The Santa Cruz Syndicate Teases its 2022 Lineup With Cryptic Social Media Post

Jan 5, 2022 at 10:37
by Alicia Leggett  
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This morning, the Santa Cruz Syndicate posted a cryptic pair of images on Instagram that has set the Internet buzzing, trying to decipher the 2022 team lineup. While we can't say definitively we have it figured out, here are our guesses at what the hints might mean.

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For one thing, it appears that the Santa Cruz Syndicate, which has historically fielded just three and now, more recently, two riders, may be ramping up to support a larger team that may include these riders:

Laurie Greenland: The biggest clue here is that the Red Bull cap in the lower right-hand side of the first image looks distinctly Greenland-ish. Plus, he's one of just two Red Bull riders that we know of who don't already have confirmed team contracts, the other rider being Jackson Goldstone. Which brings us to...

Jackson Goldstone: Jackson Goldstone is the obvious rider for any big team to grab at this year, so it makes complete sense that the Syndicate would go after him. After all, he has a very real chance at becoming the greatest downhiller of his generation. In the bottom left of the second image, there's a sliver of a Red Bull hat over sunglasses, which looks like it could be Goldstone. There's also a jersey that looks like a Vancouver Canucks hockey jersey, but the biggest tell is a shiny, yellowish rock near the bottom center of the second image. In other words, a gold stone.
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Nina Hoffmann: We actually speculated about Nina Hoffmann joining the Syndicate in 2020 , but this year, it seems that possibility may come to fruition. The rider in the bottom right of both images looks quite a bit like Hoffmann with Hoffmann's smile and her signature backward cap. Moreover, there's a sketch of a javelin thrower in the middle left of both images, and I, for one, can't name another pro rider who is also an accomplished javelin thrower.


As for the rest of the team, the image references both Greg Minnaar (the goat and World Cup stripes, though of course the stripes can apply to Goldstone, too) and Steve Peat (the glasses and sideburn sketch and the Yorkshire rose), so we can assume those two will stay in their current roles.

Similarly, the sponsor list looks a lot like what we know: Santa Cruz, Fox, Shimano, Burgtec, and Maxxis.


Of course, we welcome input from the commenters. All of your eyes will be able to pick out more details than we have found so far, so let us know what you can uncover. The best sleuthing will be posted below.

@rollbretzel - "Polarbears in Greenland, welcome Laurie!"

@zooksa - "Who drove KITT? The Hoff, man!"

@gigamike - "Front end of the Knight Rider car > David Hasselhoff > Nina Hoffman?"

Author Info:
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Member since Jun 19, 2015
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144 Comments
  • 331 9
 "After all, he has a very real chance at becoming the greatest downhiller of his generation"

Obviously he's very talented but he's 17 years old. He's a long way from being the "greatest of his generation". Can't we just let the kid be and not start putting that kind of expectation on him already?
  • 95 0
 Honestly this is a really mature opinion. Let the kid enjoy in between races, let`s not burden him with our hopes and let him decide where he is going to go. Too much pressure might ruin the fun of riding and racing colleagues
  • 52 1
 Look at Finn Isles. Great rider and didnt explode on the Elite scene (yet)
  • 36 0
 hell Jackson may just go slopestyle at some point. I knew about his bag of tricks long before I knew he had speed.
  • 14 0
 @adrennan: In a recent podcast interview (can't remember with who), Jackson was really direct in stating that his current focus for the foreseeable future is Downhill. I believe he even went as far to say that Freeride and Slopestyle would be an easy transition back for him after he is done with downhill...but if he wants to be a world cup downhiller, he needs to focus on that now. Sounds like the kid has a good head on his shoulders.
  • 7 2
 And the fact that there are racers he competes against with 1/5 of the priv's and opportunities to get to this point. The idea that they are even comparable with such a small amount of effort is insanely impressive.
  • 21 13
 He is clearly the most talented rider of his generation right now so it's not surprising or offensive to put those expectations on him in the context of talking about the prospect of him signing a contract with a big team. Writer is just trying to make an interesting article, give her a break. It's not easy being a blogger, I know from experience. Everybody is just so eager to attack every little thing you say, and everybody thinks they are an expert thanks to the internet.
  • 13 1
 @DoubleCrownAddict: It should've read "ONE of the greatest downhillers of his generation" vs. "THE greatest".
  • 7 0
 @DoubleCrownAddict: For sure. It's not like they created a Comment Section where we are encouraged to trade out opinions for clicks, is it?
  • 13 0
 @dkendy1: Poor Finn gets crushed by hype. Guys on pinkbike still go "wow he sucks" like he doesn't get into the top 10 all the time. I think he's winning a race soon.
  • 18 1
 Is Daprela considered the same generation as Goldstone? The dude is only like 20, right? If anyone has shown the potential to be the greatest of his generation its him.
  • 8 2
 Check it! Apparently I'm on next years Syndicate team TOO!

