GRAVITY SCHOOL RACING
The Gravity School international race team started it’s journey back in 2015, and over the years has had lots of success. This success has included World Cup top 20 results, a World Championship medal, National Series race and overall wins, and countless podiums across all categories. Head coach Jack Reading, world cup veteran of 14 years and still racing at elite level, leads our big race team. In 2024 Jack has won the Portugal Cup national series, and is excited to represent the team and our partner brands with the number 1 plate in 2025.
With riders racing across all the categories of juvenile, youth, junior and elite, the team covers all bases from talent development to podium level and race winning athletes.
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As the sport of downhill mountain biking has grown over the years and become much more professional, it has become increasingly more important to coach and develop riders from as young an age as possible, to best prepare them for international competitions, and help them to one day become professionals at the sport.
All of our team riders have ridden within the Gravity School coaching progression pathway for at least 1 season, and have shown incredible talent and progression following their coaching sessions.
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The Gravity School coaching program is structured as a progression pathway:
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Stage 1 - Gravity School Race Coaching sessions available to everyone
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Stage 2 - Gravity School Scholarship Scheme via selection based on performance
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Stage 3 - Gravity School Race Team selection with base level support
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Stage 4 - Gravity School Race Team with professional level support
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Stage 5 - Gravity School Race Team paid professional athlete​​
Riders can aim to move through the progression pathway as they improve as riders and racers, hoping to one day become a professional downhill athlete being paid to do the sport they love.
Introducing the 2025 team riders. Current race winners and future champions:
Elite – Jack Reading (coach)
World cup veteran of 14 years, Jack has a wealth of hard-earned experience to pass onto the Gravity School riders. Some of Jack’s career highlights are:
3rd Crankworx Whistler 2011
1st British National Rd 2016
18th World Cup Lenzerheide 2017
25th World Championships 2017
4th Megavalanche 2021
1st Portugal Cup overall 2024
Starting the sport late, Rueben has shown incredible progress since he started his journey with the Gravity in 2021. From struggling to take a corner at the start of the process, to now riding in elite for the professional race team, it’s been a hell of a journey so far. In 2024 Rueben has made great progress and established himself as a solid elite rider, and is excited for a big off season to head into 2025 even faster. Jack has a target on his back here! In 2024 Rueben has finished 3rd in the Portugal Cup under 23 overall standings, and also finished top 20 at the final European Cup Rd.
Elite - Rueben Taylor
Elite - Marcus Angelstar
New to the team in 2025 Marcus has experienced multiple races and camps with the team last year, and will be doing so again this year in team colours.
Elite – Oscar Hakes
Oscar is a talented rider who is hungry to show everyone how fast he is. Plagued with injuries from crashes in 2024, he’s having to be patient. But here at the Gravity School we know these things sometimes take time, and we’re ready to perform a full factory reset on Oscar this off season, and get him ready for his first season in the over 18 categories in 2025. Watch this space for some big results from this wildcard in 2025
Junior - Tom Westgate
The team joker, and also an incredibly fast, and focused racer, riding with effortless style. Tom joined the race team this season and has performed brilliantly at some of the events, especially Dirt Masters in Winterberg, where he won the junior category, and European Championships to achieve a top 20. Tom has another year in junior in 2025 and after a big winter, we’re excited to see what he can achieve.
Junior - Sam Hatfield
Another new rider for 2025, Sam has spent a lot of time with the team over the last few years, as well as his coaching sessions with Jack. After an excellent 2024 season, winning the British National Series in the junior category as well as gaining valuable World Cup experience, Sam officially joins Gravity School Racing. We look forward to seeing Sam's results across our 2025 race calendar as well as where he places on the infamous Racing Centre leaderboard.
Junior - Theo Goodsmith
The team’s biggest surprise addition for 2024. A beginner in 2022, but Theo gave Jack no choice but to add him to the race team in 2024. Showing an amazing progression rate throughout 2023, we were excited to add Theo to the team and help him take things to the next level. He’s done that this year, and we need to see a big winter from Theo, using his great focus and commitment to improve all aspects of his riding and race craft, to continue to progress and play catch up on his piers, as he moves into his second junior season.
