JK’s been around longer now than anyone on the NZ scene. He’s as pro as they get, and can mix it up with the fastest guys on the planet. Johnny has been our most successful racer ever, having won 2 Norba Series as well as a handful of top 10 World Cup results. He is always tapped out on the course, putting in truck- loads of fast practice runs. He won the 05 National Champs on the course and will be a definite crowd favourite. You can do it Johnny.
06 World Cup Standing: 21st
Past World Champs: 13th 2005
Other Results: 4 top 10 World Cups in 2005, 1st NZ National Series 2005
Website: www.justinleov.com
J Lo has had a steady rise to the top of the NZ scene. He went from winning the National under 19 series in 2003, 2nd in pro 2004, then won the series in 05. 2005 was a great season for Justin as he recorded 4 top 10 World cup finishes, with a 5th in the round at Angel Fire – U.S.A. The Vegas track is one of the few tracks in NZ where he hasn’t won. He missed the 05 Nats there after a crash at the local dirt jumps. 2006 saw Justin go full factory on the Yeti team. He will be up there come Worlds time.
PHOTO CREDIT: Gary Perkin // www.flipper.co.za
Name: Nathan Rankin
D.O.B:
Height: 5’10”
Weight:
Team: 2Stage Bikes
06 Results:2nd Maxxis Cup, 6th Swiss Cup
06 World Cup Standing:
Past World Champs: 9th 2005
Other Results: 5x NZ Champ
If Rolly keeps it together, watch out. He has been the dominant rider on the NZ scene now for the last 6 years. He’s got a sic style to watch and can through down some wicked runs. At the Dunedin round last year he crashed in his first run injuring his hand. He got it taped up, then went out and won the second race by 4 seconds. The round after he turns up with a cast on – he crazy. At the Swiss cup in Scoul he threw up in his helmet during his race run and still came 6th. Hope he cleaned it.
Another grommie to have really stepped it up over the last 2 seasons. He had a shocker in 2004, but then put in a wicked season in 05 to take the under 19 title from Cam Cole and Sam Blekinsop. The 3 of them all raced pro this season and all finished in the top 5. Kieran had the best result for NZ at the Oceania’s finishing 5th. This year he followed the path of some of our best racers and signed up with Foes racing, competing in the Norba series and the odd World Cup. His current world ranking is 34th.
Name: Des Curry
D.O.B:
Height:
Weight:
Team: ODI/Smith/Romic Wide Open
06 Results: Norbas – Rd 5 3rd, Rd 2 & 3 14th, Rd 1 20th
06 World Cup Standing:
Past World Champs:
Other Results: 2nd 05 National Champs, 3rd Overal National Series
Des is loose. Always on the pipe and someone worth watching ride. He has just pulled out the biggest race of his career. At the last Norba Des was 3rd, beating a heap o pros including Greg Minnaar. He was 2nd on the course at the 05 Nats so watch out for him. Vegas is also Des’s hometown.
PHOTO CREDIT: Graeme Murray
Name: Glen Haden
D.O.B:
Height: 6’
Weight: 90 kg
Team: 2Stagebikes
06 Results: 2nd NZ National Series (2 wins), 2nd National Champs, 3rd 4x Avoriaz 7th Oceania Champs
06 World Cup Standing:
Past World Champs: 30th 2005
Other Results: Previous NZ Junior Champ, 4th 05 National Champs
This year Glen has really reached some of his potential. He had a couple of okay years lately, but 06 he cranked it up. On a new bike and contract which allowed him more time to ride, Glen finished the NZ season ranked 2nd, behind team mate Nathan Rankin. Glen is one of the nicest guys around and great to have on the scene. He can ride to. Go hard Glen.
Name: Tom Holland D.O.B: 13 september 1983 Height: 5,10 Weight: 78kg
Team: Adidas eyewear, GT bikes, NZO dirtwear, Sram rockshox avid. 06 Results: 13th Oceania Champs 06 World Cup Standing:
Past World Champs: 35th 05, 34th 04 Other Results: 6th 05 National Champs, 4th overall National Series 2005 best world cup result 24th.
