Rocky Mountain Bicycles Signs Thomas Vanderham

by Tyler Maine
Jan 13, 2011 at 21:24

Rocky Mountain Bicycles is extremely pleased to announce the signing of freeride mountain bike superstar Thomas Vanderham. The 26 year old North Vancouver native, who built his iconic status with Rocky Mountain returns to the Vancouver B.C. based brand for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.



“The name Thomas Vanderham speaks for itself in the world of mountain biking and we could not be happier to have him back with Rocky Mountain”, commented Rocky Mountain’s sports marketing manager Peter Vallance. “Thomas defines big mountain riding style and is the perfect match for our brand. With Thomas Vanderham, Wade Simmons, Geoff Gulevich, and Brett Tippie on our bikes, we’re clearly committed to having the best riders in the world ride and develop our bikes.”


Vanderham is looking forward to returning to where he began his career."I am very excited to be back aboard Rocky Mountain Bikes. At 16 years old, they were my first bike sponsor and today, they continue to show support to their roots as the original freeride brand."

Vanderham already has a busy schedule planned for 2011 with global festival appearances, video and photo shoots, and select downhill races.


Check www.bikes.com for more information.
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135 Comments

  • + 29
flag freeridersean (Jan 14, 2011 at 3:01)
 POD!!! sick! so rad! I want that bike! what forks is that? Would purple ano'd bars go with that? VOD!! Can you hold it till I can save up my allowance for it? Would you trade me that complete bike for my playstation 1 and a iPod nano? I'll see if my mom will give me the money.
  • + 19
flag nfiorito (Jan 14, 2011 at 7:46)
 half of PB summed-up right there.
  • + 4
flag louiffe (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:00)
 @ freeridersean: You deserve the "comment of the year" award! haha
  • + 2
flag thestigmk1 (Jan 14, 2011 at 16:28)
 Amen
  • + 3
flag freeridersean (Jan 15, 2011 at 5:55)
 Thanks guys! Smile
[Reply]
  • + 13
flag exocet (Jan 14, 2011 at 1:37)
 I can't believe he's only 26...what a career.
[Reply]
  • + 8
flag juniorpnwdh Plus (Jan 13, 2011 at 21:27)
 Sick!
Sweet for Thomas, kinda feel bad for evil though
But stoked for Thomas that he's getting a super legit sponsor and seems really set
  • + 5
flag bigburd (Jan 14, 2011 at 9:48)
 I can't believe he's only 26 man... I have been watching him in bike vids for at least 8 years now , he's still got the most amazing and desirable style on a bike around in my opinion , when I'm doing whips it's him I'm trying to impersonate Razz
  • + 1
flag DARKSTAR63 (Jan 14, 2011 at 11:12)
 I know, I would have guessed a few years older. Been around awhile.
  • + 1
flag mattsmurph (Jan 15, 2011 at 16:03)
 yea i agree

its so weird to think that he went to the same school as me
[Reply]
  • + 10
flag spencer-graf (Jan 13, 2011 at 21:26)
 What da f*ck
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag mxnate (Jan 14, 2011 at 7:54)
 Did that say 26, I would have guessed 36. Talk about a guy who's been around forever and has been a seemless part of the whole FR movement, the guys done a lot of livin and a lot of riding in a relatively short 26 years. Good for him.
[Reply]
  • + 7
flag mrmizzle5 (Jan 14, 2011 at 0:05)
 wade and vanderham og steeze
  • + 17
flag nyterider Plus (Jan 14, 2011 at 0:12)
 dont forget tippie
  • + 2
flag dmanbc (Jan 14, 2011 at 12:35)
 and Gulevich ........ bam !!
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag ebxtreme (Jan 14, 2011 at 16:45)
 Let this be a lesson to other riders. Don't burn bridges or leave a sponsor relationship on bad terms, because you never know what'll happen in the future. Thomas is a consummate PRO and it's rad he's back with Rocky.
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag bretttippie (Jan 15, 2011 at 1:50)
 Ryan Vanderham is Thomas' little brother. Super fast DH regular on the BC Cup who got 5th at the Canadian DH Nationals (less than 1/2 second and 1 place behind big bro) at Panorama, BC. Double trouble brothers on Flatlines in 2011!
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag jin0824 (Jan 14, 2011 at 2:41)
 i built some stunts for him when he visits Japan for life cycle premier at the end of this month. how cool is that?
  • - 5
flag chrisbee (Jan 14, 2011 at 3:09) (Below Threshold) show comment
 that is sooo very cool. oh i so wish u were you... *sarcastic grin* :-/
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag leonardlimfs (Jan 15, 2011 at 3:30)
 The chinese has a saying: a good horse never eats AGAIN from the field it has passed... otherwise there'll never be any progression or advancement.

I think as good an offer is, we should always reserve that little bit of pride.. after all, Rocky Mountain did LET him go before...
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag mmakuch (Jan 13, 2011 at 21:26)
 What can I say, Gnarliest rider gotta ride the gnarliest bikes.
  • - 6
flag DEgenerationX (Jan 15, 2011 at 7:08) (Below Threshold) show comment
 i must agree... gnarliest rider gotta ride the gnarliest bikes... thats why its a fail he signed rocky mountain again Wink !
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag mrmanic (Jan 13, 2011 at 22:01)
 Great for Rocky Mountain, in Europe/Benelux is Rocky almost disapear from the bicycleshops.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag bikenation (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:12)
 Id say you will see him on a devinci for the next couple of seasons. If history repeats itself Steve and Gabe Fox are a package deal.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag hampsteadbandit (Jan 14, 2011 at 11:52)
 great to see Canadian riders riding for Canadian brands

as I originally commented:

"with Vanderham gone to Rocky and Stevie Smith gone to ******* (being announced next week)"

work out who Stevie Smith has gone too, its not hard to imagine Wink
  • + 1
flag martins (Jan 14, 2011 at 12:13)
 Hmmm, I'd heard rumours a while ago... Hope they are true!
  • + 2
flag hampsteadbandit (Jan 14, 2011 at 12:35)
 its true for sure, but I cannot publicly say who he has signed for...until they make the official press release

let's just say they are producting a Canadian built DH race bike that Dirt magazine has just tested (on Monday this week) and rated "one of the best DH race bikes on the market, and better than the 2011 Demo 8" Wink
  • + 3
flag rideonjon (Jan 14, 2011 at 20:46)
 must be riding for DoctorZ
  • + 1
flag iguanabartola (Jan 16, 2011 at 0:04)
 Rumor is he's gone to Devinci isn't?
  • + 1
flag hampsteadbandit (Jan 16, 2011 at 3:31)
 I cannot admit that publicly on a forum, but I know who he signed for (a long while back), and it will be announced very soon in the bike world!
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag bretttippie (Jan 14, 2011 at 14:46)
 So stoked to have Thomas back on the Rocky Mountain team! The Kid is back!!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag tecilla (Jan 14, 2011 at 12:40)
 WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SONG???
WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SONG???
WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SONG???
WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SONG???
WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SONG???
WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SONG???
WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SONG???
WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SONG???
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag z-man (Jan 14, 2011 at 20:41)
 awesome to hear, and i guess this sort of confirms the unsubstantiated rumours i have been hearing about evil's demise. Sad to see a NS company go like that, its a shame.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag hampsteadbandit (Jan 14, 2011 at 4:22)
 great news for Vanderham and Rocky Mtn Smile


