News - Kona

Vancouver, British Columbia's North Shore freeride scene is the cycling media and bike industry darling at the moment. With its demanding trails and "X"treme stunts, and the new breed of rider that the area has brought to prominence, it has grasped the bike world's attention span by the jugular -- and has plenty of bike companies latching onto the bandwagon.

What may not be widely known to the world at large is that the Vancouver area hosts a diverse cycling community -- one that has been building for the last two decades. A key part of that are the many internationally renowned cycling companies that call the Vancouver area home. To highlight the broad nature of the local Vancouver bike industry's focus, we presented a set of five questions to six companies headquartered there to show where each one's take on mountain bikes and the North Shore's influence are similar, and where they differ.

Kona
Perhaps one of the most widely known of the "North Shore"-influenced companies, Kona has been marching to the beat of its own drummer -- and on its way to success -- since its inception in 1988. Kona's "Chairman of the Board," Jacob Heilbron, sat down, offered us a cold beer and then filled us in on the world according to Kona.

BIKE: Is there a big advantage to being a Canadian company?
Jacob Heilbron: The Vancouver area is a great place to ride, and the terrain makes it a great testing ground. Plus, there's a long cycling tradition here.

Kona's nondescript Vancouver headquarters, with a fresh coat of Orange No. 5.

BIKE: What is the big disadvantage of being a Canadian company?
JH: People are sometimes confused about Kona. With the name, consumers are sometimes not sure exactly where we're from, and to some degree we've tried to deemphasize it. We've tried not to be pigeonholed. We want to be known for more than just this area, and to avoid being a niche company; our goal is to have global appeal. After all, when you look at the staff of this company, we're half-Canadian and half-American.

BIKE: With freeride being so prominent currently, why do you feel this area is so influential?
JH: The reason freeride is so appealing is its attraction to the PlayStation generation. Shore riding is like a video game, and stunts are like checklists and goals to move up to the next level. With the Shore being the leader in this style of riding, it is naturally the hotbed.

BIKE: How is being in Canada essential to your business?
JH: I don't know if it is. I feel that you could be a great bike company anywhere. It's your ideas and concepts for product that are key. The most essential thing is to have the right people in your group -- a good team is what's essential.

BIKE: What is the one thing you want people to know about your company that you feel they aren't aware of?
JH: People perceive that we're not a serious company, that Kona is a group of fun-loving guys. The truth is that we're all lifers in the bike industry and that we're seriously committed to cycling.