That''s obviously referring to me right there...

www.pinkbike.com/photo/21882356
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: but geographically pinkbike is closer to JG
  • 3 0
 @stiingya: no that's me!
  • 5 0
 @vhdh666: You both are mistaken. The glass and the letter P in puzzling, which happens to be the first letter of my PB nickname and actual name too, clearly states it is me to be one of the Syndicate riders. I've already started to pack my things.
  • 2 0
 @hamncheez: Well said mate. Does Jackson even speak French?
  • 2 0
 @pioterski: you lucky bastard
  • 2 1
 @DoubleCrownAddict: I hope he gets signed by YT this year
  • 3 1
 @Larkey1: so that he can't race? YT is struggling and had to cancel their DH team for next year.
  • 3 0
 @4thflowkage: I don’t think “crushed by hype” is fair. Is there some interview with Finn’s psychologist that I don’t know about? Or were you referring to some random fan’s unhealthy obsession (with an athlete he doesn’t know) getting crushed. Dude seems like he’s doing pretty well in life to me… but I guess I don’t know either
  • 1 0
 @deez-nucks: Yeah im referring to the expectations people place on him. I think a lot of people are unfair in their expectations.
  • 1 0
 @dkendy1: and pressure hos worst allay..
  • 83 9
 Scraping the Vital forums for info I see
  • 17 27
flag LDG FL (Jan 5, 2022 at 11:46) (Below Threshold)
 Kind of their job to look everywhere! if they didn't they wouldn't do a great job would they?
  • 40 0
 NoahColorado's post on Vital is ahead of the game.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/21880937
  • 3 0
 @commental: Jesus... how could we miss this?
  • 6 3
 Rumours does not come from Vital, they just thrive there.
  • 38 0
 @commental: This was a shocker, because everyone was assuming Bill was going to join his buddy Hank on Propain
  • 19 0
 @tgmdgn: PB is using all the info from Vital basically copy/paste. I think it's lame sauce if they didn't mention it.
  • 1 4
 @jaydawg69: rumours and certanties in the same buisness, how can one divide whom gets the to publish what from an open sourse. It is chatrooms in witch even members of each publikation can take part. Rumours on Vital could even be made by Pinkbike straff if thats what they want to do. They might also only publish what they allready know for fact. Is it then copying or a certification of an rumour?
  • 2 1
 @NoahColorado: you win the MTB internet today
  • 37 26
 god forbid we look at the same images with the same clues
  • 16 10
 @alicialeggett: but you guys had the clues written out in the vital forum... just be honest about it and where you got it from.
  • 6 1
 @jaydawg69: Not gonna happen anytime soon. They've been doing that since they noticed #TeamRumours is creating a buzz.

