A new ride for Shandro

X Games gold medallist Andrew Shandro has a new bike sponsor this year, and it isn't a company you would expect. Trek seems to have noticed the growing freeride market, and signing Shandro is a pretty good indication that the company is in it for the long haul.

Shandro, on top of being Canada's winningest downhill racer, has been freeriding since before that word existed. The cool thing is he's still pushing the sport and riding some of the hairiest lines out there. In the summers, Andrew keeps busy by running week long camps in the Whistler bike park, igniting a passion for riding fast and smooth in the next generation.

Andrew is stoked about the new arrangement: "I'm excited about the opportunity to be working with Trek. I'll be giving them feedback on the product they send me and, with my Whistler camps, I can give them some great exposure on the grassroots end as well as working with filmers and photographers. I'll be riding a Diesel and a Liquid and giving them feedback on both." Hopefully Trek plans to expand the line to include a bike that sits between the Diesel and the Liquid, which is, by North Shore standards, more of an epic bike than a hucker. Andrew has his Diesel frame and is waiting on a Liquid.

 
Andrew Shandro slaying CDN Bacon
Red Bull Rampage '02 Cam McRae
"The cool thing about Trek is that their facility for design and manufacturing is phenomenal and they do it all. They seem really open to hearing my feedback. They realize that freeride is a growing market and that the North Shore is on the cutting edge," said Shandro.

 

Shimano has also jumped on board with Andrew this year, which seems to confirm that they are in fact developing a component group designed specifically for freeriders. They are also working with Rocky Mountain's team (the artists formerly known as Froriders), another group of North Shore pioneers.

Other sponsors keeping Andrew off the street and well stocked with sweet gear include Manitou, Smith, Sombrio, IRC tires, FSA, Mavic Bell helmets and Dakine.
Pioneer of the AK Mullet line
caught on surveillance camera in Nevada

See below for Trek's official news release.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 January 14, 2003

 

Contact: Allison Clark, Trek Marketing

920-478-2191, ext. 2751

Allison_Clark@trekbike.com

 

Freerider Andrew Shandro teams up with Trek

Trek Bicycle Corporation signs Andrew Shandro as a sponsored athlete for 2003 promoting Trek's freeride and downhill bicycle models.  Andrew Shandro is a Pioneer in the Freeride movement - he is a successful downhill racer but is most famous for his appearances in extreme mountain bike videos and mountain bike magazines. 

Trek is looking at developing better Freeride specific products through working with Andrew.  Trek is currently launching two new models in this market that Shandro will be riding.  First, Trek's new Liquid features 4 to 5 inch adjustable suspension, both front and rear.  Second, the Diesel Freeride is a long travel bike geared toward aggressive mountain bike riding and downhill racing.  Trek hopes that Shandro will increase exposure of these bikes and will contribute to future technical developments.

Shandro has won 2 World Cup downhill mountain bike races and is the four time Canadian National Champion in downhill.  His movies include Kranked 1, 2 and 3, North Shore Extreme, and Ride to the Hills.  Andrew is involved extensively with Freeride camps and developing junior riders. 

Trek Bicycle Corporation is based in Waterloo, Wisconsin and is the world's largest manufacturer of bicycles sold by specialty retailers. Founded in 1976, Trek manufacturers a full line of bicycles and accessories that are distributed in over 65 countries and employs over 1500 people worldwide.