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Top Mountain Bike Riders
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Freeride |
Downhill Racing |
Dirt Jumping |
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| Darren Berrecloth |
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A.K.A.: Bearclaw
Age: 22
Hometown: Parksville, BC Canada
2004 Rider of the Year, Darren is without a doubt one of the biggest things to happen to the sport of Freeride mountain biking. Since crossing over from freestyle BMX less than three years ago, Darren has shown the world the true potential of what can be done on 26" wheels. After winning, the first dirt jump competition in which he competed, Darren's scored one magazine cover shot after another and has had standout sections in the biggest films each year. Most recently, he won Bike Magazine's first annual Monster Park Slopestyle Invitational. Bottom line - when you talk about progression in the sport, the conversation needs to include Bearclaw's name.
Darren rides for Specialized and Race Face to name a few of his sponsors. Bearclaw has been nominated for the Best Alternative Sportsperson of the Year Award at the 2005 Laureus World Sports Awards and will be traveling 2005 Awards Ceremony at the Casino Estoril, Portugal on May 16. The award ceremony will provide a fitting climax to two days of sports events which include the Laureus Golf Challenge, presented by Mercedes-Benz and English luxury men's brand dunhill, and the Laureus Beach Festival at Tamariz Beach and the Laureus Regatta in Cascais Bay.
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| Paul Basagoitia |
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Age: 18
Hometown: Minden Nevada
A BMX protégé, Paul B jumped onto many people's radar screen at the Sea Otter last year when he almost landed a nearly unheard-of backflip tailwhip (FlipWhip). Paul followed that up with a Crankworx-winning performance that featured a backflip over the step-up to the scaffolding and a tail whip off the scaffolding. Paul then took 3rd at the Bike Magazine Monster Park Slopestyle Invitational and ended the year with a 2nd place at the Red Bull Bike Battle in Baltimore.
Paul Basagoitia rids for The Kona Bicycle Company. Basagoitia literally leapt into freeride's pro ranks with his surprise and well-deserved win at this year's Crankworx contest in Whistler, B.C. 18-year-old Paul Bas has a BMX background and stepped up to mountain bikes just last year. He brings his skills into the mountain bike world and will be a force that pushes the evolution of skills and style in freeride mountain biking.
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| Tyler Klassen |
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A.K.A.: Super T
Age: 22
Hometown: Abbostford, BC CANADA
Winner of the first annual Race Face Ultimate Freeride Challenge, Tyler is proof that dreams really do come true. In the year since winning our contest, Tyler's gone on to build an impressive list of sponsorship contracts, star in several mountain bike films, win the Red Bull Rampage and elevate himself to the top of freeriding's elite.
After spending the last couple of years traveling with the Dangerous Dan Flow Show, Tyler Klassen has struck off on his own to become the first rider ever to sign directly to Santa Cruz Bicycles.
Rob Roskopp, owner of Santa Cruz bikes, is excited to have Tyler on board. "What Tyler has done in just the last few months has exceeded our expectations. We look forward to working with one of the world's best Freeriders and we know Tyler is excited to be on bikes that can hold up to his style of riding."
Look for Tyler riding his V-10 and SC Bullit in all of the upcoming 2003 Freeride events and the upcoming Kranked 5 movie.
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| Wade Simmons |
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Age: (old man of Freeriders)
Hometown: Kamloops, BC CANADA
Wade Simmons is considered to be the best rider to ever ride Vancouver's notorious North Shore. With numerous international victories, magazine covers, and film features, Wade is probably the highest profile freerider on the planet. He has successfully cleared 60+ foot gaps, landed (what were thought to be) impossible drops, and performed some of the most outrageous high-speed urban stunts imaginable. Makes you wonder what sort of frame he'd want to ride, doesn't it? The Rocky Mountain RMX, there's even a model of this bike named after him! He has ridden for Rocky Mountain since 1995.
