Yeti Adds Kiwi Cam Cole to World Cup DH Squad

Nov 21, 2012 at 18:49
by Mike Kazimer  
Yeti Cycles has announced the signing of 24 year-old Kiwi rider Cam Cole to their World Cup race squad. Cole, a native of Christchurch, New Zealand, finished 11th overall in the 2012 UCI Downhill World Cup and 16th in the 2012 World Championships in Leogang, Austria.

“Traditionally Yeti has been a brand that grows talent from within,” said Yeti president and co-owner Chris Conroy. “But we’ve had our eye on Cam for a few years and feel like he can not only add to the results the team will pick-up, but he can mentor some of the younger riders like Richie Rude.”

Cole will join 15-time World Cup winner Jared Graves of Australia who’ll be focusing on Enduro, American Richie Rude who finished second in the 2012 Junior World Championships and will focus his efforts on downhill events exclusively. Cole will race all World Cup downhills in 2013 and some Enduro events
.
“I am very excited to be joining such a high-level team and prestigious company. I’m at the point in my career where I can really elevate my performance on and off the bike and I’m looking forward to building a lasting relationship with Yeti Cycles.”

After spending the long off-season training and racing in his home country, Cole will officially debut with Yeti on the World Cup circuit in June 2013 at Fort William in Great Britain. Despite missing the opening round of the World Cup in 2012 due to an injury sustained at the previous year’s World Championships, Cole rallied for one of his best seasons to date.

For the 2013 season, the Yeti Cycles team will be sponsored by FOX Racing Shox, Shimano, Maxxis, DT Swiss, One Industries and e13.

About Yeti:
Yeti Cycles is a rider-owned high-end mountain bike company, based in Golden, Colorado that has crafted race-bred and hand-built bicycles since 1985. The company has twenty-five years of racing experience and focuses its product development on making racers go faster. If you visit our offices at noon, we won’t be there – we’ll be out riding. Visit www.yeticycles.com to learn more.

