Teen trio tackling Austrian tracks

From downhill racing in Rotorua's Redwoods to the rocky slopes of Austria, three local teenagers are ready to compete on the world stage.

Jake Robinson, Louis Hamilton and Lawrence Cawte, all 17, have always ridden together and all started riding in downhill competitions five years ago.

This month they will travel to Europe to compete in the junior section of the World Downhill Championships.

The trio say it is a big sport, especially in Europe, but think New Zealand can compete on the world stage.

The vice-president of Descend Rotorua Downhill Club, Dave Rose, is confident of the boys' chances in the championships.

"New Zealand does well when it comes to the juniors. Timewise, they're not too far behind the pros."

Considering they make up three-fifths of the juniors team, Rotorua's tracks have prepared them well.

Both Jake and Louis had success in March at the Oceania Mountainbiking Championships, placing second and third respectively, in the junior under-19 men's race.

Racing against the clock, riders ride down steep, rough trails as quickly as they can.

But the sport falls into the extreme category and is not without its casualties.

On the day the plane tickets for Austria were booked, Jake broke his collarbone. But he isn't worried, it is part of the rush that you might get hurt.

His father, Howard Robinson, agreed, and said it took guts to ride in these sorts of competitions.

"If you saw a downhill race track you would think 'you can't ride that'. It is so extreme ... They're out-there sort of kids."

Competing in Austria will be a new challenge for the riders. The sport has a bigger following in Europe and the terrain they will be riding is new.

"It is a different side of the world - steeper, rockier," Jake said. But he is quietly confident they can make it into the top 10 in the junior competition.

Jake and his fellow riders are preparing by doing several races once they arrive in Austria, before the actual championship competition.

All quietly confident in their chances, Louis said it was important to have the right mindset approaching a race.

"It's hard to picture yourself riding there. You've got to be sure, and ride as hard as you can. You've got to be confident in yourself."

Lawrence cannot wait to get overseas and start the competition.

His riding won't be the only thing representing New Zealand though. Lawrence was also riding a ZEROD bike, which was designed and assembled in Rotorua, said his father, Eric Cawte.

"It's designed by local guys, the frames are made internationally and then assembled here. But they're now sold all over the world, to world cup racers. They're good, a different design," Eric said.

The bikes, which cost $13,000 each, are sturdier than the typical mountain bike to handle the extreme environment they ride through.

Jake says for him part of the appeal is the intensity of the sport.

"It is the risk, the adrenalin, getting out of control."

The World Downhill Championships will run in Austria from August 31 through to September 2.