Finn Hawkesby-Browne is a Year 12 student at Hagley, having started as a Year 9 student in 2016.

Earlier this year Finn competed in the National Series for Mountain Biking, placing 2nd overall. This week he heads to Europe to compete for the summer.

Finn got into Mountain Biking at the age of 11 when his family got him into it, and he has been serious about it for the last 4 years, competing in the full round of the National Series (a series of two races in the North Island, and two in the South Island). Finn has always found riding and racing fun. When he started to get good results at club races in Christchurch, Finn decided that he wanted to see how he would go on the national circuit. It turns out, that he went well! Earlier this year Finn won his hometown race at the Christchurch Adventure Park, ultimately coming second in the overall standings and second in the national championships. Finn is now heading to Europe to compete for the summer, racing in four European World Cups as well as the World Champs in Montreal, Canada.

Finn says the positives of Mountain Biking are going to new places, doing well in races, and riding with his best mates. The downsides are the injuries. In the last year he has dislocated his shoulder three times and broken his arm.

Ultimately Finn would love to do this as a career, and he is on his way already, currently having sponsorship from Fox and Santa Cruz. If you’re interested in getting involved in Mountain Biking Finn says that Canterbury Gravity is a Christchurch Downhill Club with skills races and novice races.

If you would like to learn more about Finn’s adventures in Europe you can read the article here: https://hyperformance.nz/blog/2019/5/24/finn-hawkesby-brown-interview-limitless-dreams-of-a-teenage-downhiller