Our cover star Kirt Voreis shredding in his 40s Scotty Laughland in Jamaica New Santa Cruz 5010 and Juliana Furtado Summer at Stonehenge Steve Peat’s four decades of riding

At 46 years old, ex-racer Kirt Voreis could be dismissed as a bit of an old-timer – but oh, how wrong that would be. Even though our cover star is of an age where many are turning to e-bikes and looking twice at drop-offs, the American downhiller turned dirt jumper, street rider and all-round shredder remains one of the most creative pros out there.

Always in pursuit of some mad stunt and not giving up until he’s nailed it, regardless of how many crashes it takes, Kirt’s incredible bike handling oozes pure fun. Photographer Ian Hylands – who took these shots of him cranking out a clicked whip in the Californian desert – is a long-time friend of Kirt, and tells us what it’s been like to document his riding over the past 18 years.

“I remember the first time I called him up, in around 2002. His girlfriend Lindsay answered and explained that Kirt had been riding in the backyard and knocked himself out!” Ian recalls. “We spoke briefly, but he invited me over once he was out of hospital and since then I’ve got to know him well. He’s an artist, both on and off the bike – if he’s not painting or sketching, he’s channelling his creativity into learning a new way to ride. This experimentation makes him amazing to work with – we feed off each other’s ideas and come up with some awesome shots.

“This trip was no exception. Before Kirt moved to Oregon, he’d grown up in the desert of southern California and we returned to a particular spot he knew, with a big list of things we wanted to do. Kirt’s work ethic is incredible, so with a bit of spadework and lots of hard riding, we got it nailed.” So the next time anyone tells you they’re too old to get rad, tell them to take a leaf out of Kirt’s book.