Aaron Gwin

Aaron Gwin
Five time UCI MTB DH World Cup Champion
Personal information
Full nameAaron Holmes Gwin
Born (1987-12-24) December 24, 1987 (age 36)
San Bernardino, California
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
Team information
Current teamGwin Racing
DisciplineDownhill mountain biking
Rider typeDownhill
Professional teams
2008-2010Yeti Cycles
2011-2012Trek World Racing
2013-2015Specialized Gravity
2016-2018The YT Mob
2019-2023Intense Factory Racing
2024-Gwin Racing
Major wins
UCI Downhill World Cup Champion (x5)
USAC Downhill National Champion (x8)

Aaron Holmes Gwin (born December 24, 1987) is an American professional downhill mountain biker from Morongo Valley, California. He is a five-time World Cup overall champion.[1]

Race career

Aaron Gwin started his cycling career racing BMX from the age of 4. By age 8, Gwin was racing at a national level.[1] At age 12, Gwin moved on to motocross and raced up until he was 17, when he quit due to constant injuries.[2] 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 placed 3rd, and began racing from then on, quickly signing with Yeti Cycles.[3] He became well-known for breaking into the international World Cup scene after only 8 months of riding downhill.[4]

Many saw Gwin as the savior for US downhill racing on the international scene, since his 10th-place finish at the Mont Sainte-Anne World Cup in 2008 was the first American top 10 finish since 2004.[5] He has since won eight United States National Championships for Downhill, in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

In 2011 and 2012, Gwin dominated the UCI World Cup downhill series. Gwin won 5 out of 7 World Cup races in 2011, and finished 13th at the UCI World Championships in Champery.[6] In 2012, Gwin once again dominated the circuit, taking first place in 4 out of 6 World Cup races. He finished in 128th at World Championships in Leogang.

The year 2013 was a disappointing one for Gwin, with unexpected poor results culminating in an accident involving a tree at the World Championships.[7]

In 2014, Gwin's racing improved from 2013, although with only one 1st in the World Cup along with the USA National Championships. His racing showed recovery from his 2013 setbacks, but suffered several mechanical accidents, such as his run in Leogang at the UCI MTB World Cup in 2014, where he suffered a flat tire as he left the start gate, which resulted in the tire coming off of the rim;[8] or his 2015 race run at the Leogang UCI MTB World Cup where his chain broke on the start line, and he raced without pedaling for his race run, managing to hold his speed and win the race.[9]

Riding style

Much of Gwin's style and skill come from his motocross experience.[2] His BMX racing experience has also contributed to his ability to ride smoothly,[2] bringing him success in Dual Slalom and Mountain Cross.

Teams

Gwin was sponsored in 2008 by Yeti Cycles.[10] He left the Yeti team in November 2010 to join the Trek World Racing Team after relocating to Temecula, CA.[11] During his time at Trek World Racing, he won two World Cup Overall titles, in 2011 and 2012. On January 7, 2013, it was announced that Aaron would be riding for Specialized Racing, replacing Sam Hill on the team. His teammate at Specialized was Troy Brosnan.

Aaron Gwin racing at Lourdes (2015 World Cup 1st round)

After a successful season with Specialized, Gwin announced that he would be leaving the big brand to ride for up and coming brand YT Industries for the 2016 season.[12] In 2019, Gwin signed with Intense Factory Racing.[13] In 2024, Gwin left Intense Factory Racing and formed an independent team, Gwin Factory Racing.

