Rocky Mountain freeride team adds three new riders for 2017

Four talented and exciting riders assembled for coming season

Canadian Cycling Magazine March 12, 2017

Carson Storch. Photo: Margus Riga

Carson Storch. Photo: Paris Gore

Carson Storch. Photo: Margus Riga

Geoff Gulevich. Photo: Paris Gore

Thomas Vanderham. Photo: Paris Gore

Wade Simmons. Photo: Margus Riga

Brett Tippie. Photo: Margus Riga

Brett Tippie is not returning to the team in 2017. Photo: Ale Di Lullo

Rocky Mountain Bicycles has brought on three new riders to join the freeride team for the 2017. Wade Simmons, Thomas Vanderham, and Geoff Gulevich will join the roster this year with Carson Storch returning to the squad. The team of four will be a top the Slayer, Maiden and Altitude models while a prototype slopstyle bike will be ridden by Storch.

Simmons of Kamloops, B.C. is affectionately known as the godfather of freeride and was one of the first riders in the sport to be sponsored. “I’ve been with Rocky Mountain over 20 years now and I’m stoked to be continuing on the program. We’ve got some fun adventures planned and I’m looking forward to sending it into the coming years. I need to show these young punks a thing or two,” Simmons said.

With his close involved with numerous film projects and his continued enthusiasm for pushing the boundaries of the sport Vanderham, who honed his skills riding the trails of the North Shore of Vancouver, works closely with Rocky Mountain’s engineering team to develop and refine their bikes.

North Vancouver native Gulevich has become one of the sports most photographed and filmed athletes and his travels take him to sights and competitions across the world. He hopes to continue the trend this coming year as he continues his personal “Gullyver’s Travels” series.

American Storch earned himself a spot on the podium and an award for best trick at Red Bull Rampage in 2016. Returning in 2017, the goal is to continue on the trajectory as he pushes the limits in freestyle.

One rider who is not returning to Rocky Mountain for 2017 is Brett Tippie who was an early pioneer in the sport.

The team has assembled an exciting and trailblazing group for riders and ambassadors as Rocky Mountain continues to stand at the tip of innovation in freeride mountain biking.