The Goose is Loose-Romaniuk's new Ride!

Apr 25, 2007

At 17 years of age Steve Romaniuk's parents and school let him walk away half way through his grade 12 year to board a bus full of other riders and hit the road. Little did they know that the bus was full of Kokanee and that it would be the catalyst to his career as one of our sports most recognizable riders today. Steve finished his grade 12, but its his riding that gets all the passing grades. From print ads to huge movie parts, Romo as his friends know him is just getting going and with the 2007 season underway he is now on a whole new ride. Enter Mongoose Bicycles, look out the Goose is Loose!

Imagine getting that sort of kick start to your career? Steve has taken it all in stride and suffered a few hang overs along the way. Season #2 was his first appearance with Drop In and he took it on like a vetean would have. Living on the bus became second nature to him-who wouldn't love a road trip that lasted over 2 months and took you around western B.C.?


After returning home from his first tour of duty on the bus, Steve got a call from Red Bull asking him to attend the Red Bull Rampage in Virgin Utah. Holy Crap! Here was a 17 year old "grom" that just got off a stinky bus and now he was getting the invite to attend the big show for free riders. Steve had only ever seen all these other "pros" in the magazines he bought at 7-11 and now he was to compete against them. In his first Rampage experience Romo ended up in 5th place-not bad for a Dirt Bag! He returned to the Rampage site the next year to make a podium appearance with 3rd place in the final go in Virgin Utah.


The big S picked up the sender from Kelowna and for the next few seasons, Steve was one of a few notable Canadian Freeriders that built that brand in Western Canada. During those years he made another tour of duty with Drop IN for season #3 and a guest appearance in Season #4. Trips over seas to compete in big events like the Adidas Slopestyle in Saalbach are becoming his everyday job now too.


This past season Steve, Mike Kinrade set out to create STUND vision for the masses to view. With Drop IN taking a hiatus for the year, they still had the urge to road trip and show the masses what they were up to and capable of doing. STUND has been viewed in every country that has internet capabilities and was so well received by the masses. The crew took what they've learned from living on the road and applied it to what they themselves wanted to see. The lifestyle and riding showed through in STUND.


After a very successful season with multiple movie appearances, his own web series and more print ads then you can shake a stick at, Steve headed to Interbike with asperations of locking down contracts with all his current sponsors. Most of his trip went according to plans.


At the end of the show Steve was getting love from Sombrio, Syncros, Lizard Skins, Adidas, Dakine, SRAM and Lake Shoes but something was missing. He was heading home with no ride for the 2007 season. Holy crap, after such a stellar year of mass press he was without a ride. So now it was time to buckle down and enter into talks with new prospects-the down side is that Interbike is when you are supposed to get your contracts finalized, not creating talks that could lead to contracts after the show. The great news is that those talks did lead to a contract with Mongoose Bicycles and that Steve will be now flying the Black Goose all over our screens and in the magazines this year.



The Sea Otter Classic was Steve's first public appearance with the new ride and with his new team. Mongoose has a really strong race team with the likes of Andrew Neethling and Eric Carter on board, but those of us that don't follow the race scene but rather are into waiting for the next copy of Decline or Mountain Bike and the newest release DVDs that show case freeriding, well then the Mongoose brand is a lesser known steed. This is where our good buddy Steve comes in-Steve has done a lot for his past bike sponsor and you can expect even more from him now with the Goose backing. When asked what color he'd like his bike to be as the race team bikes are white, Steve replied that black would be the color for him then. Can you spot the black goose in the family?


I sat down with Steve for a few minutes at the Sea Otter and we chatted about his new ride and plans for the 2007 season. He and I noted that Mongoose has a real race pedigree going on, but he was quick to point out that these Black Diamond bikes can be sent too. I asked what his first impression on the bike was since he only has a few days on it and the response was "this bike can jump!" Well with that statement coming out first, we can only assume that 2007 will be the year that the Goose opens its wings and flies off hits all over the globe. I haven't seen a Mongoose frame in a non race flick since the late 90's, so I'm stoked to see Steve bring em back out into the freeride market eyes.

Here's a look at some of what Steve and his new Goose will be up to this season:

Travel plans include-Paris for the Qashqai Finals, Saalbach Austria for the Adidas slopestyle, Are Sweden for the Freeride Festival, Barcelona Spain for the CG Slopestyle as well as Crankworx in Whistler and Colorado.

Filming Projects that are confirmed-Kranked 7, CKD 2 and Elemental 2


Romo would like to thank everyone supporting his riding for 2007!

"Without these great companies this dream of mine would not be possible! Support the people that support us riders! They are the ones putting all the time and effort to bring you a good product!

Media sponsors:
Radical-films.com
pist-n-broke.com
rip.tv
pinkbike.com/stund

Bike Sponsors:
Mongoose.com
Sombriocartel.com
Syncros.com
SRAM.com
Dakine.com
Lakeshoes.com
Adidas.com/eyewear
Lizard skins.com
as well as Gerick Cycle and Sports here in Kelowna B.C.

All the best in 2007!