Rider Spotlight: William Curry

Rider Spotlight: William Curry

Posted by Emily Slaco on

Will Curry is the type of person you want in your local community.  From building jumps and bringing the hype every session, to helping inspire the next generation of riders, we are proud to have him onboard the Chromag Team!

Chromag: How did you first get into biking and freeriding growing up?

Will:  I actually got into mountain biking just after COVID. Before that, I was really into baseball and rugby, and I honestly had never touched a mountain bike until I was 14. I started watching mountain bike videos on YouTube and thought, this looks like the most fun thing ever. Not long after, a friend gave me an old 2008 GT Outpost, and that's where everything started.

Growing up in Ontario, there wasn't much access to big freeride terrain, so we got creative. We'd ride creek ravines, build little dirt jumps, and spend every spare minute outside on our bikes. It quickly became more than just riding, it was about building features, getting friends together, and creating places to have fun.

After about a year, I started building a backyard bike park, and it slowly turned into something pretty wild. Over the next couple of years we built a pump track with more than 50 rollers that wrapped around the house, a 14-foot roll-in leading into two wooden-lip jumps, a shark fin off the roof of an old abandoned building, a drop off the back deck, and eventually even a boner log. It became our own little playground and a place where everyone wanted to ride.

Looking back, that's really where my love for freeriding came from. It wasn't just about riding bikes, it was about building, creating, progressing, and bringing people together. Ever since then, mountain biking has been a part of my life every single day, and I honestly couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Chromag: What’s your history with Chromag, and how did your partnership with the brand first start?

Will:  I first heard about Chromag when I started watching videos from riders like Brandon Semenuk and Graham Agassiz, and it seemed like all the coolest riders were on Chromag. It quickly became one of those brands that I looked up to. Within the first six months of riding remember thinking, that's the brand I'd love to ride for one day.

Back then, even having a Chromag sticker or a single component felt like a big deal. As a kid, you dream about riding the gear your heroes use, and Chromag was always at the top of that list. Over the years, though, it became more than just the image. The more I learned about the brand, the more I appreciated its focus on quality, durability, and staying true to mountain biking.

One funny part of the story is my old Chromag saddle. I rode that thing for years, and it became a bit of a running joke because it was completely worn out. People constantly told me to replace it, but I always said, "It's brand new" or "The only way I'm switching this saddle is if Chromag sponsors me." as a joke! James even reached out at one point and offered to send me a new one, but I joked that unless it was the exact same beat-up model, I didn't want it. It became a conversation starter everywhere I went, and I think a lot of people ended up asking about Chromag because of that old saddle.

Eventually, I sent Chromag an email, and thankfully the team took the time to hear my story. Chromag supported me with parts that helped build my bike and take my riding to the next level. This year, I'm lucky enough to be riding one of the coolest bikes I've ever owned. Looking back, it's pretty surreal that a brand I admired from the very beginning is now one that I get to represent. I'm incredibly grateful to be part of the Chromag family, and I'm excited for what's ahead.

Chromag: Tell us about your Throwdown. How are you enjoying the new bike so far?

Will: What is there to say about the Chromag Throwdown other than it’s absolutely awesome? It’s a bike that just wants to be ridden hard. It’s fast, it’s playful, it jumps incredibly well, and it feels like it can handle anything I want to throw at it.

For someone who loves descending and freeriding, it’s pretty much the dream bike. It feels incredibly planted when you’re pushing speed, but it still has that playful feeling that makes you want to hit jumps, get creative, and try new things. The confidence it gives me is probably the biggest thing I notice, it makes me want to ride harder and explore what’s possible.

I’m super grateful to be riding the Throwdown, and I’m excited to see what I can accomplish with it. I feel like this bike is going to be a big part of the next chapter of my riding, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

Chromag:  What Chromag components are you running on your bike, and what made you choose them?

Will:  I’m running the BZA stem with Chromag carbon bars as my cockpit setup, and it’s one of my favourite parts of the bike. The BZA stem looks incredible with the polished silver finish, but beyond the aesthetics, it’s incredibly strong and reliable. I know I can trust it no matter what I’m riding, whether that’s racing, freeriding, or pushing myself on bigger tricks.

I chose the Chromag carbon bars because I really love the feel of carbon. The small amount of flex and vibration damping makes the bike feel smoother and more comfortable, while still staying responsive and precise when I’m riding aggressively.

The Dagga pedals are easily one of my favourite components on the bike. They are some of the grippiest pedals I’ve ever ridden, and that extra confidence is huge when riding steep lines, technical terrain, or trying new tricks.

The Overture saddle is another standout. The shape, side grip, and overall design make it feel like it was built for aggressive riding. Knowing it was developed with input from some of the best riders in the world really shows. The saddle keeps me locked in and comfortable when I’m moving around on the bike.

