Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Team Fakawi Banshee rider Gig wins in Indonesia!
Our team rider Gig won the Elite Women's DH race in the Lubuk Linggau National MTB Challenge (DH and XC) in Indonesia last weekend.
And to top that up, she entered the XC race after the DH race and went on to grab 2nd place in the women's Elite category!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Stund Season 2 Episode 2 with Dustin Greenall
I just watched this and Dustin kills it. Check it out …
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Fogelsode #2: Early Post Office and the Return of Guy
Fogelsode #2 is online! The beginning was shot at Post Office when Cob and I got out there just after sunrise to do a photoshoot with Justin Brantley. I have to say, it felt weird riding so early, but was cool at the same time and offered some really nice lighting! As always, Justin nailed some dialed shots, like this one:
Later in the week Matt and I headed out to the Aptos Step-Up and filmed a couple quick shots because the sunset was looking epic. I tried some flipwhips and ended up getting my first one to pedals! A couple days later, Guy and I seshed the Scotts Valley Step-Up so Guy could relearn his tricks after taking about two months off from riding because he had three back-to-back concussions. We ended the day by meeting up with Iggy and Matt at the new pumptrack that we are working on, and tested out what we have so far. Enjoy!
Am I on Crack?

Ok so I go to google ... type in Pinkbike and the above image comes up.
Is that a link to Banshee under the Pinkbike link?
Rob checked his google and it never came up like that but mine did. Anyway its tripping me out and thought I'd share.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
One to watch out for...

I helped out and offered him a grass roots deal, since him and his dad were heavily involved in their local biking scene, so felt like it was about time the bike industry gave something back. (Not to mention the kid kills it!)

So last week Dakota e-mailed me to tell me that he is now officially the fastest 13 yr old on a BMX in Canada, after winning his age class at the Canadian BMX Nationals. He is currently classed #1 in Canada and #6 in the states for BMX racing.



He also sent me some pics of him riding his Wildcard. That half pipe is one that he and his dad built in their backyard in Kelowna, BC. They also open up their yard to local riders to ride it and keep the kids off the street! Good people!


So the kid has speed and style, as well as a good attitude and determination to progress in the sport, and the support of a proud family. That sounds like a winning combo to me. He just needs to learn to smile for the camera! haha

