iXS Rider Announcement

Darren Berrecloth
A couple of years have passed since Canadian Darren Berrecloth has caused quite a stir in the world of freeriding by showing BMX dirt tricks in exposed terrain. Meanwhile "The Claw" is over 30 years old, but he is still a contender for top results in slopestyle and freeride contests. And Berrecloth has also been involved in the development of iXS’ protective gear for a couple of years.

Hans Rey
After he had emigrated to the United States, Hans "No Way" Rey became one of the first posterboys of the sport – and he also made it into mountain biking’s hall of fame quite a while ago. Today, Hans invests a lot of time in his "Wheels4Life" foundation and to advance the concept of flow trails. Apart from that, Rey is a key contributor when developing iXS’ enduro products.

Geoff Gulevich
From dirtjump and slopestyle contests to extreme events such as the Red Bull Rampage, Canada’s Geoff Gulevich is always a contender for a top 5 result. And having grown up in British Columbia, he’s a incredibly versatile freerider as well. For all of these adventures, Geoff relies on helmets and protective gear from iXS.

Szymon Godziek
Frontflip, 720 or double tailwhip: Szymon Godziek is one of those dirtjump specialists that hammer out the toughest tricks with ease. The 21 year-old from Poland is always a contender for a top result at FMB World Tour events – all the more if there is a best trick contest. With protective gear, gloves and helmets from iXS, Godziek is ready for the task.


Richie Schley
As one of the original Froriders, Richie Schley has quite some reasons to consider himself a founding father of the freeride movement. Even today the Canadian’s playful style of riding gets him into movies. And many years of experience pay off when helping to further evolve the helmet line-up of iXS.

Matt Hunter
Matt Hunter is literally living the freeride format: The Canadian secured his first sponsoring deals by winning the "Ultimate Freeride Challenge". And despite not participating in competitions, his riding style is very characteristic. As a true nature boy, Hunter knows how to get the best out of a slope. And he relies on iXS’ protective gear in case anything goes wrong.

Logan Binggeli
The name may sound Swiss, but Logan Binggeli is one of the fastest downhill racers of the United States. And he is one of a select group of downhill racers who can give the best freeride specialists a run for their money at the Red Bull Rampage. Logan Binggeli hardly rips his bikes without wearing protective gear and helmets from iXS.


René Wildhaber
René Wildhaber from Flumserberg has been one of the strongest specialists for endurance downhill racing for years. He has an impressive record of wins at races such as the Bike Attack, the Trailfox and the Mégavalanche Alpe d’Huez, but for 2013 Wildhaber is looking for a fresh challenge. He is going to compete at select enduro races, and his bike handling skills and fitness should make "WIldi" highly competitive in this kind of races, too. Protective gear from iXS saves him from harm.

Ryan Berrecloth
Three years older than Darren, Ryan is much more than just the brother of "The Claw": Despite not riding contests, he has built quite a name as a freerider and trail builder, and it paid off with segments in various films. As all kind of things can go wrong when trying to ride a freshly built northshore trail, Ryan is not only wearing iXS outfits, but also relies on the brand’s helmets and protective gear.

Kenny Belaey
Belgium’s Kenny Belaey has been of the world’s best bicycle trials riders for the last 10 years. He got into the sport more than 20 years ago and has won world championships in all age categories, winning four titles with the men elite. At an age of 30, Belaey is riding countless trials shows and has only recently picked up mountain biking. Thanks to iXS’ knee and elbow protectors, Kenny comes through all of his adventures unscathed.

Evil World Cup Team
After a hiatus of a couple of years, the bicycle brand evil returns to racing. Fittingly the team is named "Evil Vengeance Tour", and iXS is supplying the team’s outfit and protective gear.

-Luke Strobel: Before Aaron Gwin’s meteoric rise, 26 year-old Luke Strobel was considered as the strongest downhill racer from the United States. If he’s not pushing his bike to its limits on descents, fishing in his home state of Washington is his way to relax.

