy for this part and Doeby filmed/ edited it beautifully. There’s no dust in this edit.

21 Dec

Posted at 19:05h in archive by

canadian invitational_final

We are extremely excited to announce the first, of hopefully many, annual Canadian Street Invitational at Joyride 150, January 9th, 2016.

With so many awesome international BMX events, it’s no secret that Canada has been lacking a unique/ special BMX event for some time now. With Canadian riding at an all time high, it only made sense to organize an event with the mindset of showcasing the incredible talent Canada is fortunate to have. Where else than the incredible Joyride 150 bike park street room.

The Canadian Street Invitational is simple, 10 Canadian pros are invited/confirmed:
-Dillon Lloyd (Team Captain)
-Mike Gray (Team Captain)
-Ryan Eles
-Brandon Webster
-Eli Taylor
-Justin Hughes
-Gabe Truax
-Dean Hartley
-Spencer Ryan
-Chijioke Okafo

These pros will be randomly divided into two groups, with the team captains of these two groups being Dillon Lloyd and Mike Gray. These two pro groups will each have 30 minutes each to session the street room of Joyride 150. After both groups the judges will tally their votes and decide which group has won the Cup and the Cash.

Before the Pro groups, there will be a one hour Expert jam/session where experts can session the street room without the pressure of heats/runs. The two pro groups will be watching the experts and each pro group will select one expert each to win a WTP and Haro prize pack, and also to ride in the pro groups immediately following the experts.

The schedule is as follows:
7pm Practice
8pm Expert Jam
9pm Pro groups

We can’t thank Joyride 150 enough for allowing this idea to come to life. We also have to send a huge thanks to WethePeople, Haro, Vans, Eclat, Radio, Merritt, Federal and Fiend for helping make this happen with their generosity in prizing and cash prizes.

This is sure to be an awesome time, with so many incredible riders within the 10 invited pros and the sure to be a ton of amazing experts, we’re excited to show the world that Canada is doing things right! Of course we will be filming the event and we will have a recap feature on here if you can’t make it out.

 

24 Sep

Posted at 12:32h in archive by

This ridiculous Mike Gray edit premiered at NORA cup last week and caused alot of cheering, with good reason. Rather than drop a bunch of edits, Mike has been stacking for over a year now to create this beaut of an edit. Making Canada proud, filmed/edited by Doeby Huynh.

10 Jan

Posted at 10:22h in archive by
Mike Gray Joyride chillin'. Photo by Joel Fortin

Mike Gray Joyride chillin’. Photo by Joel Fortin

The first time I met Mike was at a tiny park in Elmvale Ontario. He rolled in, cruised around for a little bit and then did a huge 180 and snapped his head tube clean off. It looked pretty damn bad, but he didn’t seem too phased and instantly stood up and laughed it off. It was crazy. Since then Mike has made many moves, including getting picked up by various sponsors and making his way down to good ol’ California. For anyone who isn’t familiar with the dude, Mike is one of the best riders to have come out of Canada in the last few years, he’s made a name for himself by constantly producing ridiculous web videos, killing it at various contest, and just being a G. While he was back in the Toronto area for the holidays, I decided to hit him up to see what he’d been up to lately.

What’s good Mike, thanks for doing this interview! How you been?
Hey Joel, been good. Not totally healthy, I’ve had a pretty bad ankle injury for a couple months that is healing up well. Besides that I’ve been in good spirits and staying happy off my bike.

So first off how old are you, where are you from and where are you currently living?
22 from Newmarket, Ontario currently living in San Diego CA.

Mike Gray Toothpick. Photo by Joel Fortin

Mike Gray Toothpick. Photo by Joel Fortin

What first got you into bmx?
Riding the warehouse. A small indoor skatepark in Toronto. It was where all the local pros rode and it taught me that bike riding is all about having a good time with your friends.

You definitely have a unique style in the sense that you ride bigger setups than most people, what influenced you to start riding the way you do?
Thanks dude. I grew up riding with amazing people and I feel like we all influenced each other to go bigger. Sometimes I feel like a big drop is less gnarly than a flat rail … I guess it just depends what your used to and comfortable doing. I am stoked on anything dope.

Who did you look up to when you started riding? And who do you look up to now?
I looked up to Darren Berrecloth when I was a kid. Brandon Semenuk, Ryan Guettler, Colin Mackay, and of course everyone in Dave mirra freestyle BMX. The majority of my time on a BMX I have been looking up to Garret, Dennis, Chad, Simone, and pretty much everyone.

What is a typical day in the life in Cali for you?
If I’m healthy, it probably starts with a park session at one of the many local parks in the SD area, and throughout the day probably find me hangin’ and filming with the homies. Maybe go surf and play some ping pong and eat some delicious sandwiches.

Who do you ride with out there?
My roommate yuungfern, Dennis, Christian, Connor, Chris Martinez, Josh Rosengreen, Glen, Blake Peters, Doeby, Joey, Demarcus and all the locals! Theirs a lot of dope crews all over the city.

Mike Gray. Photo by Joel Fortin

Mike Gray. Photo by Joel Fortin

Where did you travel to this year and what destination was your favorite?
Favorite place was Malaysia for sure. Going on a journey to the other side of the world with a few friends/riders that I look up to so much, everything about the trip was ideal and surreal.

What are you into outside of bmx?
Family, Girls, Good food, music, surfing, hanging with friends, having a good time.

Well I think that’s it! Any shout outs?
Thanks for this opportunity Joel, you’ve been killing it lately.
Shout out to everyone that supports me: Joe, John, Colin and everyone at Haro Bikes, Brian and Joey at Demolition Parts, Jerry Badders at Vans. Cam and Howie at Sensus, My Parents and all my friends.

Follow @mikegraybmx on instagram

05 Jul

Posted at 09:38h in archive by

Mike Gray’s banging welcome to Haro edit.

“Mike Gray moved from Toronto, Canada to start a new life in San Diego, USA. At the start of 2014 Mike joined the Haro team and we helped him get an immigration visa to become a permanent resident. Mike immediately began filming with Christian Rigal for his first Haro part with the MARKIT homies and this is what they came up with. Mike is on the rise fast in the BMX scene and with a good attitude and positive outlook on life, Mike will be around for a while and we are so happy to have him on board.”