March 12th is Commonwealth Day and we’re celebrating the very best in mountain biking from this whopping 53 country organisation.
The Commonwealth is an organisation made up of former dominions of the British Empire and spans parts Africa, North America, Asia and the Far East.
Here’s our pick of mountain biking from across the globe to celebrate Commonwealth Day.
Lesotho.
We’ll be honest, we don’t know a lot about the mountain biking on offer in Lesotho, but we’re hearing good vibes coming from that direction. One of the rounds of the African leg of The Continental Enduro Series is set to be heading to Lesotho if not this year, then in 2019. Watch this space.
Botswana.
Our good pal Anka Martin runs one of her Soul Trails trips in Botswana and the wanderlust kicks up to 11. Effectively a genuine African safari but with the added bonus of the mountain bicycles. This should be one for everyone’s bucket list.
South Africa.
You can’t mention South Africa and mountain biking without The GOAT, Mr. Greg Minnaar. The winningest downhiller ever, Minnaar is like a fine wine. Even when the doubters were doubting hard, he showed the young ‘uns how a true champion rides a bicycle.
Let’s not forget, though, the wealth of talent that’s come out of this small African country, champing at Mr. Minnaar’s heels. There’s the Neethling brothers, Sven and Anka Martin, Blake and Ray Samson, plus a whole heap more.
Malaysia.
Malaysia might not be on everyone’s radar for a mountain biking holiday but scratch below the surface, just like Mick and Tracey Hannah did recently, and you can see there’s clearly a wealth of trails through the jungle.
Jamaica.
Jamaica is well-known for its Fat Tyre Festival that has been going on since the mid-90s. Singletrack Jamaica are now running the event and have been since 2007. Going by what the 50to01 boys got up to last year, this might have to be the next holiday destination. Singletrack for days.
Australia.
Where to start. Like their neighbours below, the Aussies have been the antipathy of the focused, calculated French riders that dominated our sport. They have since proved that with the right balance of looseness, you can beat all that goes before you.
Two words. Sam. Hill.
Then there’s Ronning, Hannah(s), Kovarik, Rennie, Brosnan, Moir, Mudd, Fearon, Graves, McCarroll to name but a few.
New Zealand.
Despite a the small order of two thousand-odd miles between them, the Kiwis don’t have give the Aussies a run for their money in the loose stakes. A similar easy-going vibe with nothing but flat out attack, just with considerably less dangerous animals and insects.
While we’ve not seen domination from the Kiwis like we have from a certain Aussie, the list of riders from the Land of the Long White Cloud includes the likes of Cole, MacDonald, Kircaldie, Masters (x2), Leov, Walker, Quinn, Blenkinsop, Rankin.
Let’s not forget the late, great Kelly McGarry.
Canada.
Oh Canada…
Like the other Dominions, Canada have brought their own brand of wild bicycle riding to the party, but in an altogether different way to their Pacific counterparts.
From the off, Canada has hosted a round of the World Cup every year since its inception. Mont Saint Anne ticking that box since 1993. Calgary and Grouse Mountain hosted as well, but nothing could knock this bird off its perch.
Rider-wise, we have, most recently, Miranda Miller, your 2017 UCI Downhill World Champion, Jesse Melamed won the Whistler round of the Enduro World Series, then you have the legendary freeriders in Tippie, Watson, Schley, Vanderham, Bourdon, as well as the more recent raft of Rampage contenders.
Last but not least, let’s not forget Mr. Stevie Smith. #LongLiveChainsaw.
