Big Changes for Kona Factory Team in 2011

Feb 8, 2011
by Kona Bikes  
The Kona Factory Team has shaken up their DH roster for 2011 with the addition of Mitch Delfs and Connor Fearon. The young Aussie duo will be looking to turn some heads on the 2011 World Cups circuit on Kona’s new factory equipped Supreme Operators.Delfs is a top 15 usual suspect on the tour with Fearon, who is still racing Junior, being well known in Australia as one to watch. The 17-year-old will be at the World Championships, Crankworx and a few stops on the World Cup. We have to give the kid a break and let him finish school first. Both riders DH rigs will be equipped with Maxxis rubber, Shimano parts, Easton cockpits and wheels, e-13 chain-guides, RockShox Suspension and WTB saddles.

Watch out for this kid - Connor Fearon
Mitch Delfs - Kona 2011

Our world famous Clump team is now more focused with Graham Agassiz, Paul Basagoitia and Grant ”Chopper” Fielder doing what they do best: pushing their Kona bikes to the limit. Graham will be busy filming with Freeride and Anthill Films this year as well as helping develop an all-new freeride bike. “So stoked to be on Kona for a couple more years and being more involved than ever!” says the 20-year-old from Kamloops, BC.

photo
RB Rampage 2010 - Graham Agassiz

Bass will also be filming with Freeride Entertainment for 2011, in between a busy competition schedule where he’ll be looking to continue his slopestyle domination on his signature Kona Bass.

photo
Paul Bas at Crankworx

Chopper just finished designing an amazing course at this year’s Whitestyle in Leogang and will be spreading the groove again this year with his school programs and participating in dirt jump comps everywhere. The Clump riders will be rocking RockShox suspension for 2011, as well as Maxxis rubber, Shimano parts, Easton cockpits and wheels, e-13 chain-guides, and WTB saddles.

The Super D/ Enduro side of Kona is growing with our Magic Link Cadabras and Coilairs proving their speed and adaptability on race courses around the world. French racing legend Karim Amour and PNW speedster Matt Slaven of the Portland represent Kona’s increased commitment to Enduro racing. Both are an integral part of the development of our race proven Magic designs, equipped with Maxxis rubber, Shimano parts, Easton cockpits and wheels, e-13 chain-guides, RockShox Suspension and WTB saddles. Look for both to dominate at the new Kona Magic Enduro at this year’s Crankworx.

For XC and Marathon, Kona welcomes a new member to our 29er loving crew. Spencer Paxson is joining the team along with superstars Barry Wicks, Kris Sneddon and Canadian National 24HR Champion, Cory Wallace. The Team’s 29er race rigs will be equipped with Maxxis rubber, Shimano parts, cockpits by Full Speed Ahead, Stans No Tubes wheels, RockShox Suspension and WTB saddles.

“We’re looking forward to the continuing dominance from our returning riders and some great results and film parts from our latest additions,” says Smiley Nesbitt, Kona’s Sports Marketing Manager. “With the support of our partners, we’re quite confident that a lot of great things are going to go down this year.”

Look out for the Kona Factory Team at a town near you.

