Performance off-road and on. That's what the Subaru-Gary Fisher partnership is all about. It's why they support the greatest pro racers in the world, as well as the International Mountain Bicycling Association. What's more, both are committed to a clean, healthy environment.
Through 2008, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski continued to cement his place among the all-time greats of American mountain biking. With 97 National podiums, the Olympian and 4-time National XC Champion added to his long resume in 2008 with multiple NMBS victories as well as top-ten World Cup finishes. In 2008, JHK continued his dominance at Brian Head with his third victory at the Utah NMBS race. With a third place finish at the 2009 Pan-Am Championships in Santiago, Chile, JHK kicks off his 2009 season where he finished 2008 – on the podium.
Specialty: Cross Country
Birthplace: Colorado, USA
Bikes: Superfly, Procaliber, 26" hardtail
2007 was a stellar season for the Asheville, NC native garnering two World Cup podiums and two additional top-10s. She was also named to the Beijing Olympic US long team and was the top American in international rankings.
With renewed energy and focus for 2009, Willow has already notched a fifth place US Pro tour placing. Along with her cross country races, Willow is scheduled to showcase her superb descending and technical riding talents in several all-mountain competitions this season.
Never one to shy away from the camera, Willow has also appeared in several ads and cycling calendars.
Specialty: Cross Country
Birthplace: North Carolina, USA
Bikes: Procaliber, 26" hardtail
Heather Irmiger rolls into 2009 with confidence and motivation following two great seasons with the Subaru/Gary Fisher team. A member of the 2008 Olympic Long Team, Heather scored multiple NMBS podium finishes throughout 2008 before taking 3rd place overall in the series. Heather owns three career NMBS victories as well as several top international podium results, including the Bundesliga in Germany and the Sunshine Cup in Cyprus. Heather began her 2009 campaign with a 3rd place finish at the Pan-Am Championships in Santiago Chile – no doubt a sign of more great things to come.
Specialty: Cross Country
Birthplace: Colorado, USA
Bikes: Superfly, Procaliber, 26" hardtail
Entering his third year with the Subaru-Gary Fisher program, the Missoula Montana native has flourished. He was the youngest member of the US Olympic long team for the Beijing Olympics and part of the 2007 World Mountain Bike Championships bronze medal US team.
His 2008 highlights include first place at the Sea Otter Classic short track and second in the cross-country. He scored a host of other podiums throughout the season to finish sixth overall in the National Mountain Series cross-country and short-track series.
2009 began strong with a second place finish at the Pan American Championships and third in the opening round of the US Cup Pro XC tour.
Specialty: Cross Country
Birthplace: Montana, USA
Bikes: Superfly, Procaliber, 26" hardtail
The 22-year old professional from Japan is two time All Japan National Champion and winner of the All Asia Championship in 2004. Ken has a very easy going attitude which belies his speed and aggression when racing his bike.
Bikes: Procaliber, Superfly
Dror is the only professional cyclist for his country of Israel and has been a tireless ambassador for mountain biking. This is his 3rd season with Subaru-Gary Fisher. Dror has been part of the israel Natioanl Team since 1998 after winning several national championships and over 45 races. In 2007 Dror was ranked 53rd in the world and will be looking to keep climbing up the ranks in 2008.
Bikes: Superfly, Procaliber
Asa has raced for Gary Fisher Bicycles for the last five years, competing in cross country and marathon events. The Swedish native is the 2007 Nordic marathon and Swedish marathon series Champion. In 2008 she’ll be focused once again balancing her marathon races with select international races after having finished 13th at Marathon Worlds, 2nd at Roc D’Azur, and 2 top-10s at Marathon World Cups.
Bikes: Procaliber, 26" hardtail
Greg is part of the Aptos, CA, dirt jump epicenter and helped catapult the dirt jump scene to national prominence. The young rider is known for busting out new tricks and pushing the envelope for what’s possible on a mountain bike. In 2006 at the 26Trix comp, Greg was the first rider to stick a double backflip in competition. In 2008, Greg won Best Trick at Crankworx Colorado and Crankworx Whistler with his flipwhip.
Specialty: Dirt Jump
Birthplace: California, USA
Bike: Mullet
Watts wins Crankworx Subaru-Fisher freerider, Greg Watts wins the 2009 Crankworx Slopestyle event
It was a great weekend for the Subaru-Gary Fisher Mountain Bike Team and in particular, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Heather Irmiger who are now US National Cross-Country Champs.
The Subaru-Fisher MTB team races in Alabama, rolls out a new full-suspension carbon 29er, a 10-speed drivetrain, and JHK collects his 100th podium.
The Subaru-Gary Fisher team kicked off the 2009 season in style in Chile at the Pan-Am Championships. Subaru-Fisher teammates Sam Schultz and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski finished second and third respectively for a great start to the season.
Below, Sam Schultz recounts his second place ride, the challenges of peeing in a cup and adventures in air travel.
Four Subaru-Gary Fisher team riders were chosen to represent the USA at this past weekend's Pan American Mountain Bike Championships, in Santiago, Chile.
Subaru-Gary Fisher Mountain Bike Team rider Greg Watts took the top prize in the second session of this year’s VW Trick Showdown event at the Kokanee Crankworx festival in Whistler, British Columbia. Just a few weeks earlier at the Colorado edition of the Crankworx festival, Watts again won the Best Trick contest, executing a Backflip Double Bar Spin to take home top honors.
Ken Onodera of the Subaru-Gary Fisher Mountain Bike Team won a recent Japanese National Mountain Bike Race. In addtion to that accomplishment, Ken made history by winning the first Japanese National race on a 29er.
Greg Watts is the Subaru-Gary Fisher dirt jump rider. Over the winter he's been tuning up his tricks and style in anticipation of the summer competitions. Last season he had the opportunity to participate in an exhibition in Puerto Rico. It was fantastic. This season he went back with a host of other top dirt jumpers. The following is his recap.
The annual Iceman Cometh race this past November 10-11 in Traverse City, Michigan was amazingly popular. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Heather Irmiger of the Subaru-Gary Fisher team interrupted their off-season and pulled the bikes out for one last race. Heather Irmiger gives a recount.
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2007 was a banner year for Willow Koerber, XC racer for the Subaru-Gary Fisher Mountain Bike Team. She's now sitting as one of the top American female riders headed into 2008 when the Olympic mountain bike roster will be decided. Willow took a minute to send in a recap of the long season.
