Shaun Palmer Returns with Intense Cycles
Intense Cycles has made history by signing a sponsorship agreement with mountain bike and snowboard legend Shaun Palmer. “The Palm” started his career as a mountain biker with Intense in 1995, when he shook the riding world with his brash antics and a series of surprising victories that was capped by a second-place finish in the 1996 World Championships.
|
"It's come full circle,” said Intense Cycles’ President Jeff Steber, who watched Palmer finish second last weekend at the California State Championships in Fontana. “It's like deja vu. He made his start on Intense, and we've been buddies ever since."
Steber also cited Palmer's technical prowess, noting that he was instrumental in designing the Intense M1, the frame that ruled DH courses around the world from the mid- to late-nineties. "Palmer is pretty techie—he knows what he wants [in order] to get performance out of bikes.”
Palmer decided to return to DH racing this season after more than a decade’s absence. The reason? To train for boarder-cross racing for the 2010 Olympics Games in Vancouver.
"I have always done better in my sports when I stayed involved in two or three at a time,” Palmer stated in a press release. “The worst thing for me is for my bad brains to sit around idle. I have to stay busy, and the panic of racing downhill will keep me sharp and help me to achieve my Olympic dreams.” Palmer also said that he missed hanging out with his friends from the mountain bike world.
Although Palmer is now 40 years old, Steber has no doubts about his abilities. He points out that after 15 years, Palmer is still fast—in last weekend’s Fontana race, he and Eric Carter had the two fastest times of the day, and Palmer finished within a second of Carter, who was on his home course.
Steber also said that throughout Palmer’s racing career, he has always given his all. “[Palmer] gave it 200 percent,” says Steber. “When he crossed the finish line, there was nothing left."
The Intense President is also quick to add that Palmer will be an asset to up-and-coming teammate JD Swanguen, adding that the two riders get along well—a bonus for any team.
As for Palmer's "bad-boy" image, Steber said it was needed in the sport when Palmer began racing bikes, but he thinks Palmer has mellowed with age. He also said that Palmer brings with him built-in respect and credibility, and he's hoping this will trickle down throughout the team and through the brand.
Expect to see Palmer at the Sol Vista Nationals, some of the upcoming World Cup races, and Crankworx in Whistler, BC.
RSS
TWITTER 
FACEBOOK
YOUTUBE
Add Comment