Video: Angel Suarez Begins the Hunt For His New Junior Team Mate

Jul 18, 2019
by YT Industries  

Passion, skill, potential to grow; these are key factors the YT Mob with Martin Whiteley and Elite UCI World Cup athlete Angel Suarez have been looking for while searching the globe for the next Young Talent to join the YT Mob in 2020. Seven episodes of a new online video series “The YT Mob World Tour” will show the process within this unique and unprecedented scouting program and attempt to deliver answers to the following questions: What is talent? Where can you find it? Can you create it? We hope to give the viewers and fans a behind the scenes look at the road to building a team with Young Talent from around the world and will be revealing who will make it to the final camp in Granada, Spain.


Six continents, six camps, one goal

In February, we announced that we would be embarking on an adventure in 2019 that would take the crew around the world in order to unearth the best downhill talent on the planet. Applications were accepted for six stops on six continents, four of which have already taken place in New Zealand, Argentina, Scotland and Japan. The camps have been and will be accompanied by “Knowmad Development” to create a video series that will offer a peek behind the curtain. The series will not only tell the tale of what happens at the camps and how mentor and talent developer Martin Whiteley and his team identify talent, but will be enriched by insight from Whiteley’s former protégés such as Brook MacDonald, Neko Mulally and Greg Minnaar, who all can look back on a similar process of being discovered, refining their raw talent and making it to the World Cup Elite.

bigquotesIn a way, ‘The Mob World Tour’ reminds me of my original reason for starting my first team, Global Racing, with riders from every continent; wanting to showcase talent from all over the world. Now we are discovering new riders and giving them the chance to attend a Young Talent camp on their continent, enjoy training with a World Cup rider like Angel, and perhaps taking it all the way through to a pro contract in 2020.Martin Whiteley, YT Mob Team Owner

Shot by Isac Paddock


Shot by Isac Paddock


Young Talent from all over the world

The story starts to unfold this week and will continue to put Young Talent in the spotlight in the episodes that follow with two camps in the United States and South Africa and the grand finale at ‘The Mob HQ’ in Granada, Spain, in mid-October. A lot of talent has been attracted to the program so far. 500 Young Talents from 45 different countries applied to be part of the camps of which 20 per camp have been admitted. The youngest to be part of “The Mob World Tour” was born in 2007, the oldest in 2001. During the camps Whiteley observes how well the Young Talent understands race craft, while the participants have the chance to gain valuable riding knowledge from current YT Mob rider Angel Suarez. The Spaniard is aware of the importance of mentors and slips into this role, teaching the up-and-coming how to walk a course and assess it or how to improve in certain sections through braking and cornering to maintaining speed through connected sections.

Shot by Isac Paddock

bigquotesIt’s amazing to have the opportunity to help super talented kids improve and it’s great to see how many good riders there are around the world. When I was starting out, I always found it very helpful to have someone more experienced by my side that trusted me, boosted my self-confidence and helped me feel more comfortable on the bike. That was one of the most important things at that stage in my career and I hope I can do the same for the kids I meet at the camps. Every kid has a different skillset and I think it will be hard to find the most complete riders, but I am really enjoying the process.Angel Suarez, YT Mob Pro Rider

Shot by Isac Paddock


Shot by Isac Paddock


True to the roots of YT Industries

Pure passion and an unwavering drive to unleash one’s true potential is the foundation to every successful career and also reflected in our roots. That passion and of course ability on a bike are vital to the YT Mob, but aspects such as mental strength, physical development and also room for growth in all categories will be the deciding edge, when it comes to who gets invited to ‘The Mob HQ’ later in the year. This unique chance to receive first-hand advice and being given an opportunity to shine has been received well. With two camps still on the calendar in Snowshoe, USA, and Stellenbosch, South Africa, we can look forward to learning more about talent development and getting to know more downhill talents around the globe in the next months.

bigquotesWe stand for finding and unleashing young talent. YT Industries is stoked to be working together with Martin on this because true to our roots we want to give the Young Talent a chance to show their potential and prove their passion for mountain biking. We are convinced that ‘The Mob World Tour’ is a unique opportunity to uncage the talent out there and are looking forward to seeing how The Mob will develop.Markus Flossmann, CEO YT Industries

Video: Knowmad Development
Photos: Isac Paddock

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99 articles

54 Comments
  • 67 2
 you should search in austria! cough david trummer cough
  • 40 1
 weird that their factory team isnt doing as well as their non factory team
  • 13 2
 These kids are 12 to 18, they are the Bruni's and Gwin's of the future. They aren't just looking to sign a privateer.
  • 3 2
 @Milko3D: Yes but why would 12-16 year olds really want a pro contract, look at Finn, yes he is good but DH racing is more than being good at riding bikes, not sure I like where it is going as risks are getting bigger as gets faster, also how many riders get dropped when the get hurt?
  • 5 2
 @aljoburr: Exactly because it's more than being good they need to me coached and mentored since earlier age.
Look at skiing, you give birth and submit the baby to the ski camp in hope of becoming the next Hirscher.

Is it right, no idea, but it's how it is when the sport turns pro.

My comment was more towards those dudes who completely miss the point shouting 'uh, sign X, done.'
  • 30 3
 Can‘t understand the hate for staying with angel ... everyone is complaining when brands/teams let down people because they got bad luck and get injured a lot ... YT does the opposite, keyboard warriors still hating Blank Stare
  • 15 4
 he's probably way cheaper than a top ten WC rider
  • 17 2
 I agree. And when he's healthy he's fast. People always forget the days that so many of the top ten guys couldn't stay on their bikes either. Hill, Bruni, Minnar, the list goes on, have all had their struggles to find their consistent pace. I still think Angel could be a threat and I think that its awesome that YT is sticking with him to try and help solve that race formula.
  • 23 7
 @BicycleHub: "so many of the top ten guys couldn't stay on their bikes either. Hill, Bruni, Minnar, the list goes on, have all had their struggles to find their consistent pace."

