FAIRFAX, Calif. (BRAIN) — The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame has named six new members for its 2018 induction: Josh Bender, Ken Chlouber, the Kennett Brothers (Simon, Paul and Jonathan) and Steve Peat.
The inductee-elects will be honored and officially inducted the weekend of Sept. 21-22 at the Hall in Fairfax, California. The weekend's events include a meet-and-greet Friday night, celebrity rides on the trails of Mt. Tamalpais on Saturday morning, and Saturday night's dinner and induction ceremony.
The 2018 Inductees represent diverse mountain biking backgrounds and expertise:
• Josh Bender was one of the earliest stars of the emerging freeride scene in the late 1990s, known for riding massive cliff drops and pushing the boundaries of the sport in such videos as the "Down" and "New World Disorder" series. His influence led to the founding of the Rampage big-mountain freeride event in his adopted hometown of Virgin, Utah.
• Ken Chlouber founded the Leadville Trail 100 race in its namesake Colorado town (elevation 10,000 feet) in 1994. Thousands of aspiring endurance racers apply for the race lottery each year. In 2002, Chlouber established the Leadville Trail 100 Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit that works to address the community needs of Leadville and provides scholarships to local students. "He is a true pioneer in the sport of ultra-endurance mountain bike racing," the Hall stated.
• Simon, Paul and Jonathan Kennett are credited with transforming off-road riding in New Zealand through their trail-building efforts, national guidebooks and organizing world-class races and festivals including the country's first "dirt brevet," the 1,100-kilometer Kiwi Brevet, founded in 2010.
• Steve Peat's downhill racing career spans nearly a quarter-century starting in the early 1990s. His accomplishments include 17 UCI World Cup downhill wins and 52 total World Cup podiums. Peat raced his last World Cup in 2016, but continues to race local enduros and other events and serve as brand ambassador for longtime sponsor Santa Cruz Bicycles. "He had early success in the sport and has been a favorite with fans around the world. Hailing from Sheffield, England, 'Sheffield Steel,' or 'Peaty,' has always contributed and given back to the sport," the Hall stated.
Tickets are on sale now for the induction weekend events, including the induction ceremony, at eventbrite.com/e/mountain-bike-hall-of-fame-induction-weekend-september-21-22-2018-tickets
