A LIFE LONG PASSION
Founder and Head Coach
Rory Bingham
For over 7 years, I have had the privilege of sharing my passion of riding and teaching.
I started Onward because I wanted to combine my own experience and abilities into a new standard of coaching experience for the Queenstown market.
My own riding journey started as a young lad in rural England. I rode mountain bikes and BMX with my brother for many years growing up, but it wasn’t until my early teenage years where I focused solely on mountain biking. Ever since then I have ridden across the world, often with incredibly talented athletes, ticked off some iconic trails and learned a lot along the way. Our backyard in Queenstown is special - I love the people, the trails and the community that we have here.
I love to meet new people and will try to get to know you on a personal level when I coach. A relaxed, collaborative environment is what I aim to create, as I feel this leads to best results from students. Ultimately, I do this to deliver the most valuable learning experience to you.
Come ride with us and we’ll give you the keys to unlocking your full riding potential.
“A relaxed, collaborative environment is what I aim to create, as I feel this leads to best results from students. Ultimately, I do this to deliver the most valuable learning experience to you.”
9+
9+ years experience teaching at the highest levels for leading coaching companies in NZ and Canada.
L4
Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches (GSMBC) level 4 coaching certification.
NZ
GSMBC Program coordinator for instructor training - I coach the coaches.
PHEC
Pre hospital emergency care (PHEC) first aid certificate.
STAFF
Skills coach and bike set up specialist
Regis Smets
Regis made the move to Queenstown in 2020 to escape the Belgian winter. With a background in bike mechanics, we’re excited to have Regis in our team since the 2024/25 season.
We admire Regis’ inquisitive nature and drive to deeply understand mountain biking - there aren’t many with the same attention to detail, hunger for learning and analytical skills. He adopts a truly holistic approach to improving rider’s bikes and skill sets - we like that.
In his own words:
“A strong drive to understand how things work nourished my interest of the mechanical side of bicycles. I have been a bicycle mechanic for over 10 years now, with a brief appearance on the downhill world cup circuit.
My coaching and guiding journey started in 2021, convinced by Rory to take part in my first PMBIA course. I quickly understood that the same drive applied to 'how to ride a bike' - there is so much to learn & share.
How wonderful is it when you can help other people in the process?
I love the variety of people we get to meet in this line of work. I am excited to meet you!”
Regis is available for data acquisition setups, private and group coaching sessions. Regis is fluent in English and French.
10+
10+ years experience working at the highest levels of bike mechanics.
L2
Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches (GSMBC) level 2 coaching certification.
10+
Years riding experience across the world
2 DAY
Outdoor First Aid Certificate.
STAFF
Skills coach
Katy Winton
Katy has been riding bikes for as long as she can remember - it’s where she feels most alive. That love of riding has taken her all over the world and into over a decade of racing at the highest level. Now based in Queenstown, she’s excited to bring that experience into her coaching journey.
What lights Katy up is helping people feel comfortable, confident, and genuinely stoked on their bikes. Although she’s at the beginning of her formal coaching pathway, she believes deeply in the power of the fundamentals - the key building blocks that make everything else fall into place. Her approach is supportive, fun, and grounded in meeting riders exactly where they’re at.
Whether you’re new to mountain biking or building on what you already know, Katy focuses on clear foundations, compassionate guidance, and creating an environment where riders can relax, learn, and truly enjoy their time on two wheels.
In Katy’s words:
“I absolutely love riding bikes, and I’m so excited to help you feel that same buzz on the trails. I’ve picked up a lot of knowledge over the years, and I’m now channeling it into coaching. My goal is simple: help you feel comfortable, capable, and have the best time out there.”
Katy is available for private and group coaching sessions, specialising in beginner and intermediate riders.
10+
10 + years experience riding at world cup level across multiple disciplines.
L1
Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches (GSMBC) level 1 coaching certification.
Multi
Podium finishes in Enduro World Series (EWS) events
2 DAY
Outdoor first aid certificate.
STAFF
Skills coach
Baxter Maiwald
Baxter brings a wealth of real world experience and an effortless style on the bike to his coaching with Onward. He brings a unique perspective shaped by his competitive career and personal drive to improve his skills on the bike. We’re stoked to have Baxter available to share his depth of knowledge to riders.
In his own words:
I’m Baxter a 26‑year‑old Aussie who’s been racing DH over a decade. I grew riding bmx trails up racing Downhill, picking up a junior national title and multiple World Champs finishes along the way. Since then I’ve stood on Elite DH podiums across Australia, taken on Red Bull Hardline in Tassie, and hit a bunch of Crankworx stops racing all disciplines.
Off the race track, I’ve spent years working as a trail builder all over australia and now here in Queenstown. Coaching has become a natural extension of that - slowly stacking the tools, experience, and real‑world knowledge to help riders grow.
I ride everything, I love every discipline, and I’m genuinely fired up about helping the next generation reach their potential!
Baxter is available for private sessions at Ben Lomond Trails and Coronet, specialising in intermediate to advanced riders.
10+
Years experience racing at elite categories
L2
Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches (GSMBC) level 2 coaching certification.
∞
Steeze points and mastery of various riding disciplines
2 DAY
Outdoor First Aid Certificate.
READY TO RIDE?
READY TO RIDE?
We are here to make sure your riding experience with us is the best it possibly can be. If you have any questions, please get in touch