Fkking LMAO wwwhat?

Facts: Minnaar has never missed qualifying for a WC until 1st round this year. Hill & Bruni have *never* missed quali in their careers; even going back to Juniors. If you're gonna pull the injury card, you should know that both Hill & Bruni had major injuries early in a season... then later on came back to win World Champs (Hill in MSA; Bruni in Cairns)

Accept it: Martin Whiteley was wrong about this Angel kid and he's not as fast as the hype. Trying to compare his struggles with the legends of the sport is laughable.
  • 5 7
 @raybao: spittin' truth
  • 6 1
 It's one thing when you establish yourself as a competent racer with a team, and then they dump you when you have an off season. It's another thing when your entire career is off seasons. Sure, Suarez has had a small handful of respectable results. But he's had far more DNQ's and DNF's than top 20's. Nothing against Suarez, but he's had a lot of opportunities thrown at him with not much to show for it. There are other riders on the circuit that could go a lot further with those resources.
  • 3 3
 @raybao: yea mate, top 20 wc racer. What a chump...
  • 12 0
 @toast2266: the guy was running top 3 at the final split at World Champs just last year, there are very few riders with that sort of raw speed. Resources often don't make a rider instantly perform better as then they have to manage the expectation and pressure also.
  • 3 0
 @raybao: Then again, does every signed rider have to be top 5? Can't he be top 20 and everyone else is good about it? All he is doing is promoting the sport.
  • 1 1
 @cuban-b: And David Trummer (Top10) is even cheaper Frown
  • 1 0
 @Norweger: at the moment his stock is quickly rising due to his good results this year. he's able to ask for more money if his results are consistent. surely a factory team would be remiss if they didnt consider him for a spot on their team.
  • 2 0
 @raybao: Faster than you bruh.
  • 22 1
 Say what you want about angel, trummor, gwin, or whatever else grinds your gears... These camps are great for the riding community, and it’s awesome to see opportunities given to young guns like this.
  • 25 2
 TRUMMER. done.
  • 11 0
 Let's give it up for 500 kids on DH bikes!!! Seriously, when we were trying to grow our race scene in the early 2000's, we had virtually no youth on bikes. MTB was all adults. People are trying to talk like DH is down, but look at that!!! A sea of teenagers on DH rigs!!!
  • 5 0
 This. Pinkbike loves DH racing so people should be appreciative and thankful to Martin Whitely (not just for YT Mob but all he does) for his approach on these camps!!!
  • 1 0
 When the kids are united....
  • 3 0
 @captain23 you out there? We are singing your praises good sir. Wink
  • 6 0
 That's because those who started the scene now have kids and they don't mind spending the money on dh bikes for them. I think they should look outside of the dh scene for new talent, as these kids seem to already have some backing.
  • 3 2
 @djm35: THIs. Why back someone who's already backed?
  • 9 0
 I agree. Trummer is the real deal, but still interisting to see what this Program can give to young talents around the globe...maybe its more than just marketing Big Grin
  • 8 3
 Nah- Trummer to Syndicate... they seem to be one of the best for developing riders and with what he has already brought to the table without support it would be amazing to see what a team that actually develops riders could do for him!
  • 1 1
 good point
  • 8 0
 Missed opportunity to call the Mob team owner Martin YTley
  • 8 2
 Simple. Team Racing Dudes = New YT MOB
  • 4 1
 I pretty upset ab the way they just dropped Aaron Gwin but this make it up for that and cutting Zink from the business side. This is what companies should be doing!! Shout out to yt for this
  • 5 0
 Kind of interesting they had snips from Brook, Greg, Neko, etc...
  • 6 1
 All riders under Whitely's management.
  • 3 0
 @DirtyDee: Ah, makes sense - thanks
  • 9 7
 Maybe they should search for angel's replacement....he has been unfortunate and either can't stay on the bike or can't stay healthy. :/
  • 6 1
 Yep. I was thinking the same thing. But I think YT is focused more on that “Young talent” aspect.
  • 3 1
 Yup, take a look at some of the privateers out there. They are racing on the WC for a reason.
  • 8 5
 Has Angel Suarez qualified for any world cups this season?
  • 11 0
 he was injured i believe
  • 5 4
 @baptistamtb200: Being injured is kind of his thing.
  • 8 0
 he is a good guy who had his struggles with injuries. i hope he will come back and smash it.
  • 3 5
 Nothing against Angel but it would make more sense for a well established rider to look for young talents. Except for that I hope that something good will come out if this.
  • 11 1
 I know some of the young riders who were on this camp and they really praised Angel and said the feedback and confidence they gained from him was one of the best things about the experience. A lot of the more "established" riders wouldn't have had this impact at all - maybe the best is yet to come from this guy.
  • 2 6
flag gpgalanis (Jul 18, 2019 at 13:31) (Below Threshold)
 @m3000: So Angel has more impact than Gwin, Minnaar, Bruni, Brosnan, Hill etc? Don't get me wrong Angel is a nice guy but there is simply not comparison at all.
  • 4 0
 @gpgalanis: Being good at something is one thing and being able to pass some of that goodness to others in a positive teaching/mentoring manor is totally different skill set. Not saying those who you listed don't have that, but might just be that Angels is really good at it.
  • 3 0
 @gpgalanis: It all depends on what you want. YT have all the impact they could ever need. Perhaps they are more into helping the next generation and Angel is good at that. A lot of top riders cannot coach / teach / help anyone else at all.
  • 4 4
 TRUMMER 2020
  • 3 6
 trummer is money over bitch*s
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