MARK WILLIAMS

Queenstown, New Zealand 

Jenna Hastings

Mark ‘Willy’ Williams, ‘maturing’ MTB stage racer with podiums from Pioneer, Cape Epic, Trans Rockies and BC Bike Race. Top ten Elite 24hr World Championships from ages ago, and regular starter in local events.

As a dad for 2 young girls, racing has slowed down over the past couple of years – but lucky to keep my passion for the sport strong with my role as CEO for Queenstown Trails. We'v developed an epic network of trails in the Southern Lakes and recently opened the new Coronet Loop which will host the inaugural event as part of the Motatapu next March. Some big new routes planned to open soon, including the new upper section of Hot Rod on Coronet Peak.

I've found a new found obsession with bikepacking – so much so that I’ve signed up for the Sounds to Sounds in March 2023, and have grand designs on the Tour Divide in the USA in 2023 or 2024.

We did have a family vacation to Europe to watch a bit of the TdF and MTB World Champs in Les Gets – got to meet my heros Nino Schurter and Jolanda Neff, and watched Sam Gaze storm to Gold in the short Track – just awesome! I’m also starting to get the racing bug back again and have been talking to mixed partner Kate Boe about completing the trio of Stage Race Epics with Swiss Epic to complete our ‘Epic Legend’ status (and earn a big belt buckle!)

Also had major Fomo for the Whaka100 in 2022, so am about to pull the trigger on the Miler for 2023 – longer distance suits the old diesel a bit better than the short sharp races these days.

Favourite Place to Ride: The whole Coronet Peak network. Bike Glendhu is also a favourite, and we really enjoy the Kaiteriteri Bike park up in the Abel Tasman for our annual Christmas pilgrimage – ride in the morning on cool variety of trails with or without the kids, then beach time in the afternoon with a beer at sunset – almost paradise! And although it might seem a bit odd for an MTB’er, nothing beats the European Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites on a road bike!

Favourite Pivot Bike:  The new Trail 429 – its just so good at everything! From all-day epics to a few laps of the bike park, the 429 can handle it all, and is more than enough bike for the roughest trails I ride – It’s a Jack (and Master) of all trades