Semenuk Film Teaser: Life Cycles

So there's a photographer by the name of Derek Frankowski. Awhile back, he forwarded me some absolutely unreal images of Brandon Semenuk and Cam McCaul from a shoot out in Saskatchewan.

What I saw was unreal. I can't say it enough... unreal! No sign of a jump lip, a transition, or anything. No fancy photoshopping -- just planning, talent, and a thorough understanding of composition, lighting and technique -- which is a lot to say in today's world of cheap dslr cameras and photoshop for everyone.

Since that day, I've been waiting to see what Derek would pull out of his bag of tricks. His website just launched: www.lifecyclesfilm.com, and with it comes a teaser for a small slice of what I got to preview.

So who is this guy? Story goes that Derek's first photo submission landed the cover of BIKE magazine, when he was just 16 years old. He's in his early twenties now, and as you can see, his shooting has developed nicely.

Check out this picture below, now go view the preview here. Not much is being said about when the film will come out, but it sounds like fall of 2009 will be a pleasant time to a mountain bike film buff. Thanks Derek -- and most of all, thanks Brandon and Cam for being the badazzmofo's that you are...

Rene Wildhaber on Trek

That's right -- Mr. Megavalanche himself is now riding for Trek.

Rene Wildhaber’s successes:

Winner 2009 Urge Kenya
Six time champion Megavalanche Alpe d’Heuz
Nine time champion Swiss Bike Masters
Four time champion TREK Bike Attack Lenzerheide
Two time champion Red Bull Trailfox
Three time champion Nozowa Avalanche, Japan

www.renewildhaber.ch

Trek World Racing... Coming Soon

Trek's most exciting new mountain racing endeavour is Trek World Racing.

Our dynamic, content-rich website is still in the works. So in the meantime, all information about the team and its activities can be found here.

XC Roster                            DH Roster
Liam Killeen                          Andrew Neethling
Mathias Flückiger                 Justin Leov
Lukas Flückiger                    Tracy Moseley

New Needles Interview...

NSRMTB.com has a new interview with Trek World Racing's Andrew "Needles" Neethling.

Check it here: http://tinyurl.com/d2zzyo

Nice photo of him with his Session 88...

Trek World Racing's Neethling Wins Again...

Just got this press release from the South Africa press over the weekend. Our boy Needles seems to be ruling the circuit already. Way to go Andrew!

NEETHLING CUTS IT FINE FOR ANOTHER WIN

Andrew Neethling (Trek) clearly thrives on pressure, a fact he confirmed on Sunday when he secured a thrilling victory at the second round of the MTN National Cup downhill mountain bike event at Mankele in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa.

Riders each get two runs at South African downhill races, and their fastest of the two determines their final position. That was the format used on the technical 1.8km course through some rugged, lush bushveld terrain, which included rock gardens, bridges, jumps, berms and tight switchbacks.

Neethling, winner of Round 1 in Stellenbosch last month and strong favourite to win Round 2 on Sunday, clocked a time of 2min09.27sec for his first run, a performance which most felt was good enough to take the early lead and put his rivals under pressure for the second round of competition. But fellow Capetonian, Johann Potgieter (Cannondale), eclipsed Neethling with a time of 2:08.56, setting the scene for an exciting finale.

“I usually use the first run as a ‘feeler’ run but felt that time was pretty good on such a tight, short course which leaves no room for error,” explained Neethling afterwards.

The 2007 national champion, widely regarded as one of the classiest downhillers in the world, then showed his ability to perform under pressure when he set the course on fire with his second run, clocking a snappy 2:04.54 which Potgieter and the others were unable able to better.

“Johann really forced me to wake up for the second run. I’m pretty much expected to win when I race in South Africa and I try my very best to live up to those expectations. It feels really good to get a second win so early in the year. It gives me a confident start to the season and it is great exposure for my new team, Trek.”

Neethling finished 11th overall in the 2008 UCI Nissan World Cup and began a new contract with the Trek World Racing team last month. He’s one of a crop of talented downhillers from Cape Town, four of whom secured the top four places overall on Sunday.

Potgieter’s first run gave him second place with Gary Barnard (Fox Morewood) third, Jonty Neethling (Fox Morewood) fourth and 2008 national junior champion, Hayden Brown (Mongoose), rounding out the top five.

MTN National Cup in association with MiWay
Downhill – Round 2
Mankele, Mpumalanga
Leading results
MEN

Overall
1 Andrew Neethling – Trek World Racing 2min04.54sec
2 Johann Potgieter – Cannondale 2:08.56
3 Gary Barnard – Fox Morewood 2:10.18
4 Jonty Neethling – Fox Morewood 2:11.64
5 Hayden Brown – Mongoose 2:11.65

photo credit: Gary Perkin
Andrew Neethling was untouchable on his second run, securing his second consecutive victory in the MTN National Cup Series

The first five men overall were (from left): Jonty Neethling (fourth), Gary Barnard (third), Andrew Neethling (first), Johann Potgieter (second) and Hayden Brown (fifth).