I also run Wax grips, which I love because of the longer platform. When I’m doing tricks, taking my hands off the bars, or landing slightly out of position, having that extra space gives me more room to grab back on and save the ride. Every Chromag component on my bike has a purpose, and together they create a setup that gives me the confidence to ride as hard as possible.

Chromag: Can you describe one of your absolute best days out on the bike?

Will:  To be honest, I’ve had so many incredible days on a bike that it’s almost impossible to choose just one. For me, the best days aren’t defined by the trail, the bike park, or the size of the jump, it’s about the people you’re sharing those moments with.

I’ve had amazing days riding places like Horseshoe Bike Park, Red Bike Park, Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and even just building and riding in my backyard. But some of my favourite memories are also the simplest ones, just riding around a parking lot on a Sunday evening with my friends, laughing, trying tricks, and enjoying being on bikes together.

At the end of the day, it’s never really about what you’re riding or where you are, it’s about who you’re riding with. As long as I’m surrounded by good people and we’re having fun on bikes, it’s a perfect day.

Chromag: Where is your favorite place to ride? Do you prefer dirt jumps or trails?

Will:  When it comes to terrain, I’m a huge fan of loam. There’s nothing better than getting on a perfect loamy trail and just letting the bike move underneath you. Riding fast through deep dirt with your friends is one of the most fun experiences in mountain biking.

Coming from Ontario, dirt jumps have always been a huge part of my riding. Growing up, they were one of the main things we had access to, so I spent countless hours building jumps, riding them, and learning tricks. I love a challenging jump set that really tests you, something where you have to pump hard, be precise, and put everything together perfectly to make it work.

If I had to choose, I’d probably lean toward dirt jumps because that’s where my riding started, but I just love being on a bike and finding ways to have fun.

Chromag: You’re the proud owner of McGee Cycle. Tell us what inspired you to start the company and a bit more about what McGee Cycle is all about.

Will:  I started McGeeCycle after spending years working in bike shops and seeing how the industry operated from the inside. One of my biggest experiences was working as a head mechanic at Sporting Life Burlington, where I serviced bikes worth thousands of dollars and saw customers charged a lot of money for relatively small repairs. It made me question why bike service had to be so expensive and complicated.

I started thinking about how I could create a better option, one that was more affordable, convenient, and focused on helping riders. The answer was removing a lot of the traditional overhead costs. By operating as a mobile service, partnering with local shops for inventory, and focusing on speed and efficiency, McgeeCycle can provide more value while keeping prices accessible. Instead of customers having to bring their bike into a shop and pay for all the extra costs involved, we bring the service directly to them.

A big part of why I started McGeeCycle was also to create a lifestyle where I could keep riding. Mountain biking is what I love most, and I wanted the freedom to chase adventures, ride with my friends, and be able to say yes to those last-minute missions and trips. I didn’t want to be tied down to a schedule that took me away from the thing I’m most passionate about.

Since starting, McgeeCycle has grown into something much bigger than just bike repair. We run community rides, help people discover local trails, and host kids’ summer camps where I teach the next generation of riders. Watching kids gain confidence, learn new skills, and realize what they’re capable of is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

This year, our camps have grown significantly, doubling our attendance from the previous year, and we’ve received incredible feedback from families and riders. I put my heart into everything we do, and I think people feel that passion when they interact with McgeeCycle.

Looking ahead, my goal is to continue growing McgeeCycle into a community built around riding, progression, and opportunity. I want to eventually create more opportunities for young riders, support athletes, and give people the chance to experience everything mountain biking has given me.

Right now, I feel like we’re only at the beginning. We’re just starting to break through the surface, and I’m excited to see how big this community can become.

Chromag: What does the future hold for Will Curry?

Will:  Looking ahead, there’s a lot I’m excited about. In September, I’ll be heading back to school to continue my Business Commerce degree while growing McgeeCycle and my riding.

One of my projects this coming year is building out my dirt jump area in between classes to create one of the coolest places to ride in Kelowna. I want to finish more trails, build more jumps, add new lines, rollers, and little features that people can get creative on. The goal is to create a space where riders can come together, progress, and have fun. One thing that’s always been important to me is keeping that area open and accessible. I love building, and if someone rides the jumps, leaves a mark, or damages something because they’re having fun, that’s honestly what it’s all about. Knowing someone went there, smiled, and enjoyed themselves makes the extra work of fixing things completely worth it. I want riding spaces to bring people together, not be something that keeps people out.

Beyond that, I’m focused on continuing to grow McgeeCycle, riding as much as possible, creating content, and building a bigger community around bikes. I’m not too focused on looking too far ahead, I’m focused on enjoying the process, making connections, meeting new people, and taking every opportunity that comes my way.

I feel like there are a lot of exciting things ahead, and I’m grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way. I’m stoked to keep pushing my riding, keep building, and continue representing brands like Chromag that have been such a big part of my journey.

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