With community’s support, Team Zoobomb focuses on Maryhill

Team Zoobomb’s Gabe Tiller after a
training run in the West Hills
last Sunday night.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Portland’s Team Zoobomb will vie for the crown of fastest gravity bikers in the world at this weekend’s Maryhill Festival of Speed. The event takes place on legendary Maryhill Loops Road in Goldendale, Washington and it’s the official International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA) World Championships.

After spending the last few days applying layers of duct tape to their racing leathers and ordering parts for their bikes, Team Zoobomb members Chuck Bridge, Aaron Truman, and Gabriel Tiller are already taking practice runs on the course. And, because of an outpouring of community support, they can focus solely on the task at hand.

Maryhill Loops Road.
(Photo: Jocelyn | McCaulifower/Flickr)

The trio has raised over $2,200 in recent weeks. The money has paid for their entry fees, modifications to their bikes, and safety gear. According to Gabe Tiller, a benefit party thrown on August 9th was “a smashing success”. Gabe says the team has been, “floored by the outpouring of support from our community.”

In addition to individual donors, the team is now sponsored by Portland-based Black Sheep Bakery, bike fun group Shift, New Belgium Brewing, BikePortland.org, and others.

And the support doesn’t stop with financial contributions. A huge fan contingent (including hopefully myself if I can find a ride) will be joining Team Zoobomb on the slopes of Maryhill Road.

I stopped by Team Zoobomb headquarters just before they headed out yesterday to snap a few photos of their bikes. It was great to see them all tricked out with fairings and emblazoned with sponsorship logos:

Gabe’s bike.

Chuck’s bike.

The event will be shown on NBC Sports’ Jeep World of Adventure Sports program on October 11th.