Mountain Biking: World champs beckon Louis

Louis Hamilton

From one white-knuckle ride to the next, Louis Hamilton today heads to South Africa to take on the world downhill mountain bike championships.

It's hard to believe the downhiller is still just 18 - he was sweeper at the worlds in Rotorua as a 12-year-old - but Hamilton is now pitting his wits against the top of the field in the pro-elite event.

Hamilton will join fellow Descend Rotorua rider Lawrence Cawte in South Africa after the club funded their race campaign with $2000 each. Hamilton was boosted on Monday with news his employer, Agroventures, would provide sponsorship of $1500.

"The funding has made it a heap easier," Hamilton said.

"I didn't expect to get this support but it's been crazy how many people have got behind us to help us get there. I can't wait."

Cawte, who is in the under-19 category, has spent the past 11 weeks racing and training in Europe. He's raced at two World Cups and will head straight to South Africa where he and Hamilton will share racing and riding experiences. Last Thursday, Hamilton returned from a month in Canada where he rode in Whistler and raced at Mont-Sainte-Anne.

Hamilton works on the Extreme Freefall at Agroventures but says it's the downhill that is the more extreme.

Descend Rotorua vice-president Dave Rose said funding riders to compete internationally was what the club was initially set up for.

"The sole purpose of Descend was to hold events for riders to develop and support riders in their endeavours to compete internationally," Rose said.

"This is us doing what we can. We're hoping for some good things from them - it's good to see two riders from such a small club get through to the world stage."

Hamilton said the South African course is the longest track on the World Cup circuit at around five minutes, compared with the three to four minute range. "Riding in Whistler was a big learning experience. I've come back with more motivation and looking at that next level."