Exciting mountain bike apparel brand 4Shaw has used the recent Oceania Mountain Bike Championships in Hobart to launch a Tasmanian team to contest national rounds and other premier events in 2013. The four man line up consisting of owner Dion Shaw and veteran Nick Miller is balanced by exciting young riders Scott Bowden and Tom Goddard. The 4Shaw team has welcomed support from Giant Australia, with all riders on the superlight XTC 29ers for the year.
This team is an evolution of the growth experienced by the 4Shaw business which has seen Dion Shaw lead the establishment of the humble sock as a fashionable must have piece of cycling kit that have taken rapidly to riders feet across Australia in the last two years. Shaw is no stranger to the bike himself, having been a long time competitor on the national scene, and riding well in 2013 at the National Championships to win the expert men’s title at Stromlo earlier this year.
Shaw’s strategy is to remain heavily involved at the core of his mounatin biking roots, with plans to grow the team’s reach in coming years by adding riders across all major states to develop a truely national representation of the 4Shaw name. Apart from Giant, 4Shaw has a host of race sponsors behind the team including Ventou, adidas eyewear, SRAM, Kinchrome, Aussie Butt Cream and Ironhouse Brewery. Coupled with this the team also is looking stylish in off the bike clobber from Cruex Cycling and Pulchrum shoes The full Tasmanian line up was an obvious choice for 2013, as the tight knit local community has helped create a strong bond and family environment amongst the team. The youth policy is also an investment for the future, with young Tasmanian riders now having the belief that they can match it with the best, based the the success of fellow islanders Sid Taberlay, Rowena Fry, Ben Bradley and Ben Mather.
Under 19 Hobart student, Scott Bowden is a young rider to keep an eye on for the future. Dogged by badluck and poorly timed illness so far this season, Bowden has still excelled with a win in the Buller national round U19 point to point and 6th place in the national titles. The ex distance runner had obviously caught the eye of MTBA as one of nine athletes that have been nominated to the long-team for Junior Olympic Cross Country in preparation for the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships being staged in Pietermaritzburg, Republic of South Africa, in late August.
“I’m really excited to be part of the 4Shaw team this year. The work that Dion puts into making sure we have the best equiptment possible with attention to every little detail makes it a great team to be involved in.” said Bowden. “I’ve only been on the Giant XTC for a few days and I’m seeing the benefits already, especially on the steep climbs, with the 29er offering more grip.”
Engineering student Tom Goddard also hails from a running background and has adapted the bike exceptionaly well in the last few years. The Launceston rider has already shown enough talent to rack up a top ten finish at the 2011 World MTB Orienteering Junior Championships in Italy, and is starting to put together some consistent results in national rounds of late with 5th placings in U23′s at Buller and Bright. With a few more years in this age group, Goddard is looking forward to more race experience. “I feel like I am improving in certain aspects of every race. It’s great to have 4Shaw behind me, and giving me the opportunity and motivation to get to more races.”
Hobart veteran Nick Miller balances out the quartet with over 12 years riding trails. A focused training schedule from Jenni King in the last few years has helped Miller go to the next level, being competitive at a national level and a recent bronze medal in the veteran men’s at the Oceania Champs. The business executive also offers sound advice and perspective on riding / career balance to the younger members who are are still studying.
With a recent relocation of the 4Shaw business to Melbourne, expect to see increased activity and awesome kit as this small business continues to grow as one of the hottest brands in Australian cycling. Follow the rainbow on their facebook page and on Instagram @4shaw_dion