Results

2008
10th place, Sea Otter Classic Downhill
7th place, MSC #2 Chalk Creek Stampede Mountain Cross
1st place, MSC #2 Chalk Creek Stampede Dual Slalom
4th place, Deer Valley National Dual Slalom
4th place, Deer Valley National Downhill
1st place, MSC #5 Blast the Mass Downhill
10th place, 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec Canada
34th place, 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #5 Bromont, Quebec, Canada
1st place, MSC #7 Snowmass G3 Downhill
1st place, MSC #9 MSC Gravity Finals Downhill[14]
8th place, 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #8 Schladming, Austria[15]
2009
17th place, 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
14th place, 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2 La Bresse France
16th place, 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #3 Vallnord Andorra
9th place, 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Fort William, Scotland
14th place, 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #5 Maribor Slovenia
1st place, USAC National Downhill Championships, Sol Vista Colorado United States
3rd place, 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #6 Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada
5th place, 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #7 Bromont, Quebec, Canada
1st place, MSC #3 Blast the Mass Downhill, Snowmass Village, Colorado, United States
21st place, 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Stromlo, Canberra, Australia
4th place, 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #8 Schladming, Austria
2010
2nd place, Sea Otter Classic Downhill
7th place, 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 Maribor, Slovenia
1st place, IXS German Cup, Winterberg, Germany
4th place, 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2 Fort William, Scotland
3rd place, 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #3 Leogang, Austria
24th place, MSC #3 Blast the Mass Downhill, Snowmass Village, Colorado, United States
1st place, MSC #4 Blast the Mass Downhill, Snowmass Village, Colorado, United States
1st place, USAC National Downhill Championships, Sol Vista Colorado United States
8th place, 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Champerey, [France]
14th place, 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #5 Val di Sole, [Italy]
4th place, 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #6 Windham, New York State, United States
4th place, 2010 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada
2011
1st place overall for the 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series, the first American to ever win a World Cup Overall Title[16] and the first man to win 5 World Cup DH races in one season:[17]
1st place, 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa[18]
5th place, 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2 Fort William, Scotland[19]
1st place, 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #3 Leogang, Austria[20]
1st place, 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec[21]
1st place, 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #5 Windham, New York, USA[22]
3rd place, 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #6 La Bresse, FRA[23]
1st place, 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #7 Val di Sole, ITA[17]
1st place, US Open[24]
2012
1st place overall for the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series[25]
2nd place, 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa[26]
3rd place, Sea Otter Classic Downhill[27]
2nd place, Port Angeles Grand Prix Downhill[28]
1st place, 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2 Val Di Sole, Italy[29]
1st place, 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #3 Fort William, Scotland
1st place, 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Mont Saint Anne, Canada
1st place, 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #5 Windham, United States
5th place, 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #6 Val D'Isere, France (After this race he clinched his 2nd UCI Mountain Bike World Cup championship)
83rd place, Leogang, UCI MTB World Championships 2012 Austria
DNF, 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #7 Hafjell Bike Park, Norway
2013
1st place, Sea Otter Classic Downhill Monterey, California, United States
20th place, 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 Fort William,
6th place, 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2 Val di Sole, [Italy]
10th place, 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #3 Vallnord Andorra
1st place, USAC National Downhill Pro Championships, Angel Fire New Mexico United States
5th place, 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Mont Saint Anne, Canada
67th place, UCI MTB World Championships 2013 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
2014
1st place, 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
4th place, 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2 Cairns, Australia
4th place, 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #3 Fort William,
78thplace, 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Leogang, Austria
1st place, USAC National Downhill Pro Championships, Angel Fire New Mexico United States
6th place, 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #5 Mont Saint-Anne, Canada
2nd place, 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #6 Windham, New York State, United States
6th place, 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #7 Meribel, France
14th place, UCI MTB World Championships 2014 Hafjell Bike Park, Norway[30]
2015
1st place overall for the 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series
1st place, 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 Lourdes, France
1st place, Sea Otter Classic Downhill Monterey, California, United States
2nd place, 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2 Fort William,
1st place, 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #3 Leogang, Austria
8th place, 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Lenzerheide switzerland
1st place, USAC National Downhill Pro Championships, Mammouth California United States
7th place, 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #5 Mont Saint-Anne, Canada
1st place, 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #6 Windham, New York State, United States
1st place, 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #7 Val di Sole, [Italy]
2016
1st place, Overall for the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup[31]
1st place, 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 Lourdes, France[32]
4th place, 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2 Cairns, Australia[33]
2nd place, 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #3 Fort William, Scotland[34]
1st place, 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Leogang, Austria[35]
2nd place, 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #6 Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec[36]
1st place, National Mountain Bike Championships - Downhill[37]
55th place, 2016 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #7 Vallnord, Andorra
2017
1st place overall for the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series
DQ, 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #1 Lourdes, France[38]
3rd place, 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #2 Fort William,[38]
1st place, 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #3 Leogang, Austria,[39]
5th place, 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4 Vallnord Andorra,[40]
51st place, 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #5 Lenzerheide switzerland,[41]
1st place, 2017 USAC National Downhill Pro Championships Snowshoe West Virginia United States
1st place, 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #6 Mont Saint Anne, Canada [42]
1st place, 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #7 Val di Sole, [Italy] [43]
3rd place, 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships Cairns, [Australia] [44]
2018
1st place, Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup Lošinj 2018

