News nuggets from the MTB world
The biggest Syndicate news in the waning moments of 2008 was that Nathan Rennie has left for Gravity Group’s Morewood/Kenda
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As the Syndicate turns
The Santa Cruz Syndicate has been quietly making moves across the board during the "off-season." But of course its biggest news in the waning moments of 2008 was that Nathan Rennie has left the fold for Gravity Group’s Morewood/Kenda squad.
But lost in the brouhaha over Rennie’s departure is the news that Syndicate man Steve Peat is getting an honorary doctorate degree (honoris causa) from Sheffield Hallam University. It seems the fast man from Sheffield is receiving this distinction in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to sport, charity and to the City of Sheffield."
For his part, fellow Syndicate rider Greg Minnaar of South Africa recently took part in the Roof of Africa, arguably one of the hardest enduro motorcycle races in the world. After 21 hours and 34 minutes of racing over a three-day period, Minnaar finished nineteenth overall, and fifth in the 200cc class.
Jamie Goldman has been recovering from a knee surgery, and anyone who has sessioned the Aptos Post Office jumps lately can thank him for his extensive building efforts. You’ve got to do something to keep busy when you can’t ride a bike—parking his tractor at the site is Goldman’s way of keeping busy.
Speaking of injury recovery, Kirt Voreis must take some forced down time to have his ankle surgically repaired; it’s been plaguing him since the Aptos Jump Jam last spring. Not to worry—it will give him plenty of time to focus on a kids’ program he has in the works, as well as to plan the next development phase of the personal bike park he’s been cramming into his garage.
On the Syndicate’s XC side, Johnny Waddell finished 2008 on a high note, placing third in the annual Alcoa 12-Hour Race in Jarrahdale, Western Australia.
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Is Canadian Marie Helene Premont going to Maxxis? Or is "Mr Congeniality" Geoff Kabush going to Rocky Mountain? It’s neither scenario, but it could end up being both, as Rocky Mountain’s XC squad and Team Maxxis are working on a team merger. It won’t be a big transition for the Rocky Mountain riders if it goes through—they’ll just get new tires for the most part. For Team Maxxis, however, the change would be much greater: they would find themselves aboard the Vertex/Element for XC and the Flatline for DH, much different rides from Litespeed’s titanium XC offerings and the venerable Iron Horse Sunday. Sadly, it looks like the squad will be without the recently retired Mathieu Talouse, Geoff Kabush’s "segundo" for the past few seasons. Though his departure is still being worked out, it is very likely to happen.
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