- Bas Out 6-8 Weeks After Crash In Australia; Will Attend Kokanee Crankworx In Whistler -

KONAWORLD (July 30, 2008) – For the first time in his high-flying, competitive biking career Kona Clump Team’s Paul Basagoitia has broken a bone. His right collar bone to be exact.

The injury, which Bas sustained while riding and jumping in Australia, is the first major set-back of the young riders’  career and will sideline him for 6-8 weeks, according to physicians.

“I was super bummed and disappointed of myself,” says Bas of his collar-bone- breaking crash. “After a few days at home, I finally calmed down and realized that this is all part of the game.”

Bas’s accident occurred in Australia while filming for NWD 9. The crew was filming at the famous dirt pipe Down Under – which is one of the most insane dirt pipes in the world. It’s basically a ski/snowboard halfpipe littered with hips and wall rides. With a few days of intermittent rain showers dampening the crew’s hopes of filming, the sun finally reared its head and it was on. But the dirt pipe was still slippery.

“It was supposed to be the only sunny day for the next week,” says Bas. “I felt a little uncomfortable riding the pipe in that condition, but I had to get something done. After a few runs I felt pretty dialed on the pipe and I started unleashing some of my bigger tricks.”

 After multiple sessions of hitting one of the hip features, it began to develop some ruts on the lip.

“I tried to hit the hip one more time before we took off, but it was the biggest mistake of my career so far,” says Bas. “The lip shot me sideways and right over the landing to flat. It wasn’t the hardest crash I have ever taken, but it gave me my first broken bone – I knew I was in trouble when I couldn’t lift my right arm.”

Although Bas will not compete in his favorite contest – the Kokanee Crankworx in Whistler Aug. 9-17 – he will be on-hand signing autographs at the Kona tent and cheering on his compadres.

About the Kona Bicycle Company:
The Kona Bicycle Company designs, manufacturers and distributes more than 60 models of purpose-built, high-performance mountain, road and urban bicycles. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Ferndale, Washington, USA, Kona bicycles are distributed worldwide in more than 60 countries through independent specialty bicycle dealers. Kona funds several professional road, mountain and cyclo-cross racing teams that include World Cup Champions, World Champions and National Champions. For more information check www.konaworld.com or contact Keith Cozzens at Base Camp Communications, kcozzens@basecampcomm.com or 307.734.7575.
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- Avid Mountain Biker And Pro Freeskier Shawn “Smiley” Nesbitt Joins Team At Bike Company -
 

KONAWORLD (July 29, 2008) – Riding bikes equals fun – that’s what Kona Bicycle Company’s new Sports Marketing Guy Shawn “Smiley” Nesbitt says. And, soon Smiley will find out that working at Kona is fun too.

A sponsored pro freeskier for 10 years, Smiley lived in Whistler, British  Columbia for 18 years and cut his teeth nagging  and tagging along talented skiers at the local hill. “The nickname Smiley was derogatory at first because I was this new kid at Whistler bugging everyone about where to go,” says Smiley. “It got to the point where people would be like ‘Oh f#@k, here comes that smiley guy – let’s get out of here.’”

During the off-seasons from time in front of the camera, Smiley spent the summers hanging out with numerous riders involved in the freeride mountain biking scene – including freeride pioneer Richie Schley and Derek Westerlund of Freeride Entertainment who plugged Smiley into the world of mountain biking.

Besides years of pimping himself to sponsors and media outlets as a professional athlete, Smiley spent a year as team manager at Sombrio and assisted with team management at Helly-Hansen. He also holds a marketing certificate from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

“I wanted to take the knowledge I gained from my ski career and work for a more forward thinking company,” says Smiley. “Kona is there. They were there from the beginning.”

 As the new Sports Marketing Guy, Smiley will handle the management of all Kona’s bike teams, while overseeing team contracts and media partnerships. Through these efforts, the goal is to build solid working relationships to accelerate the teams to a new level.

“Through my years of skiing I’ve learned how to value yourself as an athlete and understand the in’s and out’s of being an action sports athlete and their relationships with media and product development,” says Smiley. “To me, Kona’s all about riding bikes and supporting the scene and it’s lifestyle from every angle.”

For any questions, comments and concerns about Kona’s teams or  sports marketing contact Smiley at: smiley@konaworld.com  or 604-805-5662.

About the Kona Bicycle Company:
The Kona Bicycle Company designs, manufacturers and distributes more than 60 models of purpose-built, high-performance mountain, road and urban bicycles. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Ferndale, Washington, USA, Kona bicycles are distributed worldwide in more than 60 countries through independent specialty bicycle dealers. Kona funds several professional road, mountain and cyclo-cross racing teams that include World Cup Champions, World Champions and National Champions. For more information check www.konaworld.com or contact Keith Cozzens at Base Camp Communications, kcozzens@basecampcomm.com or 307.734.7575.
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- Factory Team Members Stomp XC And Downhill Course In Quebec -

KONAWORLD (July 28, 2008) – Taking on the top riders in the mountain biking world last weekend at the Mont Saint Anne World Cup races in Quebec, Kona Factory Team riders Wendy Simms, Barry Wicks, Kris Sneddon and Tracy Moseley proved they can hang when it comes to hitting the dirt – or in this case mud.

