Mountain biking: Local student delivers freestyle lesson

Local rider Connor Mahuika, 16, in action at Crankworx Rotorua. Photo / Dominic Hook

Not many people would have heard the name Connor Mahuika before Crankworx Rotorua.

Well, not unless you spend your time hanging around the skate park in Western Heights.

But that changed on Friday night when he became an instant hit at the international Crankworx festival on Mt Ngongotaha.

The 16-year-old rider, who attends Western Heights High School, won over the home crowd during the Pump Track Challenge on Friday, beating mountain bikers from all over the world. He ended up finishing fourth overall in the men's elite division (out of 35 riders) after taking part on a borrowed bike.

After his performance, bike brands Ilabb and 100 Percent jumped at the chance to show him their support, offering him free merchandise and product as well as some mentoring in the future.

Connor said he was surprised to get as much attention as he did during the festival.

"I started out at the skate park, probably riding my bike properly when I was 8. My brothers did it and got me into it," he said. "I've only been riding mountain bikes for about a year but I had been riding BMX before that.

"I tried a bit of the BMX racing when I was younger but didn't really like it, and just stuck with the freestyle type of thing."

The "freestyle type of thing" sees him and his friends trying new tricks at the skate park most weeks, on their bikes, egging each other on.

Connor said he'd love to move up and try his hand at slopestyle riding in the future, which features the Red Bull-style of riding with huge jumps and huge tricks.

He said seeing the best slopestyle riders in the world compete on Saturday on Mt Ngongotaha had inspired him to follow in their footsteps.

"It's sick watching but I hate watching because I want to ride ... it gets me too amped and I just sit down and think 'I want to do what they do, like as soon as I can'."

100 Percent, which makes all kinds of mountain biking and motocross gear, owner Shayne King said he wanted to support Connor after seeing him in action at Crankworx. He gave him free gear and some help for the future.

"I just saw a young kid that is a local talent and that has been an inspiration to so many other young kids here and around the world, with what he achieved," King said. "And I wanted to get in behind him and support him."

King is a former motocross world champion and said he would stay in touch with Connor and offer some mentoring if he wanted it.