Trackside, the latest Shimano Originals short film by Anthill Films, uncovers the winning formula of one of the greatest downhill mountain bike teams of all time: the Santa Cruz Syndicate. This season, after struggling with retiring from racing, legend and head coach Steve Peat continues to steer the ship into a new format while preserving the Syndicate's secret sauce.
Widely regarded as the longest-running and most successful band of downhill personalities the sport has ever seen, the Santa Cruz Syndicate continues to prove its status on the World Cup circuit. Currently comprising the GOAT Greg Minnaar, first-year elite Jackson Goldstone, laid-back lightning bolt Laurie Greenland, and the first woman on the Syndicate Nina Hoffman, the team's roster is stacked with talent. But is their success purely due to individual athletes, seamless logistics, and the perfect steeds?
Looking at other athletes at the top of their game, we often assume they have their lives all figured out. They're considered role models: disciplined, confident and successful. In reality, they can still struggle with what comes next. For Steve Peat—who initially joined the Syndicate in 2006 and is still one of the most successful DH racers ever—retiring from racing posed many questions. Diving into the low point in his career, we reveal how Peat's transition to Syndicate Head Coach has filled the void of not racing World Cups. Now, he brings his wisdom, personality and stories to the team, beyond his performance on the bike.
"I stayed closely linked to Santa Cruz as an ambassador and the Syndicate by helping them at races. Luckily, that's turned into something that's really fulfilling." - Steve Peat
Setting a family vibe from the get-go, the Syndicate’s group dynamic is what sets it apart. How each person and rider fits into the team is crucial and enables everyone to unlock new levels of performance. You wouldn't necessarily expect this kind of sports strategy in mountain biking, and at the heart of it, they’re just traveling to beautiful places with close friends and trying to go fast on bikes.
As the UCI Downhill World Cup calendar enters a new season under new management, Peat is excited about where the sport has ended up and where it's going. No one knows the outcome of the changes yet, but team strategy and consistency appear to be ingredients for success—something the Syndicate has going for it. With Peat at the helm, will they come out on top in 2023?
