Katching up with Kevin Aiello

SEPTEMBER - FEATURED RIDER PROFILE

In what will be a regular monthy installment for the DirtyWheel, we present to you, our featured profile of the month. Each month we will try to highlight a different Company, Rider, or Videographer/Photographer from the Industry. If you have questions you would like answered by an industry fave or maybe you would like to be featured by the DirtyWheel, contact us HERE. Now sit back and enjoy a glimpse inside the industry.

EVERYTHING IS LOOKING A-OK
ON BOARD WITH AN UP AND COMING STAR - KEVIN AIELLO

Getting Dirty with : KEVIN AIELLO

This month we wanted to shift gears and focus on a professional rider. As much as we love product manufacturers and companies, its fellow riders, that get us stoked to ride. So for the month of September we feature a rider that we can say with conviction. If you do not know who he is yet, you will very soon! There seems to be something diabolical going on over at the KHS FACTORY RACING TEAM, and Quinton Spaulding seems to be the mastermind. "Q" has assembled a team of young rising stars, all while competing and winning in his own class. This year the duo of Logan Binggeli and Kevin Aiello grabbed podium spots with such frequency that other PRO's took notice, knowing that their work was cut out for them. At CrankWorx Colorado they both landed on the podium for the Chainless DH (Kevin 2nd Place and Logan 3rd place) and Mens Pro DH. (Logan 2nd place and Kevin 3rd Place) They followed that up with dominance at the Southridge Predator Night Race, where Kevin Aiello took 2nd place .09 seconds out of the top spot. Logan finished a close 3rd and was named to the US National team shortly after. So if you have not noticed a pattern yet, let us share with you the results at the PRO GRT Race at Northstar: Logan took home top honors and Kevin landed in 4th place in a very strong field.

We caught up with Kevin and asked him a few serious questions about where his success has come from. He attributes a lot of his success to getting more serious about training. Kevin states "This is the first year I really started focusing on conditioning. I added swimming and road riding to my routine, and it has really made a difference to my endurance". Kevin is not only a 20 yr. old 6'4 DH racer ... he is also a guy that likes to have fun and enjoy the ride. So drop your seat and hold on as we bomb down our list of 10 questions and get to know him a little better.

1. What is your earliest Bike memory?

I'd have to say the earliest memory I have of mountain biking would be seeing Josh Bender out at Shell Reef in Ocotillio Wells riding off cliffs. Ever since then I wanted to ride downhill.

2. So Kevin, you're coming off 2 podiums at Crankworx Colorado, a 2nd place finish in the Chainless DH, and a 3rd place finish in Pro Men's DH. What do you consider your biggest win up until this point in your racing career?

Ever since I moved up from juniors it's been a slow steady progression until now, but I'd have to say a big personal accomplishment of mine was placing 48th in the Bromont World Cup. It doesn't sound like anything amazing but at that level of racing I felt like that was one of my top performances.

3. Tell us your wildest bike story?

Besides T- boning a bear mid race run in Whistler, I'd have to say breaking my eye socket at the Windham World Cup was a gnarly experience. That was my first broken bone and it was a pretty tough crash and healing process. It really opened my eyes on head safety.

4. What is the last song to get absolutely stuck in your head?

Upside down by Bassnectar.

5. So tell us a little about KHS Factory Racing and what exciting things are happening with the team?

Well this is my first year on the team and it has been nothing but awesome things from those guys. They have been like family for a while now, so it's more like road tripping with all my buddies more than a "team trip". As most people probably know KHS has a new DH bike that should be on the market soon. That bike has really blown me away with its performance, especially with the new Marzocchi Suspension. So that's something to look forward to.

6. Do you have any weird race day rituals? Special meals, Neurotic habits, etc. ?

Well I've got a couple pairs of lucky socks and underwear, but my main thing is getting some good breakfast in me. Leading up to my run I try not to think too much about anything. I seem to race much better when I ride just like it's another practice run, and if I put my work in during practice then I usually turn out pretty good.

7. We have heard you described as "Style for Miles" and would definitely agree ... but how would you describe your riding style? What do you consider your strengths and what is currently the weakest part of your skillset?

Ha-ha Thanks! I tend to ride pretty loose and relaxed, hopping around the track, but that also has its downsides. Being I am 6'4" I'm pretty top heavy and tend to be off balance in the mud. That has led to several crashes and frustrations when racing a muddy course. Recently I've been trying to bend at the waist and get lower on the bike so that I am much more prepared for roots and
mud.

8. Continuing along the same line of questioning ... What is your Favorite course that you have ran?

I'd have to say my top three favorite tracks would be Val Di Sol, Italy, Bromont, Canada, and the 2008 National Champs track in
Vermont.

9. What advice would you give to someone looking to race for the very first time?

Just have fun with it because if you're not having fun, you're not going fast.

10. 5 years have passed and its 2016 (that sounds crazy) what have you hopefully accomplished?

Well hopefully I've won the last 4 World Cup Overalls with Gwinny in a close 2nd, and I've retired at my newly acquired beachfront property in Cabo. But realistically I'd really like to see myself progress as a racer and be a consistent top 20 World Cup racer. Racing is my passion and I really enjoy everything that it has allowed me to do, so hopefully I'll be around for a
while.

One thing that is imperative for the success of our sport, is the support of our young riders. We want to thank the following companies that sponsor Kevin Aiello and other riders all over the world. Kevin Aiello is sponsored by: