Since Kona began its Grassroots Pro Development Program in 1990, we've helped hundreds of amateur cyclists take the next step in their competitive cycling endeavors. Some notable riders that started in Grassroots include Ryder Hesjedal, Geoff Kabush, Barry Wicks, and Ryan Trebon. Two current Team Kona athletes that got their start in the program include Graham "Aggy" Agassiz, and Antoine "Bizzy" Bizet. "New developments in cycling have always started at the grassroots level," explains Jacob Heilbron, one of Kona's founders. "Being in touch and working with up and coming athletes has driven just about every important new platform and model that Kona has introduced since we started building bikes in 1988."

For the 2012 racing season, Kona's Grassroots Program features over 60 riders in 10 countries. Disciplines include: Enduro, DH, XC, CX, Dirtjump and Freeride. The list is impressive, with representation from tween national DH contenders to Finnish Enduro athletes, French dirtjump upstarts to female teenage American cross-country rippers.

DH
RiderBikeCountry
Jack IllesSupreme OperatorCanada
Matt HardwickOperatorCanada
Nik DunnOperatorCanada
Kyle StojkeOperatorCanada
Finn IlesEntourageCanada
Sandy ThompsonOperatorCanada
Danny FrySupreme OperatorCanada
Brad MillsOperatorCanada
Ryan GardnerOperatorUSA
Brad StoverOperatorUSA
Trevor HumpresOperatorUSA
Amber KatzoffOperatorUSA
Collin HellerOperatorUSA
Jordan MilamOperatorUSA
Matthew HalupowskiOperatorUSA
Mikko HänninenSupreme OperatorFinland
Toni BergSupreme OperatorFinland
Elise KulmalaOperatorFinland
Luukas KlarOperatorFinland
Reko MeriöSupreme OperatorFinland
Tuomas MervolaOperatorFinland
Marvin JockersSupreme OperatorGermany
David SchinnerlOperatorAustria
Rudy CabirouOperatorFrance
Floris SnoerenSupreme OperatorHolland
Andy FarleySupreme OperatorUK
Dan FarleySupreme OperatorUK
Brad IllingworthSupreme OperatorUK
Cameron CornforthSupreme OperatorIreland
Jacob DicksonSupreme OperatorIreland
Luke CornforthSupreme OperatorIreland
Dirt Jump/Freeride
RiderBikeCountry
Preston BulaShonkyCanada
Dylan SherrardSupreme OperatorCanada
Alex VolokhovOperatorCanada
Ace HaydenEntourageCanada
Urs ReinoschEntourage/ShonkyGermany
Loic EsteveShonkyFrance
Harry SteelEntourage DLUK
Enduro
RiderBikeCountry
Kolben PrebleCadabraUSA
Juhani KettunenAbra CadabraFinland
Tapio kymäläinenAbra CadabraFinland
Kaisa HärkönenCadabraFinland
Cyclocross
RiderBikeCountry
Jennie AitkenJTSCanada
Jessica ReynoldsMajor JakeCanada
Karlee GendronMajor JakeCanada
Michael JamesMajor JakeUSA
XC
RiderBikeCountry
Adrzej JermoneHei Hei 29 DLCanada
Andy AufschnailterHei Hei 29 SupremeCanada
Travis HaukHei Hei 29 DLCanada
Liam WhitmanKula WattCanada
Kaysee ArmstrongHei Hei 29 DLUSA
Sean LeaderKing KahunaUSA
Melissa NordlandKing KahunaUSA

Grassroots Riders