Youth - Josh Wood
Definitely one of the Gravity School’s most improved riders in terms of technique, since we started work with him in 2022. He’s also one team riders with the most raw pace, and is always going to light the race track on fire. He risks more than most have the guts to, and most of the time it ends with an awesome result. 2nd place at the final British National Series rd, Josh heads into the winter in a great position and we are excited to see him move into the junior category in 2025.
Youth – Haydn Fletcher
Much like his friend and team mate Tom, Haydn rides with a relaxed and effortless style. Riding with the Gravity School for a couple of years before joining the team, Haydn is developing nicely and we are excited to see him shift up a gear or two this winter and add more pace to his amazing riding ability.
For sure the rowdiest rider of the bunch. Quiet in person, but his riding speaks for him. The loose unit of the team, and with some results that pack a punch. To name a couple, 3rd place at National Championships and 10th at the final European Cup rd, Seb can be proud of his progression in 2025, and is another rider who heads into the winter with great momentum. We’re once again excited to see him race in the junior category in 2025
Youth - Seb Sumner
Youth – Leo Ransom
Leo comes into the team after being coached on the Gravity School for 2 years. It started with skills sessions, then progressed onto our uplifted race specific coaching sessions, and finally into the scholarship program in 2024. Leo rides technical terrain with great composure and skills, testament to the local trails he shreds, and we’re really excited to have him join the team in 2025. This young rider lines up alongside Nui in our youth category and both are ready to push it this season. Leo has taken to his new RAAW Yalla with ease and he’s excited for the races.
This young man from Portugal came to the Racing Centre in September 2024 for some coaching. Having raced in Portugal for a few years, he was looking to take things up a notch. Jack wasn’t only impressed by his riding skills and raw pace, but Nui’s overall attitude. Nui comes into the team as an exciting prospect in the youth category. Older than his years, we see this young racer going far in the coming seasons, and we’re excited to help him with that process. Let’s GO Nui!
Youth - Nui Tai Trindade
Ed or “Angry Badger” as he is known amongst his friends and team mates, is the team’s youngest signing at 12. Gravity School has been coaching Ed for 2 years and we’ve seen great progress in his riding skills during that time, as well as producing awesome results in the ripper category. In 2025 Ed will be a first-year juvenile and the skill, composure and speed he rides with makes you question his age. A future talent in the sport of downhill, and he’s ours, so back off!
Juvenile- Ed Jones
We hope everyone is excited to see who the new 2025 team riders will be!
Thanks to all of our amazing team sponsors for their amazing and highly valued support:
SR Suntour – Suspension & our partner brand
RAAW Mountain Bikes - Frames
Schwalbe - Tires
O'Neal – Riding gear and protection
Trailtools – Partners with Gravity School for all Portugal Racing Centre activities, as well as providing additional help and financial support for the race season
Hayes Brakes,Reynolds wheels
Works Components headsets and chain rings
Renthal
TY Bike Products cleaner, lube and tyre yogurt
Crankbrothers pedals
Shack Wrap frame and component protective wrapping
Shimano drivetrain
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Love what we do and want to join the team as a sponsor? Email Jack to receive our 2025 Team Sponsorship Document.
2025 Race & Camp Calendar
January 10 – 20th Racing Centre Team Camp, Portugal
February 18 – 25th Racing Centre Camp 1, Portugal
March 10 – 17th Portugal Cup Race Camp 1 Seia
March 17 – 24th Portugal Cup Race Camp 2 Padela
March 31 - April 7th IXS European Cup/Continental Series Race Camp Rd 1 Caramulo
April 7 – 14th Portugal Cup Race Camp 3 Arcos
April 19 – 27th Portugal Cup Race Camp 4 Acores
May 6 – 11th British National Series Rd 2, Fort William, Scotland
May 19th – 26th Racing Centre Team Camp, Portugal
June 9th - 16th IXS European Cup Rd 3 Semmering, Austria
June 23 -29th IXS European Cup Rd 4 Aprica, Italy
July 2 - 6th Megavalanche, Alpe D Huez, France
July 15 - 20th National Championships, Fort William, Scotland
July 21 - 28th IXS European Cup Rd 5 Les Orres, France
August 1 – 3rd USA Pro Downhill Series Rd 4, Big Bear, California (TBC)
August 8th – 18th Crankworx Whistler
August 21 – 24th European Continental Series Rd 2 Les Menuires France
September 22 -29th IXS European Cup Rd 6 Kranjska Gora, Slovenia