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58 Comments
  • 25 1
 well deserved to Cam good luck!. Good to see Graves dipping into Enduro as well.
  • 9 2
 as happy as i am for yeti i thought lapierres were dope! wonder what cam didnt like
  • 28 4
 ^ $$$$$$$$
  • 19 4
 the sloppy rear end
  • 13 0
 It was nothing to do with the Lapierre DH bike which was good enough to dominate the junior world cup and win the junior world champs this year. Cam's contract came to an end and Loic Bruni moving up was the obvious first choice for Lapierre after his results this year. All the best to Cam and Yeti in 2013.
  • 6 0
 Any space for me in the Yeti Team ?
  • 2 0
 Cole has some serious world cup winning potential still, would be nice to get another one on a yeti. Last one was Blenki in 08?
  • 12 0
 What about Eliot Jackson?
  • 4 0
 Eliot moved on to bigger things
  • 2 0
 cant remember if he ever made it into the top ten at a WC
  • 7 0
 He got 2nd at national champs and i believe 26th was his best result to date at a world cup. But make no mistake about it, he's still an up and comer
  • 11 0
 Well World Cup Rumors was right!
  • 4 0
 He's always right.
  • 2 0
 Die from Aids please
  • 1 0
 i agree with with Sup3rc0w. googleclown!
  • 8 0
 Holllyyyyyy shit, good season ahead for yeti and Cam
  • 3 0
 What about Elliot Jackson? No mention of him in the atricle. Is Yeti letting him go? Where will he go if Yeti isn't bringing him back?
  • 1 0
 I ride a 303 and couldn't be happier on another bike. it feels petite and agile, and rolls incredibly fast. Im always gaining on other people in a straight line. I trust the corbon ones will feel allot more ridged and wont be as prone to injury as the alloys.
  • 2 0
 Last year Graves was going to focus on Downhill now Enduro. Focus on something, Smile
  • 4 1
 His results in DH have a lot to do with his move - sometimes you have to face the truth. He was a master champion at 4X, but only a mid pack racer in DH. It wasn't going to happen for him there, so he'll switch into Enduro and give that a go - look at Dan Atherton. - I think it's a great move. Enduro (which needs a cooler name) is getting some pretty heavy hitters and his addition can only make it better!
  • 1 0
 only a mid-pack racer in DH ... this time round. Remember NORBA champ (when it still meant something), 2nd atAngel Fire WC by >. Agreed, enduro with fit dh guys can only shake things up. And with an enduro series how many other non-podium pinners will try their hand? Blinky has always done well at Mega, Peaty and Minaar post-retirement?
  • 1 0
 Wow, Yeti are going to be a team to watch out for! Can't wait for the new World Cup Season!
  • 2 0
 Welcome to the tribe Cam!
  • 1 0
 he left Lappierre and his teammate Sam Blenkinsop, who was once a Yeti rider. Big Grin
  • 3 0
 Rock on YETI!!!!!
  • 2 0
 Hell yeah!! BTW, what bigger things did Jackson move on to?
  • 21 1
 Your mum!!
  • 1 2
 his dog!
  • 2 0
 Yeah cam!!
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know why he left Lapierre?
  • 2 0
 i cant say that i do, but mtb is not different from any other pro sport, its usually about money
  • 3 1
 Probely just end of contract and felt like a change of scene
  • 4 7
 yup and maybe carbon had something to do with it? probably didn't play that big a factor, but its definitely a plus
  • 4 6
 im with money, I'm pretty sure yeti is a bigger company than lapierre
  • 8 1
 The people who own Lapierre own Redline, Ghost, Seattle Bike Supply, etc. They are WAY bigger than Yeti.
  • 5 1
 His contract was at an end as his recent results sadly were not good enough to justify Lapierre keeping him on the senior squad over Junior World Champ Loic Bruni who's moving up to seniors next year. Hope he does well at Yeti and we wish him all the best.
  • 4 0
 Wait until you see Lapierre's setup at a World Cup, I'm fairly sure there is a jacuzzi in there some where, amongst all the other amazing things, they're big euro ballers, money is definitely not a problem.
  • 2 0
 @ Liam. Yeah. Saw their big rig in Morzine. No shortage of cash there.
  • 1 6
flag MattyKNZ (Nov 22, 2012 at 0:14) (Below Threshold)
 ........dealing day to day with French Monkeys and having to ride an average set up prob had a lot to do with it.. Good choice with the Yeti team and bring on 2013 WC season!!!
  • 6 2
 MattyKNZ frenh aren't as bad as the yanks thow you have to admit atleast they have a taste in alcohol and women haha.
  • 7 0
 Plasmatron is correct - It's not bikes/equipment etc or even his choice. .. For the most part, racers don't leave one brand to jump to another - they are simple not rehired at the end of their contracts, if their sponsor doesn't feel they had the results they were looking for. Others who exceed results (Gwinn) get to shop around at the end of their contracts because, they'll most likely be offered a better deal/paycheck that the Co there with can't match. It's no different from any other professional team sport - everyone wants to to win races/championships - those sell oodles of bikes (or tickets at a stadium) a lot more than a team that doesn't. This is a career for the top races - it's their job to win.
  • 1 0
 Woo! Solid addition to a rockin' team.
  • 1 0
 this is sick Yeti is on the HUNT!
  • 3 6
 He thought he Laperrie was a POS worst bike eva, wait till you see his results go through the roof on the carbon Yeti, note blinky has not won a WC since leaving Yeti, first and only results dont lie, bikes riders get found out in DH, all the best Cam, know u will kill it. Predict first WC win at Ft Bill in 13 ya geard it here first!
  • 3 1
 have you ever ridden a lapierre? they are very nice bikes. that and these guys coupd win on anything
  • 2 1
 *could
  • 3 2
 I've ridden the current lapierre DH bike quite a bit and my opinion, although not quite as harsh as Maverick's is similar. Definitely far better options out there!
  • 1 0
 I agree with Benlow, I own a Lapierre and they are over rated.
  • 1 0
 yeah, I only did three runs at whistler with it, no comment on the shock as it was oversprung for my weight but I found it light and pedaled very well, is the suspension bad?
  • 2 1
 The bike is of a high standard but the sloppy rear end means for an uneasy loose ride if you can't correct it. I will find myself under control at a fast pace and the wheel flexes around rocks but once it hit's a big rock it just blows you front heavy and becomes super sketchy that's what I don't like about it. It also tends to jump awkward, and I have talked to many Lapierre owners who say the same thing. I sold mine last week for 3500 NZD after having it for 12 weeks, in total it costed around 12000 NZD.
  • 1 0
 well then, I feel like an idiot now, I just thought the axle was loose at the time (maybe a bit of both)...
  • 3 0
 I have had mine for over a year now with a full season of bds races and other events and I can say its the best bike I have ever ridden! Quick agile and jumps like a dream! Personal preference at the end of the day way to many people forcing there opinions in to others when most if the time it's something wrong with there riding style not the bikes Smile
  • 1 0
 fair enough, its personal preference. Didn't stop me podiuming, just an average bike.
  • 1 0
 Ah, so this is what TeamRumours was getting at.
  • 1 1
 Invite already a gone out to Cam and Richie for the BDS rd3 at Innerleithen the week before Fort William WC.
  • 1 0
 Awesome, Cam and Yeti just seem right!
  • 1 0
 Double post
  • 1 0
 Nice Razz







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