New Zealand’s rising downhill stars Tyler Waite and Indy Deavoll have upstaged more experienced riders to be crowned the 2025 elite downhill champions on the final day of the 2025 Oceania Mountain Bike Championships in Coronet Peak, Queenstown, New Zealand on Sunday 23 March 2025.

In men’s competition Waite who has won three rounds of the Oceania Mountain Bike Continental Series in the junior category continued his outstanding 2025. Stopping the clock with the fastest time of 2mins 47.82secs before, less than three tenths of a second faster than silver medallist Rory Meek (New Zealand) the Continental Series leader in the junior category and Malik Boatwright (New Zealand) three seconds back.

It was a long wait in the hotseat as he waited for the elite riders to finish. With Luke Meier-Smith (Australia) the fastest in 2mins 51secs, Waite was crowned the elite men’s Oceania downhill champion for 2025, courtesy of his fastest time across the riders. His junior compatriots filled the top three spots on the podium.

“Pretty good! All practice was like wet and then the sun came out for the race run so it was nice and dry. I nailed it and have any mistakes so pretty good,” said Waite.

It was a similar situation in the women’s competition with Indy Deavoll (New Zealand), the Oceania Mountain Bike Continental Series leader in the junior category, riding the fastest time of the day in 3mins 12.02secs to win the elite women’s downhill title, while still in the under 19 category.

Jess Blewitt (New Zealand) has the second fastest women’s time of the day 3mins 15.39secs with another under 19 Bellah Birchall (New Zealand) third fastest.

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