MTBNZ is heavily involved in the Performance area of athlete and coach support.
Linkage to the BikeNZ High Performance Programme (HPP) has always been essential, given SPARC’s investment in this programme which targets Olympic, Commonwealth and World Championship success.
The BikeNZ HPP has been managed by several different directors since BikeNZ’s inception, with Mark Elliott currently in this role. Under Mark’s leadership and SPARC’s guidance the HPP is now narrowly focussed, investing in athletes that have clear or proven potential to win podiums at the highest levels.
The HPP focus requires MTBNZ to become more active in the Performance Development area with our talented athletes. Setting up an Athlete Development Pathway in 2008/09 and managing supported campaign opportunities around that pathway was our first structured approach to supporting this area. The next version of this pathway for 2010 includes a refined focus on performance. MTBNZ will also be investing heavily in this area in 2010, with development funding drawn from a portion of NZ MTB Cup entry fees that are ring-fenced to support identified development athletes (those who are persuing higher goals and who also demonstrate the potential to achieve)
The BikeNZ HPP does provide a level of investment in building MTB Coach Capability within the performance framework, and supports MTBNZ’s Prime Minister’s Scholarship (four performance Coaches) which will be entering Stage Two in 2010.
MTBNZ is also involved with supporting our NZ Academy of Sport carded athletes. Currently there are seven MTB athletes on the carding list:
Rosara Joseph – who recieves direct athlete support through the BikeNZ HPP for XCO;
Justin Leov, Sam Blenkinsop, Cameron Cole, Kieran Bennett, Aari Barrett and Brook MacDonald who are in the carding system under the Pro-Team category. With MTBNZ’s support, these athletes are able to utilise NZAS support for their development needs which is all about ramping their rate of development up, enabling them to win on the world stage!
There’s little doubt that MTB athletes in the downhill discipline have over achieved at the highest level for many years, and continue to do so. Scarlett Hagen, Vanessa Quin, Cam Cole, Sam Blenkinsop, Matt Scoles and our latest World Champion Brook MacDonald all own World Championship medals, and more will come. Legend of the sport John Kirkcaldie is a multi NORBA champion, involved now with mentoring our athletes on race preparation and sharing his extensive knowledge of the sport and what it takes to succeed. As a non-Olympic discipline, World Championships are the highest level for these athletes – and while this raises challenges around tangible support from a high performance point of view, MTBNZ are finding ways to improve this situation.
In the Cross Country discipline, Rosara Joseph carries the potential to do the same. Kashi Leuchs was a trail-blazer for mens Cross Country, but his retirement this year left a gaping hole with no MTB athlete at a high enough level to step into Kashi’s well worn cycling shoes. But we do have a number of extremely focussed and determined athletes coming through the ranks now, especially in the U19 and U23 categories that will see more success in this discipline within a few short years. MTBNZ’s role is to support these athletes where we can to enable them to succeed, and to do this in a smart way. Our first, short term target for mens Cross Country is having a male representative racing alongside Rosara at the 2012 Olympics.
In 2009, MTBNZ upped its game in terms of hands-on delivery, moving into a full organisational and management role with the 2009 NZ MTB Team at the World Championships in Canberra. This campaign delivered highlights not only with Brook MacDonald’s gold medal in Junior Downhill, but also with performances in the U19 Cross Country race that showed we are on track with the rate of development needed to have these athletes challenging at the sharp end of their fields in a short time. Good, quality coaching is supporting this drive, however it is worth noting that all of this effort is still being conducted by volunteers. Being more sustainable in this area is a goal MTBNZ aims to achieve.
The drop down menus detail where we are at currently.
MTBNZ is a member organisation of: Gold Supporters:
Performance
MTBNZ is heavily involved in the Performance area of athlete and coach support.
Linkage to the BikeNZ High Performance Programme (HPP) has always been essential, given SPARC’s investment in this programme which targets Olympic, Commonwealth and World Championship success.
The BikeNZ HPP has been managed by several different directors since BikeNZ’s inception, with Mark Elliott currently in this role. Under Mark’s leadership and SPARC’s guidance the HPP is now narrowly focussed, investing in athletes that have clear or proven potential to win podiums at the highest levels.
The HPP focus requires MTBNZ to become more active in the Performance Development area with our talented athletes. Setting up an Athlete Development Pathway in 2008/09 and managing supported campaign opportunities around that pathway was our first structured approach to supporting this area. The next version of this pathway for 2010 includes a refined focus on performance. MTBNZ will also be investing heavily in this area in 2010, with development funding drawn from a portion of NZ MTB Cup entry fees that are ring-fenced to support identified development athletes (those who are persuing higher goals and who also demonstrate the potential to achieve)
The BikeNZ HPP does provide a level of investment in building MTB Coach Capability within the performance framework, and supports MTBNZ’s Prime Minister’s Scholarship (four performance Coaches) which will be entering Stage Two in 2010.
MTBNZ is also involved with supporting our NZ Academy of Sport carded athletes. Currently there are seven MTB athletes on the carding list:
Rosara Joseph – who recieves direct athlete support through the BikeNZ HPP for XCO;
Justin Leov, Sam Blenkinsop, Cameron Cole, Kieran Bennett, Aari Barrett and Brook MacDonald who are in the carding system under the Pro-Team category. With MTBNZ’s support, these athletes are able to utilise NZAS support for their development needs which is all about ramping their rate of development up, enabling them to win on the world stage!
There’s little doubt that MTB athletes in the downhill discipline have over achieved at the highest level for many years, and continue to do so. Scarlett Hagen, Vanessa Quin, Cam Cole, Sam Blenkinsop, Matt Scoles and our latest World Champion Brook MacDonald all own World Championship medals, and more will come. Legend of the sport John Kirkcaldie is a multi NORBA champion, involved now with mentoring our athletes on race preparation and sharing his extensive knowledge of the sport and what it takes to succeed. As a non-Olympic discipline, World Championships are the highest level for these athletes – and while this raises challenges around tangible support from a high performance point of view, MTBNZ are finding ways to improve this situation.
In the Cross Country discipline, Rosara Joseph carries the potential to do the same. Kashi Leuchs was a trail-blazer for mens Cross Country, but his retirement this year left a gaping hole with no MTB athlete at a high enough level to step into Kashi’s well worn cycling shoes. But we do have a number of extremely focussed and determined athletes coming through the ranks now, especially in the U19 and U23 categories that will see more success in this discipline within a few short years. MTBNZ’s role is to support these athletes where we can to enable them to succeed, and to do this in a smart way. Our first, short term target for mens Cross Country is having a male representative racing alongside Rosara at the 2012 Olympics.
In 2009, MTBNZ upped its game in terms of hands-on delivery, moving into a full organisational and management role with the 2009 NZ MTB Team at the World Championships in Canberra. This campaign delivered highlights not only with Brook MacDonald’s gold medal in Junior Downhill, but also with performances in the U19 Cross Country race that showed we are on track with the rate of development needed to have these athletes challenging at the sharp end of their fields in a short time. Good, quality coaching is supporting this drive, however it is worth noting that all of this effort is still being conducted by volunteers. Being more sustainable in this area is a goal MTBNZ aims to achieve.
The drop down menus detail where we are at currently.