Website:
Tom has spent the last few seasons overseas now. Travelling around with Craig Patel, he has raced he best tracks with some of the fastest riders in the world. He has had some credible results, with numerous top 10 Swiss cup finishes. Its also Tom’s home track – he might have some secret lines?
Name: Michael Davis "Mavis" D.O.B: 09/12/1988 Height: 5"10 Weight: 78.6 Team: Ironhorse 06 Results: 1st Christchuch National, 3rd Coronet Peak National 06 World Cup Standing: - Past World Champs: Mont Sainte Anne 06 World Cup Other Results: 4th Oceanias 06, 1st Levin School Nationals Website: www.freeriden.co.nz Photo Credit:
Who are you most looking forward to watching race? Bryn Atkinson Who will take out the U19 class and the pro class? Cameron Cole, Ben Bell, Sam Blienkinsop and in pro Greg Minaar, Sam hill and Mik Hannah Nathan Rankin could be up there Who is fastest kiwi junior? Sam Bleinkinsop How you are hoping to do? Top 10 would be good or higher should be a good learning curve cant wait it'll be a once in a life-time experience to race the worlds in your home country! Will you be having a big night saturday? yip, had a bit of practice at the Mont Sainte anne world cup after party so i know what im in for haha
Who is hottest chick on circuit at moment? ummm...Rachel Atherton
Name: Joel Daniels D.O.B: Height: Weight: Team: 06 World Cup Standing: - Past World Champs: Other Results: 06 Under 19 Series Winner, 05 Under 17 Series Winner Website: www.thebikeshed.co.nz Photo Credit:
Who are you most looking forward to watching race? Steve Peat Who will take out the U19 class and the pro class? I reckon Sam or Brendon will take it out. Who is fastest kiwi junior? Sam or Cameron could b close. How you are hoping to do? Top 10 times will b close Will you be having a big night Saturday? I’d say if ur in the worlds team and u arnt on the rip u must sit down 2 pee Who is hottest chick on circuit at moment? Hottest chick, hmmm not sure aye????
Name: Cameron ‘Frodo’ Cole D.O.B: 3rd Feb 1988 Height: 6’2” Weight: 86kg Team: Animal, Fox Racing, Lahar 06 World Cup Standing: OTA 79th at Willengen Past World Champs: 2005 19th Other Results: 06 Under 19 Oceania Champ Website: www.cameroncole.blogspot.com Photo Credit:
Who are you most looking forward to watching race? Sam Hill in the mud for sure and Minnaar cause he’s so smooth Who will take out the U19 class and the pro class? Hopefully me in the u19 and Hill for the men’s. Glenn Haden if he stays on though hes on it at the moment. Who is fastest kiwi junior? Me? How you are hoping to do? I wanna win, simple as that. Will you be having a big night Saturday? Hell yeah bring on the echo bar
Who is hottest chick on circuit at moment? Ill keep that one quiet thanks hahaha
Name: Eddie Masters D.O.B:18-08-89 Height: 177cm Weight: 67kg Team: Nz Santa Cruz, Rockstar, Aireal industries 06 Results: U19 national champ, 4th national series 06 World Cup Standing: haven't raced Past World Champs: haven't raced Other Results: 3rd U17 05 nationals Website: www.santacruzbikes Photo Credit: Adrian Armstrong
Who are you most looking forward to watching race? Sam Hill; he rips in the mud and drifts it hard. Also Gee Atherton cause he's got a sick whip. Cedric always an entertainer so he'll be good to see in the 4X Who will take out the U19 class and the pro class? I'm Backing Cameron or Sam most probably Cam because he wants it haha.
