April 16, 2012 PerformX Young Guns Downhill Team is born… Two of Canada’s top gravity teams – PerformX Downhill and Team Young Guns – are joining forces to take on Canada and the World Cup. The PerformX Young Guns Downhill Team, based out of Whistler/Pemberton, BC, will field four top Canadian DH athletes poised to challenge national titles and see success on the world stage. Both PerformX and Young Guns have a history of fostering top junior Canadian downhill talent with the goal of elevating them to the World Cup level. This year, the team will be comprised of Remi Gauvin, Micayla Gatto, Casey Brown and Brendan Howey. Joining the team for select events will be pro motocross/crossover athlete Shawn Maffenbeier. The team is sponsored by Fox, Commencal, Shimano, Spank, Troy Lee Designs, Oakley, Maxxis, SDG, MRP, and North Shore Billet. Backing the team will be manager and trainer Todd Schumlick, former Young Guns manager and now team consultant Lesley Tomlinson, co-manager and coach Ryan Kuhn and team mechanic and gear manager Mike Rothdram. Todd has quickly built a reputation in the mountain bike industry as a trainer. In addition to Steve Smith, Todd is currently working with Justin Leov, Sam Blenkinsop, Jill Kintner, Bryn Atkinson, Brook MacDonald, Miranda Miller, Mitch Ropelato, Kyle Sangers and Tyler Allison, while continuing to assist other top motocross athletes. “I couldn’t be happier with the lineup of the new PerformX Young Guns Downhill Team,” says Todd. “This is the third season training with Remi and he’s fit and on a tear. I’m also excited to be training two of Canada’s top female gravity racers, Micayla and Casey. I’ve been working with Shawn for five years on the moto side and am looking forward to watching his crossover talent on a mountain bike. Bringing PerformX and Young Guns together will set the stage for some strong results and excellent exposure for our sponsors.”

Remi, Micayla and Casey will be racing in gravity disciplines at select World Cup events, premiere Canadian events including the National Series and Canadian Championships, as well as in selected stand-alone events such as Crankworx and World Championships. Brendan will also race in selected events, as well as continuing his hugely successful freeride video parts. When not competing in the CMRC pro national motorcross series, Shawn plans to train with the team and race select mountain bike events including Crankworx. “I have been fostering top young Canadian mountain bike talent for years and this new team is an evolution to the next level,” says Tomlinson, two-time Olympic athlete and former mountain bike endurance world champion. “PerformX has been turning heads since it hit the Canadian scene two years ago, and I’m confident PerformX Young Guns has the chemistry and talent to shine on the world stage.” In addition to a busy race schedule, PerformX Young Guns will also step up their downhill race coaching program in 2012. Guest coaches from the team will assist as well as visiting coaches such as Steve Smith and various other top downhill riders Todd trains. The program will offer aspiring racers the opportunity to learn from the best. A full announcement is slated for the near future. For more information, contact Ryan Kuhn at 250.231.0157 or go to www.performxracing.com, Commencal Canada, or like our facebook site.

About PerformX Young Guns athletes: REMI GAUVIN

Photo: David Fournier Age: 19 NICKNAME: Rem, Remi the Semi, Rembrandt HOBBIES: Skiing, eating awesome food ACHIEVEMENTS (bike): Three-time Canadian National Team member, 2010 Canadian Junior National Champion, first Junior 2009 Bromont Canada Cup, 2010 Northwest Cup overall winner, first 2011 Cumberland Island Cup, sixth 2011 Bromont Canada cup, seventh 2011 Garbanzo DH, Crankworx. GOALS FOR 2012: Reach a level that I think that I am capable of reaching. Canadian National Champion, Top 40 at World Cups PLANS FOR 2012: I will be racing a majority of the World Cup series, Canadian Nationals and Canada Cup series, Crankworx and other select North American races. I will also be filming with Dan Batchelor and Straightshot media showcasing what I do as a rider and racer. I recently spend a few months in New Zealand preparing for the coming North American and European racing season (He placed 5th in Elite at the Oceanian Championships). SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: facebook.com/remi.gauvin.mtb Twitter: twitter.com/remi_gauvin Blog: remigauivinmtb.wordpress.com

