First up we are welcoming and introducing Finn Hawkesby-Brown to the VIRIS NZ team. But first a yarn.
Part of building the VIRIS BRAND in New Zealand will be to support local talent across New Zealand. So far, we have some pretty cool mates who do rad shit in the mountain bike industry and have been willing to jump on our under engineered band wagon. The associations we are announcing with top national level riders are an extension of this. Our VIRIS NZ rider program is all about paying it forward to a few local legends we are connected to. Their approach to life and riding bikes aligns with our own which is a great start. But it’s also about a kiwi attitude towards racing that you just don't see and feel in Europe and North America where the bike industry is a lot bigger and the international races are relatively easy to get to. The riders we are supporting in this program don't let the logistical challenges of racing overseas stop them from chasing an idea to race the world’s best riders on the world’s best tracks.
It’s time for us to cheers and take a swig in appreciation of the next crop kiwi talent who are willing to empty their pockets (and their parents) to chase a mountain bike dream without knowing just where they might end up. We are proud to introduce you to a stack of other legends who will be representing VIRIS across New Zealand.
Finn Hawkesby-Brown!
Finn grew up terrorizing the streets of Sommerfield, Christchurch on his scooter which later turned into a bike and then a mountain bike. It wasn't long after I first met Finn during his crazed scooter phase, he was working his way up through the category ranks at the local Gravity Canterbury Races. After competing in BMX at the local for a few years he took those skills to mountain biking where the freedom of downhill riding took over. For Finn, it was a simple equation where the fun he was having on the mountain bike overshadowed everything else. Finn had the downhill bug, and the rest is history. His combination of skills built up from a young age means he is right at home on the gnarliest dirt jumps, but he’s also a chill guy who loves a trail ride with his mates.
Finns World Cup racing career kicked off in 2018 as a first-year junior. That season had its share of ups and downs as Finn rode well initially then crashed hard at the Mount Saint Anne World Cup. Finn required shoulder surgery when he returned to NZ but was back on the bike competing at the end of the following NZ summer. Around that same time, Cam started working part-time for Hyperformance Hardware (NZ Santa Cruz Distributor) and Finn was already riding a Santa Cruz. While in this marketing co-ordinator role, he started cooking up an idea to pull our Finn and Tuhoto two kiwi supported Santa Cruz riders onto a collab Santa Cruz Team with the Aussie distributor for 2020. Those 2020 plans didn’t work out in Finn's favor for obvious reasons. But in 2021 that team idea evolved into the Union race team. After a stint on the Union in 2021 with some sporadic results in his first year of top-level Elite racing but a solid 26th place at his first Elite World Championships Finn went solo in 2022. He pulled an impressive 38th place at the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup while cooking his own meals, washing his own bike and race kit and changing his own tyres without complaint. What more is there to say other than Finn is a top kiwi bloke!
After claiming an impressive victory at the first national series downhill back in January Finn went a little too deep at round 2 and sustained a wrist injury. Never mind he’s now back on the bike and ramping up towards a full European summer of racing with support from a small Slovenian-based team for 2023. We can’t wait to see where he takes his new whip this European summer.
We put a few hard-hitting questions to Finn so you can get to know him a little better.
VIRIS: Who is Finn HB?
Finn HB: A lifestyle athlete.
VIRIS: Where are you from and where do you live?
Finn HB: From the 03, home of the fire of Hampshire. Living between Queenstown and Christchurch.
VIRIS: What bikes do you ride?
Finn HB: New to me this year, I’m riding Nukeproof bikes. Riding the descent downhill bike and mega trail bike.
VIRIS: Do you have a job outside of riding?
Finn HB: I’ve been trail building for the past few years but recently a pro athlete for ACC.
VIRIS: What are your plans for 2023?
Finn HB: To head over to Europe and do as much racing as I can, hopefully do a few small video projects, and have a bit of fun.
This is where things get serious...
VIRIS: Late-night drive to a race. You enter the BP (Gas Station). What are you grabbing for an on-the-go dinner?
Finn HB: I’ll be grabbing a pepper steak pie, some chicken bites and top it off with a chocolate milk or ice coffee depending on energy levels.
VIRIS: After a long day on the tools, what's your go-to cold one?
Finn HB: Any hazzy beer, BRB is the go to.
VIRIS: Pre-race/ride pump-up tune?
Finn HB: Int’l players Anthem (I choose you), UGK.
VIRIS: What is the most iconic memory you have of DH racing - before you started racing yourself?
Finn HB: Watching Eatherd 3 on repeat.
VIRIS: What's your favorite/go-to bang for your buck panic training session? (ie when you have a race on the weekend and you know you left the training too late but need to sneak a quick session in.)
Finn HB: Trail ride and a session at the pool is always a good one.
VIRIS: And finally what's your saying for getting after it?
Finn HB: "Up the vale"
Keep up to date with all things Finn HB: https://www.instagram.com/finnhb/