Determination and commitment are the two reasons behind Tauranga 12-year-old Jaxon Mair winning the under-14 Mountain Bike National Championship in Blenheim this year.

“This is not the first time Jaxon won a championship in a category, being one of the youngest competitors, but the way he trains every day takes him to the podium at this early age,” says his father, Dion Mair.

To bring the championship home this year, Jaxon had to compete in three different mountain bike disciplines - cross country, enduro and downhill.

With an outstanding performance, Jaxon got first in two of the three categories, taking out the National Under 14 Champion title.

The 2023 champion from Blenheim has also participated in international events like Crankworx in Rotorua early this year. According to his father, being the world champion at this worldwide competition is one of his biggest dreams.

“Jaxon has found a true passion for mountain bike and he has achieved all the goals he has set, even when that meant competing and beating bikers way older than him,” says Dion.

Jaxon Mair racing in the Downhill category.

For Jaxon, riding his bike means everything, even when sometimes he has to do it for more than 40 km a day to get to school, training and home.

“Unlike the rest of the kids around his age, what Jaxon enjoy the most about school holidays is having all the time he wants to train and get better every day,” says his father.

When Jaxon is not training, he is working with his father, helping him out with some duties at his workshop and saving some money to buy his own bikes.

“We have always supported him and he understands all the sacrifices a passion involves, but as his father, I am so proud to see him working for what he wants in and outside the race tracks,” says Dion.

A really important part of Jaxon's training is the support of the Tauranga Mountain bike community, says his father.

“Sometimes is very difficult for a father to attend all the training or meetings, but we have a really good group of parents who support each other, and we all are always looking out for the well-being of our kids.” 

Despite his main goal for the next year being to race at Crankworx Canada, Jaxon's schedule is tight for the rest of 2023 and includes some national competitions here in New Zealand, including some in Auckland, Rotorua, and the South Island.