Feb 18, 2008
There seems to be a lot of confusion about where, and what Thomas Vanderham has been doing the past while. Well, we at Pinkbike.com want to serve you the best we can, and if that means sending out a 30 man search party for Thomas just to figure out what he is up to, then by all means it will get done. Luckily it wasn't that hard to track him down.
Here is what he had to say, when we asked him what was going on.
Hello Bike World!
I hope everyone is having a great winter and is ready for a new bike season. Coming off one the most important seasons of my career, I am more excited than ever about 2008. My goal last year was simply to bring some attention back to the “Big Mountain” side of freeriding. I spent the majority of last summer working closely with The Collective crew on a segment for their new film SEASONS coming out in the spring of 2008. Watch for some of the photos to start showing up in your magazines soon!
2008 has also brought about a lot of changes for me, I have recently had a lot of questions about my situation with long time sponsor Rocky Mountain and I want to say we will no longer be working together. I enjoyed my time with the company very much and would like to thank Rocky for their support and growing with me as a rider to this point. Over the last seven years I worked hard to represent the company positively and remained committed to the brand until the last day of my contract. Working in product development, design, and marketing has given me valuable experience and insight into the mountain bike industry. I had many great experiences with long time teammates Wade Simmons and Richie Schley, as well as everyone within the company who I worked with.
That said I am only looking towards the future. My focus will remain on filming strong movie segments, and collaborating on photo projects with the industries top photographers. I will still compete in select slopestyles but I can’t wait until there’s a big mountain event back in the mix. The rest of my summer will be spent riding at a variety of bike events across the globe including coaching at the Summer Gravity Camps in Whistler, BC.
Over the last few months I have been working on putting together my own program and I am happy to announce the companies I will be working with for the next couple years, Marzocchi Suspension, Fox Clothing, Shimano, Oakley, WTB, FUNN, Dakine, Troy Lee Designs, EThirteen, Acros, and Maxxis.
Moving Dirt 
Sending 
Eerie
At this time I am not announcing a new bike sponsor. I'll be back with an update as soon as possible.
-TV
All pics by Sterling Lorence.
I hope everyone is having a great winter and is ready for a new bike season. Coming off one the most important seasons of my career, I am more excited than ever about 2008. My goal last year was simply to bring some attention back to the “Big Mountain” side of freeriding. I spent the majority of last summer working closely with The Collective crew on a segment for their new film SEASONS coming out in the spring of 2008. Watch for some of the photos to start showing up in your magazines soon!
2008 has also brought about a lot of changes for me, I have recently had a lot of questions about my situation with long time sponsor Rocky Mountain and I want to say we will no longer be working together. I enjoyed my time with the company very much and would like to thank Rocky for their support and growing with me as a rider to this point. Over the last seven years I worked hard to represent the company positively and remained committed to the brand until the last day of my contract. Working in product development, design, and marketing has given me valuable experience and insight into the mountain bike industry. I had many great experiences with long time teammates Wade Simmons and Richie Schley, as well as everyone within the company who I worked with.
That said I am only looking towards the future. My focus will remain on filming strong movie segments, and collaborating on photo projects with the industries top photographers. I will still compete in select slopestyles but I can’t wait until there’s a big mountain event back in the mix. The rest of my summer will be spent riding at a variety of bike events across the globe including coaching at the Summer Gravity Camps in Whistler, BC.
Over the last few months I have been working on putting together my own program and I am happy to announce the companies I will be working with for the next couple years, Marzocchi Suspension, Fox Clothing, Shimano, Oakley, WTB, FUNN, Dakine, Troy Lee Designs, EThirteen, Acros, and Maxxis.
At this time I am not announcing a new bike sponsor. I'll be back with an update as soon as possible.
-TV
All pics by Sterling Lorence.
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94 Comments
- + 4 props
brule
(Feb 18, 2008 at 10:50)
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Good to hear that things are on the up and ups Thomas. You'll be missed on the Rocky's but change is good too buddy! Looking forward to hearing more as that new bike sponsor steps up!