Racing on a technical course in the men’s elite cross-country race that featured steep climbs and sections of muddy terrain,  Wicks and Sneddon passed more than half the field along the six-lap course en route to finishing in the top-30 of the 69-racer field. Wicks took 23rd overall with a time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, while Sneddon grabbed 26th in 2:25. The Kona pair, who were victorious in the seven-day BC Bike Race earlier this month, attributed their success in the World Cup race to their training in British Columbia. It was both riders’ best World Cup finish of the season.

In the women’s elite cross-country race, Simms enjoyed some of the same success as her fellow teammates; finishing 13th overall in 2:20 in the 45-racer field. And, in the downhill event Moseley, who sits in third place overall in the World Cup rankings, took third in the women’s elite downhill race.

For more on the weekend’s races check http://www.cyclingnews.com/.

The team will head just south next week for another World Cup event in Bromont, Quebec.

- Superior Burntime And Ultra Bright Rebel LEDs Make Getting Left In The Dark An Anomaly - 

Bordentown, NJ (July 23, 2008) – Can too much light be a bad thing? Maybe if you’re trying to get some ZZZs, watch the latest blockbuster flick or catch a glimpse of the elusive nocturnal African Aardvark while on safari. But, not if you’re exhausted trying to find a backcountry campsite, caving 339 feet below Earth, fixing a flat tire at night in the middle of North Dakota or pushing through the dark during a rugged 24-hour race.

In these situations, an Amp is all you need. The new Princeton Tec Amp Series handheld lights are just that … Amped.  Amped on burntime. Amped on brightness. Amped on keeping you lit.

So, why is a long burntime critical? Because without it your well-planned expedition might turn into a mini epic. A longer burntime and longer lasting handheld takes the worry out of asking yourself such questions like, “Do we need to navigate by the stars” or “Can I use the light to go to the bathroom.” You’ll have all the light you need, plus more. 

With the four new models offering a whopping combined burntime of more than 400 continuous hours, having an Amp in your lighting quiver means darkness never exist. Boasting more than six days of continuous burntime, the Amp 5.0 (65 lumens/160 hours) and Amp 4.0 (50 lumens/150 hours), the Clydesdales of the series, feature revolutionary Rebel LED technology that offers twice the brightness, twice the efficiency and a longer shelf life compared to standard high watt LEDs on the market.

The lower-profile Amp 3.0 (40 lumens/90 hours) and Amp 1.0 (14 lumens/3 hours) weigh-in with a total burntime of more than 90 continuous hours and are ideal for any activity that requires minimal weight and maximum brightness. With 90 hours of precious burntime, the Amp 3.0 features four new Ultrabright Nichia LEDs that provide 30-percent greater output than regular  5 mm LEDs and a wide beam for maximum peripheral lighting. The Amp 1.0 offers the power of a Xenon bulb in a tiny package with a convenient carabiner attachment loop. All Amps are waterproof, utilize super-secure rubber grips and can run on rechargeable batteries.     

Can you go for 160 continuous hours? If not, it’s good to know your light will.

About Princeton Tec:
Since 1975, Princeton Tec’s goal has been to support the outdoor community by building lighting products for the people who use them. Our products are designed to enhance all outdoor activities, crossing the boundaries from scuba and water sports; to camping and backpacking; to snow sports; alpine sports and road biking. For more information on Princeton Tec, visit www.princetontec.com or contact Keith Cozzens at Base Camp Communications, kcozzens@basecampcomm.com or 307-734-7575.

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- Trebon and Wicks Nail Down Second in Vermont, While Simms Grabs Last Spot on Podium In Canada -

KONAWORLD (July 21, 2008) – Touted as two of the best mountain bike racers in North America (and maybe the world), Kona Factory Team riders Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks wear bulls-eye’s on their jerseys at every race they enter. Last weekend was no different.

Entering the 2008 USA Cycling National Mountain Bike Championships at Mount Snow, Vermont last weekend, Trebon was the heavy favorite to snatch the short-track title and contend for the cross-country crown, while Wicks was reported to follow close behind. Although neither racer stood on the top step of the podium, both gave competitors and spectators the action they were looking for.

In the cross-country race, both Trebon and Wicks battled with US Olympic mountain bike team member Adam Craig for most of the race. With Craig widening the gap during the final laps, Trebon crossed the finish 1 minute, 38 seconds behind for second place with a time of 1 hour, 45 minutes, 17 seconds. Wicks cracked the top 10, finishing ninth in the 55-racer field.  Click here for the VeloNews story.

In Sunday’s short track race, which Trebon entered as reigning short track champion and was slated as the favorite, things started out smoothly for the veteran Kona rider until disaster struck. Holding a lead for the first few laps, Trebon took a painful digger that left him finishing in sixth place. Wicks rode tough and finished the race in second out of the 10 racers. Click here for the VeloNews story.