Dakota Martin remember that name!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Fakawi Banshee Podiums in ACC Asian MTB Championship!
Asian Cycling Confederation MTB Championships comes to Melaka, Malaysia for 2009.
This is the race on the UCI race calendar where racers in the asian continent come to compete and earn their UCI points.
Among the contestants qualifying for the race were our very own Fakawi Banshee Team riders Stanly Jalip JR riding for Malaysia in the Elite men's category and Ausanee Pradupyard flying Thailand flag in the Elite women's category.) Both racing on their Banshee Legend Mk1s.
Ausanee "Am" Pradupyard did us proud by coming in 3rd with the time of 3.29.141 in the women's elite category in her Banshee Legend Mk1! 1st place went to Mio Suemasa 3:01.597 (Japan) and 2nd Risa Suseanty 3:16.933 (Indonesia).
Stanly was seeded 11th but finished at respectable 6th place in the Men's Elite finals, slowed down by a brief crash during the final bit of the track.
Results for Men's Elite:
1st-Ario Sejati Popo (Indonesia) 2:39.498
2nd-Naoli Idegawa (Japan)2:43.617
3rd- Jarupeng "Golden Boy"Tanaphon (Thailand) 2:50.283
4th- Nagata (Japan) 2:51
5th- Tan Hong Chun (Singapore) 2:55
6th- Stanly Jalip JR (Malaysia) 2:55.575More Pics at FakawiTribe.com
Fogelsode #1: Woodward
Clayton and I road-tripped down to Woodward last week and met up with James and Jake. We got all checked in and headed down to the Hanger. The place is HUGE with a giant park, 14 foot halfpipe, a street area, and the foam pit. It was super sick getting to ride the foam pit because I’ve never been to one and had some tricks I wanted to try. Everyone threw down left with at least one new trick that they landed on the resi. We did a ton of filming and I finally got around to putting the footy together. This is the first episode of a series of web videos I will be making throughout the season called “Fogelsodes”. Enjoy!
Fogelsode #1: Woodward from Jack Fogelquist on Vimeo.
-Jack
Friday, November 6, 2009
LOCations!
As you may have known, I spent most of last season making a full length movie that shows the various spots that we have to ride here in the Aptos/Santa Cruz area. The film is called “LOCations” as it shows the different “locations” around here and riders in it are locals or “locs.” The project has been a long one, but now it’s all on pinkbike.com, waiting for you to watch!
The full movie can be seen here!
Here’s the article about it on pinkbike!
I also uploaded the individual sections so you won’t have to stream through the full movie to watch a certain part, so those are right here!
I’m really stoked on how it turned out and hope you enjoy it!
-Jack
Monday, November 2, 2009
A couple Mtbr.com awards
So at Interbike it was awesome when the crew at Mtbr.com came by to give us not one but 2 best of awards. One was given to a bike we aren’t even making anymore but no surprise its still popular is the Scirocco a previous best of winner in the freeride hardtail category.
New however was the Banshee Amp and well deservedly so as its a killer little bike.
I’m still hoping some of our other bikes start popping up. I know the Wildcard was only a mere 5 reviews with 5 chili’s away from getting a best of but maybe next year.
Don’t forget to review your bikes guys… its really cool to get the feedback from our riders and its what keeps us doing what we love to do… building bikes for you guys to enjoy.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Banshee Bikes Signs Team Geronimo as Factory Team
Banshee Bikes (www.bansheebikes.com) and Team Geronimo (www.geronimoracing.com) are both pleased to announce their new partnership for the 2010 race season. 2009 isn’t even a memory yet, but Jay MacNeil, General Manager of Banshee Bikes, and Team Geronimo are busy preparing for a jump start on 2010 – ready to hit the National, International, and World Cup race circuits on Banshee’s new Legend Mk II DH bike and Rampant 4X bike.
Banshee Bikes is amped on teaming up with Team Geronimo for the 2010 season and beyond.
The Mk I, which was not available to the public, has completed 2 seasons of testing and 4 years in development, culminating in the introduction of the lighter, faster and more racer-dialed Mk II version. This is one screaming fast rig, and Team Geronimo is stoked about the upcoming season.
The Banshee Legend Mk I
“Its great to find such an amazing group of riders that have in their hearts the same spirit and passion for mountain bikes and the sport. It’s like an extended part of our family and I can’t wait to spend time hanging out and hanging on as I try to keep up with them out on the trails” says Jay MacNeil.
Team Geronimo is not a new team – they’ve been steadily gaining steam over the last two race seasons, but their all-star lineup has expanded by three riders for 2010. Brothers Michael and Brian Buell, of Colorado, have been holding the team together since its inception in 2008, and racking up some fierce results. Now they are joined by Rachel Bauer of Utah, Colorado, California (and everywhere else her travels take her with fiancĂ© Troy Walch), Graeme Pitts of California, and Cody Eichhorn of Australia.
No stranger to athletic competition, Rachel Bauer has been at the top of her game in Women’s Collegiate Track and Field and Cross Country for Fresno State University, and Alpine Ski Racing at the Pro level in both National and International competitions. She exploded on the gravity mountain biking scene in 2007, kicking butt and taking names. 2008 1st Overall Mountain States Cup Series, 2009 Colorado State Champion, 2009 2nd Overall Mountain States Cup Series, 3rd in both DH and 4X at the 2009 Pan Am Continental Championships in Chile, and 1st Angel Fire Pro Gravity Tour #2 are a few of her recent accomplishments. On the podium at Pan Am Champs, her Chilean competitor called her “vicious”. Don’t let that sweet smile fool you.
Rachel Bauer
According to Rachel, who raced for Banshee in 2009, “The Legend Mk I was an incredible and reliable bike to race – no mechanical issues and maintained throughout the entire season. Rampant was equally stable in 4X and DS, and it was a great training bike prior to the race season. There was instantly a level of comfort and familiarity that came with the Rampant, and when the Mk I came out, I was ecstatic!”
The Buell Brothers come as a pair - they are the brother team in the Rockies. Michael Buell is the senior brother, and lays claim to having competed in 3 World Cup DH races at Andorra, Fort William and Monte Sainte Anne, as well as many other National and International races. A consistent top 10 finisher pre-2009, Michael’s 2009 season suffered from an ankle injury early on, but he managed to make an awesome comeback with a few podium finishes and 4th Overall in the Mountain States Cup Gravity Series. Fully recovered and now relieved of team management by a professional staff, he’s ready to get back to the business of full-time training and racing on his new Banshee rides in 2010. He’s back!
Michael Buell
Brian Buell has frequent flyer status on the podium in the highly competitive Mountain States Cup Gravity Series, with a 2nd Overall finish in 2009. He was 2005 Junior Expert National 4X Champion, 2007 Collegiate National DH Champion, and has mile-long list of National podium finishes since then, including a bronze medal for this year’s 4X National Championships, and 1st place for DS at Colorado Crankworx. His International experience includes 3 World Cup DH races in Andorra, Fort William and Monte Sainte Anne. Better be wearing your sunglasses if he smiles at you, especially in the starting gate! Consistent, strong and great karma (with a capital “K”) – he is one to watch out for in 2010.
Brian Buell
Graeme Pitts is the baby in the group. At 19, he competed in the Pan Am Continental Championships in Chile, came home with UCI points, and pulled off a reputable rookie Pro year with a number of top 10 finishes against some tried and true competitors. In 2008, he was part of the formidable posse of the USA Junior Worlds Team in Italy after only 3 months in the Junior Expert class. Pitts will be spending the early part of 2010 in Australia with teammate Cody Eichhorn and his compadres. When the US race season starts, he will already have gotten into race mode at the Australian National Series, training with their top gravity riders.
Graeme Pitts
Cody Eichhorn - the wild card addition to the team from the Land of Oz. He will arrive from down under ready to race his first Sea Otter Classic – Eichhorn has been dreaming of spending his birthday at Sea Otter for a few years, and now it’s becoming reality. Managing to complete Uni (as University is called in Oz) while still racking up a huge list of podium finishes, Team Geronimo’s new Aussie competed in 2008 World Championships in 4X, a number of World Cup Races, Kokanee Crankworx, and was invited back to Worlds this year,
but was too busy traveling and racing with Pitts in the US of A. He took California by storm, acing out Eric Carter and Rich Houseman in the first round of 4X at Cal State Champs at Mammoth Mountain. He brings the Aussie flair and is an all around crowd pleaser.
Cody Eichhorn
Team Geronimo is also parent to an awesome Junior Development Team based out of Aspen Valley, Colorado. Managed by Brandon Turman, it is a collection of some of the hottest young talent in The Rockies and they are being mentored with Junior World Championships as the objective.
Plans are already in the works for Team Geronimo’s collaboration with The Wounded Warrior Project – returning, injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan who are regaining their passion for life through bicycles. The team is working with WWP organizers to schedule coaching clinics and entertainment with these worthy riders who put themselves in harm’s way so we can all keep living our dream.
The Fall is traditionally time for sponsors to make choices; Team Geronimo shares that odious task and will announce the rest of its line up soon. Anyone interested in seeing their products on Team Geronimo/Banshee should contact racegeronimo@aol.com



