Conrad Stoltz

They call me “the Caveman.” 

I am: 6ft 3, weigh 180lbs, 35 years old. 

Professional triathlete for the past 17 years. I am an African. (Gets me funny looks in America)

I am also: Two time Olympian, three time Xterra World Champion,(off road triathlon) 5 time All Africa Triathlon Champion and 5 time South African Triathlon Champion. I have won the legendary Chicago Triathlon.

I spend: 6 months in the USA racing, 2 months in Stellenbosch training, 3 month in Mpumalanga farming with my parents. 

I speak: Afrikaans, English, French and a smattering of Northern Sotho, German and American.

Food: I strive to eat 8 potatoes a day. Vegetables for breakfast and lots of red meat is my trademark. Self admitted coffee snob. Think infatuation. 

I like: Unspoilt nature. Unspoilt people.

I dislike: Being deported.

 

Great moments: Winning XTERRA Worlds in 2007 after a heavy almost career ending crash in 2006.

Low lights: In 2006 I broke my back and wrist in 7 places in a bad crash the day before Nationals. At 2008 Worlds I had  a flat while leading by nearly 3 minutes.

Regrets: Not training with a coach earlier. The first 7 years of my pro career I was either over trained, or injured, or both. A sad waste of talent and time.

I am proud: “Stoltz” is a German name and it means “proud”. I am proud to be a South African.

Biggest lesson: I think my biggest lesson is still on its way: Fitting into a “normal” lifestyle. Maybe I’ll skip that one.

Hobbies:

• Black and white photography.
• Ride dirt bikes
• Playing with my website.
• Camping solo on the banks of a mountain stream in Oregon. Or Chile or Zimbabwe. Fly fishing the stream. Running and mountain biking in the surrounding forest.

When I’m done with pro triathlon I will:

• Feel what it feels like to participate for fun. Multi sport and mountain bike events.

 

Photo link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23377134@N06/2323078763/sizes/o/

Mike Hopkins

Home: Rossland, B.C.

Events: My main focus is Filming and photos, but I will compete in the big mountain events like Rampage.

Career Highlights: If I had to choose I'd say getting 6th at the RedBull Rampage last year was definitely a highlight, and filming for the new soon to be released, industry altering movie, "Life Cycles".

Favorite Place to Ride: Whistler, and B.C. interior (Rossland, Nelson, Kamloops)

Hobbies: I am a pro skier in the winter so between biking and skiing there isn't much time for anything else. But if for some reason I do find myself without anything to do, I will have a go at the culinary arts aka cooking, work on my website www.mike-hopkins.com, hit the driving range, and of course just max with friends.

Favorite Titec Product: I am actually waiting on a new set of 750mm DH Bars, so I am definitely stoked for those. Other than that, you can more or less just take your pick, you can't go wrong. I have been running the El Norte line for the past four years and I have yet to have a problem. 

Tunes: You play it and I will not only listen to it but probably panic my way through a dance aswell.

Reads: Pillars of the Earth, Angels and Demons, The Tipping Point.

Motto: I was once told by an amazingly energetic girl who worked at A&W of all places "If your going to be grumpy when you wake up, why bother waking up." I thought that was oddly insightful, so I stick with that.

Quote: "Oh fo sho."

Comments: Titec was my very first sponsor and to this day I have not worked for a better company. They understand the many different factors that are involved in producing a world class product, and my hats off to them.

Melanie McQuaid

Melanie McQuaid is the first person to have won the XTERRA Triathlon World Championships three times. Melanie has also been top two overall in XTERRA USA Championships tour for the last six years. Consistent top performance and versatility has been Melanie's trademark on the XTERRA tour as she has climbed the podium for XTERRA events, national mountain bike events and road events all in the same season over the past five years.

Hometown: Victoria, BC

Birth date: May 17th

Size: 173 cm tall, anywhere from 59-63kg weight (depends on kgs of chocolate)

Favorite food: Nature’s Path Peanut Butter Optimum Bars followed closely by the Pumpkin Raisin Crunch cereal and kale

Second favorite: Coffee (not really a food my favorite) made in my new Saeco Talea Ring Plus machine (on the road I go with a stainless french press and Peets) and Quail's Gate Family Reserve Old Vines Foch (2005)

Favorite bike: BMC Shiver and Team Elite 01 (18 "/ 17" in the Fourstroke)

Second favorite: BMC Pro Machine 01 in Red/Black (Size 49/ 53cm top tube)

Prerace ritual: Lots of distraction with friends and some red wine the night before

Prerace superstition: Superstition is for sissies, you got it or you don’t ( I still stand by this....even more so now!)

Prerace food: Nature’s Path Flax n’ Oats Oatmeal Packets (the raisin spice is tasty as well)

Favorite venues: Hawaii, Utah and Vancouver

Off the bike: Cooking, trying to surf, cute casual clothing and sipping red wine with friends

J.D. Swanguen

Team Evomo

Lifestyle clothing brand Evomo has a huge grassroots team. We asked Team Manger Clint Hosman to break it down for us.

Home base:
Evomo is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA with 4 core teams in the
Southwest, Midwest, East Coast and Argentina.

Special Purpose (or team reason for being):
Our first priority is to go on lots of rides and have fun. After that
its really important for the team to spread the word about Evomo and
its awesome partners and sponsors. If Evomo continues to grow then we
can be more effective in out advocacy support of mountain biking. We
are big supporters of the Wounded Warrior Project which does great
things for combat wounded soldiers.

Favorite Places or Races to Ride:
Hawes Road trails Mesa, AZ
Little Bear trail Flagstaff, AZ
Santa Monica Mountains, CA

When we are not riding most of us are:
Slaving away for the Man
Cold Chillen with some nines and 40's
Working on higher education so we can get better jobs.

Favorite Titec Product:
Pluto carbon riser bar, it has the right amount of sweep with just a
slight rise. It fits great on a 29er, light but not twiggy. Pluto Duke
carbon seat post, it’s ideal for long 50+ mile rides keeping your back
pain free.

One time once while riding I saw a...:
a pack of naked hippies. In all fairness it was deep in the mountains
so they probably thought they where safe. Not so much as it turns out,
when I rode up I had to stop just from the shock of it all, who knew
the human body produced so much hair?

If I didn't mountain bike, I would...:
be chickless and boring. I rely on mountain biking to justify why I am
so skinny, without it I am just another skinny douche.

Personal credo:
Death before dishonor.

Favorite Quote:
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.
- Napoleon Bonaparte

Comments:
bring the RUKUS!