“I had the power to go but not the pop to sustain anything, not right now,” Trebon said. “Jeremiah (winner) has been riding pretty good, and if someone has a good day and everyone else is tired, that’s the difference.” 

North of the border at the Canadian National Mountain Bike Championships, fellow Factory Team member Wendy Simms  fulfilled a long-time national’s goal of standing on the podium at the event. Racing with a precise plan, Simms finished third in the 23-racer cross-country race with a time of 1 hour, 46 minutes – four minutes behind the winner.

“I had to race smart and not blow it,” Simms said. “You know how much I hate fourth. This was a long time coming.”

In the men’s cross-country race Kris Sneddon took 14th with a time of 2 hours, 20 seconds in the 54-racer field.

PARK CITY, Utah (July 21, 2008) – On Aug. 5, 2008, Backcountry.com athlete Karl Meltzer, the 40-year-old winner of 49 ultra-distance mountain races and record-holder for the most 100-mile trail races won in a year (six in 2006), will begin his attempt to break the record for running the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, end-to-end, north to south. That means he must cover 2,174 mountainous miles in less than 47 hot, humid, buggy days — at a blistering pace of more than 46 miles per day.

And you can follow the whole possibly insane effort online.

Whereskarl.com, the official tracking site of Karl’s AT record attempt, went live on July 11. The complete site, created by Backcountry.com, replaces a simple blog, which has kept readers up to date for the past three months on Karl’s training and preparations.

The new whereskarl.com features:

• A countdown ticker to start time

• An interactive topo map, with real-time SPOT GPS tracking of Karl’s progress
• A daily recap of Karl’s goals vs. his actual performance (in terms of miles and hours)
• A contest in which fans can guess Karl’s daily miles and hours, with weekly prizes from Karl’s sponsors
• A daily summary of Karl’s vitals (heart rates, calories burned)
• A blog, authored by Karl’s crew, updated multiple times per day
• A video and image gallery

“With the SPOT unit and the interactive map on the site, people will be able to see my progress in real-time,” said Karl Meltzer. “That’s a great thing really, because, I’m going to be pretty delirious after day three. I’ll be pointing my feet in the right direction and doing what I can to keep moving. So at least everyone else will know where I am.”

Karl will spend the majority of his 47-day run alone on the trail, though he will intersect with his crew at crossroads as often as possible. His longest stretch without contact will be 36 miles. He will burn approximately 8,000 calories per day, wear through seven or eight pairs of trail running shoes, consume a small pond’s-worth of PowerBar Gel, and listen to countless hours of Grateful Dead. All of this and more will be documented by Karl’s crew on the Where’s Karl? blog.

Karl will be supported during his attempt by Backcountry.com and a cadre of other sponsors, including Marmot, Moeben, SPOT, V.I.O., First Endurance and La Sportiva.

About Backcountry.com
Backcountry.com is an online retailer of performance outdoor adventure gear and apparel. The e-commerce site carries more than 400 brands in various categories, including trail running, backpacking, camping, hiking, climbing, paddling, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and adventure travel. Backcountry.com also operates SteepandCheap.com, Chainlove.com, Dogfunk.com, Tramdock.com, WhiskeyMilitia.com and BackcountryOutlet.com. Backcountry.com is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Interactive Group (Nasdaq: LINTA).

- Trebon, Wicks And Simms Slay Singletrack In Windham, N.Y. At Fifth NMBS Race -

KONAWORLD (July 15, 2008) - Competing in the fifth event of the National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) at Windham Mountain Resort in upstate New York last weekend, a trio of Kona Factory Team riders hit the dirt in three different races.

Leading the way for the team was racing vet Wendy Simms. Coming of a first-place finish with her husband at the seven- day BC Bike Race in British Columbia at the beginning of the month, Simms was right back in the winners circle grabbing a first place medal in the Super D race that consisted of a mix of cross-country and downhill riding. She also nabbed ninth (1 hour 25 minutes) in the cross-country race and fourth place in the short track event.

Racing in the pro men’s divisions, Barry Wicks and Ryan Trebon each found the top 10. In the cross-country race, Wicks, who was coming off an impressive victory at the BC Bike Race with fellow Kona teammate Kris Sneddon (who opted not to race in anticipation of the Canadian National Championships this weekend), finished 10th (1:42) and 14th in the cross-country and short track races, respectively. The short track course at Windham featured a mix of pavement and dirt, and included a short climb up  a ski trail, followed by a technical singletrack descent. Trebon, who has had a productive summer season wrapping-up wins at numerous races across the country, took eighth (1:40.15) and fourth while racing alongside Wicks.

Windham Mountain is relatively new to the mountain biking scene, but race officials have been preparing new trails for over a year in anticipation of this NMBS race. They built a 4.8-mile cross-country course, complete with man-made bridges, roots, rocks, and short steep climbs. Each lap had about 1,100 feet of climbing.