Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25038
To elucidate the difference between fully sponsored and privateer downhill rid ers, we go back to Shandro circa 1997. A string of mechanical problems, a strict budget and operating as his own manager and semi-mechanic put so much stress on his season that he found it difficult to compete. His results reflected it. In the off-sea son he battled again to pick up a full-time ride. Fortunately, he found one with K2, who recently bought Pro-Flex. "What attracted us to Andrew," says Ralph Hines, vice p ident of K2 Bike, "was his dedication and energy for the sport. Even though he had fairly spotty results, we saw potential for him to do well with really good support." Without the pressures of privateering, Andrew won his first race of the on a fully dialed K2 prototype. The Winter X Games snow dual descent h rew knocking off some big-name competitors like John Tomac and Shaufl Pal one time a privateer himself who bankrolled $40,000 of his own cash to support h first year downhilling). A lightened mental load and strong support let his true talents out, and now, him, it's all downhill. While many privateers are still locked in a world of financial sacrifice and hardship as they fight their way to the land of the full-time ride, the sport has seen some hot privateers take podiums at World Cup and National Series events. Last year Jeremy Purdy and Nicole Grant fought through privateerdom to some good results and full-time jobs with Giant Bicycles. Longtime racer Jimmy Deaton battled through ridelessness with a self-financed team he started. Called "Three Guys Racing," it included Eric Carter and Jimmy Kight and dissolved only when Deaton and Carter hooked up with full sponsorship. Still, there is a unique colony of athletes that has nothing to lose because it's all on the table. The privateers, called the heart and soul of the sport, are willing to sleep in basements and hurl themselves down hazard-ridden single track on empty stomachs, towards the elu sive dream of doing what they love for a living-riding downhill. c: o .J::: '" :2 L- ____ ____ __ __ __ ____________ __ __ ________________ �, ____ :2 u > "0 ::J When not chasing down psycho mountain bikers, Vancouver-based Mitchell Scott is after psycho skiers, paddlers and boarders. His work appears in Bike, Powder and Paddler. 47