February 12/03 8:56 am - Neal Becomes Ultrafit Associate, Watson Joins Kona

Posted by Editoress on 02/12/03
 

Neal Becomes Ultrafit Associate
Courtesy Glenn Meeuwisse: Director - National Cycling Center, Hardwood Hills

Hardwood Hills' Head Coach, Steve Neal, has just been named as the first ever Canadian member of Joe Friel's Ultrafit Associate Coaches.

Being involved with a large group of coaches and athletes within the Ultrafit Group, allows Steve to have access to coaching information, which is being used by top athletes throughout North America.

Having access to this type of information will only enhance the current benefits of being a National Cycling Center Head Coach.

Steve would like to thank everyone at Hardwood Hills, his athletes and FACT Canada for their continued support in his personal goals as a cycling coach.

Steve will continue in his current position at Hardwood Hills as Head Coach.


Editors note: Joe Friel is the author of a number of books on the subject of training for cyclists and triathletes.

Joe has trained endurance athletes since 1980. His clients have included elite amateur and professional road cyclists, mountain bikers, triathletes, and duathletes. They have been from all corners of the globe and included American and foreign national champions, world championship competitors, and an Olympian.


Watson Joins Kona

Kona Bicycles today Tuesday that they have signed veteran professional freeride phenom Dave Watson to the Kona Clump team of competitive out-of-bounds riders. Dave will be riding Kona's Stinky Dee-Lux and Stab Primos for the 2003 season.

Watson grew up riding and training on British Columbia's North Shore. He turned pro in 1996 at the age of nineteen, and shortly after finished 5th at the World Cup Downhill Finals in Hawaii. He has since tacked up numerous top five World Cup duals, a NORBA downhill podium, the Canadian Downhill athlete of the Year award, Canadian National Champion, and earned Canada Cup Overall titles.

Watson stepped away from the conventions of full-time World Cup racing in 2001 to pursue a freeriding career, which has been just as successful. He is the 2001 Whistler Joyride Biker Cross Champion, last year, he took 4th place at the Red Bull Ride in Australia and was 8th at the inaugural 2001 Red Bull Rampage in Utah. He has been featured in New World Disorder, Ride to the Hills, Search for the Holey Trail, Kranked III, Shift, and The Circus.

In 2003, Dave will be filming for New World Disorder IV- "Ride the Lightning" and Back in The Saddle II, as well as coaching a week long gravity camp alongside Andrew Shandro in Whistler, with trips around the globe in pursuit of the sickest lines in Bike Magazine, and a chance to win back his BikerCross title at the 3rd annual Whistler Joyride event.

Watson joins John Cowan, Robbie "Air" Bourdon and Joe Schwartz in the Kona Clump's schedule of competitions, film appearances and camps. For more information on the Kona Clump, visit www.konaworld.com