The Kona Bicycle Company announced a new two-year partnership with the fabulous women of Velo Bella the California-based collective of professional bicycle racing teams and clubs. The new Team Velo Bella-Kona partnership will encompass Velo Bellas professional road racing team, professional mountain bike racing team, and elite level cyclo-cross team, know as the “Flamingo Flock.”
Adding to the already deep talent and fun pool, Kona rider Wendy Simms will be joining Team Velo Bella-Kona for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. The Velo Bella-Kona partnership will also support Velo Bellas recreational and amateur racing clubs around the United States as well as Velo Bellas numerous camps and clinics.
In classic Velo Bella and Kona style, a semi-official celebration and “reception” in honor of the new relationship will take place in Santa Cruz above the Bicycle Trip, 1127 Soquel Avenue. The “reception” will feature DJs from San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland and Santa Cruz. Kona Brewing Company Longboard Lager will be served and the party goes from 9 until it ends
Kona team manager, Mark Peterson, said that, like every solid relationship, Velo Bella-Kona was destiny. “This relationship is a natural. The Velo Bella culture is a lot like Kona in that its all about bringing fun to the sport. Kona is fun and Velo Bella is fun so were in for a lot of it.” said Peterson. “Were proud to call Velo Bella partners and ambassadors and look forward to supporting their mission in any way possible.”
“When Kona contacted us initially we were in the midst of coordinating our Surf City race”, explains team co-founders, Sabine Dukes and Laura Sanchez, “We were going through our boxes of hula skirts, coconut bras, and leis, and thought well how perfect is this partnership?” Sanchez adds, “We've waited a long time to attract a sponsor that appreciates our quirky style and charm. Its a pivotal point for us because we now have more opportunities to support developing riders while attracting newcomers to the sport. Finding the right sponsor is a lot like finding the right coconut bra, they don't all fit…with Kona we not only have the right fit but we Kona knows how to get their hula on.”
Team Velo Bella-Kona will be riding on a variety of Kona bicycles, including Kona new road rigs King Zing and Zing Supreme, King Supreme and Kula Supreme mountain bikes, and Team Jake cyclo-cross bikes. Additionally, Velo Bellas more than 150 club members will get special Kona deals through Konas authorized dealer network and grassroots racing program. Peterson reports that orders for Kings, Coilers and Stinkys are already pouring in from Velo Bella riders