Pro I think that Rally is the fast pro but to be honest I think that
Cameron might smoke the Nz Pro's like at Oceania's. The overall winner I think will probably be Sam Hill because he's is good in the wet and wants it bad. Who is fastest kiwi junior? It's definitely out of Sam and Cameron, they're both pretty equal. Sam's real fast in the wet but Cameron's got the strength and power. Together I think they're dead equal but at the end of the day its who can put it together. How you are hoping to do? Um well I'm hoping for a top 20 but who knows if it's muddy I think I could do ok. Will you be having a big night Saturday? Hell yes its going to be a big night but that's if us Juniors are allowed in...Hopefully they'll lets in like at Oceania's
Who is hottest chick on circuit at moment? Nikki Gudex shes in xc buts she's a minta anyway.
Name: Matt Scoles D.O.B: 5/06/89 Height: 185cm Weight: 72kg Team: Bike Fix Queenstown 06 World Cup Standing: - Past World Champs: Other Results: 2nd Junior Avalanche Sprint Cup Alpe D'Huez, 2nd Junior National Series 05; 4th National Champs 05 Website: Photo Credit:
Who are you most looking forward to watching race? Steve Peat Who will take out the U19 class and the pro class? Sam or Cam ; Sam Hill Who is fastest kiwi junior? Langford How you are hoping to do? Top 20 or something Will you be having a big night Saturday? Yea
Who is hottest chick on circuit at moment? Is this a trick question?
Name: Sam Blekinsop D.O.B: Height: Weight: Team: 06 World Cup Standing: 48th (only 2 races). Past World Champs: 8th Junior 2005 Other Results: 06 Nationals 3rd, 1st round 5 Napier (2nd was Fabien Barel) Website: www.thebikeshed.co.nz Photo Credit: Graeme Murray
Who are you most looking forward to watching race? Who will take out the U19 class and the pro class?Who is fastest kiwi junior? How you are hoping to do? Will you be having a big night Saturday?
Who is hottest chick on circuit at moment?
Name: Zac Williams D.O.B: Height: Weight: Team: 06 World Cup Standing: Past World Champs: Other Results: Website: Photo Credit:
Who are you most looking forward to watching race? Who will take out the U19 class and the pro class?Who is fastest kiwi junior? How you are hoping to do? Will you be having a big night Saturday?
Who is hottest chick on circuit at moment?
Name: Michael Langford (Lango) D.O.B: 24/8/89 Height: 175cm Weight: 71.85 kg Team: Bike NZ >06 Results: 5th in NZ National series, 3rd one off NZ
champs, 10th Oceania's 06 World Cup Standing: N/A Past World Champs: N/A Other Results: 1st Under 19 Wellington Champs 2005, 2nd North Island Champs
2005. Website: Photo Credit:
Who are you most looking forward to watching race? Steve Pete and Sam Hill Who will take out the U19 class plus the pro class? I'm putting my money on
Cameron Cole and Sam Hill. Who is fastest kiwi junior? Sammy Blenkinsop How you are hoping to do? The very best I can Will you be having a big night Saturday? Yeah boy Who is hottest chick on circuit at moment? Da no but Sam Blinky had a sexy mullet after Oceania's.
Vanessa had a great start to the year cleaning up the NZ series and then going on to win the Oceania Champs in Rotorua. In doing so she beat the current top 2 ranked women in the world, Tracy Moseley and Sabrina Jonnier. Then her season turned to custard in el Vigo Spain on her race run. She went over the bars when the intense slipped on a rock section. She had her first race back in early July on a muddy track at the AKDH Winter Series, finishing 2nd. VOQ will have more of a test when she races the 3rd round of the AKDH series at Dome Valley on August 5/6. How will she do at the Worlds? She won there this year and on the same track in 05. This is a track that suits her so well – watch out ladies. In the last 10 years of World Champs she is the only rider to have won other than the legend Anne-Caro Chausson.
What a shite year Scarlett has been having. She misses a lot of the National series due to injury. Still recovering, Scarlett has an alright result at the Oceania Champs coming in 4th behind VOQ, Tracey, and Sabrina. Then at the first World Cup of the season she smashes her elbow. This time it’s the left, but its not quite as bad as the previous year when she broke her right elbow at Fort William. She has been in Whistler for the last couple of weeks and is progressing well. She is super amped to be on her bike again, and with her positive and determined attitude she will be charging in Vegas, looking for the open title.
