Lochie Steedman's fascination with anything that has wheels was evident at age 2, when he would recognise different cars by their hubcaps.
At age 8, he had a little motorbike that he loved blasting about on. Now at 13 he's sold his motorbike to fund his current passion of mountain biking.
A member of the Wanganui Mountain Bike Club, most weekends Lochie will be out at the Harakeke mountain bike track, chasing after (and sometimes beating) his dad Geordie around the circuits.
His favourite family holidays are when his mum and dad and younger brother Finley load up the bikes and head to other great tracks around New Zealand.
Last year, he got his first taste of competitive mountain biking when he entered the Kids Bike Jam in Palmerston North, which he won. He also won the skills course section, which involved biking over various wooden structures.
He joined the Manawatu Mountain Bike Club and won the cross country winter series for his age group, which he aims to retain when the competition starts this month.
Recently at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Championships in Levin, he placed 18th out of 45 in the cross country and hill climb events. Lochie's dream is to turn professional, representing his country and earning a living doing what he loves. by Kim Steedman