"At this time I am not announcing a new bike sponsor. I'll be back with an update as soon as possible."
cletus44 you are an idiot they did not kill steve and mongoose is an awesome company. Do you ever watch drop in his bike is killin it on there and have you ever ridden a goose? i would have to venture a guess not.
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lol you like his style???? you mean his whips thats all he can do i think iv seen him do a no hander too... maby a no footer.
wow ur an ass hole hes one of the best rider in the world and all u can do is say that u think he could be better. i dont know how he fits his balls in his pants where as yours must be pretty hard to find
It really gets me down when these stupid new-schoolers who have no perspective and a ridiculously narrow focus judge riders only on what tricks they can pull over a dirt jump. Vanderham rides trails like a god, he's one of the best all-round bike riders in the world. Throw him down Whistler, or off a big gap, and he'd own Lacondeguy or Basagoitia any day.
and i have seen him throw some of the biggest superman seatgrabs over some of the biggest gaps at contests like monster park
nice one Kevin. I was so surprised to see your album full of lame no-footers and crappy buy-sell bikes and parts. You wouldnt know style if it hit you in the face you trick ferret.
kevin: what's wrong with being more of a "big mountain" style rider? nothing. and you make "having good style" sound like a bad thing. "no hander and no footer..." he can do a lot more than that my friend. you'd be surprised... but vanderham has a good bag of tricks. i guess you wouldn't know, seeing that you're too busy making senseless comments about stuff you don't have a clue about...
ive seen him do a no foot can in stunned as a guest rider. and dont playa hate on vanderham hes way better than your bitch ass. he has dope whips and tables n that may be all he really does but he does it off huge senders. He keeps it real. Vanderham is a baller.
f***in rights, it is a great comment and totally true, i mean, if people realized that tricks aren't everything, my trails would turn to shit, it applies to the ski hill too
Mountain biking is not about bmx tricks to everyone son. I am way more impressed by Vanderham's whips and technical lines than any silly tricks the young kids are throwing these days. His whips are the definition of style and flow.
Couldn't agree more, Vanderham, is one of the few riders I look up to. You just got to love his whips and style. His segment in nwd 5 (I think..) I still rate as one of the best segment. Just a segment that makes me want to go and ride my bike.
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It is good to see that I am not alone in thinking that the new stuff is over rated. The new style of riding is extremely technical dont get me wrong but it just doesnt get me going like vanderham's style/trail riding. The guy has a certain flow that I would die to see in person. Watching Vanderham and Simmons ride just never gets boring. This new dirtjump stuff seems to so fast. Keep tearing it up Vanderham!!! Your one of the reasons I got into this sport.
all this positiv feedback clearly shows that the current direction of the industry has nothing to do with what the average joe trailrider/mountainbiker wants to see and looks up to! f*ck the lacondeguys and kona! rocky used to be my alltime favorit company, but their latest moves on team members, marketing und bike development just hurt my soul....
their new platline looks really nice and big improvement over the 50 lb rmx that i am selling by the way. rm all the way, long live rmx!
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Redbull has already started to scout areas for a return of the rampage. You should do some research before you flame stpgemini. Chill out man.
Can't wait to see SEASONS, good luck this year! A bunch of the old Tatonka Edmonton guys are proud of ya!
OH man I counting the days til Seasons comes out. Vanderham's segment is going to be ridiculous. Ever since I first saw TVs segment in NWD 5 he has been my riding inspiration: the flow, the steez, the power, the soul. I personally think dirt jumping and slopestyle can get a little monotonous with people often throwing the same tricks. It doesnt get me off my couch and riding, but the big gaps and technical lines that true freeriders do inspire me. I really dont like the direction mountain biking is going. DJing isnt mountain biking. Its another version of BMX to me. I actually think TVs no foot cans are the best in the business cus he throws it off the hugest jumps. Its tough to see TV leave Rocky, but Im sure he will come out firing even harder with a fresh new setup.
I heard he was going to start riding for Huffy.....
