Teva Announces Kokanee Crankworx Sponsorship and Freeride Team

“Teva has supported freeride for years through competition at the Teva Mountain Games,” states Joel Heath, global marketing director at Teva. “With the launch of the Links and the Pinner shoes, we are excited to step up our involvement in the sport through cutting-edge product offerings as well as help give top tier athletes a platform to shine.”

The newest rider on the Teva team is Cam McCaul, one of the best-known pros on the freeride scene. McCaul has been riding professionally for over eight years and is considered a favorite to win in any of the international competitions on his annual calendar. Known for both his outrageous riding style and his sense of humor, McCaul has been featured in dozens of mountain bike films and magazines.

“The competitive freeride mountain bike scene is constantly evolving and it’s been really cool to have been a part of it since the beginning,” says McCaul. “I have big respect for the companies that directly support mountain biking and that's why I'm so excited to be riding for Teva in 2011. They've designed some great mountain bike-specific shoes with casual styles, and I can't wait to get my feet in 'em.”

Also on the Teva team is Canadian freerider Kurt Sorge. Born and raised in British Columbia, Sorge emerged on the international freeride scene in 2008, when he finished second at the Red Bull Rampage contest in Virgin, Utah. Since then he has been featured in countless magazine and video shoots and starred in the 2010 film “Follow Me.”

Rounding out the Teva team is Jeff Lenosky, a true innovator in action sports, who has been called the father of urban freeriding. Jeff pioneered freeride and trials mountain biking to become one of the sport’s most prolific riders. He holds the world record for highest bunny hop and his accomplishments include three National Trials Championships, three Teva Mountain Games wins and nine NORBA overall National Championship medals, as well as a string of impressive film segments. Lenosky also worked for over a year with Teva to design and develop the new Links, a purpose-built freeride shoe loaded with technical features.

In addition to riders, Teva has thrown its support behind the largest mountain freeride bike festival in the world – Kokanee Crankworx, in Whistler, British Columbia. At the event, Teva will be the presenting sponsor of the Best Trick Contest, a peer-judged, best trick jam featuring the world’s best riders throwing down the biggest and most challenging moves of the year.

“The Best Trick Contest showcases the unbelievable progression of slopestyle,” says Darren Kinnaird, Kokanee Crankworx General Manager. “We are stoked to have Teva on board as presenting sponsor of one of our marquee events.”