Otherwise, don't worry, they will keep telling you a Boost rear wheels fits a non-Boost frame without any issue! Wink
  • 52 2
 I can now confirm I am NOT going to be riding for the syndicate in 2022.
  • 2 17
flag johndrop7 (Jan 5, 2022 at 13:12) (Below Threshold)
 This better get comment gold.
  • 33 0
 Great work, but what team is Pepe Silvia going to be on?
  • 35 0
 US postal service factory racing
  • 20 0
 Ask Carol in HR.
  • 3 1
 @jaytdubs: you got a tip off from your guy Barney on this one?
  • 1 0
 @TannerValhouli: For all the sends, he's gotta get his mail, it's all he's been talking about
  • 1 0
 @TannerValhouli: aldi
  • 3 0
 Day bow bow
  • 1 0
 Pepsi who?
  • 32 1
 Who drove KITT? The Hoff, man!
  • 1 0
 Well done
  • 3 1
 She is too young for that joke. Needless to say that she looks way better and surely sings way better Smile
  • 6 0
 @2pi: Won't you get your Germen citizenship revoked by saying that?
  • 3 1
 @2pi: have you seen her christmas sweater?
  • 19 0
 Minnaar Greenland Hoffman Goldstone Stacked team!
  • 7 2
 Now if it makes sense why SC out there prices up this year by 15%
  • 2 0
 @tomo12377: (People selling a kidney to afford SC's sram SX build) "please... sir, no more... i can't t-..."
  • 2 0
 @tomo12377: 15% of too expensive will still be too expensive, no impact for me !
  • 12 0
 Front end of the knight Rider car > David Hasselhoff > Nina Hoffman ?
  • 2 0
 "The Hoff"
  • 10 1
 Most of the talk here is about Goldstone/Hoffman, but I think that Laurie Greenland is the perfect Syndicate rider. The team used to have a reputation for loose, all-in-on-the-edge riding which they seem to me to have lost a bit in the last 5 years. Greenland is one of the guys who seems to most embody that at the sharp end of the downhill ranks right now.
  • 1 0
 Hope to see him do a long term at the Syndicate, like the old boys before him.
  • 16 8
 I guess all the times I commented on Syndicate videos "When will the Syndicate put a woman on their team?" finally paid off! Better late than never although Nina deserved to be on the team last year.
  • 5 1
 pretty sure I had heard somewhere that was her choice. Some riders prefer having their own program.
  • 14 3
 Nina Hoffman wrote "Stay tuned" on instagram, confirmed joining Scott.
  • 12 2
 Jackson to Syndicate!!! Canucks Jersey. Red Bull. World Cup Colours.
  • 1 0
 Minaar also currently holds the World Champion colours. I believe the final team has already been mentioned by another member, Minaar, Greenland, Hoffman and Goldstone.
  • 7 2
 When I look at that second image (viewing on mobile) the face my brain immediately seems to recognize in the top left corner is Connor Fearon... Anyone else agree?
  • 2 0
 Yeah I agree (Y)
  • 1 0
 Pretty solid rumours over here are that Fearon is on Forbidden
  • 1 0
 @chrish: Would be super interesting! Would be awesome to see such a relatively "small" company funding a WC go with Connor
  • 1 0
 @chrish: saw him riding with timmy eaton (who's on forbidden) a week ago so makes sense
  • 4 0
 What ever happened to the team rumours accounts who used to draw cryptic clues a few years back, who ever that was had a very good intelligence and inside source.

#bringbackteamrumours
  • 6 0
 Wasn't that dude mostly on vital?
  • 3 0
 Ream_tumors on Instagram although haven't been active in the last few years.
  • 3 0
 I think a certain a Squid got some heat from the teams for that account….
  • 2 1
 @wpplayer18: It still is. PB is just cherry picking the fruit of what Vital users have been doing since silly season began. I know, reading through 40 pages worth of forum posts is hard work indeed. They should get a raise! Big Grin
  • 4 1
 Once again, VitalMTB users feel humbled that their sharp minds and collective interest about our sport has been turned into yet another article that required quite some hard work!