That being said, Vanderham could throw down on any bike he wants to. All this "new-school" stuff is cool, but I'm kind of tired of seeing videos with 40 minutes of no-footed can-cans and 360s. And no, I can't do either of those things, but am in the process of learning.
TV, keep rockin your whips. Let em hate whilst you add up the steez.
That being said, Vanderham could throw down on any bike he wants to. All this "new-school" stuff is cool, but I'm kind of tired of seeing videos with 40 minutes of no-footed can-cans and 360s. And no, I can't do either of those things, but am in the process of learning.
TV, keep rockin your whips. Let em hate whilst you add up the steez.
I couldn't agree more with some of the comments about the direction marketing is taking and what the majority of riders are actually doing. I love the big mountain stuff Vanderham does. There's a reason why the 6" travel trail bike is the largest growing segment according to MB Action. Slopestyle has exceeded what most people could ever hope to be able to do on a bike. When I'm watching videos, the ones that inspire me to ride the most are the ones that I look at and think, "hey, I can do that. That looks super fun." Take that one segment from either Roam or the Collective where Steve Romaniuk pinning it beside the road as the truck drives along beside him, he was easily doing 50+ km/h and the flow was sick. That makes me want to ride.
TV
Why don't you and the rocky vets design your own DH, FR. Rigs, 80% of the bike company have less knowlage of what really works out there, you boyz know, Hire an engineer, and tell em whatz up. Do what Holland did, for the Hardtail world, BLACK MARKET. Keep killing it T.V. KEEPING IT REAL , BIG MOUNTAIN,...................
Why don't you and the rocky vets design your own DH, FR. Rigs, 80% of the bike company have less knowlage of what really works out there, you boyz know, Hire an engineer, and tell em whatz up. Do what Holland did, for the Hardtail world, BLACK MARKET. Keep killing it T.V. KEEPING IT REAL , BIG MOUNTAIN,...................
NO DOUT, It's all good, just a different fix. what ever your feelin at the time.......ATACK IT!!!!!!!!!!
He is going to win the next Red Bull Rampage or whatever it is gonna be called. He has big mountain STYLE but I dont think that any of the newer riders dont have style too.
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As far as keeping the MOUNTAIN in mountain biking, nobody does it better than Vanderham. Good luck with the bike sponsor and we're looking forward to another kick ass segment with the Collective.
I guess no ride with you this year at RVC?? Okay I guess I could save up to ride on a gravity camp..but do you teach the females too???
hes coming back to town this year still. it least he is supposed to be. I sure the hell hope so. Had a fricking blast last year.
Vanderham is definatley one of my favorite riders for sure. he has sick 360s over big gaps its on youtube.
Watching Vanderham ripping big lines always made me smile. He makes it look easy even when conditions are beyong gnarly. Thomas Vanderham style is so smooth yet so powerfull! His flow is amazing. This guy represents what our sport truly is... Can't wait for Seasons... Good look TV!
vanderham has the best style out there and he also can do a shit load of tricks for all those who hate ur just jealous
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yeah vanderham pretty much does it all(except street), he is the god of freeriding, and he can do MASSIVE whips, HUGE tables, no-handers, no-foot-cans, BIG superman seatgrabs, and i heard he is working on 360's.
he helped get me into mountain biking watching him in the kranked videos was awesome and i saw him ride in edmonton, he's awesome and i love his riding style.
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i rekin he should go to scott iv been on my gambler for about a mounth and its so flowy and it jumps great. im glad that a few componys are still making big mountain freeride rigs. and i realy hope the the next rampage isint just lacondyguy doing whip flips that is inless its over a 40ft gap.
TV
best of luck to you this year!
TV
best of luck to you this year!
dude u have been one of my fav riders since nsxtreme 6 came out and i am sad to say that it sucks u r off rocky. What bike sponsor now do u have?