-Mitch Delfs: Autralia’s Mitch Delfs started as a big talent and at an age of 23 he has made it into the ranks of professional downhilling. Last year, he finished in 11th ath Windham’s worldcup race, narrowly missing out on a top10 placing. And that is what Mitch is aiming for in 2013.

-Filip Polc: Normal downhill tracks are not Filip Polc’s specialty. But at urban downhill races that lead over stairs, drops and cobbled sections, the 30 year-old Slovak is hard to beat. Being a versatile rider, Polc has also been competing at Red Bull Rampage several times.

BMC MTB Racing Team
The Swiss manufacturer’s enduro team is made up of Florian Golay and Frenchman Francois Bailly-Maitre. But Julien Absalon and Ralph Näf plan to start at selected enduro races as well, relying on iXS’ protective gear. The new, lightweight «Flow» protectors might show up at crosscountry eliminator races as well.

Rose Vaujany Team
Even after the cancellation of all worldcup races, the 4Cross format is alive. And with riders such as Joost Wichman, Petrik Brückner and Cathy Curd the Rose Vaujany Team has a lot of firepower for both the worldwide and European race series. If the schedule of races allows for it, the team also is going to compete in enduro events. Dressed up in iXS outfits, all team riders also rely on the brand’s protective gear and helmets.

Trek Gravity Girls
The cooperation of iXS and the Trek Gravity Girls is more than just a sponsorship: Riders such as Steffi Marth, Katja Rupf, Michele Quint and Kath Kuypers are also involved in the developing women-specific protective gear, helmets and bikewear. After all, more and more women are getting into the gravity-driven side of the sport. And iXS wants to supply them with protective gear, outfits and helmets that fit regarding anatomy, ergonomics and style.

Ghost Riders
With riders such as Marcus Klausmann, Johannes Fischbach and Guido Tschugg, Ghost Bikes cover quite a range of formats ranging from downhill to enduro and 4Cross. And these riders are sure to get a lot of media coverage in Germany, as do the helmets and productive gear from iXS that they are wearing.

Gates-Nicolai Team
Unfazed by the carbon fibre trend, Kalle Nicolai focuses on German workmanship and innovations: made of aluminium, his frames feature many machined parts, fat welds and unique solutions such as belt drive systems and internal gearboxes. The Gates-Nicolai team is characterized by an interesting mix of talent and experience, and when racing the team riders rely on protective gear and goggles from iXS.

-David Graf: Whether on a BMX or a 4Cross bike: David Graf from Winterthur is a world-class rider. In 2012, he caused quite a stir when he posted the fastest qualifying time at the 4Cross World championships before a crash in the final heat ended his dreams of the title. In 2013, Graf will be competing in both 4Cross races and the BMX supercross worldcup.

-Frank Schneider: For a downhill racer, Frank Schneider is almost as old as Methuselah. Meanwhile, the 35 year-old German is competing in enduro races as well. At the Mégavalanche Alpe d’Huez, "Schneidi" showed his fine bike handling skills by winning the challenger race – on a hardtail!

-Quentin Derbier: Quentin Derbier’s style of racing is jaw-dropping: The Frenchman is known as a really aggressive 4Cross racer who takes no prisoners as soon as the gate has dropped. And protective gear from iXS comes to answer his call on race day.

-Kevin Dewinski: At an age of 22 Kevin «Kiwi» Dewinski has already racked up some impressive results within Germany’s gravity racing scene. The Ilmenau resident also successfully competes at enduro races and has become the International German Enduro Champion in 2012. Apart from all of this, he also manages to advance his studies.

-Mike Schär: Living in Dietikon, Mike Schär is likely to rise to fame in the sport: At an age of 16, he won the Swiss under17 downhill championships at Wiriehorn, and at the end of the season he was the second-placed junior riders in the iXS Swiss Downhill Cup’s overall standings. And this is likely to be just the beginning of Schär’s career.

www.ixs-sportsdivision.com