THANK YOU & YOU ARE WELCOME!
  • 6 1
 Minnaar will be back. The goat eye gives that one away.
  • 30 2
 Nnoooo. That is a huge clue for them using Capras this year!!
  • 3 1
 @Vudu74: hahaha
  • 2 3
 @Vudu74: Yes, the Satandycate Team
  • 8 2
 cue a DCA comment in 5, 4, 3, 2....
  • 5 0
 Maybe they are signing Mathieu van der Poel to race downhill.
  • 2 0
 I believe this is next on his list after walking on water before parting the sea.
  • 1 0
 He'd probably smash that too.
  • 2 0
 You guys missed Chris King as a sponsor and I believe I see bits of their logo. Obviously they've sponsored the team for years and from my knowledge Goldstone still rides for them as well...
  • 2 0
 The CHRIS KING logo is pointing at the Gold...
  • 1 0
 @theITdude: I was referring to this part of the article: "Similarly, the sponsor list looks a lot like what we know: Santa Cruz, Fox, Shimano, Burgtec, and Maxxis."
  • 10 6
 At no point was I buzzing about this
  • 16 7
 You're commenting on an article about it. That's kind of the definition of buzzing.
  • 4 3
 @toast2266: odd dictionary you must have
  • 4 0
 Love this!! Team will be stacked for next year
  • 4 0
 Polarbears in Greenland, welcome Laurie!
  • 4 0
 I look at this and see Cedric Garcia coming back! So excited..!
  • 3 0
 Goldstone is a shoe in ! there is a canuck jersey in the picture !
  • 2 0
 All the signs point to Goldstone though i mean a gold stone? all his sponsors? Like duh
  • 4 1
 Where are the "Top Comments of 2022"???
  • 1 2
 "Top Comments of 2022" will lazily be classified in term of total upvotes, not in term of "quality of the comment / of the reflexion", so:pointless, minus some exceptions of course!
  • 3 0
 @danstonQ: There was no top photo of 2021, no surprise after last year's shit show
  • 1 0
 @TCarl11: Still pissed about Ross being robbed. Utter scandal.
  • 4 0
 There was an unfavourable comment (from PB/Outside's POV) on the story about the sale of PB to Outside that got nearly 3000 upvotes. I'm guessing that's why there's no top comments of the year this year, it probably wouldn't please the overlords.
  • 1 0
 @commental: thanks for mentionning it, but once again: does the quality of a comment depend on the number of its upvotes? The answer is definitely NO.
  • 1 0
 @danstonQ: Fair enough, although I'm not sure how you'd quantify them otherwise. The top comments shown in the article last year were based on the number of upvotes they had received.
  • 3 0
 The whole team on Fox kit, by the look of it
  • 1 0
 how has this not been picked up on more? you can see the fox clothing font in both photos!
  • 2 0
 @kev-jones: Certainly can, Minnaar removed Oneal from his tags on instagram also.
  • 1 0
 He fills a gap that Brycland left as well as They are gonna look Moto as and be all over podium.
  • 2 0
 Humphrey Yellowrock is gonna be stoked. He's been on a Specialized Hardrock for the last five years.
  • 1 0
 Who’s that with the moustache though, non of those rider have a moustache and that kinda looks like Connor Fearon or Charlie Harrison?
  • 1 0
 You'll find all the CSI work that inspired this article on the VitalMTB thread. Seriously, it's all there, plus more than you see here.
  • 1 0
 Peaty I’d suggest.
  • 2 0
 From the clues I can see, it's pretty clear that Bruce Willis will be on the team. Not 100% sure tho.
  • 2 0
 These days you get better payed as a Freerider with a big following on social media in many sports than a top racer
  • 4 2
 Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt.
  • 3 1
 The golstone is a goveaway
  • 2 0
 The chracter with the reverse base cap looks like Valli Höll
  • 2 0
 There is a technical drawing of a javelin field -> Hoffmann for sure!
  • 1 0
 They lost loris and shaw left so it could be that both Laurie and Jackson could be both going......
  • 2 0
 I really hope Hofmann gets taken into the team
  • 2 0
 Edward Scissor Hands and Ratboy Wink
  • 2 0
 Hilarios
  • 1 0
 Just got the email, confirmed on Nina, JAckson, Laurie Greg an Peaty for 2022
  • 1 0
 Is it just me or does anyone else see the Chromag logo in there?
  • 1 0
 DH racing is so good. Love it.
  • 1 0
 Goldstone is in Cali right now as well...
  • 3 0
 I dont blame him, squamish and rest of BC have been under thick snow for about 2 weeks now
  • 2 1
 @ybsurf: soo he's missing out?! I'm sure he's a skier, growing up in whistler. Love seeing the insta posts of riders like Remy, Jesse and Finn absolutely shredding the planks.
  • 2 0
 Shaka Brah.
  • 1 0
 These teams are crazy if they don't sign dak. As much promise as anyone.
  • 1 0
 The best team ever !!!!!
  • 1 0
 Nice
  • 2 2
 What about mark wallace if there’s a hockey jersey it hints canadian
  • 1 1
 delete
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