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Going nowhere to raise money to race

19-year-old aims to ‘gravity ride’ in World Cup race
“I’m his biggest fan,” Dan Aitken, right, jokes while fanning downhill racer Zach Graveson on Friday afternoon. Graveson was pedaling for 12 hours nonstop on a stationary bicycle to raise money to compete in a downhill mountain bike World Cup in New York in August.

Zach Graveson was attempting to ride his bicycle for 12 hours Friday in hopes that it would take him from Durango to New York.

No, the 19-year-old doesn’t have a screw loose. Here’s the full story: He was on a stationary bicycle under a tent outside Pedal the Peaks, riding from noon to midnight as a fundraiser. The money will help him and his mechanic, Dan Aitken, travel to and compete in a World Cup downhill event Aug. 7-10 in Windham, New York.

Graveson, a Pagosa Springs High School graduate who is entering his junior year at Fort Lewis College, was hopeful he could make his goal to raise $3,000. As of 4 p.m. Friday, he was about halfway there financially. But he was only about one-third done with the ride, and already his butt was getting a bit sore.

“I’m used to riding for five minutes at a time,” he joked.

He was in the shade of a tent and had a floor fan mounted with zip ties to his handlebars, but the temperature was close to 90. Although the last few hours would test him, at least he’d have cooler temperatures once the sun set.

Several family and friends had gathered in support and planned to take shifts as Graveson completed the ride.

In his first four hours, he hadn’t taken a break and had gone 76 miles, according to an odometer.

“I’m trying not to take any breaks unless I have to go to the bathroom,” he said.

The gravity rider started racing three years ago at an event in Keystone. Since then, he’s taken to the sport with zeal, and this year won the New Mexico state championship. He’s also competed in several national series races, called the Pro GRT Series. He placed 13th in the U.S. national downhill championship race in June at Angel Fire, New Mexico, and is ranked 18th in the U.S. among pro men.

Among those supporting him Friday was Aitken, a New Zealand native now living in Durango. His day job is metal working, and his business is called 42 Below Metalcraft.

Although he speaks without a Kiwi accent, Graveson spent the first 13 years of his life in New Zealand, where his dad is from. Aitken, a former racer, and Graveson met at an event in Angel Fire. Aitken had done a similar fundraiser and suggested it to Graveson.

“It shows people you’re willing to stand behind what you do,” Aitken said. “Zach’s pretty good at backing up what he does.”

As of 4 p.m., Graveson still had a smile on his face – obviously a good sign. He was definitely pushing the envelope as far as saddle time. On his borrowed road bike with a thin seat he was not accustomed to, he smiled at the question of whether he’d trained for the fundraiser.

“No,” Graveson said with a laugh.

To donate to his cause, visit www.gofundme.com/brbxm0. Check out his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/zachariahgraveson.

johnp@durangoherald.com



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