The story behind Team High Country begins not with mountain bikes but behind the wheel. Founder Chris Borthwith-Higgs has been chasing adrenaline since he was 18, competing in Targa Tasmania to Classic Adelaide, the Australian Rally Championships, and state rallies across SA and NSW. But it wasn’t until he and wife Patricia (Poss) did a Perisher snow season in 2005 that their trajectory shifted.
Published December 2025, words Mandy Lamont photos supplied
Building a Life in the Mountain
Chris and Poss fell in love with Jindabyne’s mountain lifestyle, moved from Adelaide in 2007, and never looked back. They were both working for Perisher where Chris completed a mature-age fitting and turning apprenticeship before managing lifts at Charlotte Pass, later joining Doppelmayr. Starting a family in 2011, they ran High Country Firewood, delivering firewood around Jindy, before eventually buying the Brumby Bar in 2017.
Launching Team High Country
After the bushfires and lockdowns of 2020, their heart wasn’t in it anymore and they were looking for a new venture. Recognising a gap for emerging Australian downhill riders to participate in World Cups, they first dipped a toe in the water by sponsoring a couple of riders in 2022. In 2023, they sold the Brumby Bar and committed to a full team, launching Team High Country to support talented young riders who had potential but lacked the funding or management to reach bigger teams. Now in their third year, momentum is building. The past 2025 season brought strong results, smoother logistics, and invaluable support from established international teams; relationships built steadily over the past three years.
Racing Under a Changing UCI Landscape
Last summer saw the introduction of sweeping changes from the UCI and Warner Brothers, who took over World Cup broadcasting from Red Bull in 2023. Riders must now either be part of an official World Series/Factory Team or earn enough points through Continental series races to even make it to the event.
The new system is designed to streamline race schedules and giving broadcasters full coverage of top-tier athletes on their streaming platforms. With European feeder series, ISX Cup creating a more structured, F1-style pathway where riders can earn their way into the World Cups. “Globally, the direction finally feels clearer,” Poss tells me.
For 2025 Team High Country’s riders qualified through the Continental series. Once racing in Europe, their junior riders posted solid results, but juniors earn far fewer points than the elites, which meant the team relied heavily on wildcard entries. The only issue with wildcards is that they are only notified three to four weeks before each race. Not that bad if you’re based in Europe, but not ideal when you’re an Aussie based team. Still, with every round the team delivered, and wildcards kept coming for each and every World Cup.
Running on a very expensive Oily Rag
Having a team race at the World Cups is a serious financial undertaking and it is all self-funded by Chris and Poss. The team are based in Europe for six months, flying home between rounds simply isn’t an option. They employ two full-time mechanics while Chris and Poss take on everything else themselves, from cooking, travel logistics and driving the team truck from race to race. With Chris’s background in motorsport, he knows that presentation matters when you’re building a brand and chasing sponsorship. So the team looks the part with matching uniforms for riders and crew. A clean professional presence, and a branded truck that gets noticed.
Signs of a turnaround
In what has been a tough climate for mountain biking globally the last few years, with many big bike brands folding, there are signs of an upturn for Team High Country. Sponsors are now approaching them, and for the first time, financial backing is being discussed. The long-term goal is clear, to become a fully-fledged World Series team.
In 2026, Team High Country will field three riders, a new male and female junior rider, alongside Zac Bradley who moves into his first year as an elite after two years with the team. Their son Ashton, still too young for the World Cups, will race other European events.
A team built on heart
At its core, Team High Country isn’t just about racing, it’s about community, mentorship, opportunity and giving back. A family-run team helping young athletes chase world-class dreams.
Chris and Poss’ motivation is rooted in the enjoyment and growth of their kids in the sport. “As long as our kids get something out of it, then we’re happy to support it.” Chris tells me.
“A common misconception is that riders on World Cup teams are paid. In reality, many pay to be on a team and have the support at World Cups. Like any sport people look at the top and want to be there, but there’s a lot of stepping stones to get there first, it would be great if we can get them there.” Chris tells me. “I think they’ve all got potential but it all comes back to each individual. While Team High Country provides support, it ultimately depends on their willpower to want to be there.” For these juniors, the experience is a crash course in branding, professionalism, and responsibility skills that will serve them long after racing.
Summer at Home
Back home for the Australian summer, being their downtime, the team will race only the necessary Continental events plus a few other local races including Thredbo’s Gravity Series. Meanwhile Chris and Poss are busy seeking sponsorship opportunities for the team.
The Next Chapter
Team High Country is dedicated to shaping the future of downhill mountain biking. If you want to support the next generation of Australian mountain bike talent, membership packages for individuals and businesses are available on their website.
From Thredbo to Europe, Team High Country is proving that passion, perseverance, and a love of the mountains can take you a long way.
