HOW MUCH I MADE AS A WORLD CUP DOWNHILL AND ENDURO RACER?!

Summary

This video reveals the financial journey of a World Cup downhill and enduro racer, from self-funded beginnings to professional contracts. Starting in 2008 with no salary and minimal resources, he gradually earned small amounts through prize money and bike sales. His breakthrough came with contracts at Bulls Bikes, followed by peak earnings with GT Factory Racing, combining base salary and media bonuses to reach six-figure deals. Later, he transitioned to managing his own team, handling sponsorships directly. Alongside racing, creating videos and social content played a key role in income growth, offering valuable insights into the real financial realities of professional mountain biking.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reveals their earnings as a professional World Cup downhill and enduro racer, breaking the silence on the financial aspects of the sport.
• 😀 The first year racing in Europe was tough, with no support and a budget of just NZD 15,000, which covered travel and a used bike, but no earnings.
• 😀 The speaker credits an early sponsorship with Ancelotti for helping build their career, even though they didn’t receive a salary and had to rely on prize money to fund travel.
• 😀 In 2011, the speaker rode for Kinder Play Biker, but earned no salary. Instead, they profited by selling the bikes provided at the end of the season.
• 😀 Injury setbacks in 2011 and 2012 (a broken arm and a scaphoid fracture) interrupted the racing career, leading the speaker to focus on creating content like Wind TV to maintain visibility and income.
• 😀 In 2013, the speaker signed their first major professional contract with Bulls Bikes, earning €15,000, marking the first real salary in their racing career.
• 😀 After renegotiating in 2014, the speaker’s salary with Bulls increased to €20,000, with their bike and travel expenses covered. Despite not making much money, they gained valuable experience and results.
• 😀 2016 marked a pivotal moment when the speaker joined GT Factory Racing, paying €20,000 to exit their previous contract with Bulls. They received €40,000 with GT, marking a leap into a larger, more prestigious team.
• 😀 A bonus-heavy contract in 2017 allowed the speaker to earn up to €105,000, including media-based bonuses, reflecting the growing importance of content creation and social media in the sport.
• 😀 The speaker transitioned from being a factory team rider to running their own privateer program in 2023, earning €115,000 from frame sponsorship alone, but also shouldering more management costs and responsibilities.
• 😀 The video aims to provide transparency around earnings in professional mountain biking, encouraging openness about financial realities, which are often kept confidential in the industry.

Q & A

How did the racer initially fund their career in the early years?

The racer self-funded their career by saving up money over time. They spent around NZD $11,000 for travel and equipment in their first year, including a used bike. They also worked in Australia for a couple of years to afford the trip to Europe.

What was the racer's financial situation during their first year of racing in Europe?

In the first year, the racer made no income and had to spend NZD $15,000 on travel and gear. They didn't receive any financial support but gained recognition by achieving some top 30 World Cup results, which helped them get noticed by others in the industry.

How did the racer manage to secure their second year in Europe with Anchelotti?

After the first year, the racer was noticed by Anchelotti, an Italian bike brand, and joined their team. However, the team didn't offer a salary. Instead, the racer received support for race expenses, including accommodation and travel, but had to pay for their flights to Europe.

What was the highlight of the racer's second year with Anchelotti?

A highlight from their second year was securing €1,200 in prize money at an urban downhill race in Bergamo. This prize money was crucial for funding travel to later races in Monson and Bromont.

Did the racer earn a salary during their time with the Kinder Play Biker team in 2010?

No, the racer did not receive a salary from Kinder Play Biker, but they were given two bikes, which they sold at the end of the season. Their only earnings were the profit from selling the bikes.

What challenges did the racer face in 2011, and how did it affect their income?

In 2011, the racer suffered a serious arm injury that required surgery, which significantly impacted their ability to race. They did not earn the €12,000 contract amount, instead receiving €1,000. The injury led the racer to supplement their income by doing trail building work in various countries.

How did the racer approach content creation in 2011 and beyond?

In 2011, the racer started creating their own videos (Wind TV) and continued making them through the years. These videos eventually became an important part of their income and career, helping to build their personal brand and expand their following.

How did the racer's transition to the GT Factory Racing team in 2016 affect their career?

In 2016, the racer signed with GT Factory Racing for a €40,000 salary, marking a major career milestone. However, the transition was costly as the racer had to pay €20,000 to exit their contract with Bulls Bikes. Despite a rough first year with injuries, joining GT elevated their career and sponsorship opportunities.

What role did media content play in the racer's contract negotiations from 2017 onwards?

Starting in 2017, the racer negotiated a contract that included performance-based bonuses for media content, such as video views. This media-focused contract structure helped secure more stable income, allowing the racer to earn up to $105,000 in total from base salary and bonuses.

What was the racer's total income for 2021, and how did they manage their sponsorships?

In 2021, the racer negotiated a contract worth $120,000, with a base salary of $90,000 and $30,000 in media-related bonuses. They also started managing their own sponsorships through their privateer project, where they took on the responsibility of negotiating deals directly with sponsors.

Why did the racer leave GT in 2025, and what role did they take on afterward?

In 2025, GT ended their partnership with the racer. This marked the end of their time as a full-time factory team rider. Afterward, the racer transitioned into managing their own team, focusing on supporting privateers and working directly with sponsors, which gave them more autonomy.