MICAYLA GATTO

Photo: Malcolm Mclaws Age: 23 NICKNAME: still waiting for a good one HOBBIES: playing music, singing, drawing/painting, causing a ruckus ACHIEVMENTS (bike): Canadian National Downhill Champion 2010, 1st place Kokanee Crankworx DS, 10th place in The World Cup Women’s Downhill in Leogang, Austria. GOALS FOR 2012: Top 5 at World Cups, Canadian National Champion, World Championships, Crankworx Podiums PLANS FOR 2012: I plan to race North American DH World Cups, Canadian National DH Championships, DH World Championships, some BC Cups, Canada Cups, Western Open, Crankworx events (Dual Slalom, Canadian Open, Air DH) and Coaching for Camp of Champions in Whistler for two weeks. Also: BMX Pro-am indoor series, BMX National Championships, BMX Western National Series, BMX BC Cup Series, and BMX Supercross World Cup (MAYBE) and 4x Indoor BC Cup Series. SOCIAL MEDIA: Blog: canadiandhgirls.wordpress.com/author/micaylag Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Micayla-Gatto Art: micaylagatto.blogspot.com Twitter: @MicaylaGatto Instagram: @MicaylaG Sponsor Bios: ca.oakley.com/sports/women/athletes/59 www.commencal.com/web/team/super-riders/micayla-gatto

BRENDAN HOWEY

Age: 20 NICKNAME: Howey HOBBIES (off bike): digging, relaxing ACHIEVEMENTS (bike): 2nd Sea Otter Best Whip, 9th AT's showdown GOALS FOR 2012: Have fun stay healthy and keep pushing it PLANS FOR 2012: Film some cool edits, hit up Sea Otter, Goldman's backyard comp, Jumpship, coach Camp of Champions all July, and Crankworx. SOCIAL MEDIA: Tumblr: brendanhowey.tumblr.com

CASEY JAYNE BROWN

Age: 21 NICKNAME: "Bad ass Brown" or "CJ5" HOBBIES (off bike): Noboarding (snowboarding with no bindings) skiing, building trails, arts and crafts. ACHIEVEMENTS (bike): 12th at 2011 World Championships Champery, Second Canadian Nationals 2011, Fourth Air DH Crankworx 2011, Fourth Garbanzo DH Crankworx 2011, Third Canadian Nationals 2010. GOALS FOR 2012: get to peak performance and be the best athlete I can be. PLANS FOR 2012: Sea Otter Classic, Canadian Nationals, Mont Sainte Anne World Cup, Windham World Cup, Crankworx (Air DH, Garbonzo DH, Canadian Open), World Championships, filming with STUND, coaching for Dirt Series and guiding for Retallack Lodge. SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: caseybrown.freshaircollective.com Instagram: caseyjaynebrown@instagram

SHAWN MAFFENBEIER

Photo: James Lissimore Age: 19 NICKNAME: Muff HOBBIES (off bike): wake boarding, snowboarding, cooking, fixing things that an average person shouldn't be fixing, and having a great time! ACHIEVEMENTS (bike): Bicycles: 31st RedBull Down Hill 5000; Motocross: sixth overall CMRC Pro MX 1 in 2011, Break-out Rider of the Year, fourth In Montreal SX GOALS FOR 2012: Put in solid race days in both Moto and DH where I know I will perform at my fullest potential. PLANS FOR 2012: Travelling throughout North America racing motocross and downhill through the summer months. Racing Toronto AMA Supercross (March), All nine rounds of the CMRC pro nationals for Motocross (June- August), Two Selected AMA Motocross Nationals, Canadian Nationals at Mont Sainte Anne, QC and Crankworx. SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Shawn-Maffenbeier Twitter: @little_muff For more information, go to www.performxracing.com and Commencal Canada, or like our facebook site.