Matthew Fairbrother splits his time between Christchurch, New Zealand, and wherever the riding scene takes him across North America and Europe. At 19, he is all about exploring every corner of cycling. Joining Kona this season gave him a proper quiver of bikes to choose from, and his goal is simple. Find out what he can do when he has the right tool for the job, push his limits, and dive into areas of riding he has not fully explored yet.

His core passion still leans toward gravity and descending, but Matthew is excited to take on XC and gravel racing, ultra-endurance adventures, and any ride that throws the unexpected at him. The Hei Hei tops his list of bikes to try, a platform he sees as capable of everything from lightweight XC race setups to rowdy down-country fun.

Matthew thrives on the unknown. When the path is uncharted or the odds feel stacked against him, he is fired up to explore and push harder. This year he is especially focused on endurance XC races around the 24-hour mark, testing himself in structured race environments alongside his own creative projects. Off the bike, he balances the intensity with personal goals, currently working toward Personal Training and First-Aid qualifications.

MATTHEW ON INSTAGRAM