with Vanderham gone to Rocky and Stevie Smith gone to ******* (being announced next week) who is left riding for Evil bikes??
  • + 1
flag Twike (Jan 14, 2011 at 4:39)
 not sure, but i think Strobel, Brook Macdonald and Filip Polc are still on evil..
  • + 3
flag stever (Jan 14, 2011 at 6:59)
 I don't know if anyone's going to be left on Evil. Just speculation here, but something tells me this company isn't going to make it.
  • + 3
flag harriieee (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:26)
 +1. It doesn't seem to be looking good for them, if there's anything in the rumours.
  • + 1
flag DirtBagMedia (Jan 14, 2011 at 10:21)
 they are changing manufacturers...or thats what i heard. they ride nice but they are not very well made.
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag bermtastic (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:30)
 Four Canadian legends, what a stacked team. The new world cups look amazing. Rocky Mountain ftw!
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag The-Medic (Dec 23, 2011 at 19:28)
 SO Rocky has this "amazing team" of gravity riders and only one TRUE gravity platform... Where is their SLopestyle bike, their FR bike (sorry, the Flatline aint it) and where's a real AM/SX bike that isn't just an XC rig with some added suspension travel. RM claims their "riders help them develop their bikes" well if that's true, where ARE these bikes??? Sorry, but Vanderham, Simmons, Tippie and Gulevich could ride anything and make it look good... Rocky Mountain has been a ho-hum bike maker for years now. I firmly belive the only reason they're still a viable company is because of their much touted "FR roots" and the fact that they're canadian made. I would like to rty out the New version of the Flatline cause the first-gen rig I rode was a fat pig that was pretty much awfull at anything but steamrolling over things.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag fantaman (Jan 14, 2011 at 9:46)
 Freeride legends ride Rocky Mountain
  • + 2
flag PIND-IT (Jan 14, 2011 at 12:10)
 Well put.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag bruc321 (Jan 14, 2011 at 0:50)
 vanderhams sick Big Grin lucky for rocky mtn they have quite the line up
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag fcukingelixire (Jan 14, 2011 at 0:50)
 legend...
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag th3-mau5 (Jan 14, 2011 at 0:22)
 WHIPAGE
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag ilikebikes1 (Jan 14, 2011 at 6:27)
 oh yeah didnt expect this move but glad to see him back on rocky againjust like the good ole days
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag tomo793 (Jan 14, 2011 at 9:42)
 i think hes on fox cos he's with shimano, they seem to collabetating much more maybe to rival the big sram, just a stab in the dark.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag rockymountainrider14 (Jan 14, 2011 at 13:17)
 this is not only great for him but great for the whole team to have him back on a great ride
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag diegoinpala (Jan 14, 2011 at 2:38)
 scenes from the classic Kranked!!!! WHAT ARE YOU REALLY LOOKING FOR?!!......nice ride!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag macdre (Jan 16, 2011 at 18:36)
 so Evil is unofficially officially done for...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag btjader (Jan 14, 2011 at 10:01)
 Yeahhhh, stoked he'll be back. Everything back to the roots! restored my faith after that e-assist DH story
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Sambeckerno1 (Jan 14, 2011 at 14:49)
 Great rider. great bikes. great decision!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Rawkus777 (Jan 14, 2011 at 11:58)
 Rocky Mountain suites Vanderham down to the T!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag mountainMURDOCH (Jan 14, 2011 at 13:09)
 such a splendid rider and team!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Condro714 (Jan 14, 2011 at 14:21)
 He can still get sideways.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag brodieclan (Jan 14, 2011 at 12:14)
 Bring back Richie and then talk about how they are such a good company. Try paying your riders better so they don't looking somewhere else
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag stacykohut (Jan 14, 2011 at 18:44)
 whats with the ogk /kabuto helmut?
tld can't be stoked with that.
good move otherwise.
  • + 1
flag golf3sc (Jan 16, 2011 at 22:27)
 Thats the same question I was gonna ask.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag the-banks-on-bikes (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:21)
 Does anyone know the name of the first song? thanks
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag dbender (Jan 14, 2011 at 3:59)
 Congrats Mr Vanderham! Awesome bike, awesome people!!!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag adambradya (Jan 14, 2011 at 6:13)
 Sickest whips I ve seen glad to see him back where he belongs
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Kerba (Jan 14, 2011 at 1:49)
 "video and photo shoots, and select downhill races"... lookin to see him progress in the world DH scene. props
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag Luke-99 (Jan 14, 2011 at 0:54)
 Back with the old team.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag fattony (Jan 13, 2011 at 23:56)
 if it was meant to be it was meant to beSmile
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag PIND-IT (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:01)
 Awesome - RMB wasn't the same w/o Thomas riding their rigs.

Are the new Flatlines still BC made?
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag R-P-S (Jan 14, 2011 at 5:42)
 Didn't Vanderham have an interest in Evil? I thought I read that somewhere. If so it doesn't look very promising for the future of Evil.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag bradwalton Plus (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:41)
 so glad to see him back on Rocky!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Minimalwyte (Jan 14, 2011 at 21:49)
 Who's his brother? I thought it was only one Vanderham.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag ButtonPusher (Jan 14, 2011 at 9:30)
 Evil's loss, RM's gain..!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag tecilla (Jan 14, 2011 at 11:24)
 WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST SONG???
  • + 1
flag Holywood (Dec 22, 2011 at 10:26)
 Please anyone! Drool
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag stinkypeter (Jan 15, 2011 at 1:42)
 Vanderham you legend
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag sniperbob02 (Jan 14, 2011 at 9:21)
 since when does he ride for fox?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jacktilley (Feb 27, 2011 at 21:57)
 I LOVE ROCKY MOUNTAIN!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag switchbiker (Jan 15, 2011 at 11:34)
 Allright, they brought back Thomas, now bring back the RM Switch !!!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag daugherd (Jan 13, 2011 at 21:54)
 This is cool.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Altar69 (Jan 14, 2011 at 4:14)
 Good news for RMB!!! Wink
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Volcom66 Plus (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:41)
 woot Vanderski's riding RMB wicked !!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag rideindawoods (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:06)
 How long till we see Steve Smith on a Flatline...
  • + 5
flag marlon-d (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:11)
 i would rather see him on knolly.
  • + 1
flag ninjaty (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:18)
 So begin the Steve Smith Sweepstakes
  • + 5
flag sroemmich (Jan 14, 2011 at 9:02)
 I think we are more likley to see him on a new Wilson.
  • + 1
flag spenswick (Jan 14, 2011 at 9:07)
 ^^^!!!
  • + 1
flag gwgardner (Jan 14, 2011 at 10:15)
 i'd be stoked if he went back to cove
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag arcturus (Jan 14, 2011 at 7:11)
 "If it ain't broke don't fix it" hence why Vanderham is back on RM Beer
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag millard (Jan 14, 2011 at 10:58)
 LEGEND thats all that need to be said ,Go Thomas
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag RMFwannabe (Jan 14, 2011 at 9:17)
 I'm not sure if this is a good thing. RM has some good bikes and stuff but not the best team support, but who was he with last season again??
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag tags42 (Feb 8, 2011 at 12:37)
 Awesome
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag marlon-d (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:11)
 YES
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag sh4dy (Jan 14, 2011 at 8:19)
 Thomas is on Fox racing again, sweet!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag pedalmetal (Jan 15, 2011 at 5:54)
 Go TV!
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag brundle (Jan 13, 2011 at 21:30)
 Thats sick!

Where are these jumps?
  • + 19
flag chrisbee (Jan 14, 2011 at 3:07)
 on the top of the comments.
  • + 0
flag DirtBagMedia (Jan 14, 2011 at 10:18)
 ^lmfao
  • - 1
flag Waldon83 (Jan 14, 2011 at 14:36)
 AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Comment o' the day
  • - 2
flag brundle (Jan 14, 2011 at 18:53)
 Wanna highlight it for me. Guess im too young and stupid to see it.
[Reply]
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