- Factory Team Racers Show Dominance On World Cup

And NMBS Circuits -

KONAWORLD (September 2, 2008) – Racing in the elite women’s downhill event in Canberra, Australia at the second-to-last stage of the World Cup racing circuit, Kona Factory Team rider Tracy Moseley helped her cause of making a run for the overall title by winning the race by four seconds.

Charging a technical course that had been peppered by intermittent rain and wind the entire weekend, Moseley finished her semi-final run in first place – which set her up to race last during the finals. In the finals, Moseley swapped out her normal DH racing kit for a skinsuit which, although sparked some criticism, ultimately helped her win the race.

“Wearing a skinsuit makes a difference, but is a bit controversial,” Moseley explained. “Most of the riders don’t like wearing them, but I know that it is an advantage and I am prepared to take the slack to win a World Cup race. The others don’t wear them because it isn’t cool. Mountain biking is very image driven. I make that choice and I get shit for it for the rest of the year but…”

Moseley pedaled hard through the final flat section of the course to take the win in the 19-racer event, while Rachael Atherton finished second and Sabrina Jonnier third. The final World Cup downhill event takes place in two weeks in Schladming, Austria.

Although he finished 15th in Brian Head, Utah at the final Short Track cross-country race of the National Mountain Bike Series circuit, Kona rider Barry Wicks sealed the overall season title with a total of 739 points. Teammate Ryan Trebon, who finished seventh in the Short Track race, took second overall – falling short of Wicks by one point with 738. Wendy Simms took 17th overall in the elite women’s Short Track series standing.

“I only went as hard as I had to. We were racing at 10,000 feet and nobody did well except J.B. (Jeremiah Bishop) and the guys from Colorado,” said Wicks after the race, who was also the 2006 overall Short Track series winner.

In the cross-country race in Brian Head, Trebon took ninth, Wicks 13th, Erik Tonkin 18th and Kris Sneddon 19th.

- Bikes Help Support Workers Of River Project And Foster Healthier Communities -

KONAWORLD (September 2, 2008) - Since 2005, Kona has been providing AfricaBikes to thousands of healthcare workers in Africa. In September, Kona will be donating 100 AfricaBikes to one of the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) water projects in Tanzania, Africa.

The Great Ruaha River is one of the most important sources of freshwater in Tanzania. Since 1993, research records show that sections of this massive river in the Rufiji River Basin have run completely dry for atypical periods of time. This wasn’t due to global warming or climatic variation, but rather uncontrolled and poor water management.

Since 2003, the WWF has implemented a sustainable water management program to help better the lives of more than 6.35 million people living in the region. By establishing the Water Users Associations - groups whose members are trained in water irrigation, law, policy and conservation - the program saw great success in 2006 when the Great Ruaha flowed throughout the year for the first time in five years.

But, the river is big and to monitor its status members of the Water Users Associations need bikes to cover the long distances. By having access to 100 Kona AfricaBikes, workers will be able to cover more ground; ultimately resulting in a healthier river and healthier communities.
Workers who receive AfricaBikes will play an important role of not only helping support a better way of life for numerous communities in the Great Ruaha River area, but also remedy an important water source that will impact future generations. Without the AfricaBikes, chances are the successes of bringing the river back might begin to fade.
For more information about the Kona Bicycle Co. and the World Wildlife Fund check www.konaworld.com and www.worldwildlife.org. For more on Kona’s Biketown Africa program check www.konabiketown.com.

source: Keith Cozzens at Base Camp Communications

- Wicks, Trebon And Simms Show Power At Second NMBS Event; While Kindree Nabs Bronze At Pan-Am Championships -

KONAWORLD (April 7, 2008) – Making their mark both stateside and in South America last weekend, Kona Factory Team riders proudly stood atop the podium in Fountain Hills, Arizona and the Pan-Am Mountain Bike Championships in Venezuela.

Competing in three races last weekend at the McDowell Mountain Park in the second NMBS event, team riders Barry Wicks, Ryan Trebon and Wendy Simms all secured top-three finishes in at least one race. Kris Sneddon also competed and finished in the top-15 in all of his races.

In the first race of the weekend, the Super D time trial, riders attacked the seven-mile course that consisted entirely of sandy fire roads, loose washes and three significant climbs. Simms took third in the pro women’s category with a time of 18 minutes, 27 seconds. Trebon led the men, finishing third with a time of 16:20 – only 25 seconds behind the winner – while Wicks took 12th and Sneddon grabbed 15th.

On Saturday, Wicks and Trebon tag-teamed the technical short track course which featured “The Hill” – a steep, loose sandy climb that only a few riders were able to muscle up on their bikes. Battling with Geoff Kabush to the finish, Wicks missed first place by one second, while Trebon captured third a mere 25 seconds back of Wicks. In the women’s race, Simms (who is the current Canadian National Cyclocross Champion) rode in the lead pack for most of the race until a crash cost her valuable time. After an intense and exciting sprint to the finish versus Australian National Champion Dellys Starr, Simms took fourth; 33 seconds behind winner Katerina Nash.

“I looked over my shoulder to see where Georgia [Gould] was and I buzzed Katerina’s rear tire,” said Simms of her crash. “It was my own fault.”

In the final race of the weekend, the three-lap Elite XC, Wicks and Trebon started strong but didn’t have the gas to hang in the lead pack to the finish. Wicks took fourth place with a time of 1 hour, 28 minutes, 49 seconds, while Trebon finished the race with a flat tire. Sneddon held on for 11th place.

South of the border in Venezuela, Factory Team rider Neal Kindree represented Team Canada at the Pan-Am Mountain Bike Championships. Racing in a field of 30 elite riders on Sunday in the U-23 category, Kindree started off the hot race by getting trapped behind a pile-up crash within the first 300 feet. Not to be conquered, he spent the ensuing seven laps climbing his way up to the lead pack on a long, non-technical and dusty course. Kindree finished in third-place taking the bronze medal. He also automatically qualified for the World Championships in Italy in late-June.

“It was really cool to see all the competition and what was going on in the mountain biking world outside Canada and the U.S.,” Kindree said. “It was a unique experience for sure.”

source: Keith Cozzens | Base Camp Communications | www.basecampcomm.com