Bike Wānaka has announced its two youth grant recipients for 2024, who will each receive $1,000 each to help with the cost of bike training, competition or equipment. 

The recipients are Ruby Smith and Finn Woolley, who both have busy seasons ahead.

“The funding from Bike Wānaka will go a long way towards helping me race and train in the upcoming season, and I'm really looking forward to pushing my limits again this summer,” Ruby said.

“For the upcoming season, my first race will be the National Secondary Schools MTB Champs, held in Christchurch in early October. I'll be competing in all three disciplines, but my main focus will be downhill.

Forty-six volunteers helped to plant more than 200 natives at the newly upgraded Lismore Bike Park last Saturday (August 17).

“I plan to participate in all of the races that I competed in last year, which will include national rounds. 

Ruby said the grant would help her travel to races and training camps, maintain her bike, and contribute towards entry fees and bike park passes.

The “standout applicant” received the grant for the second year in a row, Bike Wānaka said.

Finn said he planned to use the grant to purchase a season pass for the Skyline Queenstown Bike Park, with the remainder contributing to upcoming race fees and the like.

Ruby and Finn were congratulated on their grants by Bike Wānaka last Saturday (August 17) when the organisation partnered with Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust for a planting day at Lismore Park.

A Bike Wānaka spokesperson said the event brought together 46 volunteers who helped plant more than 200 natives at the recently upgraded bike park.

Read more: Lismore Bike Park transformed, reopened

PHOTOS: Bike Wānaka