shoot the whole thing. It started from me not wanting to do a video just about myself and getting a good crew together, visiting countries and riding new spots. All my sponsors were keen to support it. Some how it came together, but it was a lot work.” ‘A lot of work’, is a gross understatement. Lazy is not a word you’d associate with Greg. From the five ink stamps on the envelope in front of you to reverse parking a van full of mouthy riders with a trailor on, Greg has made the project a success. Make It Happen wasn’t a long smooth holiday of free travel. Organising four international trips for a huge group of alpha males on a tight budget requires a tireless work ethic, resilience, dependable organisation and a shit load of emails. As the year progressed the name ‘Make It Happen’ became more and more appropriate with every cancelled flight, lost bike, injury and cancelled magazine. No matter how stressful things got, Greg maintained his zen-like temperament, never once finding the need to raise his voice and never losing sight of his goals – explore new places, ride new spots, produce first rate video and photos, and ultimately share a great experience. “I was brought up to not just wait for something to happen. My folks were always into organising trips, it transcended to me. I don’t mind putting in the work. It can be stressful, but it’s forgotten as soon as you arrive. All the hard work and effort was worth it in the end. This project has been one the greatest experiences of my life.” Simply put, Greg Illingworth gets shit done. Whether it be a massive gap on street, organising a contest, emigrating, or producing a year-long book and DVD project. The book and DVD you hold in your hands right now is to testament Greg’s drive and determination to succeed. It is that same determination that carried him along the difficult path from sandy dirt jumps of Johannesburg to being one of the best-known and respected riders in the world. He now enjoys a life he once thought out of his reach. He deserves it all. He made it happen.
67