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11/22/2008
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Rocky's Froriders Return
Wade Simmons and Richie Schley re-sign with the Rocky Mountain Business
Objects Team
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Wade Simmons, winner of the first Red Bull Rampage in 2001, has inked a contract
that will see him ride for Rocky Mountain for another 2 years.
Wade has ridden for Rocky Mountain Bicycles since 1995 and along with Richie
Schley, was one of the first to send it with style. Wade and Richie have blazed
the path for gravity riders who don’t race. Their leadership attracted
sponsors and made freeride an easy sell for marketing departments. The new generation
of riders owes much to Wade and his comrades – that’s why he’s
the Godfather.
Simmons often gets shout outs in magazines as the world’s favourite mountain
bike rider – his appeal is that broad-based and global . In 2005 Wade’s
World Rides began taking riders on guided trips in North America and Europe
with Big Mountain Bike Adventures.
This year they are offering a 9 day epic big bike assault of the Swiss Alps
with Wade along as a guide. Bush
Pilot Tours offers some great trips in North America as well – including
a trip with Wade.
Classic Simmons form.
While Wade’s effortless flowing style and the ease with which he sends
45-foot road gaps and 30-foot cliffs attracts the most attention, Wade takes
as much pride in his love for riding any bike any where.
Also known for being resilient and not sustaining many major injuries in his
career, he is a spokesperson for Helmet Safety in a TV Ad Campaign. The Ad shows
Simmons’ death defying crash at the Red Bull Rampage in 2004 as he got
bucked above a 25ft cliff upside down. Wade rolled on landing and was fine for
second run, finishing 10th.
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It’s common knowledge that Wade’s
background is firmly rooted in downhill and bmx but few fans know that
Wade lined up for many years to compete in cross country races. He’s
a big believer in epic rides as well and in 2004 he showed up at the Trans
Rockies to ride a stage and support his Rocky team mates who won the race.
No word on whether he worse lycra.
Wade doesn’t just ride Rocky Mountain bikes – he’s
become an important part of Research and Development team and his influence
on the evolution of the bikes goes far beyond paint and graphics.
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The Frofather?
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Richie behind the wheel of his latest Porsche.
Richie Schley has been a staple of the Mountain Bike media for the past eight
years. Also a successful big mountain free skier, he’s been one of the
most photographed mountain bikers in the world. Schley also comes from a BMX
background and is a former Canadian National Champion.
He’s been one of the regulars in the New World Disorder Series of videos
that has set the standard in the MTB media for years.
Richie is a big part of the Whistler Mtb Bike Park scene, helping with trail
development and Slopestyle course design. He put his design work into the Crankworx
Slopestyle in 2005 and also has his own trail – Schleyer - at the world
reknowned riding destination. The
Richie Schley Freeride Camps are full on most weekends in July and August
for 2006 .
Richie will offer customized camps in 2006 designed to fit any rider’s needs
and ability. Details on how to book a personalized camp will be available on bikes.com
by April 2006.
| Rocky’s pro freeriders are also known
as the Froriders. This name was coined when another company challenged
Rocky's right to use the description freeride for their new style of riding
in the late nineties. Instead of striking back with lawyers of their own,
Rocky Mountain decided to call their team, which then included Brett Tippie
and Carys Evans as well as Schley and Simmons, the Froriders.
Thomas Vanderham, the third Frorider, is entering his fifth year with
Rocky. Vanderham has stepped it up the past few years, consistently hitting
top ten results at all the big mountain freeride events and slopestyle
competitions. His feedback has been essential to the latest versions of
the Rocky Mountain RMX, giving it more of a performance DH feel. |
Thomas Vanderham
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The Fros have some young guns joining them on the Gravity and Freeride Team.
2005 Junior Women’s DH World Championship Bronze Medal Winner , Micayla
Gatto will expand in to 4 Cross as well as Downhill. She will compete in Canadian
National races, Norba National and key World Cups. She will race this season
with her focus on the World Championships in New Zealand. At 18, Micayla is
second year junior.
14 year old Alex Prochazka of Whistler was the 2005 BC under 15 DH Champ, but
he’ll keep working on his fine style for dirt jump and slopestyle competition.
Alex is one of the team’s best all round athletes. Ryan Vanderham will
race Junior DH after finishing 2nd in the 2005 under 17 category for B.C. Rob
Jauch - a German rider who has had some great coverage in the media during the
past year - rounds out the rocky gravity force.
Left to right: Ryan Vanderham, Micayla Gatto and Alex Prochazka.
“We are thrilled that Wade, Thomas and Richie have chosen to ride our
bikes,” declared Jean Poisson, General Manager of Rocky Mountain Bicycles,
“They are great role models and most importantly they will provide continued
insight to what will keep our bikes the best in the business”
Keeping up with the young guns - Wade rocking the wall.
Co-title sponsor for the Froriders is the World’s largest Business Intelligence
Software company, Business Objects.
The core values of Business Objects include Leadership, Innovation and Passion,
which is what these riders are all about.
The Rocky Mountain Business Objects Fros are sponsored by SAINT, Marzocchi,
Gazza NokianTires, Haywood Securities and Easton. Partnerships include WTB,
Sigma, Vittel ,DT Swiss and Dakine.
For more info hit bikes.com
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