Name: Jenna Makgill
D.O.B:
Height:
Weight:
Team: NZ Santa Cruz
06 Results: NZ National Series 2nd overall, 1st 4x Avoriaz
06 World Cup Standing:
Jenna has been a big mover lately on the Women’s scene. A couple of seasons under her belt has seen her get up to speed. She is now hot on the heels of NZ’s top 2 fast chicks, and with another overseas campaign will be more of a threat at races, pushing both VOQ and Scarlett. She is beaten some of the top European riders before winning a Swiss cup and was 2nd to Tracy Moseley at a Maxxis Cup in 2005. Jenna could well be a wild card for a podium at the Worlds.
Name: Sheryl McLeod
D.O.B:
Height:
Weight:
Team:
06 Results: Oceania’s 6th
06 World Cup Standing:
Past World Champs:
Other Results:
Website:Shazza’s back. After years in the abyss, Sheryl returned to DH racing with the goal of making the Worlds team. Its taken a few races to get back on the pace, and she still has a bit to go, but she is now up there and would be the fourth fastest Kiwi girl at the moment. But she can get a whole lot faster. In the early 2000’s, Shazza was a contender on the World Cup circuit scoring a few top 10’s.
She has pushed for the National title in the past, being close competition for Vanessa. Will she get back up to her speed of past?
Team: No team - but my new Ironhorse bike is the best ever with its new fox airshock. 06 Results: Oceania’s 8th, National Series 3rd; National Champs 3rd; NORBA (Vermont USA) 8th, World Cup (Mont Saint Anne) 18th 06 World Cup Standing: 37th Past World Champs: None Other Results: 1st Expert Women DH series 2005, 1st Canterbury Winter XC series 2005.
Name: Lauren Campbell D.O.B: 13.04.1985 Height: 165cm Weight: what real lady would actually fill this in!
Sponsors: NZ santa cruz, spy eyewear 06 Results: 2nd national championships, i wasnt intending to race at all
this season untill Voq talked me into it! so i would like to say a big
thankyou to Voq for her support and being so pursausive! I wouldnt be racing
overseas right now or be in the worlds team if it wasnt for her! 06 World Cup Standing:40th
Other Results: 13th Mt snow norba, 25th Mont Sainte Anne World cup
Name: Olivia Johnston D.O.B: 26.9.1981 Height: 164cm Weight:60kg.. i think, its all muscle.
Team: Yes please... 06 Results: Oceania‚s 8th, National Series 3rd, Canterbury Champs 1st, Mt Snow NORBA 13th, Mt Saint-Anne World Cup 26th. 06 World Cup Standing: 37th Past World Champs: N/A
Other Results: This was my first year racing. I started riding DH about 2 years ago and this year decided to give the 2006 National series a crack... in the open women category. By then end of the season i was in Pro-Women category and racing in the Oceania's. Recently, (about 3 weeks ago) I went over to the States and Canada with a bunch of kiwi friends (XC'ers and Dh'ers) to ride in a NORBA race and a World Cup race. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had, and I can't wait to go and do it again! I'm super excited about riding the Roto track again too, it's so mint and fun!
Right now, I've got my new bike coming this week... the first small DH lahar! And I'm so stoked, I've taken a few of the Lahars around CHCH for rides and i love em! Can't wait to have my own!
D.O.B: 7/8/80 Height: 168cm Weight: 60kg
Team: none, sponsors are N-ZO apparel, Penny Farthing Cycles (Wellington) 06 Results: New Zealand National Series: 1st Treble Cone (Wanaka), 2nd Coronet Peak (Queenstown), 2nd Wanganui and National Series overall champion for senior women. National Champs (Nelson) 2nd overall. 06 World Cup Standing: none Past World Champs: none Other Results: 2005-Local races: 2nd Long Gully (Wellington), Maidstone Max Track 1st (Wellington).
Website: none
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