Who are the future stars of downhill mountain biking?
In a few more years, we'll see the next generation of talent rise to the top
While we’re on winter break from most of the major mountain bike races in the world, we have some time to think about the future. One of the things we wonder about is who the top riders are going to be in the years ahead. In the pro downhill ranks, we expect that Jackson Goldstone and Asa Vermette will probably be two of the top downhill stars for the foreseeable future, but who will be joining them eight or ten years from now?
The kid in the below photo could be one such future contender.
Below is a photo that Eric Porter sent us last year of his son, Owen, who is now 12, practicing his jumping skills next to his dad (right), who has been training Owen to turn him into a world-class mountain biker.
Owen’s definitely got some great jumping skills already, as we can see here.
We asked Eric how Owen’s been doing in his races lately, and Eric told us: “He’s doing great! Podium at all his NICA XC races in the fall, and won the latest DH race he did also. He’s been doing great competing on skis as well, he won the last two slopestyle contests!” Eric Porter used to race cross-country, downhill, and dual slalom when he was younger. Eric also used to compete in the Red Bull Joyride event at Whistler, doing huge backflips and other tricks, so Owen’s got a good coach if he decides to become a pro mountain biker when he gets older.
Here’s more about Eric and Owen and the rest of Eric’s family:
(Photo by Eric Porter)
