BIKE CHECK: Kai Pyyvaara's Canyon Sender CF

While the big show at Crankworx Cairns focsues on the elite ranks, the action on the ground is very much all about younger riders and amateur riders pushing themselves on the same courses – specifically for Pump Track and Downhill.

'This is the biggest event I have done so far in mountain biking. I got started at school and with mates, and I thought it would be a bit of fun.'

Kai started with Hillcrest Chritsian College on the Gold Coast, who have a mountain bike programme, and that includes taking part in the Rocky Trail Schools Academy. 

'We had about 40 riders participating now, which is really cool. I mostly ride with school friends, which is cool as we can ride, and then talk about bikes through the day.'

'Downhill has been for fun this year, but Enduro I've been going for,' Kai told us. 'Downhill is really sick though. Watching elites and learning everything is great, I want to get as fast as I can.' Like any 15 year old ripper, Kai does have some idols to look up to.

'I'm stoked to see Troy Brosnan out there. I love his riding style which is so smooth, clean and fast.'

A look at Kai's Canyon Sender

The Canyon Sender CF is a medium, run as a mullet setup, with DT Swiss Hybrid rims.

Kai runs Fox Factory suspenionsion with a Fox Factory 40 on the front, with no tokens and the fancy orange dials to be nice and matching.

'It's all dialled back so I can keep it nice and plush.'

There's a Fox Factory DHX2 in the back delivering 200mm to match the front. Kai runs a 425lb spring as he's not a massive unit.

For rubber, Kai uses a Maxxis Assegai on the front the DoubleDown casing, with a DHR II on the back using a Downhill casing.

'I'm running inserts front and rear, and I still run pretty high pressure in the back as I'm prone to getting flats. So there is 32psi in the rear and 20psi in the front.'

Between his Devlin Jester enduro bike and his Canyon Sender CF DH bike, Kai aims for a few consistent setup points. 

'I like the cockpit to be similar. I have my brake levers setup close to the bar, so they're easy to pull, they're right there. Some people don't like it but that's my setup.'

The Hope brakes run 203mm front and rear, to slow down the speed Kai puts in with a SRAM GX 7-speed DH group set. He's got 165mm cranks with a 34t chain ring.

Kai hasn't made any major changes for Crankworx. His race time was about 4:09 in his race, which he was happy with – as this is a longer run than he is used to.

'I want to train and start getting some EWS points for the future. I want to have more time on the bike to get more comfortable.'

And Kai has plenty of motivation, with riders who he competes against giving him plenty to aim for.

'Carter Sloan is a real gun, he makes me want to push to get to his level.'

Keep it pinned Kai! We'll be seeing more of this Gold Coast ripper we reckon.