References

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  2. ^ a b c "Aaron Gwin Interview: The USA's World Cup DH Threat". Mountain Bike Action. June 6, 2009. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "Mountain Bike Riders: Aaron Gwin - mountainbike.com". Archived from the original on April 18, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  4. ^ "www.bikemag.com // Online Exclusive: Aaron Gwin Is Turning heads". Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  5. ^ "PINNED MTB || AARON GWIN Interview 2008". Archived from the original on October 21, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  6. ^ "Mountain Bike - Rankings".
  7. ^ "Aaron Gwin Injury Update – Interbike 2013".
  8. ^ "Video: Aaron Gwin's Incredible Flat Tire Race Run". Pinkbike. June 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "Video: Aaron Gwin Unchained". Pinkbike. June 14, 2015.
  10. ^ "Aarow Gwin". Hookit. Archived from the original on February 11, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  11. ^ "Aaron Gwin to ride for Trek in 2011". Dirt Mountain Bike. November 9, 2010. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  12. ^ "It's YT Industries - Exclusive Gwin Interview". Pinkbike. February 8, 2016.
  13. ^ Ker, John (January 23, 2019). "Aaron Gwin Announces That He's Moving to Intense Cycles". Mountain Bike Action Magazine. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  14. ^ "The Official Website - USA Cycling". Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  15. ^ Uci.ch. "UCI". Archived from the original on January 30, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  16. ^ "Aaron Gwin - 2011 World Cup Overall Winner". Pinkbike. August 12, 2011.
  17. ^ a b "Val di Sole World Cup - Aaron Gwin wins 5th WC DH of the season!". Pinkbike. August 21, 2011.
  18. ^ Rocky Roads[permanent dead link‍]
  19. ^ "Fort William World Cup - Greg Minnaar has won the DH!". Pinkbike. June 5, 2011.
  20. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ "Mont Saint Anne World Cup 2011 - Aaron Gwin wins DH!". Pinkbike. July 3, 2011.
  22. ^ "Aaron Gwin has won the Windham DH!". Pinkbike. July 10, 2011.
  23. ^ "La Bresse World Cup 2011 - Minnaar and Moseley win!". Pinkbike. August 7, 2011.
  24. ^ "US Open - Aaron Gwin and Jill Kintner win DH!". Pinkbike. May 29, 2011.
  25. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  30. ^ "Mountain Bike - UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships".
  31. ^ "Aaron Gwin wins 2016 Downhill World Cup Series - Dirt". Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  32. ^ Downhill 1. Lourdes (FRA) - 10 APR 2016. Final Mountain Bike World Cup
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  36. ^ "Hart wins Mont Sainte Anne downhill". cyclingnews.com. August 7, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  37. ^ "Aaron Gwin storms to men's US Downhill title". cyclingnews.com. July 16, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  38. ^ a b "Mountain Bike - Results". Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  39. ^ "Leogang men's results".
  40. ^ "IFrame". Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
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  43. ^ "IFrame". Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  44. ^ Cairns (AUS) - 10 SEP 2017 Final Mountain Bike World Championships