Miranda Miller heads to the EWS with Kona for 2019

There’s big news from Squamish’s Miranda Miller today, as the 2017 downhill world champion announced that she would be racing the Enduro World Series in 2019, and she would be doing so aboard Kona bikes.

Miller’s not 100% done with downhill. She’ll trade in the Process 153 CR 29 and pilot the brand’s Operator CR for select downhill races this season. But the focus will be on the EWS, where she’ll headline Kona’s Global Enduro program. On that team with her will be fellow Squamish athlete Rhys Verner, Australian Connor Fearon, as well as Shelly Flood and Hannah Bergemann.

In social media post announcing the move, Miller was positive about resuming her connection to the West Coast brand. “10 years ago I won the US Open, when no one expected me to. I also won World Championships, when no one expected me to. The internet can come up with their own reasons why, but I believe it has to do with the people I had around me at those times.”

Talking with Kona elaborated on the move, her teammates, the Canadian outlined what we can all expect from Miller Time in 2019. Like the intro video, the conversations full of humor but doesn’t shy away from Miller’s incredible ability on the bike.

“Kona is the place where I look forward to grabbing the reins with both hands and showing that this show pony isn’t ready for the glue factory. Kona has shown me that they share the same enthusiasm for racing and riding in the way that made us all love this sport to begin with,” said Miller. Team Manager, Mathieu Dupelle has already been looking after me for 10 plus years. Giving me shelter, rides and parts as a privateer back in the day. Here at Kona, I know I’m with good people.”

Miller’s looking for a change in 2019 after a 2018 marred by injury, and the pressure to follow up her world championship win in Cairns, Australia with further results.

“My past two seasons were ones riddled with injuries and performances that I found hard to find pride in. In retrospective, of course, I should have been proud, but often we are our harshest critics. Still, I know that I’m a better rider than my last two seasons of racing. I needed a refresh and restart with a company that recognizes this and is willing to support me for more than just race results. A company that loves what I love, for the same reasons.” Miller added, “My interactions with the staff of Kona has been very genuine and real. It’s a place where I can be me…and me is a little weird like them.”

The move to Kona’s Global Enduro program puts Miller on the same squad as fellow Squamish resident Rhys Verner. On her new teammate, Miller quipped: “He’s smart, but not so smart that we can’t communicate, he’s fit but not so fit that he’s socially stunted from a lack of oxygen to the brain and he’s funny enough that he will make me laugh.”

Kona’s mix of laid back approach and international level performance should be a great match for Miller’s humor, honesty, and skill on the bike. We can’t wait to see what comes out of this partnership on the race course and in video through 2019.