The People of World Cup DH Racing (Part Two)
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 Composite image of the portraits of the people of the world cup. |
Part two of the People of the World Cup... My goal on this project was to strip away some of the mystique of the World Cup and of the racers.... to take off the full face helmets and put faces to the names we only read about or see video clips of, and to show some of their personalities. For many people viewing these portraits, it's the first time they've actually seen the faces of behind the goggles and the chin guards and the sponsor logos, as well as the faces of the people who create the images we consume so avidly in the media, who spin the wrenches on the bikes we lust for, and who lubricate the other moving parts of the World Cup. It's amazing how much of a barrier those goggles, that chin guard, and the sponsor logos create between the racing fans and the people who make racing what it is... Hopefully, these images remove that barrier.
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| Greg Minnaar's career has been going so long it's hard to realize that the South African is only 33 years old. The fresh prince of big air (as he was known back in his Global racing and Honda G Cross days) is starting to show a few signs of wear and tear (note that knee brace), but despite that, there's no denying that he's a podium threat every time he's in the start gate. Leogang, 2014. |
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| Emmeline Ragot is one of the most focused racers I've seen; she truly exhibits what it is to be a professional managing both cool, calculated risk yet also knowing when to throw caution to the wind and just go for it. She's also one of the most stylish female racers out there. And while she's not afraid to throw down when it's time to party, Emmeline's also been been diligently cracking the books and studying hard for a career as a physiotherapist. Fort William, 2014. |
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| Victor Lucas has been responsible for any number of Dirt Magazine covers as well as almost every insane image of Chris Akrigg that we've ever seen. He's a quiet one, though, who prefers to let his images do the talking. Leogang, 2014. |
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| Living the dream: Joe Staub is the team manager for the Giant Factory Off Road Team and calls Europe his home for six months out of the year. Not bad for a kid from the sticks in Colorado. Leogang, 2014. |
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| Even though he's got a great sense of humor, Gee Atherton is so seldomly pictured smiling that when I snapped him trying in vain to stifle this grin, I knew that I had the shot I wanted. Leogang, 2014. |
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| The editor for Mountain Bike Rider Magazine, "Mad Dog:" Boris Beyer burst onto the scene in 2011, hauling camera gear for Sven Martin and collecting bad tattoos along the way. May he never slow down. Leogang, 2014. |
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| He sure throws down sick tail whips for a child hood ice hockey prodigy... Bernard Kerr. Leogang, 2014. |
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| 3 years ago, Todd Anderson took a leap of faith and moved to Europe from the USA in order to take over the SRAM race support truck, and he's been on the road since then. Leogang, 2014. |
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| Aarron Gwin single-handedly raised the bar for what it takes to win on the World Cup level, and yet at the end of the day, he's still one of the humblest guys out there. And he's got a mean forehand on the tennis court, too. Leogang, 2014. |
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| There are very few riders who can not only be a legit threat on the World Cup, but who can then go toe to toe with the World's best free riders at the Red Bull Rampage; Brendan Fairclough is that rare rider. Leogang, 2014. |
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| Heal up, Rat boy! Leogang, 2014. |
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| Watching a seventeen year old Mitch Ropelato go inside against the world's best on the 4X track at Bromont in 2009 was my first experience with the Specialized racer. So much talent... Lepgang, 2014. |
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| Marcus Pekoll of MS-Mondraker not only races for the team, but is also licensed to drive the big rig that the team calls home when they're on the road. Leogang, 2014. |
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| Cameron Cole's been racing bikes since he was 3. Horse has had sweet success--a Junior World's title back in Rotarua, and bitter disappointment--the helicoptor ride out of Andorra in '13 being one of the worst. But overall, he's kept his sense of humor and his focus on racing..."If I wasn't racing bikes, I'd be racing something else." It's a shame Horse won't be on the circuit this season, but he's decided to move on. But he'll keep racing on his home turf in NZ. Fort WIlliam, 2014. |
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| Ed Masters. The Kiwi hasn't got a serious bone in his body. Except when it comes to pinning it down the track as fast as he can. Fort William, 2014. |
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| Dave Garland works on the World Cup circuit because suspension is in his blood--he not only owns his own suspension company, but wrenches on rally cars when he's not working on bikes. How good is he? Ask Danny Hart. Fort William 2014 |
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| Elliot Jackson's first step on the World Cup was at Val di Sole in 2011: it was his first race on the big stage, and despite smashing his drive train to bits in the rock garden at the top of the track during qualifying, he still managed to get into final. His easy going manner has had a place on the circuit ever since. Fort William, 2014. |
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| Matti Lehikoinen. Such a bright talent. Matti's not been on the circuit for a bit due to a couple nasty injuries, but he's been such a part of the circus for the past decade that seeing him at Fort William--even though he wasn't racing--was a genuine pleasure. Fort William, 2014. |
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| Mark Maurissen has been turning wrenches as long as the Belgian monks have been making his favorite beer, Duval. Need something extra done? Just make certain you have a bottle or six of the "nectar" and you might just be able to bribe him to get it done after he works on Gee's bike. |
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| Sam Hill. Another name etched into the collective consciousness of the World Cup circuit. He's always a quiet one--except when the chips are down; that's when one gets to see pure, unbridled passion to win running amok on the track. So good to see him tie it on again this year--there's life yet in Mr Hill! Fort William, 2014. |
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| Micayla Gatto taking in a nice cuppa caffeinated consciousness. It's interesting to see how creative she is as an artist--check it out at http://www.micaylagatto.blogspot.com. Fort William, 2014. |
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| It's rare to catch Sam Dale in a quiet moment--he's usually the center of whatever shenanigans are going down in the pits. But man, he's a joy to watch on the bike. Fort William 2014 |
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| Jack Roure is typically found one of two places: World Cup race pits or the local MX track. Jack's been a mechanic on the circuit since forever--17 years and counting. He's been with Lapierre for the last seven, and wrenched for Loic Bruni and Sam Blenkinsop this past season. |
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| Myriam Nicole, aka Pom-Pon. Whenever I see her ride, it's obvious that she's got a passion for riding the bike and for racing. Very few riders will take the time to notice the photographers much, but Pom-Pon's been known to flash a thumbs up to the photographers after cleaning a hard section in practice. Not during her race runs, though; then she's all business. Leogang, 2014 |
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| Alastair Gordon Brench...aka Reg, has been at it since the days when Tomac was racing on Raleigh. He's everything a mechanic should be: salty, crusty, and sharp tongued enough to flay an ego to the bone off anyone who doesn't think before they open their gob; but worth his weight in gold when it comes to turning wrenches. Leogang, 2014. |
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| Former racer and now pro lensman, Dave Trumpore. Unknown to many, Dave is just as willing to billy goat his way up skinny singletrack trails with a camera bag on as he is to shred down some of the steeper tracks around the globe. Oh, and if you see him on the trails in Taipei, that's not him, but rather his real (but still evil) twin brother, Lee Trumpore. Also a photographer. Leogang, 2014. |
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| Nigel Reeve of Brisbane, Australia arrived in Morzine, France in 2007 and started working with Nathan Rankin, a Kiwi racer, and he's never looked back. He's turned his Beta wrenches exclusively for Steve Smith for 3 seasons now, and we know how that's gone, don't we? Leogang, 2014. |
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| Remi Thirion got his first bike at age 2 and hasn't looked back since. If he wasn't racing bikes, likely you'd find him cutting the slopes as a professional skier--evidently he's just plain good at doing anything that means going down steep, gnarly lines at warp speed. Leogang, 2014. |
Stay tuned for our Third installment in a few days' time.
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