Ashburton teen Oli Nicholls has been shoulder-tapped by a world cup professional mountainbike racing crew to mechanic for their upcoming international season.
It is a five-month gig with Team High Country which starts from Poland in May.
He will be one of two mechanics for the team’s three riders.
Oli said the team management had a passion for bikes and wanted to help younger riders.
‘‘It was someone that I met last year, and they sent a message one night saying ‘hey, would you like to come mechanicing for this year’s season’.
‘‘I couldn’t really turn it down, it’s pretty good,’’ he said.
Oli, 18, has been working at Stoked Cycles in Ashburton since leaving high school and was himself in the UCI Mountainbiking Downhill World Series under 19 age group last year where he competed across Europe. He called it a ‘‘university of life’’ experience.
He was riding every day and competing against the top international age-group riders in the world after he qualified for the Under 19 UCI Mountainbiking Downhill World Series and selected to represent New Zealand in the world championships.
He said Team High Country was made up of Kiwi riders Malik Boatwright (Queenstown) and Bellah Birchall (Rotorua), and Australian Zac Bradley-Hudson.
Each were aged around 18 and were contenders capable of titles, Oli said.
‘‘If any of them are high up in the top 10, then there is an opportunity to go over to America and race two rounds over there. It’s another four weeks.’’
Oli said looked forward to soaking up the professional atmosphere again and helping his friend.
‘‘(I’m looking forward to) being back in the scene, mechanicing for my mate (Malik), who I’ve known for three or four years; dial his bike in, help him out too, if I get the opportunity. I can go up, track walk with him, spot lines.’’
