He was "the chainsaw", Steve called "Stevie" Smith, the greatest downhill racer that the mountain bike mecca of British Columbia has ever produced and therefore also the most successful Canadian in the Downhill World Cup. Born on 25 November 1989 in Cassidy, British Columbia, Stevie Smith perfected his riding skills in the forests of Vancouver Island and British Columbia and became a big name on the Canadian scene at an early age.
In 2013, he finally made his long-awaited breakthrough in the Downhill World Cup. He took several victories and was also able to secure overall victory. But Stevie Smith was more than just a good racer. He struggled with various injuries for two years and was unable to achieve any success in 2014 and 2015. But Smith didn't give up and was rewarded for his efforts with second place in Lourdes at the first DH World Cup in 2016.
Away from the racetrack, Steve Smith was one of the most sociable and friendly people around. Always in a good mood, always smiling and charismatic, he was an inspiration not only to his fans but also to his opponents.
"We have lost a great personality today who taught me a lot about myself and was an inspiration to many. Stevie was a passionate racer, a true friend and someone who made me proud countless times. I'm honoured to have counted myself among his friends for so long." (Gabe Fox, Team Manager Devinici Global Racing)
Steve Smith died on 10 May 2016 in his hometown of Nanaimo, British Columbia, as a result of an accident on an enduro motorbike. He was only 26 years old.
Ride on Stevie!
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Adrian Kaether
Editor