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Yeah, riding with Vanderham makes you feel like you are in the presence of a god. No joke. I thought i had a little flow and rythym out there until i was following him on the trails. Simply killed it, and me. haha. got my ass kicked, but it was so sweet to be able to know i can work towards that as much as i want. And i will. Keep it rubber side down T.V. hope to see you in Edmonton again this year. Good luck this season.
yeah man i share that view the guy has amazing bike control , oozes style , and ride what i would call "proper trails" gnarl ,rocky, steep ,woody whatever he rocks it! im glad there is soo many ppl who still love him and his unique style.
its great that hes spending his time and energy at the roots of it all. there would be no slope style or whatever the latest rage is w/o the likes of vanderham, simmons etc. big mountain riding is mountian biking
Glad to see that someone besides myself is into the old school big mountain style. Where all of the flips and other BMX style tricks are cool, nothing makes me want to ride more then seeing someone flow down a mountain with tons of style like Wade and Thomas do.
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lisen everybody. If you think tat vanderhams whips are easy to do, he cant do tricks and everything - shut up you f*cking punks. i wanna see how you ride red bulll rampage, crash, get up, and ride as good as you rode before crash. Its jus asking sam hill - why you dont do flips , 360 , whips etc? becouse he is racer. He is the best at dh, and maybe he don want to pull tailwhips and everything in crankworx, just like vanderham, he likes going big, he is FREERIDER not DIRTJUMPER. You know diffrence between it? BMX is for tricks, not mountainbikes...i think that BMX messed up all the FREERIDE scene, becouse everybody wants to see now more bigger crazy tricks , not fast riding down to steep cliff,and dropping off cliffs.
I think people will have to start realise diffrence between DJ and FR, becouse its totally differend.!!!!
I think people will have to start realise diffrence between DJ and FR, becouse its totally differend.!!!!
he'd look good with a specialized contract. demo's and sx trails fit his riding style pretty good i'd say. rocky mountain hung me out to dry on a rm7 frame crack so i got no fatih in that company. look forward to see him MOUNTAIN BIKING again soon.
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hehehehe
He is one of the best big mountain riders ever to grace this earth, but are you paying out dirt jumpers like lacondeguy cause he is off the chain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is one of the best big mountain riders ever to grace this earth, but are you paying out dirt jumpers like lacondeguy cause he is off the chain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Dude, even if whips were all Thomas does, it wouldn't matter, because a good whip trumps all other tricks, and Mr. Vanderham doesn't do good whips...Mr. Vanderham does INSANE whips.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qF1BwZMOgqI
2:08-2:15: Watch it son! That's not even his best whip, but lets see you try that! If you're expecting 360 whips off 50 foot drops, you're in the wrong place kevin.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR SEASONS TO COME OUT ON DVD!!!
Mr. Vanderham-good luck wherever the wind blows you-hopefully it blows you toward Mountain Cycle, lol.
Props.
Tim
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qF1BwZMOgqI
2:08-2:15: Watch it son! That's not even his best whip, but lets see you try that! If you're expecting 360 whips off 50 foot drops, you're in the wrong place kevin.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR SEASONS TO COME OUT ON DVD!!!
Mr. Vanderham-good luck wherever the wind blows you-hopefully it blows you toward Mountain Cycle, lol.
Props.
Tim
His best whips eerily resemble these whips actually...LOL inverted whips FTW...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8d6GmIMqd3o
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8d6GmIMqd3o
vanderham is the best rider ever. he is one of the last riders left that will charge red bull rampage style runs all day and can then go throw inverted whips in the park. He rides with more flow then the dh racers when he is hitting 40 foot step downs. suck it kevin!
Hey Thomas...if you read this I wanted to send my regards. I've watched Seasons, uhh, a few times, and I love your piece: nice lines, butter riding, you show your breadth of skillz. Kudos man. I had to look you up on the net to see what you're up to and get the 411. Best of luck on the new bike sponsor and I hope I bump into you at Whistler one weekend/weekday. Peace.
Thomas is an inspiration... I have reason to beleive he is currently on an Iron Horse Sunday though, whether it is a full sponsership deal it remains to be seen however checking a recent issue of Dirt magazine there is a pretty arty pic of him on A Line on an Iron Horse... Slick matey!!!!!!!! Much respect
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