photo



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66 Comments
  • 28 2
 Connor will be World Champion, mark my words.
  • 5 1
 If not Troy. Those two are off the hook. Amazing to watch.
  • 1 1
 The Australian Nationals just this weekend is enough said.
  • 8 1
 Damn Aussies, makin' all the other nations look slow
  • 5 0
 dont forget loose cannon
  • 1 0
 it's because they live on the other side
  • 1 0
 true.
  • 1 1
 maybe we just somehow want it more. but i think a big part of it is trying to keep up with/being faster than you're mates.
  • 1 0
 it kinda seems unfair to connor , Troy has so much publicity because of specialized but connor is only milliseconds behind him and he goes basically unoticed,
  • 1 0
 He has beaten Troy a few times now.
  • 13 0
 Wow delfs on kona so unexpected
  • 6 20
flag rigodon777 (Feb 8, 2011 at 6:27) (Below Threshold)
 Delfs on a kona... NOT something i'm pleased with...
  • 2 1
 very unexpected, this is his 4th team change in 4 years i believe...
  • 9 0
 Why are you not pleased? do you have a Pivot and feel like a lesser person now?
  • 3 12
flag rigodon777 (Feb 8, 2011 at 14:41) (Below Threshold)
 WHAT THE HELL? Because I'm giving my opinion on his new sponsor choice i'm getting neg props, AND Hated on, BTW i'm getting a v10 so I don't think it's really affecting me, but I would have seen delfs on a better DH suited bike!
  • 6 2
 How is the Operator a bad DH bike? Have you ridden it? if not you cant really give an opinion on the subject can you.
  • 3 0
 Yeah because people assumed you're another brainless sheep who hates Kona just because everyone else does. Maybe if you'd provided a reason people wouldn't have jumped to that conclusion
  • 3 5
 Maybe I work in a shop that basically deals only kona and we had a demo at the local hill with the new operator, and let's say I was PRETTY dissapointed..
  • 2 0
 Well there we are, that's a decent reason, personal experience of the bike. if you had said that originally you would have avoided the neg props and hating. There are plenty of people that hate Kona for no reason and you should probably distance yourself from that
  • 1 0
 really cos i met a few guys at thredbo with them and they loved it!
  • 3 0
 As did I, enough that its replacing my DHR this season
  • 2 0
 Still think 'rigodon777' is just spitting his dummy out, to 'high class' for kona so finds reasons not to like them and my bet clearly bias in reviewing them. Go suck santa-cruz d*ck
  • 12 3
 Nice, should boost Kona's popularity with bikers
  • 49 10
 I agree, people need to stop hating on kona so much. They produce world cup class bikes
  • 7 2
 Yessss the clump's gonna be riding rockshoxs!!!
  • 6 1
 agassiz freeride bike? I WANT. at least for now it sounds amazing.
  • 2 0
 YESS MITCH!
  • 1 0
 I am no longer embarassed to have Kona in my name! Now I just need to get a Kona again...
  • 1 0
 ^^im wit sella^^kona is legit
  • 6 0
 delfs!awsome deal,i hope he gets the treatment he deserves from sponsors...
  • 5 0
 Connors a machine, between him and Troy and a few others, the australian downhill future is very bright!
  • 6 0
 cant wait to see some comments of kona "haters" Smile
  • 4 0
 Congrats Mitch, I hope that you and Connor are able to really work with each other this year and get up on the podium like you are capable of! Best of luck!
  • 3 0
 good to see kona putting some effort back into the world cup team , look what they did with barel an mosley a few years back , maybe well have that again??
  • 5 0
 'All new free-ride bike' Intermeresting.
  • 2 4
 probably just like the "ALLL NEWWW" tanuki and operator
same shit,
different tubing, geometry tweak and name
  • 4 0
 Smart move by Kona to invest in some young aussies. The clump rocks too. Yay for Kona!
  • 3 0
 Operator is hands down the best bang for buck on the entry level DH bike market!!! 3G's complete at retail AWESOME good work Kona on leading the pack in that
  • 5 1
 I want my operator soooo bad!
  • 4 0
 Connor Fearon! Go on lad!
  • 3 0
 Awesome to see conner in a world cup team. He will give Troy a run for his money
  • 2 0
 what kind of price would i be looking at for the cheapest camera to make this videos quality?
  • 2 0
 these guys are so inspiring. i can't wait to get my kona DH operator, hehehe.
  • 4 5
 Fuck school, get Connor racing the whole world series. But honeslty this is an awesome step for him and I hope he is able to pull some wins, because theres no doubt he has the potential to.
  • 3 4
 How many times did they have too say will be equipped with Maxxis rubber, Shimano parts, Easton cockpits and wheels, e-13 chain-guides, RockShox Suspension and WTB saddles" to satisfy said sponsors?
  • 10 0
 Four.
  • 13 1
 Every time, I'd imagine. Would you want to be supporting a team by supplying them with your parts for next to nothing and have no recognition for it? I don't think so.
  • 2 0
 I want to race for this team so baadd
  • 2 0
 What's happened to Joe smith?
  • 2 0
 Went to CRC/Nukeproof
  • 2 0
 Way to go Spencer!!!!!
  • 3 1
 AAWWWW YEAH GIRL Prancer Paxson is gonna get real ricky on that 69er this year! Also, IPattis, can I trade my xbox 360 for your blazer jimmy? Such a nice Jimmy, I would totally buy it if I had the money! I could also trade you my paintball gun.
  • 2 0
 Yeah Spencer! Looking forward to seeing where he goes with this support! World Cups? Also, very interested to see how Connor Fearon does this year, kid's been lighting it up at the Aussie Nationals and only missing 1st place by slim margins. Not sure if Troy is eligible to defend his Jnr worlds title this year (i.e. is now an Elite), but I know Neko and Connor will be going for it!
Good to see Kona getting behind the racing again.
  • 1 0
 troy is not an elite, he was only 1st year junior last year, he still has a second year of junior
  • 1 0
 what song is it?
  • 1 0
 what song is it?
  • 1 0
 The song is Holidays (feat. Alan Palomo) - Miami Horror.
  • 1 0
 You already said that.
  • 1 0
 go on! connor.
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