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Ōrewa resident Levi Gear has qualified for Italy’s Junior World Mountain Bike Championships next month after a series of top-table results on the international stage.
Next month, he’ll go from watching riders race on the iconic Val di Sole track on TV to lining up there himself. The 16-year-old mountain biker, who holds several national titles, continues to reach new heights.
His second-place finish in the men’s junior national championships in January followed by a series of strong international performances helped secure his place at the Junior World Championships.
In May, Levi took first-place in the junior series of the UCI Mountain Bike Continental Series – Coupe de Japon in Yawatahama City. Between competitions, he’s also raced across Canada and Australia.
Levi also says that competition overseas is completely different from those at home, with more participants and new competitors making it challenging.
“Normally in New Zealand, there are about 20 other racers,’ he says. I’ve seen over 70 in ones overseas. There’s a completely different set of competition and different racing styles.”
Although he says he’s excited about the opportunity to participate, Levi anticipates getting nervous as the competition approaches.
“I think nerves are a good thing. It shows that you want to do well in what you’re about to do. So if you stay calm, do whatever you need to do before the race, things should be okay,” he says.
He began mountain biking at the age of 10 during the 2020 lockdown. What started as a hobby became competitive after he and his family gained access to private trails in Ōrewa. Now, his favourite tracks to ride are in Rotorua. He departs with his family for Europe next month to prepare for the World Champs.
