We’re opening the door and asking a very simple question:
You want in?
Applications to join the Kona Teams are officially open now through August 4, 2026.
We’re looking for racers, creators, community builders, and bike-obsessed humans who make an impact—on the bike, behind the camera, in their communities, and within the cycling industry.
Think you might belong here? Fill out the application form before August 4 and tell us your story.
APPLY TO JOIN THE KONA TEAMS →
THREE TEAMS. THREE DIFFERENT JOBS. ONE VERY KONA COLLECTION OF HUMANS.
We’re not trying to build one giant roster of riders who all look, ride, and talk the same.
That sounds incredibly boring.
Instead, the Kona Teams are made up of three distinct crews, each with their own role in the bigger picture.
Different jobs. Different strengths. Different paths.
Together, they make up the Kona Teams.
THE KONA RIDE TEAM
It ain’t what it seems.
Our highest-level athletes. Racers and riders operating at the sharp end of their disciplines, pushing performance, representing Kona on major stages, and showing us exactly what our bikes are capable of.
THE KONA TEST TEAM
Ride bikes good… maybe better.
The riders on a trajectory. Emerging athletes with talent, work ethic, and a serious appetite for progression. They’re racing, learning, testing, creating, and putting in the work to figure out just how far they can take this thing.
THE KONA ENTOURAGE
Because normal’s already taken.
The culture carriers. Creators, community builders, advocates, and deeply influential bike people doing things their own way. They might not be chasing a World Cup podium, but they’re making people care, making people ride, and making cycling better in their own corner of the world.
WHAT DOES BEING A KONA ATHLETE LOOK LIKE?
If selected, you’ll join a team backed by Kona and an incredible group of industry partners.
Depending on the team and your role, Kona provides frames or special pricing on complete bikes, while our sponsors may provide components, suspension, apparel, protection, footwear, accessories, and other equipment at their discretion.
But product is only part of the equation.
We invest in our athletes through opportunities like race support, content and media budgets, collaborative team projects, access to our industry network, and promotion across Kona’s marketing channels.
Our goal isn’t just to put a bike underneath you. We want to help good riders and good people keep progressing.
SPONSORSHIP IS A PARTNERSHIP. NOT A HANDOUT.
Let’s get this part out of the way.
Being a Kona athlete requires work.
We believe in communicating well, meeting deadlines, and doing the things you said you were going to do. We expect our athletes to represent Kona professionally and actively contribute to the success of their team, Kona, and the partners helping make the program possible.
We also want to see progression.
That might mean better race results. Stronger content. A growing community. Bigger projects. New skills. More influence. Whatever your path looks like, we want to see you moving forward.
We’re here to invest in our athletes. We expect our athletes to invest in the opportunity, too.
SO, WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Competitors.
Creators.
Community builders.
Athletes with an audience that genuinely cares about what they’re doing.
Emerging riders with a clear trajectory.
Established riders looking for the right home.
People doing something we didn’t know we were looking for until their application landed in front of us.
Race results matter. Great content matters. Community matters.
Most of all, we’re looking for people who are authentic, dependable, hardworking, and excited to build something bigger than themselves.
If you’re still reading this and thinking, Yeah, actually. This sounds like me.
Good.
Kona Athlete Applications are open now through August 4, 2026.
Complete the application form and tell us your story. All applications must be submitted before the application window closes.
