Gee Atherton has described Kelly McGarry as an inspiration in an Instagram tribute post.

The post showed a picture of McGarry sitting on his bike and smiling with the caption: “What a loss, this guy was an inspiration on and off the bike. Such sad news. Love to his family.”

As a downhill racer you may think unlikely that Gee Atherton would ever cross paths with freerider McGarry but they were actually both invited to the 2012 Red Bull Rampage. Unfortunately the pair were injured in practice for the event leaving them unable to compete in the finals. Atherton and McGarry have also ridden together at Crankworx events in Rotorua and Les 2 Alpes.

McGarry passed away this morning after collapsing on a mountain bike trail near Queenstown. Two paramedics were flown to the scene but McGarry was announced dead on arrival. He is most famous for his 72 foot backflip over the Canyon Gap at the 2013 Red Bull Rampage.

Gee will be starting his new season aboard Trek Bikes after leaving GT towards the end of 2015.