Camden Rutherfurd claimed his first World Cup victory, winning the Junior Men’s event at the 2026 Whistler Downhill World Cup in Canada. In his first World Cup season, the 17-year-old delivered a commanding run, stopping the clock at 3:35.004, nearly six seconds clear of second place.  

On track, Camden looked strong, composed, and fully committed. There was something about his physicality that stood apart from the rest of the field. Maybe it was the motivation from coming close to a podium finish a couple of times this season. Maybe it was the confidence of setting an impressive pace in qualifying. Or maybe it was the crazy energy surrounding the Nukeproof Axess Racing team all weekend. Whatever it was, Camden was hungry for it, and it showed. When the result became official, the look on his face said everything: shock, disbelief, and then pure happiness as he realized he’d just won his first World Cup. 

When you talk to Camden, his love of bikes and riding is undeniable. Hailing from New Zealand, Camden grew up racing BMX with his brother before making the switch to mountain bikes when he was 12. “It’s just way more social, you just make heaps of mates,” he said of the switch. “And I just love doing big jumps on the big bike.” True to form, the Kiwi was spotted at a local jump jam in Whistler the weekend before the World Cup, throwing down whips and tricks with a big, beaming smile on his face. It's clear that even as his racing career takes off, the pure joy of riding is still at the heart of it all.