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NICKNAME: Gwinny

RACING PRO SINCE: 2008

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2010 World Cup Series 4th overall, 2 time US National Champ

BEST PART OF THE JOB: The life it's given me.

HARDEST PART: Traveling.

FAVORITE FOOD: Anything and everything.

MUSIC INTERESTS: Wolfmother, Jack White

OTHER INTERESTS: My house, music, having fun!

Aaron Gwin started his cycling career off early racing BMX from age 4. By age 8 Gwin was racing all the nationals. At age 12 Gwin moved on to motocross and raced up until he was 17 when he quit due to constant injuries. In 2008 at age 20 Gwin was loaned a bike by fellow professional downhill racer and good friend Cody Warren and was encouraged to compete in a race. In his first race in the Fontana Winter Series he got 3rd and began racing. He has since won two United States National Championships for Downhill, in 2009 and in 2010

Much of Gwin's style and skill come from his motocross days, and his whips and jumping technique show it in videos. He also gained a lot of flow from racing BMX for so many years, it also shows in his Dual Slalom and Mountain Cross results. Aaron joined the Trek World Racing Team in November 2010 after relocating to Temecula, CA.

Widely known as the "Godfather of Freeriding," Wade Simmons is a legend in mountain biking who can still throw down...he's also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Winner of the first Red Bull Rampage, Wade-O has successfully made the transition from athlete to athlete-ambassador as evidenced by his still-impressive roster of sponsors and numerous photos and videos throughout the cycling media world. And should you be an aspiring freerider, you can even take lessons from Wade at the Summer Gravity Camps on his home mountain of Whistler in British Columbia, Canada.

Height (cm): 180

What/who started you racing: My mother and father, always there and always encouraging me.

Weakness: Injuries.

Marital status: Girlfriend Tory in New Zealand.

Most important people in your life and career: Tory, my family, my manager and my team.

Racing since: 2000

Professional since: 2004

Best part of racing: The feeling of a good race run plus the result.

Hardest part: Downtime after injuries. It always takes way too long to heal!

Worst moment in career: 2006 Worlds race run. Crashing when I was racing at a World Championships on home soil.

Best moment in career: Getting on the World Cup podium in Andorra in 2009.

General career goals: To be consistently on top of the podium.

Favourite food: Tory's and my manager's cooking, also anything Mexican.

Favourite music: Chevelle, I Am Giant, David Guetta, Tiki Taane

Best idea of having good time: Riding with mates, it doesn't matter what or where.

Favourite place to travel to: Queenstown NZ, it's unbelievable down there really!

Most respected mountain bike riders: Greg Minnaar, Nico Vouilloz, Jared Graves, Steve Peat and Fabien Barel

Other most respected athletes: Travis Pastrana, James Stewart

Favourite riding spots and courses: Mont-Sainte-Anne (long World Cup track). My local tracks back in New Zealand

Advice to beginners: Ride as much as you can and enjoy yourself.

Other sports: Surfing, Motocross, BMX, Dirt Jumping

Other interests: Coffee, Bike Otago

If I was not a professional mountain biker... I'd run my bike shop.

Training week: Gym, intervals, BMX, moto and downhill.

Weight (kg): 79

Why do you ride: Because I like the feeling of pushing myself further and further to the edge.

Nickname: Juzo

Current Team: Trek World Racing