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| Steve Peat |
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Age: 29
Hometown: UK
Steve Peat secured the 2004 World Cup Downhill championship title. Peat has capped a run of podium appearances on the World Cup Downhill circuit with a solid third place finish in Calgary ensuring the overall World Cup title with one race still left on the calendar. He goes into the final round with a 271 point advantage over his closest competitor, Sam Hill. Considering riders can earn a maximum of 250 World Cup points in a given weekend of downhill, it’s safe to say Peaty has garnered yet another prestigious title.
Peat has been dominant on the tour this season with a hungry pack of challengers snapping at his heels each step of the way. He began the season by winning the World Cup’s opening round in Austria and never looked back. As the season pressed on and Peaty began to pull away from his competition, it was time to turn his focus on the one title he has yet to put next to his name – World Champion.
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| Sam Hill |
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Age:19
Hometown: Perth, Australia
Sam started off the 2004 season with a bang by winning the Australian National Championship and capped it off with a 3rd Place result at the World Championships in Les Gets, France. Along the way Sam also won the 2nd annual US Open of Mountain Biking at Diablo Freeride Park in Vernon, NJ and finished 2nd Place overall in the UCI World Cup Downhill Series. The Sunday World Cup model by Iron Horse Bikes is the same bike raced to the podium by Sam at Les Gets and the 04 World Cup finale at Livigno. Sam continues to ride for Iron Horse in his pursuit of the 2005 Downhill title.
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| Nathan Rennie |
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Age:24
Hometown: Gold Coast, Australia
In 1998, at age 17, Nathan won his second Australian Junior Downhill Championship and Australian Open Men Dual Championship, (Compressor format). After the Australian series he traveled to the USA to compete in four NORBA and four World Cup races, in Pro Men. He ended up ranked 5th in Pro Men in the NORBA series, with his best result a 3rd at Mammoth Mountain. The sky has been the limit since those times. In 2003 he joined the Mad Catz team and found great success as World Cup Downhill Champion. His association with Iron Horse Bikes provided an opportunity to work closely in the testing and development of a new range of bikes. In 2004 he joined the Santa Cruz Syndicate Team and has continued to see success in World Downhill Racing.
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| Cedric Gracia |
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Age: 27
Hometown:Pau, France
Cedric Gracia is a protégée of the French BMX and Ski scene, a former team mate of the world champion Nico Vouilloz and Mikael Pascal on the then infamous Sunn team. Cedric now enjoys life in the fast lane, be it in 4X, DH or the bar - he just rips it up. Cedric currently rides for Cannondale Bikes. He is currently recovering from a major bike crash which left him in the hospital looking at an 8 week recovery period.
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| John Cowan |
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Age: Younger than me!
Hometown: San Diego, California
John Cowan has been the Kona Dirt Jumping Ambassador for the past three years. His long standing experience with the sport and culture has been fed directly into each of Kona’s Dirt Jump bikes. He has traveled the world for dirt jumping contest and photo/film shoots. He was part of the film shoots for Freeride Entertainment's Disorder series, and is known for building insanely huge dirt jumps which showcase his rather large supermans and 360's. John has stated that his favorite riding areas are Whistler and his backyard where in 2003 he held his first annual Backyard Jam. In fact, Whistler came to Cowan to design their Dirt Jumping course which will open to the public for the 2005 season.
In addition to his design work, he has a how-to video out, “HIGHER LEARNING 101-360” - A DIRT JUMP HOW-TO WITH JOHN COWAN”. Higher Learning 101-360 is the first action packed instructional video outlining the progressive steps to learn how to dirt jump on your mountain bike, from getting your first taste of air to advanced skills and tricks like 360's and superman seat grabs. Higher Learning 101-360 is an educational half hour video preparing you for beginner, intermediate and advanced riding with trick tips, product talk, detailed step-by-step instruction, and invaluable advice to keep in mind throughout our dirt jumping schooling.
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| Timo Pritzel |
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Age: 28
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
Timo has all the credentials to make the list of best Dirt Jumpers including Dirt Jump World Champion, world record holder in BMX(5.1m) and MTB (4.55m) Highjump, King of Dirt and Mister Big Air. Beside the competitions, shows and videos, Timo has joined the Scott USA team and will play an active role in the product-development of their dirt jumping Voltage bike line.
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